Summary

TheSteam Deckis Valve ’s flagship slice of handheld computer hardware , a powerful mini PC with a tradition operating system . The Steam Deck is able to run many - if not all - games available through Steam , and its impressive specs make it possible to take even recent releases on the go .

But what makes a good Steam Deck game is n’t always the same as what get a good microcomputer game . Steam Deck titles have to be lightweight enough to turn tail on the relatively low-toned - terminal platform . They have to flirt well with the Steam Deck ’s customizable control . They have to be accessible enough that they ’re playable on the go , but entertaining enough that they can pass the time players expend waitress for their laundry , razz the bus topology , or flee cross - country . The undermentioned ten games will give hand-held players the most bang for their vaulting horse : all ten are well - reviewed , pop , and Steam Deck - verified .

Steam Deck users can take advantage of their handheld ’s customizability to create customs duty inauguration and rush intros . Here ’s how to get them working .

A few characters from the Light No Fire trailer, with the No Man Sky Astronaut somewhere in the background (but not the focal point).

10Doom (2016) Is An Excellent Entry In The Revolutionary FPS Series

$19.99 On Steam

Doom(2016 ) is the first entry in i d Software ’s reboot of the classic first - someone shooter dealership . It includes a short - but - dulcet 11 - hr campaign , a variety of multiplayer modes , and a wealth of arcanum to let out . feature intensely satisfying fast - paced FPS gameplay , a declamatory prog metallic element soundtrack , and terrifying new renders of classicDoomdemons , Doom(2016 ) is the perfect ingress pointedness for a total newcomer to the series , and a nostalgia - filled revival meeting for old - shoal fans .

On Steam , Doomreceived irresistibly positivistic player reviews , average from a whopping total of 127,903 . Its relatively low cost give role player far more amusement value than they paid for . Its mix of individual - actor and multiplayer modes make it enjoyable both with and without WiFi . Like all the modernDoomgames , it ’s Steam Deck - verified- but as the first entry in the reboot serial publication , it sets up its sequels , leaving Steam Deck players with an excellent idea of what to check out next .

9Monster Hunter Rise Provides Co-Op Optional Action Gameplay On The Go

$39.99 On Steam

Monster Hunter Riseis the up-to-the-minute ingress in Capcom ’s long - break away action RPG series . First unblock as a Switch scoop , it was always design for hand-held weapons platform , but it came to Steam ( and by extension , the Steam Deck ) in 2022.Monster Hunteris best describe as the forerunner toDark person : its ambitious fighting call for careful positioning , monster moveset observation , and pot of planning ahead . It features 14 weapon types , each with a unique moveset . The parts musician gain from monster can later be used to upgrade or forge Modern ( often quite stylish ) equipment .

Monster Hunter : Riseruns excellently on the Steam Deck , and much likeDoom , can be played either solo or carbon monoxide gas - op . It exert a unanimous player base even three years after firing , and has Very cocksure review from 61,630 role player on Steam . The recentSunbreakDLC forMonster HunterRiseadds several new monsters , equipment upgrades , and crusade missions .

8Dave The Diver Is A Brilliant Mix Of Survival Adventure & Management Sim

Dave the Diveris an risky venture game by daylight , and a eatery management sim by dark . Its nominal character , Dave , is an exotic fisherman who moonlights as a sushi restauranter . Its gameplay is part into two half : thespian delve into the depths , retrieving as many and as rarified fish as potential , with throttle ( but finally upgradable ) supply . Then , at Nox , they cook up the stop of the twenty-four hours and serve up it to hungry customers , using the profits to better both goal of their sportfishing - fine dining operation .

Dave the Diveris rated as Overwhelmingly Positive by an average of 93,331 Steam referee . It was also put up , somewhatcontroversially , for Best Indie Game at The Game Awards2023 . Still , it ’s an excellent secret plan , with long legs supply by its varied gameplay and two free content packs . Its cartoonish nontextual matter and casual gameplay experience right at home ( and hunt down well ) on the Steam Deck .

7No Man’s Sky Lets Steam Deck Players Carry An Entire Universe In Their Pockets

$59.99 On Steam

No Man ’s Skyis a spacefaring natural selection gameset in an infinite , procedurally generate universe . Its core gameplay consist of visiting alien worlds , researching new species , gather materials , and upgrading case and ship to ease along the journey . It can be played either alone for a broody experience , or with friends for a fun , collaborative journey of discovery .

No Man ’s Skyhas a Mostly Positive norm across 227,481 reviews- but that ’s mainly due to the rebound it received forthwith after expiration for not live up to pre - launch expectations . But today , No Man ’s Skyis every bit the game it was originally publicize as , if not more . That ’s due in no minor part to eight twelvemonth ' worth of regular update , which have greatly expand the plot ’s scope . It ’s swear for and fly the coop well on Steam Deck thanks to its colored , conventionalized graphics . It ’s open - terminate enough that it works for unforesightful , on - the - go sitting , but expansive enough that it can be replay forever .

A wildly ambitious title of respect from the studio behind No Man ’s Sky might sound like a recipe for disaster , but there ’s a good reasonableness to be affirmative .

Apollo and Poseidon stand side by side with big cocky smiles.

6Vampire Survivors Is Perfect For Quick, Casual Steam Deck Play

$4.99 On Steam

Vampire Survivorsis a bullet hell auto - shooterin which musician take control of various heroes , fight off cloud of undead monster across multiple map . As they gain experience , they ’re able to purchase upgrade to their weapon - additional projectiles , greater equipment casualty , myopic cooldowns , et cetera . A wide variety of builds are potential , from calculated , timed bam to constant barrage of jumbo AoEs . No two playthroughs are the same , and with multiple levels andsecret role to unlock , Vampire Survivorsis a good deal more complicated than it seems .

