10 Best Indie Games On Steam Deck

As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the Steam Deck has revolutionized my portable gaming lifestyle. From the comfort of my couch to the bustle of public transport, I’ve found myself immersed in some truly fantastic games on this compact powerhouse.

The Steam Deck boasts quite a versatile performance, offering the power equivalent to a PS4 in a design similar to the Nintendo Switch. However, instead of just being used for emulators, it truly shines when utilized for playing an abundance of top-tier indie games. Remarkably, almost all these games run smoothly on it.

Here are ten independent games from Steam that run flawlessly on the Steam Deck, providing an exceptional gaming experience compared to any other portable device.

In my analysis, I will primarily contrast them with their Switch counterparts, should they exist. However, extra credit goes to games that can be played on-the-go exclusively on portable computers such as the Steam Deck.

10 Slay the Spire

An Ironclad Experience

“Playing Slay the Spire can be engaging, but, similar to other card games, using conventional console controls for selection feels rather clumsy.

Here, the Steam Deck’s trackpads become useful. They allow you to mimic a keyboard and mouse setup for certain tasks, or revert back to the traditional gamepad control scheme whenever you prefer.

Apart from that, you’ll find an active and user-friendly modding community on Steam Workshop, and its smooth operation is just standard practice.

It feels way comfier to play this here than on Switch, especially compared to struggling through playing it on a phone. I’d say give it a go, especially if you haven’t played it before.

9 Cassette Beasts

Pokémon, Kind Of

Cassette Beasts is an awesome take on the monster-catching RPG , and it’s absolutely best on Deck.

The game comes with an integrated modification feature, ensuring smooth performance and visually appealing graphics – a quality that isn’t commonly found in other portable versions of the game.

Although it may not boast the most prominent modding community, there are several notable gems that are certainly worth exploring.

If your curiosity about Pokémon is even slightly piqued, I strongly suggest giving Cassette Beasts a try. Playing it on the Deck makes for an enjoyable experience.

8 Rivals of Aether 2

PC-Exclusive Fighting Fun

If you find yourself somewhat weary from six years of playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, then Rivals of Aether 2 might just be the standout choice among all non-Nintendo fighting games on other platforms.

The game is currently only available on PC, but it performs exceptionally on the Steam Deck, making portable gaming, testing, or achieving low latency online ideal.

This game already has an emerging community of modders, and with its recent launch, we can expect many high-quality mods to come in the near future.

If you’re fond of portable fighting games and seek an exceptional title for your enjoyment, then Rivals 2 could be just the game for you, as it offers a top-notch experience similar to Smash.

7 Hollow Knight

Less Lag, More Fun

Among today’s top-tier Metroidvania games, Hollow Knight truly stands out. Although its Nintendo Switch version functions well, it does suffer from some noticeable input delay.

The Steam Deck minimizes some lag and simplifies the process of setting up mods, even enabling you to effortlessly install the entertaining Randomizer option.

This portable game is delightful to engage with, offering an added convenience through its rear controls that allow easier access for features like maps, speedometer, and so forth.

Among my favorite activities is engaging in spontaneous Randomizer runs, and delving into the captivating world of Hallownest, challenging the Pantheons, never fails to be an enjoyable experience.

6 Slime Rancher 2

Hoarding Goopy Creatures

Considering that the original Slime Rancher struggled to perform well on the Nintendo Switch, it seems unlikely that Slime Rancher 2 will be making its way to this platform. If you’re eager to experience the sequel regardless of where you play, the Steam Deck might just be your ideal choice.

The game offers an extended take on its fundamental mechanics, where you explore a vast landscape to capture slimes in order to accumulate wealth by returning them to enclosures.

It also looks absolutely beautiful, and the Deck can handle it on medium to high settings with no real problem. I also enjoy using the trackpad and gyro for camera control, as it is usually the best option for any first-person shooter.

Enjoying the convenience of practicing capitalism on-the-go is quite pleasurable, not least because the game is visually appealing.

5 Lethal Company

Watch Your Friends Perish

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but share my excitement about Lethal Company, a game that has been creating quite the buzz lately! It’s an absolute joy to play it on Deck.

I suggest setting up the camera controls on the trackpad, with gyroscope control being less crucial for a game that primarily involves activities other than aiming.

It’s convenient that the Steam Deck comes with an integrated microphone for this game; remember to use headphones when playing.

You might as well install R2ModMan too, given that most players prefer modded versions of the game. It significantly enhances the experience of fleeing from terrors while clutching scraps.

4 Risk of Rain 2

What the Gup?

In a simplified and engaging manner, “Risk of Rain 2 is an amazing action-packed rogue-like shooter game. As you advance through the levels, you battle enemies to earn cash and collectibles. This game shines particularly well when played on a computer.

Historically, console versions have been notoriously prone to bugs, lack polish, and more recently, they’ve had issues with connecting a second controller.

If you’re looking to enjoy Risk of Rain 2 on-the-go with superior controls, the Steam Deck would be an ideal choice, given its back buttons, touchpad, and gyro aim functionality significantly enhance the gaming experience.

Similar to how effortlessly you can establish R2ModMan with Lethal Company, you too can quickly set it up for your Deck to start using mods, and it’s always an enjoyable experience!

3 Balatro

Gambling on the Go

Balatro stands out among the current crop of games, rightfully so, due to its unique blend of being a poker-style roguelike game accompanied by captivating music and refined game mechanics.

Engaging in a good run is incredibly enjoyable for me, and I appreciate how the trackpad provides a similar control mechanism to classic games like Microsoft Solitaire, which I’m fond of.

Above the control panel, using the Deck offers you the ability to utilize mods, enabling you to incorporate special jokers, alter the design of the cards, and much more.

It’s great no matter where you’re playing it, but there’s a reason I went into a several hours-long trance playing this game for the first time on my Steam Deck at 6 am.

2 Stardew Valley

Farming at Max Efficiency

Among a handful of games, Stardew Valley isn’t my favorite when played with a controller; instead, I prefer using a keyboard and mouse. However, the Steam Deck offers a satisfying middle ground for gameplay.

Using a trackpad significantly enhances the experience of watering and cultivating crops, while you can continue to employ traditional gamepad controls for combats.

On top of that, you can play some , which makes this my favorite way to play the game.

As a gamer on-the-go, I’ve found that nothing beats the convenience of playing my favorite modded games on Linux. The mod loader is a game-changer, allowing me to seamlessly engage in farming, foraging, and combat with an ease and enjoyment that simply can’t be matched by mobile gaming.

1 Terraria

Mining and Crafting, but Awesome

Among the primary games I dislike using a controller for, Terraria stands out as one of them. However, when it comes to the Steam Deck, its built-in controller is the unique case where I find playing Terraria enjoyable.

Using the trackpad is incredibly satisfying, as you can assign functions like healing to the back buttons. With various customizations, you can consistently maintain 60 frames per second and have enough buttons for all actions.

Playing a portable and enjoyable version of Terraria is already great, but taking it up a notch by incorporating the Calamity mod makes it even more appealing.

With TModLoader, creating and using mods becomes a breeze, while mining and evading foes maintains the same enjoyable experience found on a typical PC setup.

2024-11-20 18:44