Best Games for the Steam Deck (November 2023)

Launching on February 25, 2022, the Steam Deck introduced Valve to the handheld gaming world. Coming in three variants, these devices are intended to provide a portable option for PC gamers, one that does not come at a high cost of performance. The product has received a mostly positive reception, and the Steam Deck is steadily becoming easier to acquire.

Since the hardware’s release, Valve has been gradually going through Steam’s massive library to verify that a game is compatible with the Steam Deck. Any title that receives the company’s seal of approval has passed all checks and should be a good experience on the portable system. Using Deck Verified as a criterion, let’s take a look at the best games for Steam Deck.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Steam User Rating: 96%

Considering Baldur’s Gate 3 full debut attracted a peak Steam player count of more than 800,000 users, it is safe to say that the game’s stint in early access paid off. Due to the success of its Divinity series, Larian Studios is nowadays well-established as perhaps the greatest modern developer specializing in the tactical RPG genre, making the company the perfect pick to revisit one of the most decorated IPs in gaming history. Putting aside the spin-offs, Baldur’s Gate’s main projects are synonymous with excellence, so any new entry was going to be automatically compared to some of the best RPGs of all time. In the future, games in the genre will be compared to Baldur’s Gate 3, which has set the bar so high that it might be the standard-bearer for decades to come.

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Larian has crafted a dense and extensive RPG filled with humor, drama, and player-driven choices. Right out of the gate, the game hits a home run with its character creator, which not only offers impressive depth but also influences the gameplay and world. The party-based combat system is fairly slow-paced since it focuses on planning and strategy over action or reflexes, and battles can get brutal quickly. Anyone familiar with grid-based tactical RPGs should feel at home, but newcomers to the genre might need a few hours to adapt to its rhythm.

Dave The Diver

Steam User Rating: 97%

Great sushi requires a lot of hard work. Dave the Diver is a sim about running a restaurant. Also, Dave the Diver is an exploration game revolving around an ever-changing underwater paradise that is home to quite a few majestic and massive creatures. Basically, Dave the Diver wears a lot of hats, and they nearly all fit like a glove.

Mintrocket’s project strikes a fun balance between open-ended dives into known but uncharted waters and a satisfying management game. Although they do not really share all that much in common, these mechanics are complementary since one side directly feeds into the other. Dave the Diver combines great gameplay with gorgeous visuals, a charming sense of humor, and a story that has more depth than meets the eye.

Hogwarts Legacy

Steam User Rating: 91%

Hogwarts Legacy was one of the early standout games of 2023, at least in terms of popularity. The Harry Potter title takes place roughly a century prior to the events of the books and movies, allowing players to follow a unique story set within the Wizarding World. Avalanche’s project brings to life a lavish and detailed open-world, and the game shines brightly when it simply encourages players to exist within its immersive environments.

Even though a Nintendo Switch port has been announced for November, at the moment, the only way to play Hogwarts Legacy on the go is through a Steam Deck (or, technically, a laptop). Once upon a time, these types of projects seemed destined to remain on home consoles or computers, but Valve’s portable system has destroyed the barrier separating these sides of the gaming marketplace.

Hi-Fi Rush

Steam User Rating: 97%

Hi-Fi Rush came out of nowhere. Tango Gameworks’ game was announced and released on the same day, and it is even available on Xbox Game Pass. As an added bonus, the hack and slash title is already Steam Deck verified, so owners of the handheld system can immediately jump into this project.

Boasting striking visual design and a stellar soundtrack, Hi-Fi Rush is a feast for the senses. Ultimately, high production value does not mean that much if the gameplay is not up-to-snuff, which is something that Tango clearly understands. Hi-Fi Rush rewards players who synch their movement with the beat, and this goes beyond providing a power boost in combat. Even explorative actions benefit from this synergy.

Persona 5 Royal

Steam User Rating: 97%

Once upon a time, a PlayStation console was necessary to experience a mainline Persona entry, but that is no longer the case. The latest turn-based entry in Atlus’ franchise is now available on the Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC, the latter of which also means Persona 5 Royal can be played on the Steam Deck. Offering more than 100 hours of content, this beloved JRPG can keep someone entertained for potentially months.

