With Valve’s recently launched Steam Deck, the handheld gaming PC market has taken a big step into the mainstream. It’s opened up tons of possibilities for gaming enthusiasts to bring their libraries on the go in handheld form factor, and the company has been hard at work verifying titles that perform the best on the device.
Not every game needs to be Deck Verified to run well, but it’s a good piece of confirmation that a title has been tested. There’s a massive list of verified games as is, with more on the way, including the new PC port of Insomniac’s exhilarating Spider-Man Remastered and FromSoftware’s latest action-RPG masterclass in Elden Ring.
Spider-Man Remastered
Spider-Man Remastered is the Steam Deck’s most high-profile rerelease, as developer Insomniac’s Spider-Man Remastered has just been ported over to PC. It’s a continued trend of Sony PlayStation finally acknowledging the potential of the PC gaming space, and the port has been praised for technologically translating well onto this platform.
There are plenty of customization options for PC gamers to tinker with to their liking, and Valve made sure to get it Deck Verified before launch. Playing Spider-Man on an optimized handheld PC is quite the sight, and its compelling story, engaging combat, and breathtaking web-swinging traversal mechanics make this one of the best modern superhero games.
Elden Ring
FromSoftware has made itself a major name in the triple-A gaming arena for its gripping dark-fantasy RPGs. Game director Hidetaka Miyazaki and co. may have put out their magnum opus in the form of Elden Ring, revolutionizing the open-world/RPG formula.
It has all the tense challenges fans would expect while also being the most accessible by letting players get creative with their class builds. It’s a dark-fantasy world teeming with enticing and subtle storytelling, lore, and world building, and it’s an impressive feat that it runs as well as it does on Steam Deck, let alone be Deck Verified, especially given that the developer doesn’t make the most well-optimized PC ports.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt seems to be the gift that keeps on giving, as the game has maintained mainstream relevance since its 2015 release thanks to its own high quality, the franchise expanding into live-action TV, and the upcoming current-gen (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S) remaster.
It stands as one of the best modern fantasy RPGs due to its dense, immersive dark-fantasy setting, exceptional character writing, and rewarding role-playing gameplay mechanics in shaping the game’s countless stories. Players might want to wait for the remaster, but for now, it’s still an incredible feat to see a game as stunning as The Witcher 3 run smoothly on a handheld with little held back (though the impressive Nintendo Switch port is solid on its own merits).
Control
Remedy Entertainment put together one of the more inventive original IPs in recent years in the form of Control. It was one of the earlier games used to showcase the Steam Deck’s capabilities before its launch, making it a smooth Verified pick to play on the handheld PC.
Following the story of Jesse Faden, the new director of the supernatural-focused Federal Bureau of Control, she goes on to uncover a mystery and conspiracy behind the organization she directs in an exciting sci-fi thriller narrative. On top of smooth performance, Control‘s refreshing combat system fits seamlessly on the Deck’s form factor.
Resident Evil 2
After stumbling when the franchise veered into Michael Bay-like bombast with Resident Evil 6, Capcom started a brand-wide redemption arc that led to the release of the acclaimed Resident Evil 2 remake. It became one of the best Resident Evil and survival-horror games in general ever, in part thanks to the jaw-dropping capabilities of the game’s RE Engine used to bring this endeavor to life without being too taxing to run.
The game was always technologically lenient when considering how good it looks and performs, and the Verified tag ensures that it will have a great transition from home console/desktop PC to the Steam Deck’s handheld format.
Batman: Arkham City
As of now, City is the only game in the revered Batman: Arkham franchise that’s Steam Deck Verified. Some tinkering can be done to play the other untested games smoothly on the Deck as well, but Arkham City will run great out of the box with minimal adjustments. Rocksteady helped revitalize the Dark Knight as well as the superhero genre in the gaming medium, and Arkham City builds upon Asylum in the best possible ways.
A gritty open-world sandbox packed with meaningful content, cathartic free-flow combat, stealth action, and a fantastic story written by Batman and DC writing legend Paul Dini that pays tasteful homage to the hero’s comic book history and the acclaimed The Animated Series universe all cemented this as a landmark among superhero games.
Dark Souls III
While Elden Ring is taking up most of the limelight, FromSoftware’s other endeavors are still more than worth investing in for those looking for a challenge. The Dark Souls trilogy has been Deck Verified, and III is one of the most streamlined Souls-like RPGs the developer has to date.
It’s a more linear experience rather than an open world, but its level design and pulse-pounding boss fights make this the most streamlined entry to play in a handheld form factor. That makes this a great way for new FromSoft fans and longtime ones looking to re-experience the conclusion of the grim vicious cycle of the Age of Fire first ushered in before the events of the first game.
Yakuza 0
It was once one of the more niche franchises in publisher Sega’s catalog, but developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s Yakuza 0 helped burst the series’ popularity on a global scale. Deservedly so, too, as this prequel was both a perfect jumping-on point for prospective fans and some of the most refined gameplay the series has yet seen.
The bombastic beat-’em-up combat is as fun as ever, the campy side missions are entertaining, and the long-form Japanese soap-opera/crime-drama story is enough to get players invested in the parallel stories of Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. It’s a shame that this hasn’t been ported to the Switch yet, but Yakuza 0 Verified on Steam Deck will prove an addictive handheld experience.
Hades
Supergiant Games’ Hades was the indie darling of 2020, and one of the best games of that year overall. This action-adventure roguelike has an inventive take on Greek mythology, following Zagreus as he rebels against his father to escape the underworld. Levels are randomly generated and combat is fast, satisfying, and thrilling.
This genre lends itself well to a handheld, considering its pick-up-and-play approach to dungeon runs and isometric perspective. But aside from the gameplay, the art direction is stylish and the story and characters are engaging and easy to get invested in, which is impressive considering roguelikes don’t tend to focus on storytelling.
God Of War
Another recent PlayStation hit, Santa Monica Studios’ God of War soft-reboot was also recently ported to PC with great effect. It’s on the more demanding side, but the Deck Verified status has proven to players that it’s admirably optimized when scaled down to the scope of the Steam Deck.
The 2018 game takes a more grounded, cinematic approach to Kratos’ story, becoming far more intimate without sacrificing the jaw-dropping spectacle of the action. God of War‘s over-the-shoulder camera is a great perspective for the game’s satisfying combat coupled with some excellent set-piece boss fights.
