The Steam Deck has been something of a revelation for PC gaming. This powerful device allows you to play your PC games on a portable screen, allowing for an experience more akin to something like the Nintendo Switch.
This is all well and good, but some PC games require the pinpoint precision of mouse-and-keyboard input. That’s why we’re taking a look at the 15 best Steam Deck games, so you know which titles are worth playing on your portable PC device. All of the following games are marked “Steam Deck Verified,” meaning you can guarantee a solid experience with these selections.
15. Phasmophobia
Hunting ghosts with friends, what could be more fun? Despite still technically being in Early Access, Phasmophobia is arguably the best game in its genre. You’re placed on a map, which can be as small as a suburban house or as large as an entire prison, haunted by a ghost.
There are 24 different ghost types, each offering up three types of evidence to help you and your friends decipher what they are. You find this evidence using various types of ghost-hunting equipment, from spirit boxes to EMF readers. It’s not entirely that simple, as these ghosts will drain your sanity before hunting and killing you. Phasmophobia is a blast, and we recommend playing with friends.
14. Diablo 4
Blizzard’s long-awaited follow-up in its iconic ARPG series was worth the wait. Diablo 4 follows the same general gameplay loop as previous iterations, defeating powerful enemies throughout dungeons while collecting hordes of loot to upgrade your build.
While technically an RPG, Diablo 4‘s quests and storyline play second fiddle to the game’s unique brand of chaotic action. There’s nothing quite like melting swarms of demons while finding a rare item that takes the havoc up a notch. Some might recommend a mouse and keyboard for Diablo 4, but you can definitely do just fine on a Steam Deck.
13. Balatro
Balatro isn’t your standard card game. There’s almost too much complexity to sum up in a few sentences, but the gist of it is this: it’s a roguelike deck-builder where you must score points by playing poker hands against blinds. With these points, you can upgrade your deck and buy joker cards, which affect the game in various ways. It’s absurdly addictive and puts an impressive spin on a classic card game.
Given the nature of Balatro‘s controls, it really doesn’t matter whether you play on a regular PC or on a Steam Deck. It plays very well on Valve’s portable devices, so if you’re looking for a more laid-back Balatro, Steam Deck is the way to go.
12. Portal 2
Portal 2 might be well over a decade old at this point, but it can still kick it with any modern release on the market. With sharp humor, challenging puzzles, and an endlessly replayable co-op mode, Portal 2 remains one of the best video games ever made.
Valve gets so much mileage out of one simple concept: you have a portal gun that you can use to open portals around the game world. You must use these portals to solve puzzles throughout each level, most of which are physics-based. Luckily, these puzzles don’t require pinpoint mouse precision, which is why this is perfect for chilled-out Steam Deck play.
11. Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 had its troubles upon its 2020 release, disappointing almost everyone. In the years since, CD Projekt Red has remained committed to making it the best game it can be via countless patches and the sublime 2023 expansion, Phantom Liberty.
At long last, Cyberpunk 2077 is (almost) everything it was hyped up to be, and it runs great on the Steam Deck. With engaging characters, powerful RPG choices, and the staggeringly beautiful open world of Night City, Cyberpunk 2077 is a game you can really sink your teeth into nowadays.
10. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
If The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth isn’t the best roguelike ever, then I don’t know what is. Straight from the brain of Super Meat Boy developer Edmund McMillen, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth sees you fight through procedurally-generated dungeons against some of the most terrifyingly-designed monsters you’ll ever see in a video game.
As you progress, you collect items on each floor. This contributes to your build, but not every item complements one another. This means you’re constantly making important choices about what to pick up and what to leave behind. Each run is permadeath, resetting you right to the start if you die while progressing through the floors. Because of the randomized floors and items, it might be one of the most replayable games ever made.
9. Dave the Diver
How many games do you know that can blend the action-adventure and restaurant simulator genres seamlessly? There’s not many, let me tell you that much. Dave the Diver is one such title, and it’s undoubtedly one of the best games on the Steam Deck.
Dave the Diver is split into two gameplay sections. During the day, you dive into the sea, collecting ingredients from the ocean floor while fighting sealife with your harpoon gun. Later in the evening, you use these ingredients to run a sushi restaurant, improving its reputation through good food and service. All of this is complemented by a gorgeous pixel art style, resulting in a game unlike anything you’ll have played before.
