Choose PLANET ALPHA
Choose PLANET ALPHA if it matches what drew you to this matchup. PLANET ALPHA launched in 2018.
PLANET ALPHA vs Shu
PLANET ALPHA and Shu both land in Action, Indie, Adventure 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, Adventure on Steam. Shu (2016) is 2 years older than PLANET ALPHA (2018). Shu scores higher on Steam reviews (83.3% positive) than PLANET ALPHA (75.1% 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 Shu
Choose Shu if you want the Steam Leaderboards side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 80% cheaper on the Steam Store. Shu launched in 2016.
Both PLANET ALPHA and Shu sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure 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
 PLANET ALPHA |  Shu | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2016 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 1.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 75.1% positive (261 reviews) | 83.3% positive (42 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Planet Alpha ApS | Coatsink, Secret Lunch |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Shu (2016) is 2 years older than PLANET ALPHA (2018).
- Shu scores higher on Steam reviews (83.3% positive) than PLANET ALPHA (75.1% positive).
- Shu is currently ~80% cheaper on Steam than PLANET ALPHA (1.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Unsupported.
PLANET ALPHA vs Shu — FAQ
- Should I play PLANET ALPHA or Shu first?
- If you want chronology, Shu (2016) came out before PLANET ALPHA (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 PLANET ALPHA and Shu similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Adventure 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.