Choose Pikuniku
Choose Pikuniku if you want an Adventure and Casual game with Shared/Split Screen, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, and Co-op. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 3,642 Steam reviews back the pick.
Pikuniku vs Shield of Shalwend
Pikuniku and Shield of Shalwend 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. Pikuniku (2019) is 1 year older than Shield of Shalwend (2020). Shield of Shalwend is currently ~62% cheaper on Steam than Pikuniku (4.99 USD vs. 12.99 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 Shield of Shalwend
Choose Shield of Shalwend if it's currently about 62% cheaper on the Steam Store. Shield of Shalwend launched in 2020.
Both Pikuniku and Shield of Shalwend sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen PvP, and PvP, 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
 Pikuniku |  Shield of Shalwend | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2020 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Casual | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 12.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.9% positive (3,642 reviews) | 1 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player |
| Developers | Arnaud De Bock, Rémi Forcadell, Alan Zucconi, Calum Bowen | Enigma Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Pikuniku (2019) is 1 year older than Shield of Shalwend (2020).
- Shield of Shalwend is currently ~62% cheaper on Steam than Pikuniku (4.99 USD vs. 12.99 USD).
- Pikuniku has co-op; Shield of Shalwend does not.
- Pikuniku is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Shield of Shalwend has no Deck rating yet.
Pikuniku vs Shield of Shalwend — FAQ
- Should I play Pikuniku or Shield of Shalwend first?
- If you want chronology, Pikuniku (2019) came out before Shield of Shalwend (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 Pikuniku and Shield of Shalwend 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 Pikuniku run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Pikuniku is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Shield of Shalwend doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.