Best Steam Deck games 2023

What are the best Steam Deck games? Narrowing down the list of the best Steam Deck games is no easy task, as the device is capable of playing a myriad of genres and titles from across the decades. Yet whether you play your Steam Deck in small bursts, have it hooked up to an external display, or use it as your official travel buddy, there are perfect games for every occasion.

With almost the entirety of the Steam library available at the touch of a button, we’re often spoiled for choice for what to play on the Steam Deck. And that’s not including the magnitude of options that get Valve’s Verified seal of approval every day. Steam games don’t necessarily require Valve’s coveted approval to be playable, either, with plenty working on the handheld after some simple tinkering about with the settings. The amount of wonderful things you can play on your Steam Deck is growing exponentially, but we’ve put together a shortlist of our favorites to make things a lot easier.

Check out the best microSD card for Steam Deck guide, before getting too immersed in the list of games we recommend playing. More and more we’re seeing modern games require a lot of storage space, so whether you’re sporting the 64GB model, or just want to have the freedom to install more games, it’s worth the investment.

These are the best PC games to play on Steam Deck:

1. Street Fighter 6

When playing a game like Street Fighter 6, I prefer to not opt for a handheld device, in case I end up having to fight against connection issues. However, thanks to the addition of the single-player campaign, World Tour, and the community-driven Battle Hub, this sixth installment in the beloved series from Capcom becomes one of the best fighting-game experiences on the Valve handheld.

2. Elden Ring

No maidens? No worries. You’ll find plenty in this latest massive open-world RPG from FromSoftware. The difficulty found in Soulslike games isn’t for everyone, but this challenging RPG becomes a little bit easier thanks to the portability of the Steam Deck. Being able to practice your dodge rolls, and trying out a variety of builds on the go, makes venturing through the dangers of The Lands Between that little bit less taxing.

3. Stardew Valley

What was originally a love letter to the farming sim games of yesteryear, has become the best of the genre. If you haven’t yet joined the Stardew Valley revolution, you’re missing out. It’s one of the best cozy gaming experiences out there, which is only made better by the portability of the Steam Deck. You can tend to your farm, grow your crops, check out your new neighbors in the valley, and fight monsters in the dungeons – anything’s possible in Stardew Valley.

4. Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors is a perfect fit for the Steam Deck, offering up a devilishly delightful gameplay loop that can be enjoyed in bite-sized sessions or played for hours when one run simply will not do. While its art style is charming to look at, it’s not taxing on the device either, meaning that you can expect a smooth gameplay experience and not have to worry about battery life either. Just be warned that this roguelike bullet hell is as tough as it is impossible to put down.

5. Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

This PlayStation console exclusive zips along on the Steam Deck with all the speed and grace worthy of your favorite neighborhood Spider-Man. The first Spidey outing from Insomniac Games looks great on Valve’s handheld, and few things feel better than getting to swing about Manhattan on the go.

Got a great bunch of games already installed? Why not pivot your attention to our best Steam Deck accessories list and help Valve’s handheld hardware reach its full potential.

Best Steam Deck games 2023
Source: Maharot News