The story revolves around the Phantom Thieves, a group of teenagers who seek to inspire social change by invading a corrupt individual’s Palace, a metaphysical representation of their negativity. P5R is divided into two sections: social sim and dungeon crawling. The latter features relatively traditional turn-based combat, albeit one elevated through a stylish presentation and an addictive monster-collecting system. Outside of palaces, players can hang out with their friends, grab a bite to eat, and take on adults who are ruining the world.

Dying Light

Steam User Rating: 95%

Both Dying Light games are Steam Deck verified, and the sequel is a decent title in its own right. However, Techland’s 2015 original is extra special since it leans a lot more into survival horror than its successor, which helps distinguish it from the many other open-world projects flooding the market.

Gameplay-wise, the franchise is predominantly known for its parkour, which is allowed to flourish thanks to a map that emphasizes verticality. The first-person combat is also intense, particularly during the nighttime. Dying Light is a prime contender for the best open-world zombie game of all time.

Cassette Beasts

Steam User Rating: 96%

As there is no way to officially play Pokemon on the Steam Deck, people looking to catch ’em all will need to check out some alternatives. In April 2023, a new contender not only entered the monster-taming market but immediately cemented itself as a front-runner to become one of the subgenre’s modern greats. While it takes a few notes from Game Freak’s ludicrously successful franchise, Cassette Beasts has no trouble whatsoever establishing its own identity.

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Washing up on an unfamiliar shore seemingly removed from reality, players learn they have the ability to transform into “beasts,” which proves to be useful since this realm is overrun with creatures. Alongside a partner, players must explore the island while acquiring new monster forms, exploring a mystery involving Archangels, and occasionally fusing in the middle of a heated battle. Cassette Beasts has fantastic combat, music, visuals, and monster designs.

Cuphead

Steam User Rating: 96%

Inspired by classic cartoons, Cuphead has gorgeous visuals, tight controls, and many brilliantly designed bosses who yearn to make players suffer. The best Steam Deck games might be the ones that cater to shorter play sessions, and Cuphead is one such title.

Now, while the levels themselves are not extremely long, their high difficulty greatly expands their completion time, so they do require commitment. Also, try to resist the urge to fling the Steam Deck out of a window out of sheer frustration.

Neon White

Steam User Rating: 98%

A pleasant surprise, Neon White is specifically designed for speedrunning. The goal is to repeat stages in search of progressively quicker times, and while that might seem like a niche structure, the game’s strong fundamentals give it wide appeal. Neon White builds its platforming and combat on a card-based system that forces the player to think on their feet, and executing a perfect run after memorizing the stage’s layout is incredibly satisfying.

As stages do not last more than a few minutes, this is the perfect Steam Deck game for short bus rides or quick breaks. Admittedly, Neon White‘s addictive nature makes it difficult to put down once someone finds their rhythm, which might lead to some missed meetings.

The Outlast Trials

Steam User Rating: 93%

Anyone specifically looking for a single-player survival horror experience would be better served picking up Outlast or its direct sequel, two games that are playable but not perfect on the Steam Deck. Released into early access, The Outlast Trials is quite different from its predecessors. For one, the game supports and prioritizes co-op, and it handles this feature fairly well. The campaign tasks the captured players with escaping from an array of locations, with each section featuring multiple missions. Although not devoid of lore or story beats, The Outlast Trials is not story-driven, which can be disappointing for fans of the previous entries.

Despite all that, Red Barrels has still put together a fun and addictive survival horror package, one packed with terrifying monsters and impressive environments. Although The Outlast Trials is still a work in progress, the available content is of fairly high quality, more so than most early-access projects.

Elden Ring

Steam User Rating: 92%

Released alongside the Steam Deck, Elden Ring was something of a test of the portable system’s potential. Can Valve’s platform handle a massive open-world game that just debuted in 2022? Thankfully, the answer is yes.

