28 best Steam Deck & OLED games in 2024, from AAA to indie & more

Valve's portable device has been one of the hottest pieces of hardware since its launch back in 2022, and there are plenty of great games that you can play on the Steam Deck. 

Despite its size, the device packs a fair amount of power, so you'll even be able to try out all of the latest games on the go - albeit with a little bit of compromise when it comes to visuals and framerate.

It's within smaller games that the Steam Deck really shines though, as games from over 20 years ago feel purpose-built for the Valve device in 2024.

While it would be easy to throw all of our favourite games in this list and call it a day, we've decided to try to include games that work best on the Steam Deck platform.

That might come down to factors like suiting a controller layout best, working within the power limits of the system, avoiding any compatibility issues, and working portably. Of course, there are going to be loads of games that we won't have space to include on this list, but this is just a selection of our personal favourites.

#23 - Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

• Price: £44.99/$59.99
• Release date: 2024
• Ubisoft Store link
• Key features:
  • Snappy and fluid movement
  • Complex combat
  • Fun exploration

2024 kicked off strongly thanks to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, which is one of the best Metroidvania titles in recent memory. The genre just goes well with handheld devices, and while PoP isn't on Steam, you can still purchase it through Ubisoft Connect and play with the NonSteamLaunchers app.

The game sees you explore the lost citadel of Mount Qaf as you uncover a plot involving the rulers of Persia. The combat and movement on offer are top-tier, giving you a high skill ceiling to reach as you perform platforming sections and defeat tough enemies. Don't miss out on this year's first great game by trying it on the Deck.

#22 - Elden Ring

Elden Ring details:

• Price: £49.99/$59.99
• Release date: 2022
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Classic FromSoftware combat
  • Massive open world
  • Outstanding bosses

While this does somewhat defy the parameters we just set, Elden Ring is just too impressive to not include on this list. Outside of it being easily one of the greatest titles that the entire medium has ever produced, it also runs surprisingly well on Valve's portable device, making it instantly one of the best games to play on Steam Deck.

Capping at 40 fps and running on lower graphical settings is your best bet for a stable experience, and it will of course eat away at your battery, but it is just a marvel to play a game of this scale on a platform so small. There's definitely a reason why it ranks so highly on Valve's official Steam Deck playtime charts.

I find it far too easy to just jump back into the Lands Between for a new save or to tackle the next big boss, and just the feeling of exploring areas like Altus or Leyndell is more than enough to keep me at my Deck for hours and hours - or at least until the battery dies!

#21 - Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 details:

• Price: £49.99/$59.99
• Release date: 2023
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Huge amount of variability with each playthrough
  • Massive amount of fully animated cutscenes
  • Tactical turn-based combat

After a release that saw it reach over 875,000 concurrent players on Steam, it is no surprise that Baldur's Gate 3 has instantly become one of the best Steam Deck games that you can play right now.

It has an utterly incredible narrative that was part of why it received a perfect score in our review, and experiencing that on Deck is just as good as it would be on PC. While it is still very much a CRPG at heart, the existence of the PS5 release has meant that the controls are perfect on the handheld device, so you have nothing to worry about there.

From a performance side of things, Baldur's Gate 3 runs well on Steam Deck - albeit with a short battery life and a fair amount of noise. You should expect to hit 30 fps for most of the game, and post-launch updates have only enhanced the game's performance on Valve's device.

Baldur's Gate 3 was by far my favourite game of 2023, and being able to experience a game of such gargantuan scope on a portable machine is genuinely a marvel. It is understandably an inferior experience to playing on a beefy PC or PS5, but I am still able to fall in love with the dense world and the incredible characters all the same.

#20 - Resident Evil 4 Remake

Resident Evil 4 Remake details:

• Price: £49.99/$59.99
• Release date: 2023
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Excellent performance on Steam Deck
  • Horror and action combined
  • One of gaming's most iconic titles

While Resident Evil 4 Remake is one of the newer entries on the list (despite technically being 18 years old), it immediately emerged as one of the best. The RE Engine has always performed exceptionally well on lesser hardware, and this continues with the recent remake which shines on Deck.

