Choose Nex Machina
Choose Nex Machina if you want the Shared/Split Screen side of the pairing. Nex Machina launched in 2017.
Nex Machina vs SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT
Nex Machina and SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT both land in Action, Indie on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Action, Indie on Steam. Nex Machina (2017) is 1 year older than SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT (2018). SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT is currently ~95% cheaper on Steam than Nex Machina (0.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT
Choose SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 95% cheaper on the Steam Store. SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT launched in 2018.
Both Nex Machina and SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, and Co-op, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Nex Machina |  SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 0.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 90.7% positive (885 reviews) | 1 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Housemarque | Dead Crow |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Nex Machina (2017) is 1 year older than SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT (2018).
- SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT is currently ~95% cheaper on Steam than Nex Machina (0.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Nex Machina is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT has no Deck rating yet.
Nex Machina vs SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT — FAQ
- Should I play Nex Machina or SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT first?
- If you want chronology, Nex Machina (2017) came out before SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT (2018). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Nex Machina and SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Do both Nex Machina and SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Nex Machina ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; SPACE BLASTER 8 BIT ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.