Some of us are well-equipped to play on the go, so here are our picks for the best games Steam Deck Games you should get on your console. In this list, we’re focusing on titles that you can’t get on Nintendo Switch, because few people will buy the same game on different consoles – and we’re a Nintendo site at heart. All games on this list are Steam Deck verified.
If you’re considering buying Steam Deck, you can read our review here . And if you haven’t heard yet, there are rumors of a Switch 2 coming soon, so maybe you’d like to get back on Nintendo’s console with one of the up-to-date Switch games, for example?
Here are the best games you can play on Steam Deck:
Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 is not only one of the best games on Steam Deck, but one of the best games ever. For those who don’t know, it’s a sprawling Dungeons and Dragons-style RPG with a fantastically deep character customization system, relationships, and party building, as well as combat that can change in the blink of an eye with the roll of a dice.
You can be a rogue who leads your team into dire situations and succumbs to the shadowy side, or you can take one of the key characters as your avatar and lie through their eyes. Baldur’s Gate offers so many paths to choose from and tons of replayability.
The ability to play Baldur’s Gate on a portable console is awesome—and not just for you who want to cuddle up with Astarion and Shadowheart—because you’ll be playing for hours, and no one wants to sit at a desk for that long. Here’s what we know about the Switch port of Baldur’s Gate 3 . You can check out our sister site, PCGN’s Baldur’s Gate 3 review , for a deeper dive into the game.
Hi-Fi Fever
While there are rumors that Hi-Fi Rush could be coming to Switch, for now the game is constrained to PC and Xbox consoles – Steam Deck included, of course. Get ready to rock in Tango Gameworks and Bethesda’s colorful game with improved rhythm combat.
The Hi-Fi Rush soundtrack is excellent, featuring classic tracks by The Prodigy, Nine Inch Nails, and The Black Keys, among others. As you vibe to “Invaders Must Die,” you become Chai, a “flawed” wannabe rockstar. That doesn’t stop him from having a great time and trying his best as he takes down bosses and tries to take down an evil megacorporation.
Sea of Thieves
Avast, guys! Set sail across the seven seas in this multiplayer pirate game filled with treasures to be looted and skeletons to be defeated. I’m talking about Sea of Thieves, an online game from Rare that lets you live the pirate life you’ve always dreamed of.
Pack a swashbuckling sloop, brigantine or galleon to sail with friends or on your own, then embark on a variety of voyages that will take you across the seas. Dive beneath the waves to plunder a shipwreck, battle the megalodon or the Kraken, and take part in the in-game stories of Pirates of the Caribbean and Monkey Island. Oh, a tip from one player to another… don’t leave barrels of gunpowder lying around.
If you’re worried about other players sinking you – which is a very real threat – you can now play in Safe Seas mode, where you can only play with up to three friends.
Ring of Fire
We have Dark Souls on Switch, but what about its little brother, Elden Ring? Is there an Elden Ring port for Switch? No, but it is available on Steam Deck for anyone who wants a challenging RPG set in a shadowy and lovely world. From Software has outdone itself with Elden Ring, where you, as the Tarnished, must wield the power of the ring and become the ruler of the land. For a longer explanation, check out PCGamesN Elden Ring Review.
The combat is tough, yes, but that’s the beauty of it. It may take you a few tries to beat a boss, but when the world and characters look this good, you don’t mind. And when you do win those epic battles, the glory tastes incredibly sweet.
Elden Ring lets you explore the Lands Between with your trusty goat horse Torrent, taking you from swamps to forests to castles. Collect weapons and spells as you roam the open world. Be sure to visit the papal turtle, Miriel, while you’re there.
Diablo IV
If you want to raise hell, you can do so in Diablo VI. While older games in the same series are available on Switch, you’ll need to get the fourth installment on Steam Deck.
As the never-ending battle between heaven and hell rages on, you can explore the world around you, avoiding demons and defeating darkness. IV takes place 50 years after Diablo III, when the world had a moment of peace that has now come to an end. There’s a up-to-date demon princess – Lilith, daughter of Mephisto – and a cult you must now confront as you traverse dungeons, hacking and slash your way through. We wonder if Diablo 4 will make it to Switch? In the meantime, check out some games similar to Diablo.
Final Fantasy XV
There are a few Final Fantasy games on the Switch, but one of the series’ best, Final Fantasy XV, is missing from this list. This game follows Prince Noctis and his beloved group of friends on what is essentially a fantasy journey through Eos. Initially, Noctis and company set off so he can marry Princess Lunafreya, but as they leave, the Empire attacks and the world is in need of saving.
Meanwhile, the boys lend a hand Noctis become stronger while also taking on extra activities like monster hunting and riding Chocobos. FFXV also has, in my opinion, one of the best video game songs of all time – Valse di Fantastica – which plays during the ride to Lestallum.
Marvel’s Midnight Sun
Are you a Marvel fan? Are you also a fan of life simulation games, card-based combat, and spells? Well, Midnight Suns has it all. This game has it all. You can make friends and hang out with classic heroes like Captain America and Wolverine, doing things like bird watching and painting, and then go on secret missions to destroy Hydra bases.
In the meantime, you discover the backstory of your character, Hunter, and his connection to the evil Lilith. Midnight Suns comes from the team behind XCOM, so you know it’s made with some experience and won’t disappoint. If you’re a fan of Marvel games, you might like these Spider-Man games with webs.
Cyberpunk 2077
Now everyone knows what Cyberpunk 2077 is and we all know that the game now plays well after an initially rugged start. You are V, you are a mercenary and you have Keanu Reeves living in your brain. Well, it’s Johnny Silverhand, but he’s played by Mr. Reeves and looks exactly like him.
CDProjekt Red’s sprawling RPG offers multiple paths to choose from and a ton of customization options, allowing you to add pieces of cyberware to your character that can enhance your abilities. This is crucial when you—and Johnny—try to separate after getting stuck together during a heist gone wrong. Of course, there’s plenty to do in Night City, a dystopian metropolis full of excitement.
We’re eagerly awaiting news on other games coming to portable consoles, like whether there’s a Sims version for Nintendo Switch or when Silksong might release. We can also recommend some of the best mobile games and the best gaming phones to play them on.
