The Steam Deck has been out for months, but many hopeful buyers are still waiting with their portable devices. Valve, however, did not send units safely. The company continues to add games to its list of Deck Verified titles that Valve itself has overseen to work with the Deck.
This list is primarily focused on games that you cannot play on another portable (and in some cases, on any other platform). Although Deck Verified games offer the best experience, there are thousands of additional titles that still work on the Steam Deck. Be sure to read our summary of the best Steam Deck games for a few options. To get the most out of your new laptop, here are the Steam Deck Verified games you should play first.
If you want one game to play first on your Steam Deck, it is Elden Ringo. It’s the first for the best game of 2022, and it was among the first set of titles added by Valve to the Deck Verified program. Exclusively released on consoles and computer, Elden Ringo is an open-world game that is filled to the brim with secrets, bosses and puzzles. Developer From Software is known for the Dark Souls series and similar Soulslike games, and Elden Ringo brings the same level of brutal difficulty. The Steam Deck, however, lightens the load a bit, allowing you to venture out with short bursts instead of banging your head against a tough boss. A big reason the Steam Deck is so exciting is that it allows you to play games that would otherwise only be available on a computer. Valheim is a prime example. This open world survival game made big waves when it was launched in early 2021, but it didn’t go to consoles. The Steam Deck allows you to take it on the road. In Valheim, you venture into a process-generated world with up to nine friends, discovering new territory, finding new resources, and encountering devastating monsters inspired by Norse mythology. Valheim It’s endless, and that’s the perfect type of game for the Steam Deck. It was a long shot we would ever see God of war on a computer, but it is not only available on a computer, it is also Deck Verified. This cinematic resumption reaches Kratos years after the original trilogy, and it manages to create an experience that goes far beyond hacking and cutting. Computer enhanced, God of war is extremely demanding, so don’t expect high-end visuals and performance on the Steam Deck. If you follow ours God of war Computer performance guide, however, you can optimize your game for Valve’s handheld. Unless you have a PlayStation Vita kicking around, the only way to play Person 4 Now on the go is with the Steam Deck. It’s one of the best JRPGs ever made, combining the series’ sign-of-life mechanics with well-generated dungeons and an exciting story that will keep you entertained for about 100 hours. The Steam version comes with additional graphics options, including higher frame rates and resolutions, and the Steam Deck is more than capable of taking advantage of both. If you haven’t played Person 4 Now, the Steam Deck is the perfect platform to get started. And if you have, the Valve laptop gives you a reason to revisit one of the best RPGs of all time.
Night much like Valheim: A computer gem that unfortunately didn’t go to consoles. It’s a process-generated rogue game, but it’s not just another platform. In Night, you track spells that you can combine to create unique magical abilities. Each pixel in the game is also physically simulated, turning your spells into devastating weapons that literally shape the world around you. It’s a rogue, but instead of mastering mechanics to make it further, Night gives you a unique sandbox to play in every run. It’s the perfect format for the Steam Deck, enabling you to jump in and mess up for a few spare minutes or delve into crafting your inventory for a perfect run.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a game in which you can get lost on the Steam Deck. Several Yakuza titles are Deck Verified, but Like a Dragon is the best. It flips the series format on its head, going with turn-based combat and a traditional JRPG progression system. It also takes notes from Persona, introducing bonds with your other followers that can give you advantages in combat. That doesn’t mean the usual Yakuza flare is lost. Like a Dragon is still as stupid as it gets, and it packs in dozens of mini-games to keep you entertained between storytelling beats. Download Yakuza: Like a Dragon on your Steam Deck, and it might be the only game you’ve been playing for a month or more.
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