According to our own Resident Evil 4 Remake Steam Deck guide, you can expect to get a comfortable 40-50 fps at 720p, which is more than playable - especially when compared to other high-budget titles. While it doesn't offer the same pure horror as previous Resident Evil games, leaning instead more into the action, it still remains perfect for playing on the go or hidden under the bedcovers.

This is made even better with the release of the Separate Ways DLC, adding to the overall experience by letting you play as Ada. With a total of seven new chapters to explore and new content to experience even if you played the original, there's no better time than now to start RE:4 on Steam Deck.

#19 - Mundaun

Mundaun details:

• Price: $19.99/£16.99
• Release date: 2021
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Enveloping Alpine horror narrative
  • Under 10 hours to finish
  • Wonderfully unique art style

Immediately upon seeing Mundaun for the first time, you will realise that it looks very little like any game you've seen before. Reminiscent of hand-drawn charcoal, Mundaun's gloomy aesthetic deposits a folk-horror tale in The Alps that you won't soon forget.

Stretching only eight hours at the very most, Mundaun is the perfect game to pick up and play on Steam Deck, as you will be gripped by its curious narrative that slowly unfolds. Puzzles, hay monsters, and a cacophony of bees will surround you in a game that is as beautiful as it is horrifying, and it is undoubtedly one of the best Steam Deck games out there.

#18 - Citizen Sleeper

Citizen Sleeper details:

• Price: £16.75/$19.99
• Release date: 2022
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Futuristic sci-fi setting
  • Outstanding character-based narrative
  • Unique dice interactions

If tabletop RPGs are your thing, then you should definitely consider playing Citizen Sleeper. Set on an industrial capitalist space station, you wake up as an escaped worker in a bid to simply survive. There are plenty of people to meet and some you might want to think twice about getting too close to - but you must try everything to reach the light at the end of the tunnel.

Each interaction you make requires a roll of the dice, and you'll have to manage them carefully as you only get five each day and that number can quickly be depleted. Will you use your dice to stay alive? Or will you risk your own survival with selfless acts to help others?

All in all Citizen Sleeper is an ideal Steam Deck game that you will quickly find yourself lost within. I've heard many a story of people playing it all in one sitting, and where better to go the distance than in the comfort of a sofa, bed, or god forbid, one very long toilet trip.

#17 - Marvel's Midnight Suns

Marvel's Midnight Suns details:

• Price: £69.99/$79.99
• Release date: 2022
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Features all of your favourite superheroes
  • Recent update significantly improves Deck performance
  • Tight XCOM-esque tactical combat

If you fall in the middle of a superhero and SRPG-themed Venn diagram, then Marvel's Midnight Suns will be an ideal choice for you on Steam Deck. You will be able to utilise all of your favourite superpowers in-game, building up the perfect deck to take down even the toughest foes.

Additionally, while it didn't fare the best at launch, it has recently received an update that significantly boosts the performance on Steam Deck. With this, you've got no excuse not to jump right in and enjoy all the action that Marvel's Midnight Suns has to offer.

#16 - Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 details:

• Price: £34.99/$39.99
• Release date: 2022
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Fun co-op shooting
  • Feels great on Steam Deck
  • Requires an internet connection

You'll need an internet connection to make the most out of Helldivers 2 on Steam, but the good news is that it's well worth that tradeoff. Arrowhead Game Studios' squad-based co-op shooter might be the year's biggest game, and it's remarkably easy to spread Managed Democracy on the go.

The shooting feels great on a controller (this is a PS5 game, too, after all), and playing on Steam Deck is a great way to chip away at the latest Major Order while your partner uses the TV. The trouble is that you may find yourself diving well into the small hours.

#15 - Diablo 4

Diablo 4 details:

• Price: £59.99/$69.99
• Release date: 2023
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Addictive loot grind
  • Constantly releasing new content
  • Multiple character classes

Diablo 4 was one of the biggest launches of 2023, and while it was playable through some Linux trickery since its launch in June, it finally arrived as a native Steam version in October - opening it up to true Steam Deck compatibility.