Vampire Survivorshas overpoweringly Positive military rank , averaged across 219,236 player review . It ’s design to be played in curt bursts , but its gameplay is so engaging it ’s easy to get sucked in for hour at a sentence . WithCastlevania - breathe in pixel fine art graphics , it runs great on Steam Deck . It ’s an fantabulous choice for on - the - go gaming , but the ease of its short round do n’t sacrifice strategic complexness .

5Street Fighter 6 Is One Of The Best Fighting Games In Recent Years

Featuring 18 characters from acrossStreet Fighterhistory , along with some fresh faces , Street Fighter 6continues the legacy of the pioneer combat biz serial publication , delivering one of the good genre entries in late storage . Street Fighter 6 ’s multiple controller type and real - time commentary make it approachable to new player ( and easy to customize on Steam Deck ) , but it ’s deep enough that it ’s deserving the time it takes to learn . The new Drive System mechanic makes matches more exciting than ever before , and the customization selection allow players to create and control the fighters of their dreams .

Street Fighter 6has Very Positive evaluation across 24,812 player revue on Steam . It runs well enough to keep players militant on Steam Deck , thanks mostly to its excellent online multiplayer functionality . It also gets regular update in the shape of young character releases to keep it sweet - but those do be additional .

4Yakuza 0 Is A Varied Experience & The Perfect Series Entry Point

Yakuza 0is a prequel to the repose of the series , featuring new versions of Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima as they pilot the low-spirited strata of the Japanese metro . Both next-to-last penis of different yakuza menage , Kiryu and Majima pilot complicated mob politics , all of which center on a desirable art object of undeveloped land in the middle of Tokyo and a slaying that takes place there . boast two interwoven stories , six unique fighting style , and 27 diverse mini - secret plan , Yakuza 0is a varied and engaging experience player wo n’t presently forget .

Most of theYakuza / Like a Dragonseries is usable on Steam Deck , include spinoffs likeIshinandJudgment , along with the late discharge mainline entryInfinite Wealth . That said , Yakuza 0is the best entrance point to the story - grave dealership , and will give up a whole globe of new Steam Deck games for players to check out after they finish it .

3Hades 2 Is One Of The Best Roguelikes On Steam Deck

$29.99 On Steam

It ’s no secret that there are a ton of roguelikes uncommitted on Steam Deck , butHades 2is easily one of the best . It ’s an honor formerly exact by its harbinger , but sinceHades 2is already boastful and good , it ’s taken the original game ’s seat . Hades 2is an isometric , Grecian myth - inspire activeness roguelike in which player moderate Melinoë , girl of Persephone , as she seeks to get retaliation on the titan Chronos , the idol of fourth dimension . Pluto 2allows player to promote Melinoë ’s ability , both permanently and per - round , in order of magnitude to let her to travel further from home each prison term .

Aidoneus 2has a Very Positive rating on Steam from 37,688 reviews . It ’s still in the first weeks of its early admittance catamenia , so as stunningly deep , complicated , and fun as it is , it ’s not even land up yet . Like the originalHades , it track down perfectly on Steam Deck , but players do n’t necessarily have to play the first plot to understand the 2nd .

There are a lot of divinity and goddesses in Hades 2 . While each one apply worthful blessing , when you have to choose , there are some you should prioritize .

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC 8

2Balatro Brings Peculiar Poker Action To Steam Deck

$14.99 On Steam

Balatrois a fresh , engaging take on poker as a deckbuilding roguelite . Players strive to meet score targets within a dictated number of hands . Some rounds , promise blinds , have particular conditions , such as ignoring identity card of certain suits , or forbidding players from submitting the same variety of hand doubly . Between blind , player can expend their winnings on a variety of Jokers and other unequalled cards , each of which is design to increase their scores - for example , counting even - total cards doubly , or applying a account multiplier to hands contain three of a kind .

Balatrohas an Overwhelmingly positivist rating on Steam across 34,497 reviews . It ’s the perfect form of address for Steam Deck , as it ’s simple to learn , quick to pick up , but hard to dominate . Players can hop on , act as a few blinds , and sign off , or play for hour in an attempt to mark a new high mark . With 150 Jokers of diverge rarity , every secret plan is dissimilar from the last .

1Elden Ring Is The Best Steam Deck Game

It ’s a small unconvincing thatElden Ringis uncommitted on Steam Deck . Such a huge capable - world secret plan , with one C of hours of content , tense , timing - found action gameplay , and seemingly innumerable enigma to regain , is n’t normally the variety of thing that operate on handheld . But it does . Elden Ringis Steam Deck verified , and with the right graphical options , play just as smoothlyas it does on a home console or high - end microcomputer . player can take The Lands Between with them wherever they go , exploringElden Ring ’s enormous map to their hearts ' mental object . They can enjoy the game in single - thespian , or stress out multiplayer co - op or PvP invasions .

Elden Ring ’s new elaboration , Shadow of the Erdtree , is a thought-provoking and telling expansion that thrives with new bosses , weapon system , and a huge telescope .

Elden Ringboasts a Very Positive valuation on Steam across 609,106 reappraisal , has won 331 distinct Game of the Year Awards , and sold 23 million copies . It ’s not only one of the good games onSteam Deck , but one of the best game in late memory .

Imagery from Doom, Hades 2, Elden Ring and No Man’s Sky.

Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic.

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Steam Deck