Best Games You Can Play Anywhere That You Will Never Put Down

Remember when portable gaming meant straining to see a Game Boy screen? Now, we have so many great options like the Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2. These aren’t exactly small enough to fit in your pocket, but they’re easy to carry around, letting you enjoy huge game libraries wherever you go.

As a gamer, I think whether a handheld game is great really depends on what I need at the moment. Sometimes I just want something to kill a few minutes while I’m commuting, like on the train. Other times, I want a game I can really lose myself in for hours. So, I’ve put together a list of some of the most captivating handheld games out there!

Hades 2

Once More Unto The Crossroads

Throughout its development, players learned about Melinoe’s story – her fight to rescue her family from the villainous Chronos and all the items she’ll need to gather. Improving Melinoe’s abilities takes more effort than in the first game, so you’ll need to complete many journeys both upwards to the surface and downwards into the depths to fully progress.

You can now play Hades 2 on Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck! Its ability to save your progress almost anywhere, combined with how fun it is to play again and again, makes it perfect for both long journeys and relaxing at home. Plus, it’s even better than the first Hades game – and that’s saying something!

Kirby Air Riders

Perhaps Nintendo Switch 2’s Best Racer

A new Mario Kart game typically ensures a system has a strong, best-selling racing game available from the start. However, that doesn’t automatically make it the best racer on the system. Since Kirby Air Riders came out in November 2025, some players believe there’s already significant competition in that area.

No matter which game you pick, playing online while traveling can be spotty. But Kirby’s new racing game offers a surprisingly full single-player experience. Its City Trial mode feels similar to the Free Roam in Mario Kart World, and Road Trip features a complete campaign with diverse goals – something you don’t often find in racing games. If you enjoyed the story modes in classics like Crash Team Racing and Diddy Kong Racing, you’ll really enjoy this one. While the newest Mario Kart is great too, some players haven’t loved its break structure or the somewhat empty Free Roam map. So, next time you hit the road, why not bring Kirby along for the ride?

Vampire Survivors

Many Hours Of Undead-Mashing Later

Many of these games are perfect for a quick play session, but they’re also incredibly addictive. You might start with a free half hour – like a run in Vampire Survivors – and suddenly find it’s much later than you expected. It’s hard to stop when you’ve unlocked a new character and want to see their unique starting weapon in action, isn’t it?

What makes Vampire Survivors so popular is its easy-to-learn gameplay – anyone can pick it up and start playing right away. But don’t let that fool you, there’s a huge amount of content to unlock and complex strategies to master. It’s perfect for quick gaming sessions because it jumps straight into the action, without any long stories or cutscenes. Plus, the game always feels rewarding – even when you lose, you’re still making progress by upgrading your characters.

Stardew Valley

Your Perfect Farm, One Session At A Time

There’s a special appeal that keeps players returning to Stardew Valley, and it’s easy to see why. This charming game offers a perfect escape, similar to Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You can quickly pop in to manage your farm and greet villagers, or lose yourself for hours in activities like decorating, organizing, and participating in events.

This game is perfect for on-the-go playing because it’s so flexible. Managing the farm feels like a series of quick tasks and mini-games – it’s all about keeping things running smoothly. Unexpected delays, like a cancelled flight, suddenly give you a chance to tackle a lot of farm chores at once. The only problem? You might not want to stop playing!

Ball X Pit

Ballbylon Is Calling Yet Again

Similar to Hades 2, this game is available on both Steam Deck and Switch, and is incredibly engaging once you start playing. It’s a mix of Space Invaders and Breakout: enemies move towards you from the top of the screen, and you defeat them using shots that bounce around the play area.

At first glance, Ball X Pit appears to be chaotic, with explosions, fire, and damage numbers flying everywhere. But beneath the colorful mayhem lies a surprising amount of strategy. Like many games of its type, you’ll lose often, constantly learn from your mistakes, and gradually become much better – which is really rewarding. It’s also incredibly addictive, much like Balatro, and you’ll probably find yourself wanting to play it constantly, just to unlock all the different ball upgrades.

Satisfactory

“Satisfactory” On Steam Deck, You Might Say

As of right now, Satisfactory isn’t available on the Nintendo Switch, and it might stay that way. Luckily, you can still play it on the Steam Deck, though it’s not officially ‘Verified’ by Valve. This means you might need to adjust some settings to get the best experience while playing handheld. However, it’s definitely worth trying, as Satisfactory is a truly remarkable game.

This game is a construction sandbox that draws inspiration from titles like Factorio, No Man’s Sky, and the Savage Planet series. You can play solo or with friends, focusing on building highly efficient factories or just creating wacky, over-the-top machines – most multiplayer games lean towards the latter! It’s a complex game that requires commitment to truly optimize everything, so it’s not ideal for short play sessions. However, because you set your own goals, you can play for as long as you want.

Monster Hunter Rise

You’ll Be Playing Sunbreak Until Daybreak

The newest Monster Hunter game, Wilds, has faced some challenges since its popular release. However, it still captures the core feeling of the series – getting completely lost in hunting monsters for hours on end. Monster Hunter has been a major success since its days on the PSP, and many fans still consider 2021’s Monster Hunter Rise to be the best recent installment.

This game offers a ton of content with its extensive main story and large expansion. It completely changed how you move around with the addition of Wirebugs and rideable Canynes, making exploration and combat incredibly fun. The game feels great to play, with lots of strategic options and a wide variety of new and returning monsters to hunt. You can even enjoy a full experience offline on your Switch. After finishing the story, there’s plenty to do, like mastering new weapons and testing your skills in the Arena.

2025-12-18 11:35