For a franchise that debuted with mouse and keyboard input, Diablo has become a phenomenal action RPG to play with a controller, and Diablo 4 continues that lineage on Steam Deck. Pick one of the game's five varied classes and fling spells, swing axes, and raise the dead to carve a bloody swathe through the foreboding world of Sanctuary, looting powerful new gear as you go.

With seasonal content bringing new foes and new tools to smite them with, be sure to keep an eye on the best endgame builds.

#14 - Death Stranding

Death Stranding details:

• Price: £34.99/$39.99
• Release date: 2019
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Can walk in-game while walking in real life
  • Fantastic cinematic storytelling
  • Incredibly tactile feeling of movement

We just couldn't resist including a game about transportation on a list of the best Steam Deck games. While this does fall under the same category as something like Elden Ring - where battery life and performance will suffer slightly - it is still well worth playing on Deck.

There would be something just so therapeutic about walking through the damaged terrain of Death Stranding while commuting as if you were experiencing two journeys at the same time. Do watch out for the lengthy cutscenes that Kojima has become synonymous with though, as you could be stuck there for a while!

#13 - Monster Hunter Rise

Monster Hunter Rise details:

• Price: £32.98/$39.99
• Release date: 2021
• Steam link
• Key features:
  
  • Can play solo or with friends
  • Countless high-octane monster battles
  • Huge weapon variety

Another of the best Steam Deck games that sadly hasn't quite hit the "Great on Deck" certification yet, Monster Hunter Rise is brilliant on Valve's console.

It's perhaps not surprising given the series' history with handhelds, but slaying huge beasts and using their claws, tails, and anything else to build new gear to slay even bigger beasts is a compelling loop that never gets old -- even moving into the huge expansion, Sunbreak.

You can also pick this up with a number of fellow hunters, which is perfect if you're hopping over to a friend's house but (understandably) don't feel like taking your entire PC. If big boss battles are your type of thing, then Monster Hunter Rise is definitely one of the best Steam Deck games for you. Oh, and Monster Hunter World is great on Deck, too!

#12 - Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain details:

• Price: £24.99/$29.99
• Release date: 2015
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Control and build your Mother Base
  • Ever-evolving emergent gameplay
  • Take on an abundance of side activities outside of the main missions

Another Kojima game on this list, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is still well worth playing in 2023 - despite arriving almost eight years ago. It was "Great on Deck" but is now just "Playable". However, we've had zero issues in testing. 

Still, time is a flat circle, and Phantom Pain's huge sandbox, seemingly endless stream of unlocks, and moreish base-building mechanics make it one of the most enjoyable games on the Steam Deck to just sit back and unwind with.

Fancy gathering resources for an hour? Head out and recruit soldiers to your cause. Want to tackle an assassination mission? Lock and load in any way you choose. Naturally, there's a positively batsh*t plot to follow, but even without it, it's easily one of the best Steam Deck games of 2023.

#11 - Fallout 4

Fallout 4 details:

• Price: $19.99/£15.99
• Release date: 2015
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Mod support
  • Huge open world
  • Adorable dog companion

Got yourself hooked on the Fallout TV show but can't find the time to jump into a big, live-service game like Fallout 76? Good news - Fallout 4 might be even better than you remember it.

Fallout 3 and New Vegas are both great on the Deck, too, but Fallout 4 wins out for us because it's a little more modern in its presentation and the new next-gen update makes it even better - except on Steam Deck, but we have a handy fix for that.

If you're ready to roam the Wasteland, Fallout 4 is perfect for you.

#10 - Divinity Original Sin II

Divinity Original Sin II details:

• Price: $44.99/£29.99
• Release date: 2017
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Flexible and environmental turn-based combat
  • Lots of freedom to tackle each of the game's quests
  • Wonderful fantasy world

If you're looking for a CRPG to pick up on Steam Deck, then there are few better options than Divinity Original Sin II - especially if you've already played and loved Baldur's Gate 3. While - as the name suggests - CRPGs are best played on PC, the existence of the Steam Deck's trackpads makes this a surprisingly excellent experience.

