With the Steam Deck’s second yr behind it, the system has solely gotten higher in relation to sport efficiency, software program, options, and even {hardware} because of the Steam Deck OLED. No matter you probably have a Steam Deck LCD or OLED mode, these are our picks for the most effective 10 video games to play on Steam Deck from 2023. This checklist is in no explicit order, and it has been very troublesome narrowing down this to only 10 video games with so many improbable releases on Steam this previous yr.
One of the best Steam Deck video games of 2023
Octopath Traveler II
Whereas I do know some didn’t take pleasure in Octopath Traveler as a lot as I did, it has caught with me ever since I beat it on Change a number of years in the past. For Octopath Traveler II, I used to be all in, and purchased it on PS5, Change, and Steam. I ended up adoring all of it the best way, and it’s best on Steam Deck. That is Sq. Enix’s greatest JRPG for the reason that PS2 days, and it is perhaps one among my all-time favorites with its excellent gameplay, gorgeous visuals, sensible soundtrack, and superb characters.
Hello-Fi Rush
Hello-Fi Rush went from being a sport shadow dropped by Tango Gameworks and Bethesda to the most effective motion video games of all-time within the span of some hours after I simply began taking part in it in January. It completely blends superb visuals, excellent music, wonderful gameplay, and memorable characters collectively to be a sport I hold going again to months in a while Steam Deck and Xbox. That is Xbox’s greatest sport alongside Pentiment for positive.
Road Fighter 6
Road Fighter 6 is my most-played sport of 2023 throughout PS5, Xbox Sequence X, and Steam Deck. It’s the full package deal from Capcom with no compromises. I can’t advocate it sufficient with its excellent on-line, superb single participant content material, sensible coaching modes, and beast mode child. It’s the greatest preventing sport in years.
Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society
NIS’ dungeon crawler Labyrinth of Chorus: Coven of Nightfall ended up being the most effective within the style when it launched a number of years in the past, however the group exceeded it in spades with Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society. This one is particular, and it overtook even Etrian Odyssey for me as the top of the style with its story, twists, gameplay, and extra.
LIVE A LIVE
Significantly? Am I actually together with a sport from final yr that solely noticed a port on PC and PS5 this yr? Sure, LIVE A LIVE from Sq. Enix is likely one of the greatest video games of the yr, and it’s at its greatest on Steam Deck delivering a handheld expertise with no compromises. LIVE A LIVE is the second HD 2D sport on this prime 10 when you’ve been paying consideration as nicely. LIVE A LIVE is an excellent remake that brings a SFC basic to the West for the primary time in the very best approach. This one has a demo so give it a shot. There’s nothing else prefer it. GO GO STEEL TITAN.
Dave the Diver
Once I saved listening to about Dave the Diver, I assumed it will be one other a type of Steam video games that individuals hype up for a month after which overlook. I used to be improper. Very improper. Dave the Diver efficiently blends a number of attention-grabbing gameplay concepts and delivers a captivating package deal with an addictive gameplay loop. I haven’t had time to play the DLC but, however Dave the Diver is particular, and a should play for each Steam Deck proprietor.
Lies of P
Lies of P is one other sport that I wrote off for being one more soulslike. It seems Lies of P is every little thing each different soulslike didn’t do, however extra. It’s the closest any sport has been to a FromSoftware degree launch, and it managed to do a bit extra by itself with its excellent music, polished gameplay, and superb package deal on each platform. In case you ever needed extra video games like Darkish Souls and Darkish Souls III, Lies of P is completely value your time.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
FromSoftware’s Armored Core VI just isn’t solely one among my favourite video games from the developer already, however a rattling superb motion sport with excellent mech customization, nice music, and a surprisingly good story. The boss fights are spectacular, and it’s the uncommon FromSoftware sport that truly has a tremendous PC launch that performs completely on Steam Deck each on-line and offline.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie
In case you’re new to Falcom’s Trails collection, don’t get The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie. That may sound like a bizarre technique to start writing about the most effective video games of 2023, however I don’t need you to make the error of beginning right here. In case you’ve performed prior video games and even have performed all of them together with this one, The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie is improbable, and the PC model is the most effective port we’ve seen a JRPG get on the platform surely. I like this collection and The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie with its stellar PC model earn a spot on this checklist.
Baldur’s Gate 3
I wager you had been questioning the place Baldur’s Gate 3 was weren’t you? I’ve been slowly taking part in by way of it with cross save on Steam Deck, macOS, and PS5 since these variations all launched, and the sport is spectacular. I believe it wants a bit extra polish within the later areas in relation to optimization, however Baldur’s Gate 3 is a Larian masterpiece with its writing, characters, music, freedom, and extra. I believe I’m going to be taking part in it for a really very long time.
Bonus
Diablo IV
I wasn’t positive if I’d be that includes Diablo IV in any finish of yr checklist after the primary replace hit for it, however the group has mounted all my points with the sport. With its Steam launch and it being so good on Steam Deck, I believe it is a improbable motion RPG with an incredible marketing campaign, superb music, and its excellent environment. I simply want it wasn’t an online-only sport, and sure, I cannot let that one go. That’s the reason it isn’t within the prime 10 and included as a bonus or as quantity 11 when you might. I can’t wait to see how a lot it evolves in 2024.
I do know 2023 was a particular yr for sport releases, and I hope you discover one thing you want out of our picks for the most effective 10 Steam Deck video games of the yr. In case you liked one thing I haven’t featured, tell us within the feedback beneath so we will test it out. Thanks for studying!
