The Steam Deck is changing the way people play games portably. Or at least the way people play games from the comfort of their toilet seat. Yes, we’ve had the Nintendo Switch for years now, but that console is starting to show signs of age, and people are looking for the next big thing. Thus, the Steam Deck.
Right now there are over 2,000 games that have been given the “Great on Deck” badge, and that’s a long list of games to work through. Of course, many of these have been ported onto other systems, including mobile devices, so we’ve tried to narrow this list down to games you can’t easily play portably anywhere else or will play better here than on other handheld devices.
Remember, the Steam Deck is essentially a Windows PC, so pretty much any game has the potential to run as long as you make enough tweaks to the settings. If making those tweaks doesn’t sound fun to you, then consider sticking to the games in this list.
Apex Legends
Apex Legends just might be the best battle royale shooter on the market, and it just so happens to be free to play. What more could you ask for, really? Apex Legends is a fantastic shooter, and the constant rotation of maps, weapons, and extra game modes keeps the experience fresh every time you log in. Plus, the Switch version of this game is borderline unplayable, so the Steam Deck is easily the best way to go to play this game portably.
Elden Ring
Does this game need an introduction at this point? We’ve written about Elden Ring extensively, and unless something major shakes up the last part of this year in terms of game releases, then Elden Ring is the best game of 2022. And if you want to play it portably, you can do so on Steam Deck, with a couple of sacrifices.
Stray
It’s the cat game, and one of the only games to challenge Elden Ring‘s game of the year title in 2022. Stray is a short and simple puzzle platformer that doesn’t require any intense or precise inputs, just a straightforward exploration game where you find items and chat with NPCs in order to find your path forward. Oh, and it’s super cute, and that helps a lot.
Resident Evil 2 Remake
Resident Evil 2 Remake might be one of the best Resident Evil games ever. Yes, the original was incredible, but this faithful and gorgeous remake brings those familiar environments and foes into the modern day. It looks incredible and honestly plays just as well. Easily one of the best games you can play on any system.
God of War
Kratos’ story stops being quite so angry and shouty, and suddenly, he’s a doting father. Or, attempting to be, at least. God of War (2018) completely changes Kratos’ character. He’s aging and now trying to be a family man, of sorts, and leave his knowledge and skills to the next generation. If you want to see Kratos in a brand new light, this is the place to do it.
Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered
Do you want to feel like Spider-Man? Well, aside from the teenage awkwardness and undefined body mutations, I’m sure you do. And Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, which is finally available on PC now, is the best way to do that. You can swing through the city streets as Peter Parker, and defeat a bunch of classic Marvel villains over the course of the meaty adventure. But all of that really is secondary to that movement system. Swinging has never felt so good.
Splitgate
Like Halo, but want a bit more excitement? Then you need Splitgate. Splitgate really does take the old Halo combat formula, but adds portals, just like the ones from the game Portal. You can use these portals to aim through and shoot down foes, meaning you can create new lines of sight pretty much anywhere, and travel through them to surprise foes. It’s excellent.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid V includes a story which is entirely unfinished, and the bonus DVD included in the Special Edition of the game basically confirms that, even if the game manages to roll the credits three different times. Despite that though, it’s on this list, and that’s because it has the stealth-action gameplay of a true masterpiece, and no other game plays quite like it. Entirely worth playing, just don’t expect those expensive cutscenes to lead anywhere.
Death Stranding Director's Cut
Another Hideo Kojima game, and one that is coming to PC Game Pass, Death Stranding is a brand new take on the stealth-action genre, one where you’ll be hiding from near-invisible ghoulies, and the action you come across will be the terrain itself, and you crossing it. Linking up the last remnants of a deserted and devastated the United States is a tough job, and only Sam Porter Bridges can get it done. Literally, it’s like fate or something.
Valheim
Valheim is a survival-crafting game where you play as Vikings exploring a strange new world filled with low-poly fantasy creatures. Taking them all down rewards you with new recipes and materials, with which you can create the ultimate fortress. That’s the aim of the game in Valheim, keep exploring and building until you can create the ultimate base.
Written by Dave Aubrey on behalf of GLHF.
