The one thing that Player.com can say about these Steam Deck games is that they’re perfect for gaming on the go. They don’t weigh too much nor are they too graphically demanding, so you needn’t worry about breaking your handheld console. That said, the Steam Deck is still a game changer that’s capable of running many AAA titles. To that end, we’ve gathered the best Steam Deck games below.
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Top 8 Steam Deck Games
The Steam Deck games on our list range from action-adventure titles to horror games. So, every gamer will find a go-to title, regardless of their favourite genre. Without further ado, explore the Steam Deck games’ strengths and weaknesses now. Alternatively, consider CRKD Nitro Deck if you haven’t purchased a Valve’s portable console yet.
#1: Elden Ring
Elden Ring shines because of its small size compared to games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. For comparison, Elden Ring weighs less than 50 GB, while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 weighs more than 90 GB. The game lets you control a Tarnished Warrior, who is the lowest of the lows in Elden Ring. So, your adventure to become the Elden Lord isn’t boring in the least. You’ll meet useful NPCs, merchants, and many monsters along the way.
Of course, besides the merchants and a handful of NPCs, everyone is gunning for your avatar. Wolves, rams, tree sentinels, and many demigods await your swift blade in Elden Ring. Thankfully, there are tons of weapons to use, including spears, swords, hammers, daggers, shields, and magic spells that can make enemies lose their minds. It’s a masterpiece that doesn’t hold players’ hands, instead letting you master all the in-game mechanics yourself.
#2: Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 is the perfect game for players whose love for racing games is extreme. For one, this is the gaming benchmark for tons of PC players. So, the existence of a handheld console that’s capable of effortlessly crunching the game’s demands is mindblowing. This is more evident when you run Forza Horizon 5 on much higher PCs and then witness their struggle.
To that end, you’ll race with the world’s greatest cars, including whips from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Mitsubishi. Also, the game’s sandbox is always evolving, so expect dynamic weather such as dust storms, intense tropical storms, and others. Heck, no two seasons in Forza Horizon 5 are ever the same.
#3: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a revolutionary video game that focuses on Geralt of Rivia and his many adventures. Developed by CD Projekt Red, the same studio behind Cyberpunk 2077, this is a fantasy game about monsters and mutants. During your time with the campaign, you’ll enjoy swordplay, magic spells, and many body-enhancing potions. The events of the game also revolve around Ciri, Geralt’s surrogate daughter, who can mend the tears in space.
For one, whenever a tear in reality occurs, monsters will rush into the human world as a result. So, it’s up to players to protect and guide Ciri until she can fix the rip in the fabric of space. Thankfully, this is one of the most optimised Steam Deck games out there. So, you’ll hardly notice a drop in frame rate during gameplay. Besides that, there’s an OLED version of the handheld console where visuals seem to pop.
#4: Grand Theft Auto V
Even among the best GTA games, GTA V is still worth a look even in 2024 because of its many incentives, including GTA Online, which lets you rob banks with your friends. That said, you’ll control three protagonists in the game, who are Charles, Trevor, and Franklin. On your way to the top, you’ll also ride new cars, rob casinos with the other protagonists, and shoot up rival gangs. This is a Grand Theft Auto game so all of your jobs are crimes.
Thankfully, there are many cheats and mods for gamers to enjoy. You can increase the intensity of police pursuits or make yourself impervious to bullets. It all boils down to what you consider fun in GTA V, especially as there are mods for improving its visual quality.
#5: Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2 was made by Valve when they still made video games and decades later, it’s still regarded as one of the best Steam Deck games ever. It’s a fun shooter game where the level design is mind-tingling. Shooting is fast-paced and sure, you’re equipped with a Gravity Gun for playing around with the game’s physics engine.
Since the Steam marketplace and community are owned by Valve, no Steam Deck is complete without a copy of Half-Life 2. You might as well purchase a copy of Half-Life 1 to witness the shooter genre’s baby steps. So far, the game has won more than 50 awards due to its detailed sandbox and complex behaviours exhibited by NPCs and enemy AIs.
#6: God of War
There’s no better way to enjoy a flight than with Kratos, God of War’s main protagonist. Kratos is a powerful god whose smarts can fill in for his muscles. For one, he can wield blades of fire or an axe that ices up enemies as soon as it tastes their blood. Kratos doesn’t back down and his journey has been revolutionising, especially as he went from a murderous god to a caring father and lover in 2018’s God of War.
During the game, Kratos unravels the meanings behind prophecies made by his wife, Faye, with his son (Atreus). So, you’ll encounter some of the Norse gods, including Thor, in the single-player campaign. You’ll bash, kick, slash, and crush enemies to death, so there’s no dull moment in God of War. Luckily, Atreus is available to provide support via different types of magic arrows. We hope God of War Ragnarok will be ported over to PCs in the future.
#7: Cuphead
Nintendo couldn’t make a Super Mario game that’s better than Cuphead due to its stupendous music and fast-paced gunplay. You’ll play as Cuphead or Mugman, who run and gun enemies with different types of attacks. The visuals are beautiful and, oftentimes, cartoonish due to the watercolour effects and cel animations. We don’t mind them in the least, because the main bosses and goons are meticulously designed by the creators.
Thankfully, Cuphead only weighs 4 GB. So, it’s a Steam Deck game that doesn’t require you to splurge on higher-storage versions of the handheld. Other memorable features are the new weapons, super moves, and obscure secrets.
#8: Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
This list wouldn’t be complete without Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, which is a proper open-world game with tons of exploration options. You’re a spy who is simply known as Big Boss for your tactical prowess and your goal is to stop a virus outbreak. The opposition has developed a new variant of a language virus that only affects English speakers.
Along the way, you’ll meet and recruit Quiet, who is an infected soldier meant to destabilise your base. However, Big Boss’ goals and patriotic ambitions sway her to your side so throughout the game, she doesn’t utter a single English word. This is intentional; Big Boss speaks English and would die if she ever shared her feelings with him. Personally, in between the intense action and realistic gunplay, their untold story of love leaves a bittersweet tone to the experience.
Our Final Say: Steam Deck Games Are Unlimited
All of the games that we have mentioned are available in 1080p and above. So, it’s nice to see the Steam Deck benefit from high-quality textures, shadows, lighting, and animations across the board. Besides that, the handheld is capable of rendering gameplay at smooth frame rates, so you never miss a moment of the action. That said, the console isn’t cheap, especially as the 512 GB version costs $560.