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Elden Ring was arguably the best game of 2022 so far, so there is a great chance that most Steam Deck adopters have already traveled or will be traveling to the Lands Between. What awaits them is a pretty impressive experience that delivers decent performance and visuals. The Steam Deck has made playing Elden Ring on a flight a reality, something that hardly seemed possible before the platform’s launch. It is also way more comfortable than gaming laptops for these types of situations.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Steam User Rating: 96%

Valve worked with CD Projekt Red to optimize The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077 for the Steam Deck, ensuring that owners can take these ambitious RPGs on the go and have a blast in the process. The Witcher 3 set a benchmark for gaming in general, particularly when it comes to storytelling in side content.

Set in a beautifully crafted world that builds upon the lore of previous franchise releases while still delivering an accessible package for newcomers, The Witcher 3 is gripping, deep, and addictive. The combat system takes a bit of getting used to, but things do start to come together once the player grows familiar with Geralt’s signs and tools.

Euro Truck Simulator 2

Steam User Rating: 97%

Celebrating more than a decade on the market, Euro Truck Simulator 2 has expanded by leaps and bounds since its debut. SCS Software’s driving sim asks players to grow a hauling empire, a journey that comes with humble beginnings. After spending a couple of hours working for established businesses, drivers can venture out on their own and start companies, a decision that opens up a host of management options.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 is an oddly cathartic experience. When out on the open road, the rest of the (real) world has a tendency to disappear into the background. It is refreshing. SCS’s sim is at its best with a gaming wheel and a large monitor, but the Steam Deck is also an option.

God Of War

Steam User Rating: 96%

A few years ago, it would have seemed ludicrous to imagine that Sony’s newest God of War would not only be available on a portable system, but one specifically released by Valve. Changing things up significantly from previous entries in the series, 2018’s God of War drops Kratos and his son, Atreus, in Nordic mythology, and the latter’s deities are not particularly enamored by the Spartan’s arrival.

The first entry in a new saga, the game finds Kratos going on a pilgrimage to pay respect to his deceased wife while trying to foster a stronger bond with his child. Opting for an over-the-shoulder camera, God of War features intense melee combat that offers a degree of customization via progression and loadout systems. The campaign is not just endless action either as there are plenty of stretches that shift the focus to puzzles or exploration.

Hades

Steam User Rating: 98%

Roguelite games are an acquired taste, but Hades is one of the more welcoming options out there for people who do not typically love this sub-genre. The basic gameplay loop is still there: players run through the same stages over and over again. However, in this game, death does not result in a full reset; in fact, the story develops naturally with each defeat, so there is a constant sense of progression.

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Narratively, Hades follows Zagreus, the son of the titular god, as he attempts to leave the Underworld for Olympus. The journey is brutal and, more importantly, memorable.

Celeste

Steam User Rating: 97%

Hard-as-nails 2D indie platformers are not in short supply, and these games can start to blend together. However, Celeste will not be mistaken for any of its peers. A rare example of a story-driven entry in the genre, the 2018 title follows Madeline as she climbs a mountain that echoes her personal struggles. Consequently, the punishing gameplay complements the narrative being told, reflecting the protagonist’s insecurities and trauma.

Putting the story to one side, Celeste‘s gameplay still holds up in a vacuum. The controls are tight and the levels are well-designed, and the game is a popular fixture of the speedrunning scene.

Vampire Survivors

Steam User Rating: 98%

Vampire Survivors has taken the world by storm since its launch. Split into stages, players lead a character through (bullet) hell as they power up along the way. On the surface, there is nothing about this setup that seems particularly unique, but the execution is always key in these instances.

Vampire Survivors is simply fun, and the diverse character and weapon builds provide more than enough depth to ensure that things remain interesting for multiple playthroughs.

Slay The Spire

Steam User Rating: 97%

Slay the Spire combines an array of genres to create a package with no true peers on Steam, which is saying something. The roguelike sets players on randomly generated paths as they work their way through a spire’s levels, taking on enemies and bosses along the way. Before a run, players pick from a range of classes that each come with unique starting decks, and the cards contained within are used during battles.

After each win, players earn new cards that could be randomly drawn in future encounters, meaning there is a constant sense of progression. Slay the Spire is addictive, polished, and charming.

