Choose SCARLET NEXUS
Choose SCARLET NEXUS if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 5,278 Steam reviews back the pick.
SCARLET NEXUS vs Shadow Madness
SCARLET NEXUS and Shadow Madness both land in Action, Adventure, RPG 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, Adventure, RPG on Steam. SCARLET NEXUS (2021) is 1 year older than Shadow Madness (2022). SCARLET NEXUS scores higher on Steam reviews (85.9% positive) than Shadow Madness (77.8% 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 Shadow Madness
Choose Shadow Madness if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Shadow Madness launched in 2022.
Both SCARLET NEXUS and Shadow Madness sit in Action, Adventure, and RPG 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
 SCARLET NEXUS |  Shadow Madness | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure, RPG | Action, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 14.39 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 85.9% positive (5,278 reviews) | 77.8% positive (18 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | BANDAI NAMCO Studios Inc. | Crave |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure, RPG on Steam.
- SCARLET NEXUS (2021) is 1 year older than Shadow Madness (2022).
- SCARLET NEXUS scores higher on Steam reviews (85.9% positive) than Shadow Madness (77.8% positive).
- SCARLET NEXUS is currently ~4% cheaper on Steam than Shadow Madness (14.39 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: SCARLET NEXUS is Deck Verified, Shadow Madness is Deck Playable.
SCARLET NEXUS vs Shadow Madness — FAQ
- Should I play SCARLET NEXUS or Shadow Madness first?
- If you want chronology, SCARLET NEXUS (2021) came out before Shadow Madness (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 SCARLET NEXUS and Shadow Madness similar?
- They overlap on Action, Adventure, RPG 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.