With Divinity Original Sin II, you're getting an outstanding RPG with a vast narrative and wonderfully flexible combat that is so easy to get lost in. With so many possibilities to undertake and paths to discover, you will find this game difficult to put down.

There's very little to worry about when it comes to performance too, with a minimum of 40fps being very achievable with a respectable battery life, which only contributes to Divinity Original Sin II being one of the best Steam Deck games you can play right now in 2023.

#9 - Triangle Strategy

Triangle Strategy details:

• Price: £49.99/$59.99
• Release date: 2022
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Choice-based narrative with multiple different paths
  • One of the best SRPGs ever
  • Perfect if you love Final Fantasy Tactics or Tactics Ogre

If you're a keen fan of tactics games, then there are few better to choose from than Triangle Strategy. While we could have just as easily selected Tactics Ogre Reborn as it is also a fantastic game, Triangle Strategy is the perfect balance for enthusiasts and newcomers to the genre alike making it another of the best Steam Deck games.

The game's stunning HD-2D graphics and complex choice-based narrative pair wonderfully with dense and varied tactical combat scenarios. Its only downside is that it is surprisingly power-hungry on Deck, which can be quite troubling when battles often reach within the hour mark.

#8 - Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley details:

• Price: £10.99/$14.99
• Release date: 2016
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Build and maintain your own farm
  • Engage with all of the residents
  • Influenced by games like Harvest Moon

If you've somehow not played Stardew Valley yet, then the Steam Deck is the perfect place to start. ConcernedApe's Harvest Moon-style farming sim exploded upon its release in 2016, sustaining a massive fan base ever since.

Its day-based gameplay system makes it perfect for those who want to play for short periods, while also sustaining the ability to be played for hours at a time too for the keen farmhands and cave crawlers out there. The only slight downside is that installing mods is a bit more finicky on Deck, but it is still thankfully very much possible when using a tutorial.

Stardew Valley is just one of those cosy games for me that I find so easy and relaxing to play, and being able to pick it up wherever and whenever on the Steam Deck only enhances the overall experience.

#7 - Chrono Trigger

Chrono Trigger details:

• Price: £11.99/$14.99
• Release date: 1995
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Arguably the best JRPG ever made
  • Adventure across space and time
  • Stunning pixel graphics to this day

JRPGs, specifically those originally released on the SNES, seem to just be perfect for the Steam Deck as a platform. The smaller screen makes the 16-bit graphics truly shine, and they are just a breeze to play on a handheld platform.

Chrono Trigger in particular is a particular standout from an era of excellent games, being rightfully regarded as one of the greatest games of all time. It takes you on a time-travelling adventure across various fantasy lands, with a simple but ever-engaging turn-based combat system and a masterfully told narrative that still resonates to this day.

#6 - Final Fantasy VI

Final Fantasy VI details:

• Price: £12.99/$17.99
• Release date: 1994
• Steam link
• Key features:
  
  • Fantastic multi-character narrative
  • Looks even now with the recent Pixel remaster
  • Our pick for the best Final Fantasy game

We would be remiss to not include a Final Fantasy game on this list, and with the recent pixel remasters Final Fantasy VI emerges as a clear favourite. While it does broadly fall into the same category as Chrono Trigger, it is just too good to pass up.

You can easily opt for several other Final Fantasy titles too, with Final Fantasy XIV being very much playable on deck with a bit of tinkering, and series favourites like VII, IX, and X also working well alongside the other pixel rereleases. Overall, the Steam Deck is perhaps the perfect console if you want to dive into the Final Fantasy series.

#5 - Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors details:

• Price: £3.99/$4.99
• Release date: 2022
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Each run only takes 30 minutes
  • Easy to learn, hard to master
  • Ideal pick-up and play game

Crowned as the unofficial "Best Steam Deck game" of 2022, Vampire Survivors took the world by storm with its simple and captivating gameplay. Falling again under the roguelite category, Vampire Survivors tasks players with surviving its 30-minute time limit with the help of a few upgrades and health boosts along the way.

