SUMMARY
- Steam Deck is a handheld device by Valve that runs on the SteamOS and functions has a PC.
- Most of the games on Steam can be played on it as long as they are compatible.
Ever since Steam Deck was launched in March 2022, the handheld device has attracted an impressive list of games that it supports. Of course, it is connected to the distribution platform Steam, which is a great advantage since a host of titles that may not have that green “verified” tick of Steam, still work well on the Deck.
One of the biggest advantages of the Steam Deck is the fact that it allows players to bring a massive backlog with them, wherever they go. From the biggest AAA titles to low-key indie hits, the Steam Deck is filled with heaps of games to play.
As 2024 arrives, some of the biggest and best games of 2023 are available on Steam Deck. Here’s a quick look back at the titles that are best played on the Steam Deck in 2024.
The Exit 8
The Exit 8 is that indie game that comes out of nowhere and permanently resides in the minds. It is a short, addictive puzzle game that is prime Steam Deck material. Players are trapped in a subway station, despairing to escape. As they wander through the station, they are tricked by monsters.
It gets terrifying just when one least expects it and has countless surprises hidden. The Exit 8 is available at just $3.99 and it takes anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour or two to beat.
Dave the Diver
In Dave the Diver players play as Dave, a diver, who is roped into helping a fledgling sushi restaurant by catching fish. He also is the waiter there. The game blends the exploration of the deep for more fish and treasures, with a humorous story. After diving for the day, players then thrust into the manic sushi restaurant portion.
Players get to choose the menu, serve customers, wash dishes, and eventually expand the business by hiring people and upgrading just about everything in the game. It’s the perfect game for the Steam Deck game, thanks to its short bursts of the game that can be easily halted and played during short breaks.
DREDGE
Dredge is another cozy indie game. It is set in a rustic fishing village, and its conjoining islands, where the player is a fisherman. They are stuck with a broken boat and no money to repair it. As players juggle back and forth between searching the depths for treasure, or fish, a curse named the Eldritch curse leads into a small mystery.
Eventually, players find themselves fishing for oceanic life, braving the dark night and dredging up old trinkets demanded by a curious researcher.
El Paso, Elsewhere
El Paso, Elsewhere is a unique combination of Max Payne with horrors from another world. The game mixes the old-school third-person shooting genre with some interesting slow-motion mechanics. All in all, it offers a wild experience, featuring a twisted story playing out throughout various, quick-fire missions
To add to the experience is its fabulous soundtrack, that kicks in just in time when needed. The game looks stunning on the Steam Deck OLED and continues to stay in the mind long after it’s over.
Path of Exile
Diablo 2 fans will love the Path of Exile for its similar vibe and mechanics. Besides, Path of Exile’s massive breadth is appropriate for those TV catch-up sessions or podcast listening endeavors.
It features fresh runs through the early content, that work marvelously well on the Steam Deck. Even if players have hit some of the endgame content, the game’s surprisingly well-thought-out controller mapping makes things super easy and controlled.
Resident Evil 4 Remake
Although Resident Evil 4 Remake’s performance or fidelity isn’t incredible even after AMD’s supersampling is applied. However, it’s Steam Deck version has a different story.
Be it stalking or mobbing by the unruly Spaniards, the slots of Resident Evil 4 Remake perfectly fit into the “pick up and play” motif of the device. The expanded exploration and massive replayability make Resident Evil 4 Remake a treat on the Steam Deck.
Vampire Survivors
This one is a bizarre crossover between the visuals of old Castlevania games, bullet hell shooters, and rogue-likes, Vampire Survivors. As players go deeper into the game they come across tougher challenges to complete, and the game starts to break wide open.
Very soon players will find those 30-minute stints of killing monsters and few vampires become into extravagant and elaborate rounds wherein the timer can be busted, and power-ups can be used.
Players will be tempted into the “one more round” cycle when playing this game.
Final Fantasy XIV
Undoubtedly, Final Fantasy XIV is one of the best MMORPGs out there. Square Enix’s fabulous story-telling and wonderful moment-to-moment action make this one the best of the lot.
It plays fabulously on the Steam Deck, thanks to the intuitive controls for a gamepad. Although the game was originally built to support the PS3, the devs have taken a lot of care to make sure that players who simply want to explore don’t find themselves lost in the heavy MMO gameplay.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
Although Monster Hunter Rise takes the game a little backward in terms of graphical prowess, it makes up for it in the number of things to do. The game is a non-stop barrage of upgrading and fighting, all this before the player hits Sunbreak.
Notably, Sunbreak is the expansion DLC offering a deadly deluge of things to do in the game and monsters that players need to fight. The Monster Hunter game is generally also best played when portable, and what better than Steam Deck that allows players to run the title without a hitch.