Choose WAVESHAPER
Choose WAVESHAPER if you want an Indie game with Steam Leaderboards, Camera Comfort, and Custom Volume Controls. On Steam, it's currently about 81% cheaper on the Steam Store. WAVESHAPER launched in 2017.
WAVESHAPER vs Neon Beat Rider
WAVESHAPER and Neon Beat Rider 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 Neon Beat Rider (2020). WAVESHAPER is currently ~81% cheaper on Steam than Neon Beat Rider (1.89 USD vs. 9.99 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 Neon Beat Rider
Choose Neon Beat Rider if it's the newer release (2020) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Neon Beat Rider launched in 2020.
Both WAVESHAPER and Neon Beat Rider sit in Action and Casual 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
 WAVESHAPER |  Neon Beat Rider | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2020 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Casual | Action, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 1.89 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 87% positive (818 reviews) | 1 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | GAMES FOR HUMANS | Neon Joystick Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Casual on Steam.
- WAVESHAPER (2017) is 3 years older than Neon Beat Rider (2020).
- WAVESHAPER is currently ~81% cheaper on Steam than Neon Beat Rider (1.89 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- WAVESHAPER is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Neon Beat Rider has no Deck rating yet.
WAVESHAPER vs Neon Beat Rider — FAQ
- Should I play WAVESHAPER or Neon Beat Rider first?
- If you want chronology, WAVESHAPER (2017) came out before Neon Beat Rider (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 Neon Beat Rider 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 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — WAVESHAPER is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Neon Beat Rider doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.