Best Steam Deck Games In 2023: AAA, Indie & More
With the surge of purchases since reservations were lifted, many people are now wondering what the best Steam Deck games are. While Valve's magic handheld might just boil down to being a portable PC, there is an abundance of games that shine on the system, and it has the power to change your gaming habits.
The best Steam Deck games run the gamut from AAA all the way to indie titles, thanks to the handheld's mix of power and portability. So, check out our list below to see all of the best Steam Deck games that you can play right now.
Best Steam Deck Games In 2023
Click to enlargeWhile it would be easy to throw all of our favourite games in this list and call it a day, we have specifically decided to exclusively include games that work best on the Steam Deck platform.
That might come down to factors like suiting a controller layout best, working within the power limits of the system, avoiding any compatibility issues, and working portably. Of course, there are going to be loads of games that we won't have space to include on this list, but this is just a selection of our personal favourites in no particular order.
Elden Ring
Click to enlargeWhile this does somewhat defy the parameters we just set, Elden Ring is just too impressive to not include on this list. Outside of it being easily one of the best games ever made, it also runs surprisingly well on the Deck.
Capping at 40 fps and running on lower graphical settings is your best bet for a stable experience, and it will of course eat away at your battery, but it is just a marvel to play a game of this scale on a platform so small. There's definitely a reason why it ranks so highly on Valve's official Steam Deck playtime charts.
- Check out this Elden Ring rune farm if you want to level up fast.
Pentiment
Click to enlargeOn the flip side, Obsidian's 16th Century Bavarian murder-mystery Pentiment is another perfect game to play on Steam Deck. It doesn't require much power at all despite coming out recently, and its art style just looks wonderful on the handheld platform.
Furthermore, it features a near-constant autosave system, making it perfect if you're looking for something that will let you just pick up and play for a short period. You might struggle to put it down though, as Pentiment's utterly compelling narrative will have you relentlessly uncovering each mystery.
Stardew Valley
Click to enlargeIf you've somehow not played Stardew Valley yet, then the Steam Deck is the perfect place to start. ConcernedApe's Harvest Moon-style farming sim exploded upon its release in 2016, sustaining a massive fan base ever since.
Its day-based gameplay system makes it perfect for those who want to play in short periods, while also sustaining the ability to be played for hours at a time too for the keen farmhands and cave crawlers out there. The only slight downside is that installing mods is a bit more finicky on Deck, but it is still thankfully very much possible when using a tutorial.
- Find out how to get the Stardew Valley Ancient Seed with our handy guide.
Triangle Strategy
Click to enlargeIf you're a keen fan of tactics games, then there are few better to choose from than Triangle Strategy. While we could have just as easily selected Tactics Ogre Reborn as it is also a fantastic game, Triangle Strategy is the perfect balance for enthusiasts and newcomers to the genre alike that make it another of the best Steam Deck games.
Its stunning HD-2D graphics and complex choice-based narrative pair wonderfully with dense and varied tactical combat scenarios. Its only downside is that it is surprisingly power-hungry on Deck, which can be quite troubling when battles often reach within the hour mark.
- Find out how to fix Triangle Strategy crashing on Steam Deck here with this easy solution.
Death Stranding
Click to enlargeWe just couldn't resist including a game about transportation on a list of the best games on a handheld device. While this does fall under the same category as something like Elden Ring - where battery life and performance will suffer slightly - it is still well worth playing on Deck.
There would be something just so therapeutic about walking through the damaged terrain of Death Stranding while commuting as if you were experiencing two journeys at the same time. Do watch out for the lengthy cutscenes that Kojima has become synonymous with though, as you could be stuck there for a while!
Chrono Trigger
Click to enlargeJRPGs - specifically those originally released on the SNES - seem to just be perfect for the Steam Deck as a platform. The smaller screen makes the 16-bit graphics truly shine, and they are just a breeze to play on a handheld platform.
Chrono Trigger in particular is a particular standout from an era of excellent games, being rightfully regarded as one of the greatest games of all time. It takes you on a time-travelling adventure across various fantasy lands, with a simple but ever-engaging turn-based combat system and a masterfully told narrative that still resonates to this day.
