Just a few months after I wrote about the most effective video games of 2023 on iOS, Swap, and Steam Deck as of the primary quarter of the 12 months, I’ve been taking part in a ton of nice indie video games on Valve’s handheld system. It has been laborious to carry this listing down to simply 10 (ish), however these video games have impressed me fairly a bit. I’ve additionally included two bonus video games which I discuss intimately on the finish of this function. Take a look at all our Steam Deck protection right here. As typical, this listing of the most effective new indie video games to play on Steam Deck is in no specific order.
Finest New Indie Video games To Play on Steam Deck in 2023
Planet of Lana
I wasn’t conscious of Planet of Lana till a couple of weeks in the past once I noticed the attractive trailer main as much as its launch on Xbox and PC platforms. The puzzle journey sport is gorgeous with glorious music, and it has been one of many largest surprises of the 12 months thus far. Whereas some puzzles and platforming components could be simpler than anticipated, Planet of Lana is a simple advice if you happen to’re focused on emotional tales, nice visuals, and fascinating gameplay. Having loved it fairly a bit on Steam Deck, I’ve been replaying it on Xbox due to how a lot I like the environment.
Darkest Dungeon II
Darkest Dungeon II is a sport I used to be wanting ahead to ever because it hit early entry on the Epic Video games Retailer. When Danger of Rain 2 was introduced, I wasn’t bought on it going 3D after having fun with the primary sport as a lot as I did. It delivered in spades, and bought me excited for extra sequels like that. With Darkest Dungeon II’s 1.0 launch, it hit Steam, however had a little bit of a rocky launch. After a couple of updates, Darkest Dungeon II on PC is a large step ahead for the franchise, and is a pleasure to play with some tweaking on Steam Deck. It could be my favourite indie sequel in years alongside Rogue Legacy 2. Whereas Darkest Dungeon II performs loads higher on my laptop computer, I loved the unique an excessive amount of on a conveyable to surrender on taking part in this on Deck. It doesn’t have official controller assist, so I perceive if somebody needs to attend earlier than grabbing it. As one in all my favourite indie releases, the hassle to make it run and play comparatively nicely has been value it for me. As soon as this will get full controller assist, it’s doubtless going to be top-of-the-line video games of the 12 months total for Steam Deck.
Idol Showdown
Idol Showdown from Besto Video games is a totally free hololive fan sport that occurs to be an excellent enjoyable combating sport as nicely. It allows you to play as hololive vtubers with simple controls, strong on-line play, and plenty of care and love for the supply materials. Whereas I get that this may not attraction to those that aren’t followers of hololive expertise, it’s nicely value testing for the low asking worth of free. Should you do occur to be a fan of hololive, this could already be in your Steam Deck. It has a surprising quantity of content material for a free fan sport as nicely.
Cassette Beasts
A good friend of mine who is a large Pokemon fan instructed me Cassette Beasts is his favourite monster gathering sport ever. Whereas it has all the time appeared good, that remark bought me focused on checking it out. I’ve been taking part in it on each Swap and Steam Deck, and whereas the previous is in a tough state proper now, it performs brilliantly on Steam Deck. I like the type, music, and gameplay mechanics. We’ve seen a great deal of video games attempt their hand at monster gathering, however Cassette Beasts is the primary one that truly manages to go all the best way with its designs, gameplay, and exploration.
Fuga: Melodies of Metal 2
CyberConnect2’s ardour venture Fuga: Melodies of Metal is a sport I featured in our greatest hidden gems of 2021 listing for Nintendo Swap. The sequel launched a couple of weeks in the past a day earlier than The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I’ve been chipping away on the turn-based tactical RPG, and it is a superb sequel. I’d advocate attempting the demo for the primary sport if you happen to’ve not heard of this. Whereas Fuga: Melodies of Metal 2 does have additions and enhancements over the primary sport, it nonetheless could be very a lot a sequel persevering with the story with gameplay that feels acquainted. It will be fascinating to see what occurs when Fuga: Melodies of Metal 3 releases sooner or later. Fuga: Melodies of Metal 2 is a sophisticated and meaty sport in its present state, however one which I hoped to see do a bit extra in comparison with the primary entry.
Countless Monday: Desires and Deadlines
Countless Monday: Desires and Deadlines is a visible novel about procrastinating, tasks, burgers, nice characters, glorious artwork, and catchy music. It has been an outstanding distraction and enjoyable expertise from all of the lengthy RPGs I’ve been taking part in over the previous few weeks. It’s ironic that I used Countless Monday: Desires and Deadlines as a break from ending my very own writing work as I attempted to get the endings and soak in additional of the characters. Whereas there’s a profit to figuring out a few of the characters by way of the hcnone’s (the developer and artist) work, it’s nonetheless value experiencing by itself if you happen to just like the artwork within the screenshots on Steam.
