Many people consider the Steam Deck as simply a system to take their AAA games on the go. But it’s much more than that. One of its most redeeming qualities that justify the inclusion of dual trackpads is the system’s ability to play oldPC gamesthat never left the PC ecosystem.
10 Best Horror Games to Play on the Steam Deck
From haunted houses to stalking xenomorphs, these horror games play terrifyingly well on the Steam Deck’s small screen and in even smaller rooms.
Steam is chockful of games from all the corners of the world, and the Steam Deck brings that library right into your hands. The best way to take advantage of a Steam Deck, especially if you don’t own a PC, is to try out these Steam exclusives that have been stuck on the PC platform with no indication of getting ported to other consoles.
Many of these games will require you to launch them using the latest Proton Experimental Compatibility layer. verify to check each game’s compatibility onProtonDB.comto see how easy the game is to run.
8Barotrauma
Submarines, Sanity and Steam Deck Stability
Barotrauma
One of the more recently released games, Barotrauma is a2D co-opsubmarine survival sim set on Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. The player controls the crew members in a procedurally-generated ocean filled with alien monsters and internal disasters. The core gameplay loop involves managing oxygen in the sub, the reactors, sonar and the medical supplies all the while fighting off enemies and fixing hull breaches.
The game is exclusively available on Steam and works pretty well with theSteam Deck’scontrol scheme, with the side-scrolling interface fitting perfectly on the handheld’s screen.
7Anachronox
Time-Traveling Sci-Fi and Turn-Based Brilliance on the Go
Anachronox
An old title that came out in 2001, Anachronox is a cult-favoritesci-fi RPGthat is still stuck on the PC ecosystem. For those who don’t want to experience it’s outdated blocky visuals on their $4000 RTX 5090 PCs, or for the console players who simply wish to experience it’s outdated visuals at all, the Steam Deck is the best solution.
The game blends classic turn-based combat with 3D exploration and a cinematic storyline that follows a washed-up detective Sylvester “Sly” Booths and his oddball companions across a universe of strange planets. The game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck with minimal tweaks needed, and thanks to Steam Input, you can easily map the game’s bindings to the Deck’s control scheme.
6People Playground
Stress Testing the Steam Deck’s Inner Psychopath
People Playground
One of the most unique games on this list, People Playground is one of the most brutal and sadistic Steam Exclusives ever. There is no objective or story, just a bunch of tools and weapons to shoot, explode or vaporize humanoid figures.
Despite its grim concept, the game is the perfect way to wind down or release stress, and is especially perfect for short sessions. The game runs perfectly well on Steam Deck and the controls can be easily customized.
5Dwarf Fortress
Now with Graphics, Still with Unimaginable Depth
Dwarf Fortress
Dwarf Fortress isn’t the type of game that a lot of gamers know about, but the ones who do, genuinely cherish it. Released officially on Steam in 2022 with tileset and music, this legendary colony management and simulation game lets players manage a group of dwarves to build, expand and defend a fortress in a randomly-generated world filled with danger and randomized lore. Each dwarf has moods, skill, histories and can suffer from different stresses and tantrums.
While the game was originally an ASCII-based freeware, the Steam version addes a graphical tileset with proper mouse support, making it perfectly playable on the Steam Deck thanks to the trackpads.
4Stronghold Crusader HD
Bring the Siege with You
Stronghold Crusader
Released on Steam back in 2002 in an HD remaster format, Stronghold Crusader HD is a classic RTS that focuses on castle-building, resource management and large-scale medieval warfare.
The game features over 100 unique skirmish trails, AI lords with distinct strategies and a strong economic-military balance for players to pore over. With the HD release on Steam, the game received updated visuals and widescreen support, and despite being a mouse-heavy title, the Steam Deck can play the game perfectly fine with the track pads.
3Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
A Forgotten Gem of Deep Role-Playing
Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
Probably one of the most underrated RPGs, Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura was released in 2001 by Troika Games and is only officially available on PC. It’s set in a world where the industrial technology clashes with ancient magic with all the bells and whistles of an RPG like custom character creation and branching storylines.
10 Best Sandbox Games on Steam Deck
The best sandbox experiences on Valve’s revolutionary handheld.
Players get the option to pick between turn-based or real-time combat, which is bundled with party management and equipment crafting. While the game might be a bitdifficult to run on the Steam Deck, it’s worth the effort.
2Black Mesa
A Modern Reimagining of One of the Greatest Shooters
Black Mesa
Half-Life is one of the best games on PC, and yes, it has been ported to many other systems. But Black Mesa, which is a complete remake of the original game developed by Crowbar Collective, was released exclusively on Steam in 2020 after staying for years in early access.
Black Mesa retells the story of Gordon Freeman’s escape from the Black Mesa Research Facility after an experiment goes wrong. Since its a complete remake of the game, it features modern graphics with improvements to enemy AI, along with a completely overhauled Xen chapter. On the Steam Deck, it’s fully compatible and arguably one of the best ways to play the remake.
1Aperture Desk Job
It’s Not Just a Demo. It’s a Love Letter to Steam Deck
Yes, technically it’s not a complete game but only a playable tech demo, but it’s still a must-play for fans of the Portal duology. Aperture Desk Job came out in 2022 coinciding with the launch of the Steam Deck and was intended to showcase the handheld’s capabilities like gyro, tocuhscreen and the haptics.
It puts players in the shoes of an employee at Aperture Science, making them test hilariously absurd products. This is the one title in this list that, while being a Steam exclusive, is intended to be played only on the Steam Deck, and not on a PC.
10 Great Steam Deck Games To Play While Travelling
Games that are great for playing on-the-go, without draining your battery!
