Choose WAVESHAPER
Choose WAVESHAPER if you want an Indie game with Camera Comfort, Custom Volume Controls, and Keyboard Only Option. On Steam, it's currently about 53% cheaper on the Steam Store. WAVESHAPER launched in 2017.
WAVESHAPER vs ARCADE
WAVESHAPER and ARCADE both land in Action, Casual 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, Casual on Steam. WAVESHAPER (2017) is 3 years older than ARCADE (2020). WAVESHAPER scores higher on Steam reviews (87% positive) than ARCADE (78.9% 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 ARCADE
Choose ARCADE if you want an Adventure and Massively Multiplayer game with Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op. On Steam, it's the newer release (2020) and ships with the modern feature baseline. ARCADE launched in 2020.
Both WAVESHAPER and ARCADE sit in Action and Casual on Steam and both list 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
 WAVESHAPER |  ARCADE | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2020 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Casual | Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 1.89 USD | 3.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 87% positive (818 reviews) | 78.9% positive (19 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | GAMES FOR HUMANS | EYEFRONT |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Casual on Steam.
- WAVESHAPER (2017) is 3 years older than ARCADE (2020).
- WAVESHAPER scores higher on Steam reviews (87% positive) than ARCADE (78.9% positive).
- WAVESHAPER is currently ~53% cheaper on Steam than ARCADE (1.89 USD vs. 3.99 USD).
- ARCADE has co-op; WAVESHAPER does not.
- Both are Deck Verified.
WAVESHAPER vs ARCADE — FAQ
- Should I play WAVESHAPER or ARCADE first?
- If you want chronology, WAVESHAPER (2017) came out before ARCADE (2020). 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 WAVESHAPER and ARCADE similar?
- They overlap on Action, Casual 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 WAVESHAPER have multiplayer like ARCADE?
- No. ARCADE supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while WAVESHAPER is listed as single-player only.
- Do WAVESHAPER and ARCADE both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.