Choose Slipstream
Choose Slipstream if you want the Shared/Split Screen and Shared/Split Screen PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Slipstream launched in 2018.
Slipstream vs Retrowave
Slipstream and Retrowave both land in Indie, Casual, 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 Indie, Casual, Racing on Steam. Slipstream (2018) is 4 years older than Retrowave (2022). Retrowave scores higher on Steam reviews (95% positive) than Slipstream (91.2% 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 Retrowave
Choose Retrowave if you want an Action and Simulation game with Online PvP. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 95% positive across 4,594 reviews.
Both Slipstream and Retrowave sit in Indie, Casual, and Racing on Steam and both list Multi-player, Steam Leaderboards, 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
 Slipstream |  Retrowave | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2022 |
| Genres | Indie, Casual, Racing | Action, Indie, Simulation, Casual, Racing |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 91.2% positive (696 reviews) | 95% positive (4,594 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player |
| Developers | ansdor | RewindApp |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Casual, Racing on Steam.
- Slipstream (2018) is 4 years older than Retrowave (2022).
- Retrowave scores higher on Steam reviews (95% positive) than Slipstream (91.2% positive).
- Retrowave is currently ~70% cheaper on Steam than Slipstream (2.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Slipstream is Deck Verified, Retrowave is Deck Unsupported.
Slipstream vs Retrowave — FAQ
- Which is better, Slipstream or Retrowave?
- On Steam reviews Retrowave scores higher (95% positive) than Slipstream (91.2% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Retrowave is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Slipstream or Retrowave first?
- If you want chronology, Slipstream (2018) came out before Retrowave (2022). 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 Slipstream and Retrowave similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Casual, 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.