8. Resident Evil 4
2023’s Resident Evil 4 might be the best remake in the series to date, and that’s a high bar to clear. The game sees the return of Leon Kennedy, who is tasked with rescuing the president’s daughter, Ashley. You’re faced with hordes of the undead throughout your adventure, which tops the 2005 original in just about every way.
Its graphics? Stunning. Its controls? Modern. The story? It has a tighter pacing this time around. And that’s before we even get to the atmosphere, which is the real star of the show in the Resident Evil 4 remake. It’s absolutely dripping with tension, which carries over even on the small screen of the Steam Deck.
7. Skyrim
13 years after its launch, and there’s still nothing that quite evokes the same feelings as Skyrim. It’s a classic RPG in every sense of the word, with one of the most detailed open worlds you’ll ever explore, even after all this time. Interesting questlines and memorable characters are the tip of the iceberg in Bethesda’s magnum opus.
On PC, Skyrim modding takes things to another level. Nexus Mods has almost 100,000 mods to download for the game, so the question is: can you mod Skyrim on Steam Deck? Yes! It’s a bit more hassle, but it’s certainly possible, meaning you can bring Skyrim up to modern standards on your handheld device.
6. RimWorld
Ludeon Studios’ RimWorld is a far deeper game than it seems on the surface. At first glance, it appears to be just another construction and management simulator. Simply put, it isn’t. RimWorld gives you numerous starting scenarios, where you must attempt to survive and escape from a procedurally generated planet.
To make every playthrough unique, it employs the use of an AI storyteller, which can make decisions on the fly to affect proceedings. You can choose from various storytellers, each of which will change its behavior based on various parameters. Want something intense? Go with Randy Random. Want a more traditional narrative? Cassandra Classic will make that happen. The third is Phoebe Chillax, which offers a more laid-back experience. It’s this storyteller feature alone that elevates RimWorld above every other game in the genre.
5. God of War
2018’s God of War finally arrived on PC in 2022, breaking Santa Monica Studio’s masterpiece free from its PS4 restraints. The game tells a powerful story between Kratos and his young son, Atreus, and their journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye, at the highest peak in Jötunheim.
Its hack-and-slash gameplay is similar to previous God of War games, yet the combat still manages to feel distinctly modern. That’s an achievement in itself. Just everything, from the impeccable score from Bear McCreary to the awesome world design, comes together as a full package to make God of War one of the best Steam Deck games.
4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
How will CD Projekt Red ever top The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt? The culmination of an epic trilogy, this title is an extraordinary RPG, with impactful choices to be made even in the smallest of moments. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt features some of the most well-written side-quests you’ll ever see, as well as two fantastic expansions in Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine.
For a 2015 release, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt holds up extremely well from both a visual and gameplay perspective. The combat still feels very fluid, which is why it remains one of the best Steam Deck games you can play after almost a decade.
3. Stardew Valley
There’s a reason life-simulation fans are still returning to Stardew Valley almost nine years after its release. ConcernedApe’s game strips the formula back to basics but does everything it attempts just about perfectly.
There’s farming, fishing, building, mining, socializing, romancing, and even combat – it’s a pretty simple life in Stardew Valley. If you enjoy life-simulators, there’s a good chance you’ve already played this game. If you haven’t, there’s a good chance Stardew Valley will convert you to the genre.
2. Elden Ring
Elden Ring is not for the impatient gamers out there. This open-world RPG by FromSoftware will test the limits of your patience, punishing you with sweet, sweet death over and over again. It’s a classic Souls-like, defined by nigh-impossible bosses and frustratingly infrequent checkpoints, but with a bigger scale than anything the studio has ever attempted before. The satisfaction from victory in Elden Ring will have you jumping for joy.
Given that many would recommend Elden Ring with a controller anyway, I feel safe saying the game works great with the Steam Deck joysticks. Go forth and explore the Lands Between from the comfort of your own couch.
1. Baldur’s Gate 3
Top spot was only ever going to Baldur’s Gate 3. Larian’s 2023 CRPG is an instant classic. With deep customization, fun combat, brilliant companions, and a gripping narrative, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game we’ll all be playing for many years to come. I could wax further lyrical about its epic world, engaging quests, and a staggering level of freedom, but I reckon you get the picture.
Baldur’s Gate 3 feels made for the Steam Deck in many ways. The turn-based combat lends itself well to the joystick controls, and the slow-paced gameplay in general makes it perfect for kicking back on the couch and playing at your own pace.
Published: Oct 21, 2024 12:12 pm