10 Best Steam Deck Games, Ranked

The Steam Deck is Valve's flagship piece of handheld hardware, a powerful mini PC with a custom operating system. The Steam Deck is able to run many — if not all — games available through Steam, and its impressive specs make it possible to take even recent releases on the go.

But what makes a good Steam Deck game isn't always the same as what makes a good PC game. Steam Deck titles have to be lightweight enough to run on the relatively lower-end platform. They have to play well with the Steam Deck's customizable controls. They have to be accessible enough that they're playable on the go, but entertaining enough that they can pass the time players spend waiting for their laundry, riding the bus, or flying cross-country. The following ten games will give handheld players the most bang for their bucks: all ten are well-reviewed, popular, and Steam Deck-verified.

Steam Deck users can take advantage of their handheld's customizability to create custom startup and boot intros. Here's how to get them working.

(2016) is the first entry in id Software's reboot of the classic first-person shooter franchise. It includes a short-but-sweet 11-hour campaign, a variety of multiplayer modes, and a wealth of secrets to discover. Featuring intensely satisfying fast-paced FPS gameplay, a bombastic prog metal soundtrack, and terrifying new renders of classic demons, (2016) is the perfect entry point for a total newcomer to the series, and a nostalgia-filled revival for old-school fans.

On Steam, received Overwhelmingly Positive player reviews, averaged from a whopping total of 127,903. Its relatively low price gives players far more entertainment value than they paid for. Its mix of single-player and multiplayer modes make it enjoyable both with and without WiFi. Like all the modern games, it's Steam Deck-verified — but as the first entry in the reboot series, it sets up its sequels, leaving Steam Deck players with an excellent idea of what to check out next.

is the latest entry