With the Steam Deck’s second 12 months behind it, the system has solely gotten higher on the subject of recreation efficiency, software program, options, and even {hardware} due to the Steam Deck OLED. No matter when you’ve got a Steam Deck LCD or OLED mode, these are our picks for the very best 10 video games to play on Steam Deck from 2023. This record is in no specific order, and it has been very tough narrowing down this to simply 10 video games with so many unbelievable releases on Steam this previous 12 months.
The very best Steam Deck video games of 2023
Octopath Traveler II
Whereas I do know some didn’t get pleasure from Octopath Traveler as a lot as I did, it has caught with me ever since I beat it on Swap a number of years in the past. For Octopath Traveler II, I used to be all in, and purchased it on PS5, Swap, and Steam. I ended up adoring all of it the way in which, and it’s best on Steam Deck. That is Sq. Enix’s finest JRPG for the reason that PS2 days, and it is likely to be certainly one of my all-time favorites with its excellent gameplay, gorgeous visuals, good soundtrack, and wonderful characters.
Hello-Fi Rush
Hello-Fi Rush went from being a recreation shadow dropped by Tango Gameworks and Bethesda to top-of-the-line motion video games of all-time within the span of some hours once I simply began taking part in it in January. It completely blends wonderful visuals, excellent music, wonderful gameplay, and memorable characters collectively to be a recreation I preserve going again to months afterward Steam Deck and Xbox. That is Xbox’s finest recreation alongside Pentiment for positive.
Road Fighter 6
Road Fighter 6 is my most-played recreation of 2023 throughout PS5, Xbox Sequence X, and Steam Deck. It’s the full bundle from Capcom with no compromises. I can’t suggest it sufficient with its excellent on-line, wonderful single participant content material, good coaching modes, and beast mode child. It’s the finest preventing recreation in years.
Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society
NIS’ dungeon crawler Labyrinth of Chorus: Coven of Nightfall ended up being top-of-the-line within the style when it launched a number of years in the past, however the crew 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 head of the style with its story, twists, gameplay, and extra.
LIVE A LIVE
Severely? Am I actually together with a recreation from final 12 months that solely noticed a port on PC and PS5 this 12 months? Sure, LIVE A LIVE from Sq. Enix is likely one of the finest video games of the 12 months, and it’s at its finest on Steam Deck delivering a handheld expertise with no compromises. LIVE A LIVE is the second HD 2D recreation on this high 10 in the event you’ve been paying consideration as properly. LIVE A LIVE is an excellent remake that brings a SFC traditional to the West for the primary time in the absolute best manner. This one has a demo so give it a shot. There’s nothing else prefer it. GO GO STEEL TITAN.
Dave the Diver
After I saved listening to about Dave the Diver, I assumed it could be one other a type of Steam video games that individuals hype up for a month after which neglect. I used to be fallacious. Very fallacious. Dave the Diver efficiently blends a number of fascinating gameplay concepts and delivers a captivating bundle 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 recreation that I wrote off for being one more soulslike. It seems Lies of P is all the pieces each different soulslike did not do, however extra. It’s the closest any recreation has been to a FromSoftware degree launch, and it managed to do a bit extra by itself with its excellent music, polished gameplay, and wonderful bundle on each platform. Should you ever wished extra video games like Darkish Souls and Darkish Souls III, Lies of P is totally value your time.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
FromSoftware’s Armored Core VI just isn’t solely certainly one of my favourite video games from the developer already, however a rattling fantastic motion recreation with excellent mech customization, nice music, and a surprisingly good story. The boss fights are spectacular, and it’s the uncommon FromSoftware recreation 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
Should you’re new to Falcom’s Trails collection, don’t get The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie. Which may sound like a bizarre option to start writing about top-of-the-line video games of 2023, however I don’t need you to make the error of beginning right here. Should 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 unbelievable, and the PC model is the very best port we’ve seen a JRPG get on the platform unquestionably. I am keen on this collection and The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie with its stellar PC model earn a spot on this record.
Baldur’s Gate 3
I guess you have been questioning the place Baldur’s Gate 3 was weren’t you? I’ve been slowly taking part in by means 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 on the subject of 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 12 months record after the primary replace hit for it, however the crew 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 unbelievable motion RPG with an incredible marketing campaign, wonderful music, and its excellent environment. I simply want it wasn’t an online-only recreation, and sure, I can’t let that one go. That’s the reason it isn’t within the high 10 and included as a bonus or as quantity 11 in the event you could. I can’t wait to see how a lot it evolves in 2024.
I do know 2023 was a particular 12 months for recreation releases, and I hope you discover one thing you want out of our picks for the very best 10 Steam Deck video games of the 12 months. Should you beloved one thing I haven’t featured, tell us within the feedback under so we are able to test it out. Thanks for studying!