Final Fantasy VI
Click to enlargeWe would be remiss to not include a Final Fantasy game on this list, and with the recent pixel remasters Final Fantasy VI emerges as a clear favourite. While it does broadly fall into the same category as Chrono Trigger, it is just too good to pass up.
You can easily opt for several other Final Fantasy titles too, with Final Fantasy XIV being very much playable on deck with a bit of tinkering, and series favourites like VII, IX, and X also working well alongside the other pixel rereleases. Overall, the Steam Deck is perhaps the perfect console if you're wanting to dive into the Final Fantasy series.
Hades
Click to enlargeAnother genre that feels like a match made in heaven with the Steam Deck is roguelites. While we could have just as easily opted for titles like Rogue Legacy 2, Dead Cells, and Spelunky 2, Supergiant Games' Hades emerged as our choice as one of the best Steam Deck games you can play right now.
Hades features combat that somehow manages to effortlessly bridge the gap between chaos and precision, and its short but infinitely replayable runs make it perfect for the Deck. Each playthrough takes no longer than about 25 minutes, making it a fantastic choice if you're looking for something to just pick up and play on the commute or while you've got some downtime at home.
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
Click to enlargeIf you're wanting to play a visual novel on your Steam Deck, then there are few better choices than The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. Compiling both Adventures and Resolve into a nice neat package, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles serves as a highlight for an already excellent series.
Instead of playing as the famous Phoenix Wright, you play as his ancestor Ryunosuke Naruhodo in both Meiji-era Japan and Victorian England - alongside a certain Herlock Sholmes. Featuring ten cases across 70 hours of gameplay, there is just so much to enjoy and uncover within this extravagant collection that fits so well into the handheld system.
Hollow Knight
Click to enlargeStanding out among the sea of Metroidvania titles in Hollow Knight, which is both an utterly brilliant and crushingly difficult game for anyone up to the challenge. Hollow Knight's stunning aesthetic might still look great on a massive TV, but it fits so well within the seven-inch boundary of the Steam Deck, giving you an even more intimate experience.
With the imminent release of Hollow Knight Silksong, there has never been a better time than now to jump into Hallownest if you haven't already taken the plunge.
- Want to play more games like Hollow Knight? Check out this list for some inspiration.
Persona 3 Portable & Persona 4 Golden
Click to enlargeWhile this is technically cheating to include two games in one entry, the ports of Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden are two of the best games to play on Steam Deck. Considering how long Persona games can be, being able to whittle away anytime and anywhere at your own leisure can really help in reducing fatigue.
Additionally, considering that Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden were both portable editions of their respective games, it makes playing them on the Steam Deck even more natural. If you're a fan of Persona 5 and want to dive in more, then why not give these both a try on the Deck?
- See how good the Persona 4 port is here with our glowing Persona 4 Golden review.
Vampire Survivors
Click to enlargeCrowned as the unofficial "Best Steam Deck game" of 2022, Vampire Survivors took the world by storm with its simple and captivating gameplay. Falling again under the roguelite category, Vampire Survivors tasks players with surviving its 30-minute time limit with the help of a few upgrades and health boosts along the way.
This might sound pejorative but the best thing about Vampire Survivors when it comes to playing on Steam Deck is that it near enough plays itself. No button presses are required, as all you need to do is avoid any nearby foes and let your power-ups do the work. It emerges as almost the ideal 'low effort' game: tailor-made for those oh-so-common moments when you just want something easy to play.
- See all of the Vampire Survivors cheats here if you want to spice things up a little.
Marvel's Midnight Suns
Click to enlargeIf you fall in the middle of a superhero and SRPG-themed Venn diagram, then Marvel's Midnight Suns will be an ideal choice for you on Steam Deck. You will be able to utilise all of your favourite superpowers in-game, building up the perfect deck to take down even the toughest foes.
Additionally, while it didn't fare the best at launch, it has recently received an update that significantly boosts the performance on Steam Deck. With this, you've got no excuse not to jump right in and enjoy all the action that Marvel's Midnight Suns has to offer.
- Read this guide to see the Midnight Suns best Iron Man deck.
So, that wraps up this list of the best Steam Deck games that you can play right now in 2023. Make sure to stay with us at GGRecon for all of the latest Steam Deck news, updates, and guides.
