4 years after its launch, Valve’s Steam Deck continues to be the preferred handheld PC round and for good motive. 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 properly, and might even be modded and tweaked in case you so want. It’s a fabulous machine, and in case you are right here, you doubtless personal one or are about to purchase one and need some online game suggestions. Fortunately, you’ve come to the fitting record, my buddy. Under you’ll discover the 15 greatest 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 at all times get talked about when speaking in regards to the system. This record additionally options some greater video games in addition to experiences that could be good for killing time at a bus cease or a brief prepare experience. Lastly, for this record, we tried to stay to video games that run properly on the Deck with out having to make bizarre tweaks or set up mods.
Hopefully, at the very least one in every of these video games is what you have been on the lookout for and allows you to get pleasure from your Steam Deck a little bit extra. Vampire Survivors Any record of greatest Steam Deck video games is legally obligated to incorporate Vampire Survivors. At this level, Valve ought to simply pay Poncle some sum of money to have Vampire Survivors pre-installed on all Steam Decks. Anyway, yeah, it’s low cost, enjoyable, runs nice, and is an ideal recreation for the Steam Deck. I’d say play it, however you doubtless have already got.
Stardew Valley One other “legally obligated” advice, however hey, Stardew Valley is nice, and it runs like a dream on Steam Deck. And if you wish to get wild, not like the Change port of this widespread cozy slice of life farming sim, Stardew Valley on Steam Deck might be modded. You don’t want to do this to play it, to be clear, however if you wish to, it’s an choice on Deck.
Balatro Okay, final one in every of these “legally obligated” entries, however sure, Balatro is an unbelievable recreation. Top-of-the-line 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 greatest video games for the Steam Deck are ones constructed round “runs.” Video 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 break up into completely different days, makes it one in every of these good Steam Deck video games. Additionally serving to is Dave the Diver‘s 2D artwork fashion which the Deck can deal with with out breaking a sweat. It’s by no means been simpler to catch and prepare dinner digital fish on the go.
Blue Prince Somebody informed me this was their Steam Deck bedtime recreation, and I get it. Slowly exploring a comfy however mysterious mansion that shifts each time you go to and is full of puzzles to resolve is an ideal exercise to interact in for a bit earlier than calling it an evening. Blue Prince‘s 3D visuals don’t push the Steam Deck laborious, and it performs effortlessly on a gamepad, making this a improbable method to play one in every of 2025’s best-reviewed video games. Dredge For these on the lookout for one thing creepy to play on their Steam Deck, however not all in favour of a extremely scary recreation, Dredge is a good choice. Not solely does Dredge run properly on the Deck, however it’s one more recreation 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 recreation 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 in all probability replenish a Steam Deck with nothing however a ton of auto-shooter video games that play rather a lot like Vampire Survivors. (In truth, there’s yet one more developing on this record.) However amongst the numerous, many video games that adopted in Vampire Survivors‘ wake, Deep Rock Galactic Survivor is without doubt one of the greatest. Including sci-fi dwarves and mining and sub-challenges to the system helps elevate this one past a mere clone. It runs properly on Deck, too, although its 3D visuals will eat up battery quicker 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 function sizzling Greek gods, loads of motion, and lovely visuals that seem like the good animated film ever. And each Hades and Hades 2 play like a dream on Steam Deck. You actually can’t go incorrect together with your alternative. Sektori Geometry Wars was a very good recreation. What if somebody made a brand new one? Properly, 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 to be like and runs flawlessly whereas delivering quick and fluid twin-stick shooter enjoyable. You’ll be able to’t ask for far more for $15.
Elden Ring When Elden Ring first arrived again in 2022, the Steam Deck ended up being among the best locations to play FromSoftware’s hit open-world RPG. Flash ahead to in the present day, and it’s nonetheless a rattling high quality method to get pleasure from Elden Ring. It may not look as crisp as it’ll on a PS5 or a high-end PC, and it’ll eat your battery up shortly, however that’s all price it to have such a improbable recreation playable wherever. Resident Evil 2 A stunning variety of trendy Resident Evil video games run properly on the Steam Deck, however I nonetheless suppose the remake of Resident Evil 2 could be one of the best one to play on Valve’s transportable PC. It’s not too massive, doesn’t push the system too laborious, and is a good installment within the franchise. It may not be as straightforward to drop out and in of this recreation as others on the record, however Resident Evil 2 continues to be a terrific option to play on the Deck. Simply perhaps depart the lights on? Large Hops Positive, 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 additionally as a result of it appears to be like 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 completely different causes, there aren’t many massive live-service on-line video games out there for the Steam Deck. So, free-to-play ninja shooter Warframe being totally playable on the machine may be very cool. In the event you’ve at all times needed to slice up robots and aliens whereas working 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 have got a strong wi-fi connection, as Warframe is an online-only recreation. TMNT Shredder’s Revenge A 2D pixel artwork brawler is simply in regards to the good online game for the Steam Deck, and TMNT Shredder’s Revenge is without doubt one of the greatest 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 folks!” don’t fear. You’ll be able to 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 luxuriate in among the best TMNT video games ever made. Megabonk Vampire Survivors however 3D and weirder is the elevator pitch for Megabonk. And it could be among the best 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 acquired yet one more that’s pretty much as good and enjoyable as Megabonk. And it’s simply $10.
