The Steam Deck has made portable PC gaming a reality. What are the most popular Deck Verified games? Valve released the Steam Deck on February 25, 2022, marking its entry into the portable video game market. These three devices are intended to provide PC gamers with a more portable option that does not sacrifice too much power. The Steam Deck has received generally positive feedback, and it is becoming more accessible to the general public. Since the hardware’s release, Valve has been methodically testing each game in Steam’s library for compatibility with the Steam Deck. Every game that the company has approved as suitable for the portable system has proven to function properly. Let’s look at the top Steam Deck games using Deck Verified as a benchmark.
Apex Legends
Apex Legends took the world by storm at launch, fusing the battle royale genre with Respawn’s tight gameplay, and has barely missed a beat since then. The main mode is similar to a standard free-for-all, but instead of fighting alone, people join squads. Instead of using generic characters, players select a Legend who comes with their own set of special abilities, adding a tactical element to matches. Apex Legends is simply enjoyable; the gunplay is precise, the maps are well-designed, and the game runs smoothly on the majority of devices. Although not the only way to play the FPS on the go, Steam Deck is designed specifically for Apex Legends’ quick play sessions. The best part? It is completely free.
Devil May Cry 5
Capcom finally gave the world another proper Devil May Cry game after more than a decade of waiting, and the sequel was well worth the wait. DMC 5 has three distinct playable characters, a contender for the best combat system in any hack and slash game ever, and Dante wielding a bike as a weapon – what more could anyone want? DMC 5 is all about the gameplay; the stages are mostly made up of linear corridors that lead players to the next encounter where they can demonstrate their skills. This gives the game a “pick up and play” feel, especially after completing the campaign for the first time.
Risk Of Rain 2
Risk of Rain 2 is an excellent sequel that expands on everything that worked in the first while also shifting to a third-person perspective. The roguelite drops players into an alien world and tells them to stay alive by fighting enemies, leveling up, and finding teleporters to get to the next level. This game can be played over and over again, especially since Risk of Rain 2 has so many playable classes, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.
A Short Hike
A Short Hike, an indie darling, follows Claire, a bird, as she attempts to reach the top of a park in order to get a mobile signal. While this moves the plot forward, the game is all about the journey rather than the destination. Claire meets a lot of other hikers on her way to the peak, and players decide whether the protagonist should interact with these people or just focus on her own quest. A Short Hike is a lovely and relaxing game that encourages players to be present. The campaign lasts as long as the player wants it to because there is no combat and a heavy emphasis on exploration.
Pizza Tower
Pizza Tower is a joy to play and a must-have for fans of 2D platformers who adore Wario Land. Players take on the role of Peppino Spaghetti and go on a rampage through the tower that bears his name. This journey is filled with beautiful animation, a lot of personality, and a lot of humor. Pizza Tower is a great game that combines fast gameplay with levels that are hard to get through without some strategy. While Tour De Pizza’s project unabashedly takes inspiration from a classic franchise, Pizza Tower nonetheless succeeds in identifying and cementing a distinct voice. While Steam’s library is brimming with representatives of this genre, there is no other game quite like this 2023 release.
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered is now not only available on PC, but can also be played during a commute thanks to the Steam Deck. Both open-world and Spider-Man games are plentiful, but Insomniac managed to combine the two to produce something truly unique. Swing through Manhattan’s detailed streets as Marvel’s friendly neighborhood superhero, taking down bad guys, completing side quests, and performing a midair trick or two. The controls in Spider-Man are sublime, resulting in a traversal system that may be the most satisfying in any open-world project (except perhaps Miles Morales). The main story is also quite good, both in terms of content and presentation. The PC version includes all DLC, including The City That Never Sleeps. While not a great addition as a separate purchase, the DLC is adequate when included with the base game. Want to learn more about Marvel comics and the most expensive Marvel comics ever sold? Check out SpinGenie.ca.
Hollow Knight
Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight has become known as one of the best Metroidvania games of all time. The story follows the Knight as they explore the husk of a collapsed kingdom in search of the source of the corruption in the deceptively massive Hallownest. Hollow Knight matches its beautiful visuals with tight gameplay that expands nicely as the campaign progresses, boasting some of the most beautiful backdrops in modern gaming. Hollow Knight is one of the best Steam Deck games available for any platform, and Team Cherry’s title is a good fit for a handheld system.
Terraria
Over the last decade, Terraria has more than proven its endurance. The indie game drops players into a procedurally generated world with little guidance to get them started. Within the sandbox, players can dig down to find resources for crafting structures and items. Terraria, set in a mind-bogglingly large world, is jam-packed with content that rewards exploration and dedication. Quests, special items, and bosses await those who are willing to embrace the depth of this game.
Ultrakill
Ultrakill, which is currently in early access, 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, two acts with three layers each, and a third act with short missions. Even though Ultrakill isn’t finished yet, it already has a good range of content and gameplay that makes it fun to play again and again. At first glance, this game might look like other throwback shooters, but Ultrakill stands out because it does movement so well. The act of sprinting through a level while performing triple jumps and blasting enemies is never boring. The FPS also has a good weapon selection, with unique variants for each type.
Dead Space (2023)
If you want to play a scary survival horror game, you might not want to use a portable system. The smaller screen may make players feel like they aren’t part of the game, which could make the scarier parts of the project less scary. That said, Dead Space is too brilliant to not recommend. The 2023 remake does more than just re-paint the 2008 classic; EA’s release also includes a few smart changes that should surprise players who are already familiar with the franchise. If you want to stick to the original, Dead Space from 2008 is also Steam Deck verified. Meanwhile, its sequels are labeled as “playable,” which means they should run, but the process may not be completely seamless.