Choose Bladestar
Choose Bladestar if you want the Mouse Only Option side of the pairing. Bladestar launched in 2016.
Bladestar vs Nova Swarm
Bladestar and Nova Swarm both land in Action 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 are Action games on Steam. Bladestar (2016) is 10 years older than Nova Swarm (2026). Nova Swarm is currently ~28% cheaper on Steam than Bladestar (3.59 USD vs. 4.99 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 Nova Swarm
Choose Nova Swarm if you want an Indie game with Camera Comfort. On Steam, it's currently about 28% cheaper on the Steam Store. Nova Swarm launched in 2026.
Both Bladestar and Nova Swarm sit in Action on Steam and both list Steam Leaderboards, Color Alternatives, and Custom Volume Controls, 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
 Bladestar |  Nova Swarm | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 3.59 USD |
| Steam reviews | 58.3% positive (36 reviews) | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Fair Weather Studios | Tiny Foundry |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Bladestar (2016) is 10 years older than Nova Swarm (2026).
- Nova Swarm is currently ~28% cheaper on Steam than Bladestar (3.59 USD vs. 4.99 USD).
Bladestar vs Nova Swarm — FAQ
- Should I play Bladestar or Nova Swarm first?
- If you want chronology, Bladestar (2016) came out before Nova Swarm (2026). 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 Bladestar and Nova Swarm similar?
- They overlap on Action 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.