Best Steam Deck games 2025: top picks for Valve's handheld console

The best Steam Deck games in 2025 let you enjoy some of the best Steam games on a travel-friendly handheld device, so you can take these fantastic titles on your travels with you.

While you may not be able to find every single Steam game available on the Steam Deck, there is a massive amount of choice for players to browse. Some of the best indie games, as well as the best story games, are included in this list, so you don't have to worry about running out of titles to enjoy.

The Steam Deck is a fantastic gaming device and something that will appeal to many as a sleek and more portable alternative to a gaming laptop. However, one of its biggest perks is the huge library of games that can be enjoyed on the go.

So, if you've recently treated yourself to a Steam Deck or are just looking to expand your library of games, check this list for all the must-have games that are available to play right now.

The best Steam Deck games of 2025

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14. Assassin's Creed Shadows

Twin blades

Our expert review:

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Reasons to buy

The series’ best combat Beautiful world filled with loads to see, do, and kill Satisfying and rewarding exploration Dual protagonist system works - from combat styles to mission approaches

Reasons to avoid

-Changing between characters could be more seamless-Hideout mode is underwhelming-Story bounces all over the place and peters out

Assassin's Creed Shadows brings dual protagonists back for the first time since Syndicate, giving players the chance to take out enemies silently with Naoe, or going in guns blazing with Yasuke. Each gets their own side stories and activities, which weave seamlessly into the main plot. There's castles to storm, viewpoints to climb, and abilities to unlock as you make your way across a sprawling open world.

The open world is absolutely the main draw in Assassin's Creed Shadows, featuring dynamic seasons and weather that affect gameplay and stealth. In winter, icicles can be used to distract or damage enemies, while in Spring there's small bodies of water that you can dive into to escape from pursuers. In short, this is the best open world Ubisoft has ever designed, managing to be both rich with things to do, and completely breathtaking to behold. It's pretty amazing that the game runs on Steam Deck, though it'll be at 30FPS. Still, being able to play such an advanced open world title on the go is incredible, making it a must play.

13. Balatro

Know when to run

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

Every run is genuinely different A ton of cards and decks to unlock Impeccable UI design

Reasons to avoid

-High level of randomness may frustrate-Some boss abilities feel grossly unfair

Balatro manages to take the tried and tested game of Poker and spin it into a true modern classic. To say that Balatro is difficult to put down is a serious understatement, as its unique blend of rogue-like mechanics and simple card game fun is perhaps the most unique and innovative we've seen for a long old while.

With a few different kinds of deck to work through, Balatro offers hour of fun, at a fairly cheap price as well. Given its addictive nature, and the fact that runs rarely last all that long, Balatro is the perfect Steam Deck game. Before you know it, you'll be squeezing in one more run whenever you get a spare ten minutes, whether that's on the go or while procrastinating at home.

12. Marvel Rivals

New kid on the block

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

High production values 33 Heroes at launch, with more on the way Heaps of fun, even when you’re losing Varied Heroes with different levels of challenge

Reasons to avoid

-Not many modes at launch-Tutorials are extremely limited right now

Marvel Rivals is already proving itself to be much more than an Overwatch clone, having had an extremely successful launch so far. This is, in part, due to the sheer breadth of heroes available to play as. There's 35 to choose from, including Iron Man, Magneto, Spider-Man and even Jeff the Land Shark.

What sets Marvel Rivals apart from its competitors is the team-ups system, which allows certain characters to unlock new abilities in each other Rocket can ride on the back of Groot, Thor can empower Captain America, and new character Luna Snow is buffed by Iron Fist. The meta is still forming, of course, but it's looking like the majority of the characters are at least viable, an impressive feat for such a stacked roster.

11. Diablo 4

Vessel of Hatred

Our expert review:

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Reasons to buy

A darkly compelling fantasy world Fluid combat that scales well in single and multiplayer Endlessly customizable characters

Reasons to avoid

-Brief story sections left me wanting more

After a long time spent dormant, Diablo returns with a vengeance in Diablo 4. The worlds are bigger, the customization deeper, and so far, the post-launch support has been richer. With a large expansion in Vessel of Hatred on the way too, there's a dizzying amount to do. Whether you want to play as a lightning-fast Rogue, or a hulking Barbarian, Diablo 4's combat always feels chunky and satisfying. New subclasses add unique twists to familiar builds, encouraging experimentation in a way previously unseen in this particular genre.

