A couple of months after I wrote about the very best video games of 2023 on iOS, Change, and Steam Deck as of the primary quarter of the 12 months, I’ve been taking part in a ton of nice indie video games on Valve’s handheld system. It has been arduous to carry this listing down to only 10 (ish), however these video games have impressed me fairly a bit. I’ve additionally included two bonus video games which I speak about intimately on the finish of this function. Try all our Steam Deck protection right here. As regular, this listing of the very best new indie video games to play on Steam Deck is in no explicit order.
Finest New Indie Video games To Play on Steam Deck in 2023
Planet of Lana
I wasn’t conscious of Planet of Lana till a couple of weeks in the past after I noticed the beautiful trailer main as much as its launch on Xbox and PC platforms. The puzzle journey sport is gorgeous with wonderful music, and it has been one of many largest surprises of the 12 months up to now. Whereas some puzzles and platforming parts is likely to be simpler than anticipated, Planet of Lana is a straightforward advice for those who’re enthusiastic about emotional tales, nice visuals, and attention-grabbing gameplay. Having loved it fairly a bit on Steam Deck, I’ve been replaying it on Xbox due to how a lot I really like the ambiance.
Darkest Dungeon II
Darkest Dungeon II is a sport I used to be wanting ahead to ever because it hit early entry on the Epic Video games Retailer. When Threat of Rain 2 was introduced, I wasn’t bought on it going 3D after having fun with the primary sport as a lot as I did. It delivered in spades, and bought me excited for extra sequels like that. With Darkest Dungeon II’s 1.0 launch, it hit Steam, however had a little bit of a rocky launch. After a couple of updates, Darkest Dungeon II on PC is an enormous step ahead for the franchise, and is a pleasure to play with some tweaking on Steam Deck. It is likely to be my favourite indie sequel in years alongside Rogue Legacy 2. Whereas Darkest Dungeon II performs rather a lot higher on my laptop computer, I loved the unique an excessive amount of on a conveyable to surrender on taking part in this on Deck. It doesn’t have official controller help, so I perceive if somebody desires to attend earlier than grabbing it. As considered one of my favourite indie releases, the hassle to make it run and play comparatively effectively has been value it for me. As soon as this will get full controller help, it’s seemingly going to be the most effective video games of the 12 months general for Steam Deck.
Idol Showdown
Idol Showdown from Besto Video games is a totally free hololive fan sport that occurs to be a brilliant enjoyable preventing sport as effectively. It permits you to play as hololive vtubers with straightforward controls, sturdy on-line play, and a number of care and love for the supply materials. Whereas I get that this won’t attraction to those that aren’t followers of hololive expertise, it’s effectively value trying out for the low asking worth of free. When you do occur to be a fan of hololive, this could already be in your Steam Deck. It has a stunning quantity of content material for a free fan sport as effectively.
Cassette Beasts
A good friend of mine who is a big Pokemon fan instructed me Cassette Beasts is his favourite monster gathering sport ever. Whereas it has at all times appeared good, that remark bought me enthusiastic about checking it out. I’ve been taking part in it on each Change and Steam Deck, and whereas the previous is in a tough state proper now, it performs brilliantly on Steam Deck. I really like the type, music, and gameplay mechanics. We’ve seen a great deal of video games strive their hand at monster gathering, however Cassette Beasts is the primary one that really manages to go all the best way with its designs, gameplay, and exploration.
Fuga: Melodies of Metal 2
CyberConnect2’s ardour mission Fuga: Melodies of Metal is a sport I featured in our greatest hidden gems of 2021 listing for Nintendo Change. The sequel launched a couple of weeks in the past a day earlier than The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I’ve been chipping away on the turn-based tactical RPG, and it is a wonderful sequel. I’d advocate making an attempt the demo for the primary sport for those who’ve not heard of this. Whereas Fuga: Melodies of Metal 2 does have additions and enhancements over the primary sport, it nonetheless may be very a lot a sequel persevering with the story with gameplay that feels acquainted. It’s going to be attention-grabbing to see what occurs when Fuga: Melodies of Metal 3 releases sooner or later. Fuga: Melodies of Metal 2 is a sophisticated and meaty sport in its present state, however one which I hoped to see do a bit extra in comparison with the primary entry.
Limitless Monday: Desires and Deadlines
Limitless Monday: Desires and Deadlines is a visible novel about procrastinating, tasks, burgers, nice characters, wonderful artwork, and catchy music. It has been an outstanding distraction and stress-free expertise from all of the lengthy RPGs I’ve been taking part in over the previous few weeks. It’s ironic that I used Limitless Monday: Desires and Deadlines as a break from ending my very own writing work as I attempted to get the endings and soak in additional of the characters. Whereas there’s a profit to figuring out a few of the characters by way of the hcnone’s (the developer and artist) work, it’s nonetheless value experiencing by itself for those who just like the artwork within the screenshots on Steam.
