The newest portable to enter the market, the Steam Deck, wants to compete directly with devices like the Nintendo Switch. The Steam Deck, in contrast to the Switch, is exclusively intended for portable use and is more like the Switch Lite in that regard. This small device is a powerhouse, much like the Switch is not. To play these games as smoothly as PC players are accustomed to, you'll need a lot of processing and graphic power and access to your Steam library.
Not all of the games in your collection are playable through the Steam Deck, but many of them are. Choosing which games to play on your brand-new gadget from your backlog may take all day if you have a Steam library as huge as the majority of people have. Instead, we've reviewed all the Steam Deck games that are presently confirmed and picked the top ones to play first.
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What is the steam deck?
Your Steam library can be taken with you wherever you go thanks to the powerful mobile gaming device known as the Steam Deck. A surprising number of Windows games can be successfully run on the Linux-based portable PC, although attaching it to a monitor or TV is challenging, and emulation needs some setup.
Best games for Steam Deck
Tetris Effect: Connected
With the majority of people's first handheld game, what better way to start off your new portable gaming adventure. Tetris is the must-have puzzle game to play when on the move, whether it was designed for the original GameBoy or one of those early old mobile phones. Tetris Effect: Connected is the newest and best iteration of the game. Despite being a total sensory explosion, this game's graphics and noises never take your attention away from the placement and strategy required to line up the pieces precisely. It is a game that will engulf you and simply transport you into the flow state, making it possible that you will lose track of time. A multiplayer component is also present in Tetris Effect: Connected.
In the past, Tetris games have done this with varying degrees of success. The competitive and co-op modes in this instance are both cleverly created and capitalize on the most popular aspects of Tetris gameplay without adding any unnecessary complexity. There is never a terrible time to start up this classic puzzle game, and the fact that Tetris Effect: Connected is on your Steam Deck gives you the ideal justification.
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Crypt of the NecroDancer
The majority of people believed that the Steam Deck would be utilized for independent games, and there are definitely many options to choose from. We'll pick more than one, and this won't be the first one, but why not begin with the popular rhythm game Crypt of the NecroDancer? Crypt of the NecroDancer is far more dependent on music and sensing the beat than Tetris Effect: Connected is. Since the adversaries and you both must adhere to the beat of the song, a decent set of headphones will be necessary for this situation.
In-depth rogue-lite adventure Crypt of the NecroDancer is also available. There are hundreds of items to find and unlock, obstacles to overcome, and randomly generated challenges on each level you descend. Crypt of the NecroDancer is a challenging game, so be forewarned. You must have the ability to act quickly, think quickly, and act strategically at the right time. When you get the hang of it, it nearly plays like a game of rapid chess, but it is also immensely rewarding. It is more enticing to do "just one more run" when it is portable.
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The Binding of Isaac
Speaking of independent games, notably roguelikes, it would be impossible to overlook the master of the field. Unfortunately, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is not the most recent update to the game; yet, it is some players' favorite. This version is still worthwhile for your time even though it lacks some of the most recent features and goods. In reality, it will take you several hundred hours to fully explore and unlock all of the game's content. The charming yet straightforward visual style, as well as the room-based advancement, are ideal for the Steam Deck's screen.
Although it contains some coarse humor and flair, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a miracle mechanically. Each run begins with you selecting your character and, generally, your standard arsenal of tears as projectile weapons. However, at the conclusion of a run, you may be a flying cat monster firing electric bolts while wielding a weapon that conjures up enemy-damaging white light pillars. Each of the numerous objects somehow has a purpose, and they combine in bizarre ways that might turn you into an overpowering, virtually unkillable monster or instantly kill you. In either case, you'll enjoy learning more about this peculiar game.
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Cuphead
Not every game has to be simple to be suitable for a portable. However, Cuphead is renowned for its difficulty just as much as it is for its distinctive graphic style. That is not to suggest that we haven't highlighted any games that are more challenging than this. Cuphead, which is based on vintage cartoons from the 1930s, is so beautiful to look at that we virtually just advocate including it in your Steam Deck for that reason. On the other hand, the fact that it's one of the most gratifying and difficult 2D platformers will either completely turn you off or be the reason you eventually defeat that difficult boss.
Despite its difficulty, Cuphead doesn't have a particularly complicated control system to worry about. The majority of your actions consist of sprinting, shooting, leaping, and parrying. The control choices on the Steam Deck are excellent in this situation and may even feel better than a conventional controller. Since bosses, which make up the majority of the experience, end quickly, you can play the game in short bursts or for extended periods of time depending on the circumstance. Either they defeat you in a matter of seconds, or you triumph over them in a short period of time. Cuphead is undoubtedly one worth displaying when traveling.
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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The platform made the claim that even high-end, lengthy adventures with stunning graphics could be played on the Steam Deck. That is true for a number of games right away, but The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is unquestionably the greatest. Since the game was successfully ported to the far less powerful Switch, many people have been interested in seeing it appear on the Steam Deck. However, this version will play and look far better than that and has the advantage of transferring progress between your PC and Steam Deck with ease. Additionally, there isn't much in the game that calls for pinpoint accuracy or the ability to see minute details, which may be more difficult on a small screen.
The ability to play The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in little chunks while out and about, or even just take it with you to bed, may finally make it possible to complete this lengthy RPG, which may take hundreds of hours to complete. There are a ton of additional things you can do that would be ideal in a handheld, even if you would choose to preserve the story and action part of the game for the big screen. For instance, Gwent appears to be tailor-made for the Steam Deck.
