Best Steam Deck Games 2024: 5 Must-Play Games You Can’t Miss!

As the Steam Deck gaming experience continues to improve, more and more old and new titles are becoming fully supported on the platform. From classics to the latest releases, the Steam Deck now offers a diverse range of games that run smoothly. We’ve gathered the top games in 2024 that are perfect for the Steam Deck and are popular among players.

After years of waiting, Baldur’s Gate 3, created by Larian Studios, brings a fresh take on turn-based RPGs. Though it’s turn-based, there’s nothing rigid about it — thanks to its variety of characters, skills, and incredibly open combat mechanism. Whether you go in with brute force, clever tactics, or make use of the environment to your advantage, each battle is unique. This diversity keeps new players coming in and veterans experimenting, which is why it still dominates the Most-Played charts.

From Software’s Elden Ring, directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, brings the challenging "Soulsborne" experience to a vast open world. Known for its tough but fair difficulty, the game encourages players to master their combat skills and conquer obstacles, offering immense satisfaction after each hard-fought victory. With its open exploration, non-linear quests, and variety of character builds, Elden Ring allows players to carve their own path. This freedom, combined with the rewarding sense of achievement, keeps it a standout favorite on Steam Deck since its 2022 release.

Since its release in 2016, Stardew Valley, developed by ConcernedApe, has become the benchmark for farming sim games. In this charming indie game, players inherit a farm from their grandfather and build it up through farming, raising animals, gathering resources, and forming relationships with the local townspeople. But don’t mistake it for a simple farming game. In this game, timing is everything. Seasons dictate which crops thrive, when festivals occur, and even NPC schedules. Missing the right time for an event or crop means waiting an entire in-game year for another chance. Paired with its soothing soundtrack, Stardew Valley is perfect for unwinding at the end of the day, allowing players to calmly cultivate their farms in a relaxed, enjoyable way.

Released by Supergiant Games in 2020, Hades is a standout in the Rogue-like genre. Unlike many pixel-art Rogue-likes, Hades boasts stunning hand-drawn art and finely tuned combat, offering a deeply satisfying sense of impact with every strike, an element often overlooked by other games in the genre. It's no wonder Hades has remained in Steam Deck’s top 30 list for so long. With Hades II set to launch in 2024, fans eagerly await the next chapter in this beloved series.

Released in 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 faced significant backlash due to bugs and performance issues. However, the developers at CD Projekt have worked tirelessly to improve the game, leading to a massive update in 2023. This update not only fixed countless bugs but also overhauled large portions of the gameplay, earning the game renewed praise and restoring its "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating on Steam. If the earlier bugs kept you away, now is the perfect time to dive back into Night City.

These Steam Deck games are worth your every minute, but with long playtimes, small screens can limit your experience. Playing on handheld mode for extended periods can cause hand fatigue, and the battery life often cuts sessions short.