HUMANITY
When HUMANITY was introduced for VR, I used to be disenchanted as a result of I don’t see myself ever investing into that ecosystem. I borrowed a good friend’s headset for Tetris Impact and Rez Infinite which have been each chic, however I nonetheless don’t see myself shopping for an costly headset for a couple of video games. When HUMANITY was confirmed as playable on not simply PS5, but additionally PC with out VR, I used to be hyped, and the demo bought me on it. The puzzle platformer the place you play a Shiba Inu is elegant, elegant, and important with its high quality ranges and creation instruments. It appears like an summary and extra polished tackle Lemmings in 3D as nicely. That is positively a sport I’ll check out if I finally get a VR headset. On Steam Deck, it performs like a dream barring some textual content being a bit too small.
A House for the Unbound
Whereas A House for the Unbound had a couple of segments within the center that might’ve been higher, it is among the greatest narrative pushed indie video games I’ve performed in a very long time. Regardless of not having been to Indonesia which conjures up the setting, the storytelling, characters, and environment all felt good. It jogged my memory of how I felt taking part in The Children We Had been and Persona 4 Golden in that sense. Should you get pleasure from memorable tales and nice characters, A House for the Unbound is a simple advice, and it runs completely on Steam Deck. I’ve performed it on each Swap and Steam Deck, and it’s a great transportable expertise.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
My expertise with Warhammer 40,000 is restricted to the Daybreak of Warfare video games, however Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun being a boomer shooter means I used to be instantly . Having performed it, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun appears like a mix of boomer shooters with what trendy Doom video games are going for. Merely put, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a necessary even if you happen to don’t care or aren’t aware of Warhammer 40,000. The gameplay and aesthetic is that good. Whereas the extent design might’ve been higher in components, I’ve been having a ton of enjoyable with Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun on Steam Deck outdoors of movies not taking part in. That’s the one caveat to remember. Regardless of the unsupported label from Valve, solely the movies don’t play with all the pieces else working superb.
Mr Solar’s Hatbox
I’ve been a fan of Kenny Solar for a very long time, so when Uncooked Fury introduced that it was publishing Mr Solar’s Hatbox by the developer, I used to be instantly . Mr Solar’s Hatbox is a platformer roguelike that borrows from video games like Metallic Gear Stable V and XCOM 2 in hilarious methods. The mission selection, clean gameplay, and customization really elevate Mr Solar’s Hatbox into one in all Kenny Solar’s greatest video games but. If the premise of upgrading your base, utilizing totally different sorts of hats with stats, and upgrading your crew sounds fascinating, that is for you. The construction completely fits transportable play, and it’s Steam Deck Verified as of this writing.
Bonus
Prepare dinner Serve Eternally
The explanation Prepare dinner Serve Eternally is on this bonus portion and never in the primary listing, is as a result of it’s at present in Steam Early Entry. Should you’ve not already learn my interview with David Galindo about Prepare dinner Serve Eternally and Prepare dinner Serve Scrumptious, it’s right here. Prepare dinner Serve Eternally isn’t a Prepare dinner Serve Scrumptious sport, however a brand new simulation expertise aiming to be extra journey centered with its accessible gameplay. Prepare dinner Serve Eternally feels constructed for a controller from the beginning, which makes it higher on Steam Deck, and it even helps co-op play for the marketing campaign. I’ll be doing a full overview of this one when it hits 1.0, however for now, I’m having fun with many features of Prepare dinner Serve Eternally and am wanting ahead to seeing the way it evolves over time.
The Final Case of Benedict Fox
The Final Case of Benedict Fox is a sport that’s equal components spectacular and disappointing. I like the visuals, worldbuilding, puzzles, and different features of the sport, however your complete expertise is held again by its precise platforming and fight. Having been by way of screenshots and trailers, The Final Case of Benedict Fox is a sport that appears and sounds nice, however one which simply doesn’t really feel good to play sadly. In its present state, I needed to focus on these features of The Final Case of Benedict Fox, but additionally spotlight why it doesn’t work. I loved my time with it on Steam Deck regardless of these points, however I can’t actually advocate it at full worth in its present state. Should you’re a fan of metroidvania video games, I’d advocate watching some footage of The Final Case of Benedict Fox to see how pretty it appears and sounds.
Hopefully this function launched you to an amazing sport you hadn’t heard of whereas additionally reminding you of how good the latest indie sport releases have been in a slew of some unhealthy AAA PC ports. If there’s a sport you suppose I ought to’ve included, let me know within the feedback and I’ll attempt it for the subsequent Steam Deck function we do. Thanks for studying.
Observe: Any Steam Deck label talked about like verified or unsupported applies as of the date of publishing this function. A few of these change over time so hold that in thoughts.
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