4 years after its launch, Valve’s Steam Deck remains to be the preferred handheld PC round and for good cause. The transportable gaming machine is simple to make use of, can play most 2D video games you put in on it with ease, handles 3D video games pretty nicely, and may even be modded and tweaked should you so need. It’s a wonderful machine, and if you’re right here, you possible personal one or are about to purchase one and wish some online game suggestions. Fortunately, you’ve come to the correct record, my buddy.
Beneath you’ll discover the 15 finest PC video games to play in your Steam Deck. For this record, we tried to incorporate a mixture of “basic” Steam Deck video games—sure, Vampire Survivors is on right here—in addition to some titles that don’t all the time get talked about when speaking concerning the system. This record additionally options some larger video games in addition to experiences that could be good for killing time at a bus cease or a brief prepare journey. Lastly, for this record, we tried to stay to video games that run nicely on the Deck with out having to make bizarre tweaks or set up mods.
Hopefully, at the very least one among these video games is what you have been searching for and allows you to get pleasure from your Steam Deck a bit of extra.
Vampire Survivors
Any record of finest Steam Deck video games is legally obligated to incorporate Vampire Survivors. At this level, Valve ought to simply pay Poncle some amount of cash to have Vampire Survivors pre-installed on all Steam Decks. Anyway, yeah, it’s low cost, enjoyable, runs nice, and is an ideal sport for the Steam Deck. I’d say play it, however you possible have already got.
Stardew Valley
One other “legally obligated” suggestion, however hey, Stardew Valley is nice, and it runs like a dream on Steam Deck. And if you wish to get wild, in contrast to the Change port of this common cozy slice of life farming sim, Stardew Valley on Steam Deck will be modded. You don’t want to do this to play it, to be clear, however if you wish to, it’s an possibility on Deck.
Balatro
Okay, final one among these “legally obligated” entries, however sure, Balatro is an unimaginable sport. Among the finest video games launched in the previous few years. Taking part in this unusual poker rogue-like with weird joker playing cards is a blast no matter the place you play. On Steam Deck, Balatro is a deal with, gained’t kill your battery, and takes up little room. A no brainer to toss in your Deck.
Dave the Diver
A few of the finest video games for the Steam Deck are ones constructed round “runs.” Games constructed like this allow you to hop in for a bit, then put the console to sleep when your bus arrives or your assembly begins. Dave the Diver, being cut up into totally different days, makes it one among these good Steam Deck video games. Additionally serving to is Dave the Diver‘s 2D artwork model which the Deck can deal with with out breaking a sweat. It’s by no means been simpler to catch and cook dinner digital fish on the go.
Blue Prince
Somebody instructed me this was their Steam Deck bedtime sport, and I get it. Slowly exploring a comfortable however mysterious mansion that shifts each time you go to and is crammed with puzzles to resolve is an ideal exercise to have interaction in for a bit earlier than calling it an evening. Blue Prince‘s 3D visuals don’t push the Steam Deck onerous, and it performs effortlessly on a gamepad, making this a implausible strategy to play one among 2025’s best-reviewed video games.
Dredge
For these searching for one thing creepy to play on their Steam Deck, however not focused on a extremely scary sport, Dredge is a good possibility. Not solely does Dredge run nicely on the Deck, however it’s yet one more sport divided up into days, letting you bounce in for a little bit of fishing in its unsettling waters with out making you decide to hours of cutscenes and motion. Good for a lunch break run or a fast little bit of sport time on the bathroom. Look, I’m not right here to evaluate the place or how you utilize the Deck, okay?
Deep Rock Galactic Survivor
You possibly can most likely refill a Steam Deck with nothing however a ton of auto-shooter video games that play so much like Vampire Survivors. (The truth is, there’s another arising on this record.) However amongst the numerous, many video games that adopted in Vampire Survivors‘ wake, Deep Rock Galactic Survivor is likely one of the finest. Including sci-fi dwarves and mining and sub-challenges to the components helps elevate this one past a mere clone. It runs nicely on Deck, too, although its 3D visuals will eat up battery sooner than Vampire Survivors.
Hades / Hades 2
At one level, this record contained separate entries for Hades and its 2025 sequel. Then the record simply had one, however talked about the opposite. Let’s simply save a while and web ink and mix them into one entry. Each Hades video games are impeccably designed motion roguelikes that characteristic sizzling Greek gods, loads of motion, and lovely visuals that appear to be the good animated film ever. And each Hades and Hades 2 play like a dream on Steam Deck. You actually can’t go improper together with your alternative.
Sektori
Geometry Wars was a very good sport. What if somebody made a brand new one? Effectively, they did, and it’s known as Sektori, and it’s superior on any platform you play it on. And that features the Steam Deck, the place Sektori appears and runs flawlessly whereas delivering quick and fluid twin-stick shooter enjoyable. You possibly can’t ask for way more for $15.
Elden Ring
When Elden Ring first arrived again in 2022, the Steam Deck ended up being among the finest locations to play FromSoftware’s hit open-world RPG. Flash ahead to right now, and it’s nonetheless a rattling effective strategy to get pleasure from Elden Ring. It may not look as crisp as it can on a PS5 or a high-end PC, and it’ll eat your battery up rapidly, however that’s all value it to have such a implausible sport playable wherever.
Resident Evil 2
A stunning variety of trendy Resident Evil video games run nicely on the Steam Deck, however I nonetheless assume the remake of Resident Evil 2 could be the most effective one to play on Valve’s transportable PC. It’s not too massive, doesn’t push the system too onerous, and is a good installment within the franchise. It may not be as simple to drop out and in of this sport as others on the record, however Resident Evil 2 remains to be a terrific option to play on the Deck. Simply possibly depart the lights on?
Large Hops
Certain, Large Hops was simply launched in January, however that doesn’t change the truth that this 3D platformer closely impressed by Mario deserves a spot on this record. Not solely as a result of it’s a joyful and inventive platformer a few frog with a really helpful tongue, but in addition as a result of it appears sharp as heck and runs completely at 60FPS on the Deck. The world wants extra enjoyable 3D platformers, and Large Hops is right here to reply that decision.
Warframe
For just a few totally different causes, there aren’t many massive live-service on-line video games accessible for the Steam Deck. So, free-to-play ninja shooter Warframe being absolutely playable on the machine could be very cool. When you’ve all the time needed to slice up robots and aliens whereas operating 70MPH in a cyber ninja go well with, that is the sport for you. And you are able to do all of that and extra whereas killing time on the airport, assuming you may have a stable wi-fi connection, as Warframe is an online-only sport.
TMNT Shredder’s Revenge
A 2D pixel artwork brawler is simply concerning the good online game for the Steam Deck, and TMNT Shredder’s Revenge is likely one of the finest you could find on Steam. So in fact we added it to this record. And for these of you going “However that is higher with different individuals!” don’t fear. You possibly can simply join a number of gamepads to the Steam Deck and do some transportable brawlin’ with buddies wherever you need. Or join your Steam Deck to a TV and revel in among the finest TMNT video games ever made.
Megabonk
Vampire Survivors however 3D and weirder is the elevator pitch for Megabonk. And it could be among the finest issues to play on a Steam Deck. Even when the hordes of enemies get large, the sport’s framerate stays regular, and it feels good to play on a gamepad. The world doesn’t want many extra auto-shooters, however it’s good that we bought another that’s nearly as good and enjoyable as Megabonk. And it’s simply $10.
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