Choose Slipstream
Choose Slipstream if you want the Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen PvP side of the pairing. Slipstream launched in 2018.
Slipstream vs Retrowave 2
Slipstream and Retrowave 2 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 6 years older than Retrowave 2 (2024). Slipstream scores higher on Steam reviews (91.2% positive) than Retrowave 2 (89.8% 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 2
Choose Retrowave 2 if you want an Action, Simulation, and Early Access experience. On Steam, it's currently about 63% cheaper on the Steam Store. Retrowave 2 launched in 2024.
Both Slipstream and Retrowave 2 sit in Indie, Casual, and Racing on Steam and both list Steam Leaderboards, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (91.2% vs 89.8% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 Slipstream |  Retrowave 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2024 |
| Genres | Indie, Casual, Racing | Action, Indie, Simulation, Casual, Early Access, Racing |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 3.74 USD |
| Steam reviews | 91.2% positive (696 reviews) | 89.8% positive (128 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | ansdor | RewindApp |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Casual, Racing on Steam.
- Slipstream (2018) is 6 years older than Retrowave 2 (2024).
- Slipstream scores higher on Steam reviews (91.2% positive) than Retrowave 2 (89.8% positive).
- Retrowave 2 is currently ~63% cheaper on Steam than Slipstream (3.74 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Verified.
Slipstream vs Retrowave 2 — FAQ
- Which is better, Slipstream or Retrowave 2?
- On Steam reviews the two are nearly tied: Slipstream sits at 91.2% positive (696 reviews), Retrowave 2 at 89.8% (128). The choice usually comes down to genre fit and the platform features each one supports — see the comparison table above.
- Should I play Slipstream or Retrowave 2 first?
- If you want chronology, Slipstream (2018) came out before Retrowave 2 (2024). 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 2 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.
- Does Retrowave 2 have multiplayer like Slipstream?
- No. Slipstream supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Retrowave 2 is listed as single-player only.
- Do Slipstream and Retrowave 2 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.