Choose RUINER
Choose RUINER if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 4,629 Steam reviews back the pick.
RUINER vs Buckshot Battlemage
RUINER and Buckshot Battlemage 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. RUINER (2017) is 8 years older than Buckshot Battlemage (2025). Buckshot Battlemage scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than RUINER (90.2% positive). 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 Buckshot Battlemage
Choose Buckshot Battlemage if it's currently about 80% cheaper on the Steam Store. Buckshot Battlemage launched in 2025.
Both RUINER and Buckshot Battlemage sit in Action and Indie on Steam, 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
 RUINER |  Buckshot Battlemage | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 3.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 90.2% positive (4,629 reviews) | 100% positive (20 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Reikon Games | squid_lawyer |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- RUINER (2017) is 8 years older than Buckshot Battlemage (2025).
- Buckshot Battlemage scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than RUINER (90.2% positive).
- Buckshot Battlemage is currently ~80% cheaper on Steam than RUINER (3.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- RUINER is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Buckshot Battlemage has no Deck rating yet.
RUINER vs Buckshot Battlemage — FAQ
- Should I play RUINER or Buckshot Battlemage first?
- If you want chronology, RUINER (2017) came out before Buckshot Battlemage (2025). 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 RUINER and Buckshot Battlemage 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.
- Does RUINER run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — RUINER is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Buckshot Battlemage doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.