Playing Diablo 4 on Steam Deck is an absolute dream, with the game running well, and fitting in perfectly with portable play. You can choose to take on quick quests while commuting to work, or sit down for longer play sessions wherever you happen to be.

10. Hotline Miami

A great - yet gory - indie gemAverage Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆Today's Best DealsView at Walmart(Switch)View at Walmart(PS4)Check Amazon

Hotline Miami is like a neon-hued fever dream, a top-down ultra-violent game with an equally out-there story and a brilliant soundtrack. It's also perfect for the Steam Deck thanks to its addictive gameplay loop.

You play a nameless assassin tasked by a mysterious voice to take down Russian mobsters in an alternate 1980s Miami. You'll die, a lot, but with an instant restart, you'll keep coming back for more as you learn the levels. It's been out for a while now, but it's super cheap on Steam, and it's one of the games we keep returning to when playing the Steam Deck. Its sequel, which is just as addictive, is also worth installing if you've played the first and want some alternative action to sink your teeth into.

9. Tunic

A fantastic Zelda-inspired game for the Steam Deck

Tunic is an adorable isometric adventure game. You play as a young fox going on a big adventure, exploring dungeons, and fighting monsters on the way. This is a game that has charm by the bucketful, and the obvious Legend of Zelda influence means this is an ideal game for handheld play.

In addition, one of the biggest drawbacks of the Steam Deck is that while Xbox and some PlayStation games come to PC (and Steam), there's no way to officially play Nintendo games. With Tunic, this is one of the closest ways to doing that, and you'll get the same childlike glee from jumping into its content as you would from any of the best DS games.

8. Dredge

A fun fishing sim with dark undercurrentsToday's Best DealsView at Green Man GamingCheck Amazon

Thanks to its spooky atmosphere, lovely graphics, and addictive gameplay loop, Dredge has been one of the most-played games on our Steam Deck recently. While it starts off as a simple fishing game, things quickly turn sinister when darkness falls. We won't spoil any surprises, but there are some clever tricks that the game uses to make sailing at night a tense - and sometimes even scary - experience, which means you'll be nervously keeping an eye on the time to make sure you make it back to a dock before nightfall.

The process of collecting and storing fish is fun and will keep you coming back for more, and it runs brilliantly on the Steam Deck. With its first DLC launching in November, there will be more than enough content for you to get to grips with too. We can't recommend this game enough.

7. Sonic Mania

Sega's best game in agesToday's Best DealsView at Amazon(PS4)View at Walmart(Switch)View at Amazon(PS4)

Sonic Mania is a love letter to classic Sonic games of the 16-bit era, and it's one of our favorite games to play on the Steam Deck. If you think Valve's handheld looks like a beefed-up Sega Game Gear, then Sonic Mania makes that comparison even more apt.

Taking graphics and audio inspired by Sonic's iconic games on the Sega Genesis (or Mega Drive for those of us who lived in countries with the cooler name) and mixing it with some modern twists, this is one of the best games Sega has released in years and proves Sonic is best played in 2D.

6. Hi-Fi Rush

Push your rhythm to the limitAverage Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆Today's Best DealsView at Amazon(Download)View at CDKeysView at Walmart

Hi-Fi Rush is one of the newest rhythm games on the block and, within a year of release, has quickly made a name for itself. You play as the rockstar Chai, who, alongside a group of rebels, is set on taking on an evil megacorp and its army of robots.

There will be numerous challenges in your path to defeating the bad guys, which will all be based on some kind of rhythm challenge. It's the perfect mix of action and fun for those who love colorful and engaging fights.

It also runs really well on the Steam Deck; the 50 refresh rate works perfectly for dynamic and rapid fights while allowing players to save on battery. If you need any extra help with stability, then running it at a medium preset and turning dynamic shadows to low will help.

5. God of War

One of Sony's finest plays brilliantly on the Steam Deck

Our expert review:

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When God of War first launched on the PS4 it blew us all away by reimagining Kratos. Instead of an over-the-top action hero ripped straight out of Greek myth, he was now a brooding father, somehow transported to Norse mythology. It was a masterstroke, and the deeper, more mature story and incredible graphics meant this was one of Sony's finest PlayStation games.

