2048 vs Shockwaves
2048 and Shockwaves both land in Strategy, Indie, 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 Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam. 2048 (2018) is 6 years older than Shockwaves (2024). Shockwaves is free; 2048 is paid (7.99 USD). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Side-by-side comparison
 2048 |  Shockwaves | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 7.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 83% positive (88 reviews) | 5 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | LA\VA, Nicolai Clemmensen, Gabriele Cirulli | Steags |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam.
- 2048 (2018) is 6 years older than Shockwaves (2024).
- Shockwaves is free; 2048 is paid (7.99 USD).
2048 vs Shockwaves — FAQ
- Should I play 2048 or Shockwaves first?
- If you want chronology, 2048 (2018) came out before Shockwaves (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 2048 and Shockwaves similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, 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.
- Is Shockwaves free?
- Yes — Shockwaves is a free-to-play Steam title. 2048 is paid (7.99 USD).