Phasmophobia

Steam User Rating: 96%

Presently in early access, Phasmophobia is a spine-chilling ghost game that knows how to creep under the players’ skins. The premise is simple: a team of up to four people must enter a haunted location to discover the type of ghost behind the frights. This is done by using a handful of tools, and while the early levels are quite forgiving, Phasmophobia ramps up the tension and scares in subtle but effective ways.

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After a while, every unidentified sound or brief movement will cause panic to spread through the group as they prepare themselves to face off against the entity that rests within these nightmarish walls.

Papers, Please

Steam User Rating: 97%

Papers, Please is harrowing, stressful, and depressing, emotions most games do not attempt to emphasize. Lucas Pope’s indie project revolves around a border-crossing agent who must check and decide whether to approve the papers of folks looking to step into Arstotzka, a country ripped right out of dystopian novels and (relatively) recent history.

Despite being a clog in the machine, the player has the power to decide these people’s futures, and mistakes carry consequences. Players have a family waiting for them who are barely surviving. Consequently, if their salary takes a hit as punishment for making the wrong decision at work, their family suffers for it.

Stardew Valley

Steam User Rating: 98%

Steam’s library is flushed with indie games that exploded in popularity, growing into cultural phenomenons along the way. Even among this elite group of success stories, Stardew Valley exists in its own tier.

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A farming sim with RPG elements, Concerned Ape’s game frees players to manage their land, all the while providing them with plenty of other activities they can interact with. The campaign is not directionless either and tries to ensure there is always something on the horizon that players can look forward to. Charming, ambitious, and addictive, Stardew Valley is reaching the point when it can be called timeless.

Dredge

Steam User Rating: 95%

It is not every day that an indie fishing game takes the world by storm, but Dredge is nothing if not unusual. With a customizable boat and gear, players head out into the sea to catch fish, all the while steadily discovering and uncovering hidden truths about this stretch of water. During the day, Dredge has a fairly relaxed tone as the gameplay loop centers around collecting and selling fish to earn better equipment to allow for more ambitious sea-faring adventures.

If this was the game’s only focus, Dredge would have already been decent by most metrics; however, Black Salt Games added a Lovecraftian twist to this fishing sim formula. Once darkness falls, a fog washes over the sea, suddenly turning the peaceful waters into a harrowing hellscape filled with horrifying monsters that could stare in B-movie epics or someone’s nightmares.

Resident Evil 4 (2023)

Steam User Rating: 97%

Putting aside a few exceptions like 2020’s Resident Evil 3, most of the entries in Capcom’s franchise are marked as “Great on Deck.” Admittedly, horror is not particularly compatible with handheld platforms, at least if someone is trying to maximize their scares; fortunately, Resident Evil 4 walks the line between action and horror, delivering a campaign that succeeds at reaching the “top of the class” in both categories.

While not a massive departure from the 2005 original, the remake brings more to the plate than just a graphical upgrade. The 2023 version tweaks the story’s pacing, characters, enemy design, and movement to provide a more consistent but not necessarily superior overall experience. The remake works as an entry point for people who never played the GameCube classic while also giving die-hard fans something to get excited about.

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Steam User Rating: 91%

Lego games are the video game equivalent of comfort food, and that is a compliment. Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is perhaps the most ambitious project in Lego gaming history, covering the main nine movies in the legendary sci-fi franchise. Players can freely pick from any of the episodes, each of which contains five missions that cover the major story beats from the films.

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When not reliving comedic recreations of iconic cinematic moments, players can explore an array of hub worlds set on different planets, each one coming with quite a bit of side content. The Skywalker Saga is obviously designed with Star Wars fans in mind, however, people looking for a lighthearted adventure should consider trying out this release.

Devil May Cry 5

Steam User Rating: 95%

It took more than a decade to manifest but Capcom eventually blessed the world with another proper Devil May Cry game, and the sequel was well worth the wait. DMC 5 features three distinct playable characters, a contender for the best combat system in any hack and slash game ever, and Dante using a bike as a weapon – what more could anybody ask for?