This might sound pejorative but the best thing about Vampire Survivors when it comes to playing on Steam Deck is that it near enough plays itself. No button presses are required, as all you need to do is avoid any nearby foes and let your power-ups do the work. It emerges as almost the ideal 'low effort' game: tailor-made for those oh-so-common moments when you just want something easy to play.

#4 - The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles details:

• Price: £31.99/$39.99
• Release date: 2021
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Outlandish characters and constantly engaging cases
  • Two games in one package
  • Very few games like Ace Attorney

If you want to play a visual novel on your Steam Deck, then there are few better choices than The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. Compiling both Adventures and Resolve into a nice neat package, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles serves as a highlight for an already excellent series.

Instead of playing as the famous Phoenix Wright, you play as his ancestor Ryunosuke Naruhodo in both Meiji-era Japan and Victorian England - alongside a certain Herlock Sholmes. Featuring ten cases across 70 hours of gameplay, there is just so much to enjoy and uncover within this extravagant collection that fits so well into the handheld system.

#3 - Pentiment

Pentiment details:

• Price: £14.99/$19.99
• Release date: 2022
• Steam link
• Key features:
  
  • Beautiful painting-esque art style
  • Engaging cast of characters
  • Medieval detective narrative

Continuing with the detective theming, Obsidian's 16th Century Bavarian murder-mystery Pentiment is another one of the best games to play on Steam Deck. It doesn't require much power at all despite coming out recently, and its art style just looks wonderful on the handheld platform.

Furthermore, it features a near-constant autosave system, making it perfect if you're looking for something that will let you just pick up and play for a short period. You might struggle to put it down though, as Pentiment's utterly compelling narrative will have you relentlessly uncovering each mystery.

Pentiment was the first game I played after getting my Steam Deck, and I could not have picked a better first impression of the device. It just felt so right to be playing through Adreas' journey on a handheld, and I found myself able to easily power through the adventure whenever I got a spare moment.

#2 - Octopath Traveller 2

Octopath Traveler 2 details:

• Price: £49.99/$59.99
• Release date: 2023
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Iconic HD-2D visual style
  • Play as eight wonderful characters
  • Top tier turn-based combat

One of the best games you can play on your Steam Deck is Octopath Traveler 2, as its epic narrative, outstanding combat system, and stunning HD-2D visuals work perfectly on the portable PC.

We certainly thought so too in our Octopath Traveler 2 review, which outlined why the game is not only one of the best to come out this year but within the entire turn-based RPG genre. While Octopath Traveler 2 might have a rather lengthy runtime, that fact almost makes it even more perfect for the Steam Deck, as you're able to chip away at any point, and in your most comfortable spots.

What is the best game on Steam Deck?

#1 - Balatro

Balatro details:

• Price: £12.79/$14.99
• Release date: 2024
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Roguelike deckbuilder...
  • ... but with Poker rules
  • You don't need to know Poker to play it!

It's funny, isn't it? Between Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3 and Helldivers 2, we've opted for Balatro as our favourite Steam Deck game. Don't let its lo-fi visuals fool you, though - it's a game that will absorb your free time as you work to reach ever-higher score thresholds.

Between rounds, you'll build your own Poker deck, like the image above of eight threes in one hand. The best part? You don't even have to know the rules of Poker to enjoy Balatro, and that's perhaps its greatest strength.

With the release of the Steam Deck OLED, we've compiled a few of the best games you can use to test or show off the incredible new display. Many of the formerly mentioned games will also look fantastic on the new device, but our picks below will take the screen to the next level:

#5 - Cult of the Lamb

Cult of the Lamb details:

• Price: £19.49/$24.99
• Release date: 2022
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Absolutely stunning colours
  • Perfect for short sessions
  • Roguelike and Life Sim combo

Cult of the Lamb occupies much of the same space as many other roguelikes on this list, giving you the perfect single-session experience for those moments when you don't have a lot of time. Each run only takes around 10 minutes and is balanced with colony and life sim elements on the side, meaning that you're always not too far away from a break, but can so easily play for an eternity too.

