8 Great Games for Your Steam Deck in 2025
This year, I've been enjoying a plethora of games on my Steam Deck, with a particular focus on indie titles. The Verge has been a treasure trove of recommendations, highlighting a wide range of games that work seamlessly on Valve's handheld gaming PC (https://www.theverge.com/24339574/indie-games-recommendations-pc-switch-steam-deck-best-new-hidden-gems). From big-budget games to indie gems, the Steam Deck offers a versatile gaming experience, whether you're playing on the couch or on the go.
If you're a proud new owner of a Steam Deck or have Steam gift cards burning a hole in your pocket, here are some of my top picks for games released in 2025 that are worth checking out. For more ideas, you can always revisit my 2024 favorites (https://www.theverge.com/24305570/steam-deck-best-games-2024-verified-playable-valve).
Ball x Pit
Devolver Digital's Ball x Pit is a delightful genre-blending roguelike that combines elements from classics like Breakout, Vampire Survivors, and city builders (https://www.theverge.com/games/805022/ball-x-pit-review-pc-nintendo-switch-ps5-xbox-series-x-s). In the main game, you shoot balls at an ever-advancing group of enemies, collecting gems and upgrades along the way. Eventually, you'll transform into a force of nature, with balls flying all over the screen. After each run, you can build a base to improve your stats and unlock unique characters, some of which add clever twists, like turning the game into a turn-based affair. With runs typically lasting under 15 minutes, it's an ideal game to pick up and play on your Steam Deck.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Sandfall Interactive's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an outstanding RPG debut, featuring exhilarating turn-based battles, a great parrying system, memorable characters, and a gripping story (https://www.theverge.com/games-review/656405/clair-obscur-expedition-33-review-xbox-ps5-pc). While it may not look as stunning on the Steam Deck as it does on a powerful PC, it's still a playable and enjoyable experience. The game was recently verified for the Steam Deck, and the community on ProtonDB (https://www.protondb.com/app/1903340?device=steamDeck) offers tips to enhance the visuals. Even if the Steam Deck is your only platform, it's still a decent way to experience The Game Awards' Game of the Year (https://www.theverge.com/news/843352/even-more-expedition-33).
Hades II
Supergiant Games' Hades II received a significant 1.0 update in September, and it's a masterpiece (https://www.theverge.com/games/783718/hades-ii-2-1-0-update-review-pc-nintendo-switch). Building on the success of the original, it introduces a new protagonist, additional boons for battle, a host of new characters to give ambrosia to, two new routes to explore, and a banger-filled soundtrack. Supergiant even improved the ending. Hades II is a testament to Supergiant's top-tier game development, and it's the perfect Steam Deck game, as my colleague Ash Parrish noted in 2024 (https://www.theverge.com/24152085/hades-2-steam-deck-performance).
Hollow Knight: Silksong
After years of anticipation and fans donning clown makeup (https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/hollow-knight-silksong-fans-in-clown-makeup), Team Cherry's Hollow Knight: Silksong finally launched in September (https://www.theverge.com/news/680636/hollow-knight-silksong-release-date-trailer), and it was worth the wait. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, it retains the atmospheric Metroidvania charm, adorable bug creatures, tough-as-nails bosses, and some bullshit (https://www.theverge.com/games/777653/silksong-impressions-team-cherry-metroidvania-sherma-is-cool). The formula that made the original Hollow Knight so great remains excellent in Silksong.
Is This Seat Taken?
For some relaxing puzzles, Is This Seat Taken? is a perfect fit (https://www.theverge.com/games-review/717713/is-this-seat-taken-review-pc-nintendo-switch-ios-android). In this game, you're responsible for seating a bunch of adorable geometric shapes with varying needs. Some might prefer a window seat or a seat away from a smelly neighbor. If you can't find a seating arrangement that works for everyone, you can simply move on to the next puzzle without penalty, keeping the stakes low. Sometimes, that's exactly what you need.
Lumines Arise
Lumines Arise, a Tetris Effect-like puzzle game, captures the magic of the original Lumines: Puzzle Fusion from over 20 years ago (https://www.theverge.com/games/817997/lumines-arise-review-ps5-steam). The trance-like visuals, amazing music, and absorbing puzzles transport you to a different world, allowing you to forget about your troubles. Like my colleague Andrew Webster, I found Arise to be a near-perfect zen puzzle game (https://www.theverge.com/games/817997/lumines-arise-review-ps5-steam).
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo feels right at home on the Game Boy Advance, and it's an excellent fit for the Steam Deck (https://www.theverge.com/games-review/692172/pipistrello-and-the-cursed-yoyo-review). This top-down adventure lets you battle enemies and explore the game's world with a magical yo-yo, including cool tricks like 'walking the dog' to cross bodies of water. The excellent pixel art and music filled with blaring horns (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEezCi7ucf4) create a spiritual successor to the GBA games I loved as a child.
The Drifter
Inspired by the old-school LucasArts point-and-click adventure formula, The Drifter cleverly transforms it into a dark, gripping thriller (https://www.theverge.com/games-review/712020/the-drifter-review-pc). You can play with a mouse, but the game also offers a smart control scheme that utilizes the Steam Deck's joysticks for walking and interacting with the environment. The story is full of twists and turns, and it will likely keep you up long after your bedtime. If you're a fan of point-and-click adventures, The Drifter is a must-play.