Now available on Steam, God of War is also a fantastic showcase for the Steam Deck. It shows just how capable Valve's handheld is, as it's able to handle this graphically-ambitious game. Due to its cinematic story, it's still best played on a big screen, but it's a great game to show off the Steam Deck.

4. Vampire Survivors

Grab a garlic and runToday's Best DealsCheck Amazon

Vampire Survivors was and continues to be a smash-hit indie game, with it appearing on our best roguelike games list and our best indie game list. This high praise is thanks to its expertly polished and engaging fights, which are frenetic yet fun.

There have also been tons of recent updates that have expanded the maps, characters, and abilities found in this indie arcade game. The most recent patch brought a new batch for the Seal powerup and four new music tracks for fans to enjoy.

If you want quick matches that you can dive head-first into repeatedly, then you need to check out Vampire Survivors; you won't be disappointed.

3. Cult of the Lamb

Iconic platformer get's a remasterToday's Best DealsView at Walmart(Switch)View at GameStopCheck Amazon

In Cult of the Lamb, you are tasked with creating your very own cult in a land of false prophets. You can venture out into the terrifying and unpredictable world to expand your reach and recruit new members, as well as see what monstrosities lie in wait.

You can also collect resources that can be used to create new structures that will help you appease the gods as your cult performs dark rituals in the dead of night. You'll also have to fight against nonbelievers who wish to impede on your cult and way of living.

Overall, Cult of the Lamb is a fantastically fun roguelike and a brilliant addition to the Steam Deck; if you haven't given it a go yet, we'd highly recommend diving in and seeing what all the fuss is about for yourself.

2. Outer Wilds

There's music in the starsAverage Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆Today's Best DealsView at Amazon(XBox One)View at Walmart(Switch)View at Walmart

Outer Wilds is a somewhat difficult game to talk about, given it's best experienced when the player knows as little about what's to come as possible. It's essentially a sprawling puzzle game set in a Universe that's destined for destruction every 22-minutes.

As you fly your rickety spacecraft from planet to planet, you'll unravel a mystery that spans centuries, one that might just hold the key to saving all life as you know it. Primarily, you'll be scanning points of interest, before having an aha moment and unlocking new places to visit. Rather smartly, the game can technically be completed from the jump, you just won't know how to do it until you've learned as much as you can about the imminent calamity.

The Steam Deck is a great place to experience Outer Wilds for the first time, just make sure you stick some headphones in to enjoy what is absolutely one of the best video game soundtracks this side of the millennium.

1. Elden Ring

A modern masterpiece on the Steam Deck

Our expert review:

Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆Today's Best DealsView at AmazonView at Walmart(PS4)View at Fanatical(PC)

Elden Ring is probably the best game on this list, but the reason it's not at the top as this is a title that's best played on a bigger screen. You also need to cap the frame rate at 30fps for the best experience, half the frame rate it usually runs at.

However, playing Elden Ring on the Steam Deck can be a great experience. Like God of War, it's a thrill to have such a gorgeously designed game running on a handheld console, and it certainly puts most Nintendo Switch games to shame. Also, while you may not want to play the entire game on Steam Deck, we found it's great to pick up and play when you want to farm runes (the in-game currency). If you're like us and are currently addicted, having it on the Steam Deck lets you get your hit when you're away from your PC. Thanks to Steam's Cloud Saves, it means any progress you make on the Steam Deck will be reflected when you play it on your gaming PC as well.

Best Steam Deck games: FAQs

Is it worth buying a Steam Deck in 2025?

If you find yourself constantly on the go but still want to enjoy some fantastic AAA games then a Steam Deck is a great purchase.

Can you play Forza Horizon 5 on Steam Deck?

Forza Horizon 5 can be run on a Steam Deck, you can do this through the Steam store using the default app.

How we made our best Steam Deck games list

Over here at TechRadar Gaming we play a lot of games on PC, so when the Steam Deck came out many of us jumped at the chance to enjoy all our favorite Steam games in a new way.

We're also incredibly passionate about combining tech and games so any chance to compare the two is great. This means you can trust our lists, and know that we've put the hours, and thought - and excruciating decisions - into making these lists. We'll also be constantly curating our choices for top PS5 games so keep it here if you want up-to-date recommendations.

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