It quickly emerged how perfect Cult of the Lamb is for the Steam Deck OLED though, as its consistently vibrant colour palette against deep background blacks serves as the ideal showcase for what the new display can do. If you're looking to show something off to your friends, you can't get much better than this.

#4 - Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight details:

• Price: £12.79/$14.99
• Release date: 2017
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Merges Soulslike and Metroidvania elements
  • Perfect for anyone looking for a tough challenge
  • Wonderful sense of exploration

Standing out among the sea of Metroidvania titles in Hollow Knight, which is both an utterly brilliant and crushingly difficult game for anyone up to the challenge. Hollow Knight's stunning aesthetic might still look great on a massive TV, but it fits so well within the seven-inch boundary of the Steam Deck, giving you an even more intimate experience.

Furthermore, the colours look absolutely gorgeous if you're playing on a Steam Deck OLED, with every area of the game proving why the investment was more than worth it. From the lush greens of Greenpath to the emotional blues of the City of Tears - there's always a new visual marvel around the corner.

With the (supposedly) imminent release of Hollow Knight Silksong, there has never been a better time than now to jump into Hallownest if you haven't already taken the plunge.

#3 - Hades

Hades details:

• Price: £20.99/$24.99
• Release date: 2020
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • One of the best roguelikes out there
  • Runs are no longer than 25 minutes
  • So much replayability

The Steam Deck and roguelikes are like a match made in heaven, as they are perfect for that pick-up-and-play gameplay style, while also letting you lose yourself for hours in the loop.

Hades features combat that somehow manages to effortlessly bridge the gap between chaos and precision, and its short but infinitely replayable runs make it perfect for the Deck. Each playthrough takes no longer than about 25 minutes, making it a fantastic choice if you're looking for something to just pick up and play on the commute or while you've got some downtime at home.

Furthermore, Hades is an ideal game for showing off the OLED's visual capabilities too, as it bright colours and deep contrasts shine in every single run.

#2 - Persona 5 Royal

Persona 5 Royal details:

• Price: £49.99/$59.99
• Release date: 2019
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Excellent soundtrack
  • Long story to dive into
  • Unique visual style

Despite only recently coming to Steam in late 2022, Persona 5 Royal is the ideal game for Steam Deck and continues to shine on the OLED version too. It features an extensive narrative that spans over 100 hours, some of the best turn-based combat that the MegaTen series is famous for, and a soundtrack so good that you'll struggle to get out of your head.

Where the game works so well on the OLED Deck though is when you're walking through the various brightly lit areas of Tokyo in the life-sim elements of the game. The sharp contrast makes these areas feel truly alive, and the OLED also benefits greatly when it comes to the vast number of in-battle visual effects.

What is the best game on Steam Deck OLED?

#1 - Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 details:

• Price: £49.99/$59.99
• Release date: 2020
• Steam link
• Key features:
  • Lots of quests to tackle
  • Near unbeatable visuals
  • Varied combat system

There's very little to say about Cyberpunk 2077 that hasn't already been said, but it remains one of the greatest games from a visual perspective that is perfect to show off how good your new OLED screen can look.

Don't expect fantastic performance as you'll be sorely disappointed, but the game can still achieve around 40fps with the right settings enabled, which is definitely playable. With this, you can enjoy the lush night skylines of Night City, which continue to amaze in their scale even on a 7.4-inch display. The HDR properties of the OLED really bring this incredible game to life, too.

There's no better time to jump in either, as the Ultimate Edition packages together the base game and the highly acclaimed Phantom Liberty DLC in one neat package, letting you experience everything that the game has to offer without limitations.

So, that wraps up this list of the best Steam Deck games that you can play right now in 2024, giving you plenty of options to enhance your experience on the go.

For more recommendations, visit our lists homepage. We've also covered the best Steam Deck accessories, Xbox Game Pass games, cosy games, and free-to-play shooters.