HUMANITY
When HUMANITY was introduced for VR, I used to be disenchanted as a result of I don’t see myself ever investing into that ecosystem. I borrowed a good friend’s headset for Tetris Impact and Rez Infinite which have been each elegant, however I nonetheless don’t see myself shopping for an costly headset for a couple of video games. When HUMANITY was confirmed as playable on not simply PS5, but additionally PC with out VR, I used to be hyped, and the demo bought me on it. The puzzle platformer the place you play a Shiba Inu is elegant, elegant, and important with its high quality ranges and creation instruments. It seems like an summary and extra polished tackle Lemmings in 3D as effectively. That is positively a sport I’ll check out if I finally get a VR headset. On Steam Deck, it performs like a dream barring some textual content being a bit too small.
A Area for the Unbound
Whereas A Area for the Unbound had a couple of segments within the center that would’ve been higher, it is likely one of the finest narrative pushed indie video games I’ve performed in a very long time. Regardless of not having been to Indonesia which conjures up the setting, the storytelling, characters, and ambiance all felt excellent. It jogged my memory of how I felt taking part in The Youngsters We Have been and Persona 4 Golden in that sense. When you take pleasure in memorable tales and nice characters, A Area for the Unbound is a straightforward advice, and it runs completely on Steam Deck. I’ve performed it on each Change and Steam Deck, and it’s a great moveable expertise.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
My expertise with Warhammer 40,000 is proscribed to the Daybreak of Battle video games, however Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun being a boomer shooter means I used to be instantly . Having performed it, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun seems like a mix of boomer shooters with what fashionable Doom video games are going for. Merely put, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a necessary even for those who don’t care or aren’t acquainted with Warhammer 40,000. The gameplay and aesthetic is that good. Whereas the extent design may’ve been higher in components, I’ve been having a ton of enjoyable with Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun on Steam Deck outdoors of movies not taking part in. That’s the one caveat to bear in mind. Regardless of the unsupported label from Valve, solely the movies don’t play with the whole lot else working effective.
Mr Solar’s Hatbox
I’ve been a fan of Kenny Solar for a very long time, so when Uncooked Fury introduced that it was publishing Mr Solar’s Hatbox by the developer, I used to be instantly . Mr Solar’s Hatbox is a platformer roguelike that borrows from video games like Steel Gear Stable V and XCOM 2 in hilarious methods. The mission selection, clean gameplay, and customization actually elevate Mr Solar’s Hatbox into considered one of Kenny Solar’s finest video games but. If the premise of upgrading your base, utilizing completely different sorts of hats with stats, and upgrading your staff sounds attention-grabbing, that is for you. The construction completely fits moveable play, and it’s Steam Deck Verified as of this writing.
Bonus
Prepare dinner Serve Ceaselessly
The rationale Prepare dinner Serve Ceaselessly is on this bonus portion and never in the principle listing, is as a result of it’s at the moment in Steam Early Entry. When you’ve not already learn my interview with David Galindo about Prepare dinner Serve Ceaselessly and Prepare dinner Serve Scrumptious, it’s right here. Prepare dinner Serve Ceaselessly will not be a Prepare dinner Serve Scrumptious sport, however a brand new simulation expertise aiming to be extra journey targeted with its accessible gameplay. Prepare dinner Serve Ceaselessly feels constructed for a controller from the beginning, which makes it higher on Steam Deck, and it even helps co-op play for the marketing campaign. I’ll be doing a full evaluate of this one when it hits 1.0, however for now, I’m having fun with many features of Prepare dinner Serve Ceaselessly and am wanting ahead to seeing the way it evolves over time.
The Final Case of Benedict Fox
The Final Case of Benedict Fox is a sport that’s equal components spectacular and disappointing. I really like the visuals, worldbuilding, puzzles, and different features of the sport, however the whole expertise is held again by its precise platforming and fight. Having been by way of screenshots and trailers, The Final Case of Benedict Fox is a sport that appears and sounds nice, however one which simply doesn’t really feel good to play sadly. In its present state, I wished to focus on these features of The Final Case of Benedict Fox, but additionally spotlight why it doesn’t work. I loved my time with it on Steam Deck regardless of these points, however I can’t actually advocate it at full worth in its present state. When you’re a fan of metroidvania video games, I’d advocate watching some footage of The Final Case of Benedict Fox to see how beautiful it appears to be like and sounds.
Hopefully this function launched you to an amazing sport you hadn’t heard of whereas additionally reminding you of how good the current indie sport releases have been in a slew of some dangerous AAA PC ports. If there’s a sport you assume I ought to’ve included, let me know within the feedback and I’ll strive it for the subsequent Steam Deck function we do. Thanks for studying.
Observe: Any Steam Deck label talked about like verified or unsupported applies as of the date of publishing this function. A few of these change over time so maintain that in thoughts.
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