DMC 5 is all about the gameplay; the stages primarily consist of linear corridors that funnel players to the next encounter where they can show off their abilities. This gives the game a “pick up and play” feel, particularly once the campaign is cleared for the first time.

Risk Of Rain 2

Steam User Rating: 96%

An example of an excellent sequel, Risk of Rain 2 expands everything that worked about its predecessor while also shifting to a third-person perspective. The roguelite drops players onto an alien world and tells them to survive as they fight enemies, become stronger, and locate teleporters to move on to the next level.

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Easy to grasp but difficult to master, this game is infinitely replayable, especially since Risk of Rain 2 comes with an impressive selection of playable classes that introduce their own strengths and challenges.

A Short Hike

Steam User Rating: 99%

An indie darling, A Short Hike follows Claire, a bird, as she tries to head to the top of a park in order to get a mobile signal. While that drives the story forward, this game is all about the journey and not the destination. En route to the peak, Claire meets a lot of other hikers, and players decide whether the protagonist should interact with these people or simply focus on her own quest.

A Short Hike is a beautiful and relaxing game that encourages players to live in the moment. With no combat and a heavy focus on exploration, the campaign lasts as long as the player wants it to as they get to set the pace.

Pizza Tower

Steam User Rating: 98%

Pizza Tower is a delight and a must-play for fans of 2D platformers who love their Wario Land. Casts as Peppino Spaghetti, players go on a rampage through the eponymous tower, a journey defined by glorious animation, an overabundance of personality, and plenty of humor. Pizza Tower plays incredibly well, combining fast gameplay with tight level design that requires some strategic planning to overcome.

2D platformers are a dime-a-dozen, and while Tour De Pizza’s project unabashedly takes inspiration from a classic franchise, Pizza Tower nevertheless succeeds in identifying and cementing a unique voice. While Steam’s library is overflowing with this genre’s representatives, there is no other game quite like this 2023 release.

Hollow Knight

Steam User Rating: 97%

Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight has firmly cemented its place as one of the greatest Metroidvanias of all time. Set in the deceptively massive Hallownest, the story follows the Knight as they explore the husk of a collapsed kingdom while searching for the source of the corruption.

Boasting some of the more gorgeous backdrops in modern gaming, Hollow Knight matches its beautiful visuals with tight gameplay that expands nicely as the campaign progresses. Team Cherry’s title is a good fit for a handheld system, and like any other platform it is available for, Hollow Knight is one of the best Steam Deck games​​​​​​.

Terraria

Steam User Rating: 97%

Terraria has more than proven its staying power over the last decade. The indie game cuts players loose in a procedurally generated world, providing them with only a bit of direction to get them going. Within the sandbox, players can dig downwards to find resources that they can use to craft structures and items.

Set in a shockingly huge world, Terraria is absolutely stacked with content that rewards exploration and dedication. Quests, special items, and bosses await people who are willing to embrace this game’s depth.

Don’t Starve Together

Steam User Rating: 95%

Somewhat surprisingly, Don’t Starve is not Steam Deck Verified, a grade its multiplayer spin-off, Don’t Starve Together, has received. The former was one of the better survival indie games of the 2010s, and Together took the core experience and added a co-op twist.

The thing is the latter is still a decent option for solo players since it supports private sessions, although it does lack a story and is generally just about survival. Ultimately, Don’t Starve and Together are cut from the same cloth but still different experiences, so their value will vary from person to person.

Ultrakill

Steam User Rating: 98%

Presently in early access, Ultrakill is a fast-paced retro shooter that has steadily grown into one of the most exciting projects on Steam. At the moment, the campaign has a prologue and two acts with three layers each, the latter of which are split into short missions. While not yet complete, Ultrakill already offers a decent range of content, along with gameplay that rewards repeat playthroughs.

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At face value, this game might not seem all that dissimilar from other throwback shooters, but Ultrakill sets itself apart by absolutely nailing movement. The act of sprinting through a level while executing triple jumps and blasting enemies in the face never gets old. The FPS also has a good selection of weapons, including unique variants for each type.