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Hollow Knight
What more can be said at this moment regarding Hollow Knight? There are no longer any justifications for not playing this gorgeous, eerie, and tenacious Metroidvania if you haven't already. While Hollow Knight is just as amazing on a TV or monitor, the Nintendo Switch is the ideal platform for it since it seems so much more natural there. You may travel anywhere you choose to explore the eerie, dangerous, and damp land of Hallownest now that we can run it on the Steam Deck. The focus of Hollow Knight, a Metroidvania, is exploration.
The map for this game was meticulously designed by Team Cherry. It never seems too difficult or tiresome to go where you need to go since it is so wide and diverse but organic. The straightforward fighting techniques and the platforming both feel accurate and tight. Just like a Souls boss, bosses will test your mettle, but after you learn how to react to each of their cues, they become fair opponents. The epitome of a contemporary Metroidvania that begs to be played on the move is Hollow Knight.
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Celeste
Mario is absent from the Steam Deck, but with a game like Celeste, you hardly need him. Despite having a straightforward appearance, this pixel platformer is among the most well-liked in the genre for both its gameplay and narrative. However, just because the graphics are retro doesn't make the game any less gorgeous. Each screen has been meticulously made, and the animations look pleasing and flowing. Being seen on a smaller screen won't have any negative effects on it at all, and it could even help in some respects.
Another 2D game that plays well on the Steam Deck in terms of the control scheme is this one. Although Celeste is reputed to be a somewhat challenging game, it is also one of the easiest. There shouldn't be any obstacles to playing it as intended on the Steam Deck, but if there are, all the options for adjusting the difficulty are still available. You may change the game's pace, how much climbing stamina you have, how many dashes you get, how invincible you are, and even totally skip chapters with the assist mode choices. Celeste provides you with all the resources you need, and playing the screen-based tasks on a portable is fun.
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Persona 4 Golden
Here, everything comes full circle. Persona 4 was released on the PS2 first and only; Persona 4 Golden, the enhanced edition, was released solely on the PS Vita. After more than ten years, it was eventually released on Steam so PC users may play one of the finest JRPGs ever created. This once-exclusive portable game may now be played on the move once again thanks to the Steam Deck. Despite the fact that Persona 4 Golden is the only game in the series that is entirely portable, the game's structure and tempo seem to be created specifically for mobile play. The characters, plot, and gameplay are still among the best in the genre even if it may not be the newest and greatest Persona game.
A current Persona game's structure alternates between combat dungeons, social simulation, and everyday living. A calendar-based system governs how much time you have each day to conduct various tasks and how many days you have to complete each primary goal in Persona 4 Golden. Each day is breakable, giving you the option to spend time with friends, go to work, study, or perform other chores that will help you develop your character in many ways.
Alternately, you can enter the dungeon and begin making your way toward the monster while battling and acquiring new Personas. You won't have to worry about being sidetracked or having to abruptly stop when playing while out and about because combat is turn-based and entirely tactical.
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Into the Breach
Into the Breach, a tactical rogue-lite from the creators of FTL is dangerously addicting. Although the game ultimately made it to the Switch, the new Steam Deck edition will be the only way to play it going forward. Even when the game was originally launched for the PC, users quickly wondered when it will be accessible on mobile devices. Like many roguelikes, the game is centered on a time loop in which you play as a group of warriors controlling various mechs who must defend mankind from an invasion of extraterrestrial insect creatures known as Vek. Your primary pilot will go back in time if you lose to try again. Similarly to Persona 4 Golden, the structure of Into the Breach is ideal for the Steam Deck.
Although combat is entirely turn-based, you also get to see what the adversary will do in the following turn. If you're cunning enough, you may use this knowledge to move, attack, and relocate the opponent during your turn to prevent harm to you or the civilian structures you need to defend during the enemy's turn. You will need to choose the missions you wish to do from the map between them, improve your mechs with the little resources you get, attempt to make it through each of the game's islands, and finally destroy the Vek.
When going into Into the Breach, there are many things to consider since unlocking new mech teams with new abilities fundamentally alters your approach.
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Slay the Spire
Gwent was brought up while discussing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but Slay the Spire may be the finest card-based game ever created for a fully immersive card-based experience that has already been shown to be ideal for mobile gaming. Due to their turn-based structure, card games are a perfect choice for shorter playtimes or situations where you could occasionally become sidetracked. For Slay the Spire, this is all accurate, but the added roguelike features make each run distinct and actually addictive. It won't take you long to be able to fly through orders, play cards, utilize equipment, and defeat adversaries on the Steam Deck controls since the controls and user interface are straightforward once you acquire a feel for them.
Similar to Into the Breach, Slay the Spire reveals to you exactly what each adversary will do before they do it. Although the cards you receive are randomly chosen, you may create and modify your deck as you play to make it stronger, which adds a significant amount of versatility. Planning your route through each act will also require you to decide how many opponents, campfires, and shopping stops you want to risk battling.
There are countless unlockables, including characters that play so differently from one another that they may all as well be their own card games at that point. If you haven't already spent a significant amount of time on Slay the Spire, you undoubtedly will once you can transport it everywhere via the Steam Deck.
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Elden Ring
The Souls games are the last option. Elden Ring is the most suitable to begin the options. Because of its open-world design and vastness, playing it while you're on the road can assist you to get through this voluminous experience. The portability works well since there are so many minor tasks and dungeons you can do. Although there is nothing forbidding you from doing so, you might not want to use it during a significant boss fight. Instead, the Steam Deck truly shines in this game's intermissions. This one game may easily keep you occupied for the entirety of a long trip, and it functions as well as you could want on a portable machine.
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