Choose Nidhogg
Choose Nidhogg if you want the Shared/Split Screen, Steam Leaderboards, and Online PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 4,059 Steam reviews back the pick.
Nidhogg vs Shadow Fencer Theatre
Nidhogg and Shadow Fencer Theatre both land in Action, Sports, 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, Sports, Indie on Steam. Nidhogg (2014) is 5 years older than Shadow Fencer Theatre (2019). Shadow Fencer Theatre is currently ~20% cheaper on Steam than Nidhogg (7.99 USD vs. 9.99 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 Shadow Fencer Theatre
Choose Shadow Fencer Theatre if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 20% cheaper on the Steam Store. Shadow Fencer Theatre launched in 2019.
Both Nidhogg and Shadow Fencer Theatre sit in Action, Sports, 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
 Nidhogg |  Shadow Fencer Theatre | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2014 | 2019 |
| Genres | Action, Sports, Indie | Action, Sports, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 7.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 91.2% positive (4,059 reviews) | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player |
| Developers | Messhof | ShuddaHaddaLottaFun |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Sports, Indie on Steam.
- Nidhogg (2014) is 5 years older than Shadow Fencer Theatre (2019).
- Shadow Fencer Theatre is currently ~20% cheaper on Steam than Nidhogg (7.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Nidhogg is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Shadow Fencer Theatre has no Deck rating yet.
Nidhogg vs Shadow Fencer Theatre — FAQ
- Should I play Nidhogg or Shadow Fencer Theatre first?
- If you want chronology, Nidhogg (2014) came out before Shadow Fencer Theatre (2019). 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 Nidhogg and Shadow Fencer Theatre similar?
- They overlap on Action, Sports, 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 Nidhogg run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Nidhogg is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Shadow Fencer Theatre doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.