Dead Space (2023)

Steam User Rating: 91%

A portable system is perhaps not the greatest option for an intense survival horror game. The smaller screen could cause players to feel more detached from the gameplay, hurting a project’s scarier moments. That said, Dead Space is too brilliant to not recommend. The 2023 remake does more than just coat the 2008 classic in a fresh dose of paint, as EA’s release also implements a few smart changes that should surprise players who are very familiar with the franchise.

If someone wants to strictly stick to the original version, 2008’s Dead Space is also Steam Deck verified. Meanwhile, its sequels are tagged as “playable;” therefore, they should run but the process might not be 100% seamless.

Hotline Miami

Steam User Rating: 97%

The 2010s saw the independent scene explode in relevance and exposure, and games like Hotline Miami helped usher in this movement. The stylish top-down shooter takes place during the late-’80s, and its neon-clad world captures the decade’s pop culture aesthetic. Players portray an unnamed protagonist who receives cryptic missions from an unknown source; regardless of what a message contains, the tasks typically boil down to “kill ’em all.”

Hotline Miami is unapologetically violent and bloody, a factor amplified by its colorful visuals. The gameplay offers a good blend of strategy and visceral action since players will need to outmaneuver their targets rather than simply rely on their reflexes. Hotline Miami will never get old, and it is one of the best Steam Deck games.

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!

Steam User Rating: 96%

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is one of the best Steam Deck games to introduce people to the vast world of visual novels. That said, as the free version, Doki Doki Literature Club!, is marked as “playable” for the Deck, anyone who is not sure whether this type of experience is for them should download that first. After all, the game’s positive reputation stems from the original free release, even if the Plus iteration adds a fair amount of new content.

Difficult as it can be to avoid spoilers in the age of memes and let’s plays, Doki Doki Literature Club! undoubtedly benefits from a blind playthrough. That said, the story covers a few intense and potentially triggering subjects that might be too much for some people.

Doom

Steam User Rating: 95%

Now, this might be a bit of a controversial pick, and it has nothing to do with the quality of 2016’s Doom. It is a contender for the greatest FPS of the last decade and a must-play for fans of classic run-and-gun shooters that dominated the ’90s. However, PC owners are probably used to playing shooters with a keyboard and mouse, so the Steam Deck’s gamepad might hinder Doom for some people. That said, compared to some other FPSs, Doom is a bit more forgiving in terms of accuracy.

Dead Cells

Steam User Rating: 97%

Roguelikes are everywhere on the Steam Store, and many of them are Deck Verified. This genre seems tailor-made for portable systems since individual play sessions tend to be relatively short; someone could easily whip out a Steam Deck for a quick run while on the bus.

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Dead Cells is about as good as roguelikes get, delivering a combat system that takes a few pages from the Souls playbook. In it, players take control of a corpse as they try to escape a dungeon, picking up items along the way. It is entertaining, explosive, and rewarding.

Valheim

Steam User Rating: 95%

In early access since 2021, Valheim has proven its staying power by this point, and Iron Gate’s Viking-themed game has generally managed to maintain a positive reputation throughout its life. Set in an open-world fantasy environment that takes inspiration from history and myth, the title is predominantly a member of the survival genre, so players spend most of their time picking up resources and crafting items and shelter. All these mechanics are handled fairly well, and Valheim‘s hands-off approach grants players plenty of room to craft experiences that are unique to them.

Each playthrough features a procedurally generated world, meaning two campaigns should almost never be alike unless someone specifically searches for a map seed. Valheim was one of the better games on Steam when it launched into early access, and the project has only gotten better since then. Along with being a viable single-player option, the title also supports multiplayer.

Left 4 Dead 2

Steam User Rating: 97%

OK, Left 4 Dead 2 is just a placeholder for every Deck Verified Valve game. There is a reason these titles continue to rank among Steam’s most active titles; they are timeless. Outside purely multiplayer games like Team Fortress 2 and Counter-Strike, which are not Deck Verified, Left 4 Dead 2 is Valve’s most replayable release since there is never a bad time for a group of friends to get together and blast a few hundred zombies in the face.

Many games have tried to replicate the Left 4 Dead formula, but none have come close to matching the excellence of Valve’s second entry in the series.

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