Choose BallisticNG
Choose BallisticNG if you want the VR Supported and Keyboard Only Option side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 1,916 Steam reviews back the pick.
BallisticNG vs Synapse Grid
BallisticNG and Synapse Grid both land in Action, Indie, Racing 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, Racing on Steam. BallisticNG (2018) is 8 years older than Synapse Grid (2026). Synapse Grid has co-op; BallisticNG does not. 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 Synapse Grid
Choose Synapse Grid if you want an Early Access game with Shared/Split Screen Co-op, DualShock Controller Support, and DualSense Controller Support. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Synapse Grid launched in 2026.
Both BallisticNG and Synapse Grid sit in Action, Indie, and Racing on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Steam Leaderboards, 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
 BallisticNG |  Synapse Grid | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Racing | Action, Indie, Early Access, Racing |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 95.6% positive (1,916 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Neognosis | AlluringCoffee |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Racing on Steam.
- BallisticNG (2018) is 8 years older than Synapse Grid (2026).
- Synapse Grid has co-op; BallisticNG does not.
- BallisticNG is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Synapse Grid has no Deck rating yet.
BallisticNG vs Synapse Grid — FAQ
- Should I play BallisticNG or Synapse Grid first?
- If you want chronology, BallisticNG (2018) came out before Synapse Grid (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 BallisticNG and Synapse Grid similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Racing 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 BallisticNG run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — BallisticNG is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Synapse Grid doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.