When Valve revealed the Steam Deck, I didn’t think it would end up being one of my most used systems of 2022, but here we are. This year has seen some huge releases on PC across new games, ports of console games, and more. Since this is the first year the Steam Deck has been on the market, I wanted to highlight the best games of 2022 that you can play on Steam Deck. As with the other features I do, this is my list, and I’d love to know your top 10 Steam Deck games of 2022. This list is in no particular order.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring took over my life for at least two months earlier in the year. I still think about it often and listen to the music when I crave the world again. Having played Elden Ring on all platforms, I’m still super impressed with how good it was on Steam Deck when I played it there. Elden Ring’s hype was absolutely deserved, and I hope it sees some new expansions or DLC in 2023. My Steam Deck and PS5 are ready.
Vampire Survivors
When I reviewed Vampire Survivors, I said Valve should just pay poncle to have it pre-installed on every Steam Deck. The bullet hell meets time survival roguelike is an essential on every platform, and it remains one of the defining Steam Deck games of the year. I just hope it keeps getting more quality DLC like the first paid content it received a few weeks ago. Vampire Survivors is an absolute steal at its asking price.
Pentiment
I bought Pentiment on Xbox the day it released despite it being in Game Pass because I wanted to support the newest game directed by Josh Sawyer of Obsidian. I loved what I played on Xbox, but didn’t make it very far. I knew it would be perfect for Steam Deck, and I was right. Pentiment is a joy to relax and dive deep into on Steam Deck. It is easily my favorite Xbox Game Studios release since Forza Horizon 4. I hope it gets an enhanced release next year with voice acting and that Microsoft lets Obsidian work on more games like this.
Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered is one of Sony’s best ports, but Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales is a much better and focused experience. It also is the perfect holiday game with its story. If you’ve never played Insomniac Games’ take on Spider-Man, this is an easy recommendation. Even if you, like me, enjoyed it on PS5, it is worth grabbing on Steam Deck because of how much fun it is to play on the go, and how good it looks.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
Before I played Marvel’s Spider-Man, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade was the proper “next generation" feeling game on Steam Deck. It is already one of the best looking games on any platform in years, and I love that it is natively playable on a portable through Steam Deck. I can’t wait for the next part whenever Square Enix brings it to PC. Whether you’re new to Final Fantasy VII or have played the original, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is sublime.
God of War
When Sony started porting games to PC, I expected a few smaller titles with one-off AAA games every year or so. I was thankfully wrong because we got a fantastic PC port of one of the best games in the last few years with Sony Santa Monica’s God of War (2018) hitting PC early this year. God of War remains one of the best looking games on any platform, and it is gorgeous on Steam Deck delivering the complete experience without much compromise on the go.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
Another early 2022 release, Monster Hunter Rise delivered a massively improved version of the game I put hundreds of hours into on Switch. With the big Sunbreak expansion, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak teleported to the top of my games of 2022. I played the entire expansion on Steam Deck pre-release with almost no issues, and it remains a brilliant experience with all title updates even today on Steam Deck.
PowerWash Simulator
I feel very conflicted writing about PowerWash Simulator as one of the best Steam Deck games of 2022 because I initially wrote it off as a meme game when a friend of mine kept pestering me about it. I definitely regret that, because I ended up playing quite a bit of it on Xbox Series X. I still don’t think it controls well on Xbox, but was blown away by how good it felt on Steam Deck once I forced gyro controls through Steam input. PowerWash Simulator is a zen game I keep coming back to while listening to podcasts and music. I’m looking forward to revisiting it on Switch soon.
OlliOlli World
OlliOlli World on Steam Deck is the best portable way to play Roll7’s newest skateboarding experience. It looks and runs a lot better than Switch, and feels great with proper full-sized analog sticks. I adore this game, and it is one of the easiest recommendations for everyone who owns a Steam Deck and wants a quality arcade style skateboarding game. While the base game was already brilliant, it was enhanced by two DLC packs that elevated the experience further.
Death Stranding Director’s Cut
Death Stranding Director’s Cut is an enhanced version of Kojima Productions’ brilliant action adventure game. While I recommend playing this on the best hardware you have since it is one of the most gorgeous games, the gameplay perfectly suits portable play. You can boot it up quickly to do a delivery or two on the go. I’d recommend Death Stranding Director’s Cut on Steam Deck for a replay or playing on the go alongside your main PC version or a PS5 version if you have that option. It really is one of the best showcases for the handheld though.
2023 is shaping up to have a massive set of games hit PC right from the start. There are many I’m grabbing day one for sure. What are you looking forward to playing on Steam Deck next year and what did you enjoy playing this year?
