When I wrote about some of the best games of 2023 (so far) earlier in the year, I figured I’d be writing another one before we do our Game of the Year lists. I didn’t expect to have far too many great games to write about before even hitting the holidays. That’s where today’s feature comes into the picture. While everyone is likely still knee deep into Baldur’s Gate 3 (review coming soon) or Starfield, there are tons of great indies hitting Steam and consoles.
I’ve put together a list of 20 (and some bonuses) great new indie games that are worth your time for your Steam Deck. This list is in no particular order, and I’ll be including a few updates on notable games at the end because it is always worth highlighting when a developer goes back and improves or fixes a game that had a lot of potential. Let’s get into it then.
Blasphemous 2
I didn’t play the original Blasphemous much until this year, and I regret not getting to it sooner. It felt like one of those games I’d enjoy more on a portable, and I’ve since enjoyed it on both Switch and Steam Deck. When a developer announces a sequel to a beloved indie, I always hope it at worst is just more of the same. Blasphemous 2 is not that, and it managed to surprise me quite a bit. I know it is soon, but Blasphemous 2 is a big step in the right direction. It definitely feels like everything I liked in the original has been improved on here with the issues also addressed. Blasphemous 2 reminds me of going from Nioh to Nioh 2 in improvements. Purely a fantastic and challenging metroidvania.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Verified
Sea of Stars
When I tried the Sea of Stars demo a while ago, I felt like it had the potential to be something special. Fast forward to the full game’s release and that ended up being the case despite the few issues I have with it. Sea of Stars, like Chained Echoes, is a fantastic indie take on what made turn-based RPGs special back in the 90s. Sabotage Studio nailed almost everything with Sea of Stars, and I’m shocked at how content-packed it is without feeling padded at all. This is best on Steam Deck based on what I’ve played of all versions. I’m already looking forward to buying the physical release on Switch and PS5 next year.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Verified
HoloCure
Whenever I mentioned Vampire Survivors or games like that, I had friends tell me I should play HoloCure. Of course I wanted to, but was too lazy to sideload it on Steam Deck through the itch.io version. The game seemed super-polished and it featured many Vtubers I love watching, so it was only a matter of time before I tried it. When the developer announced it was coming to Steam, I decided to wait. Having now played a lot of HoloCure on Steam Deck, it is superb. Unbelievably good as a game, and is my favorite piece of Vtuber media right now. It is also free, which means you should stop reading about the game and just try it. You will not regret it.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Untested
Halls of Torment
Halls of Torment is a Vampire Survivors-like with a Diablo aesthetic. When I was looking at getting into more games like Vampire Survivors, everyone recommended Halls of Torment constantly, and they were right. This is a superb game even in its current early access state. It has a free demo so I’d absolutely recommend trying it out on Steam Deck for free. I love the quests and progression here. Despite there being tons of games like Vampire Survivors, Halls of Torment joins Brotato and HoloCure as my favorites alongside Vampire Survivors. Halls of Torment is also only on PC and feels perfect on Steam Deck.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Verified
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm
I first experienced Oceanhorn 2 on Apple Arcade, and always hoped it would be ported to more powerful consoles or PC to see the gorgeous aesthetic shine more. I didn’t see much value in the Switch version on that front, but the new PC, PS5, and Xbox versions meant it was time to see how much further Oceanhorn 2 could push its visuals. The game itself was amazing, but it feels so good on Steam Deck right from the get go. I even enjoyed playing it through the Steam Deck Docking Station on my 1440p monitor. Oceanhorn 2 is a huge improvement over the original, and despite some repetitive combat, it is worth playing on Steam Deck.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Verified
Astronaut: The Best
I played a bit of Astronaut: The Best pre-release, but only recently got into it. I love when games try to do different things with their settings, gameplay, or with genre-blending mechanics. Astronaut: The Best wants you to fail, and makes it funny. Combining procedurally generated recruitable characters with varied missions and a ton of charm makes Astronaut: The Best, the best kind of experience you can have as a fun break between Starfield and Baldur’s Gate 3 sessions. As a PC-only game right now, I think Astronaut: The Best is best (I wasn’t even going to try and resist) on Steam Deck.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Untested
Affogato
Affogato is a very spooky game in how it seems to have tapped into multiple things I like and combined them into something that is better than an actual affogato. I’m not just saying that because I prefer black coffee. Affogato blends in barista management, reverse tower defense, RPG, and more with gorgeous art, great music, and an excellent story. It is just a damn good game, and plays well on Steam Deck. Valve says some text might be too small to read on the small screen, but it wasn’t an issue for me. You likely want to get the bundle with the soundtrack as well. I hope this one gets a physical release in some form.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Playable
Moving Out 2
When Overcooked 2 was announced with online play, I was super happy to see such an amazing concept finally reach its potential. Moving Out 2 gave me similar feelings when it was announced, and I think it exceeded all my expectations. The visual improvements, online support, accessibility options, and superb core gameplay make it one of the best party games of 2023, and an easy recommendation for Steam Deck owners. This one has a free demo as well, so I’d recommend checking it out. It also makes the original not worth playing, though I hope we get an Overcooked: All You Can Eat Edition style package for the Moving Out games in the future. I also ended up testing this out with a friend through Remote Play Together, and it worked perfectly on Steam Deck.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Verified
Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical
I’ve had Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical on Steam Deck since before launch, and it felt like a perfect fit for the system. The game itself is the perfect game for those who enjoy music-focused experiences, narrative adventure games, and the theater. It has some issues with audio levels, but I loved Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical by the end, and would recommend it on Steam Deck over Nintendo Switch. It shines on the Deck, and I’m looking forward to replaying it in the near future.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Verified
The Making of Karateka
Wait, why is The Making of Karateka on an indie list? Well, Digital Eclipse is an indie developer, and they have released a masterpiece with The Making of Karateka. While I’ve loved the work they put into retro collections with bonus content, The Making of Karateka is on a whole other level. I almost called this a Michelin Star-like experience, but even that feels like underselling how much care and work went into making The Making of Karateka as good as it is. I’d buy a new Gold Master Series release from Digital Eclipse even if they do one on a game I hate. Even if you don’t care about Karateka, this is the gold standard in gaming preservation. Now please do Prince of Persia next.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Untested
Six Ages 2 Lights Going Out
Six Ages 2 Lights Going Out has already gotten a 5/5 from Shaun for its iOS release, but what about Steam Deck? Well it doesn’t seem to have native controller support, but plays great with touch controls. It also serves as a great introduction to A Sharp’s games, and a great turn-based tactical and narrative experience. I can’t get over how stunning the art is. I wish there was a demo for this one for newcomers, but if you did play prior games or want a lovely blend of a great narrative and excellent turn-based gameplay, this is for you.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Untested
Venba
Venba is an excellent and short narrative cooking game that taught me some things I didn’t know about Indian cooking. I adore the aesthetic and story, but was disappointed by the lack of touch support on Switch. Back when I played it there, I also played Venba on Steam Deck, and it controls brilliantly here in handheld mode and when I connect the Deck to my monitor. Venba deals with various topics like immigration, heritage, family, and more, but manages to cover a lot in its short run time. I absolutely recommend playing this on whatever platform you want to try it on, but just play it.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Verified
UFO Unidentified Falling Objects
UFO Unidentified Falling Objects is a blend of puzzles and platforming but not in the way you’d expect. It is the kind of game you’d want to try for a few minutes, but lose hours to. I also love the arcade-y gameplay that accompanies the excellent visuals and audio design. UFO Unidentified Falling Objects has a demo on Steam, so it is worth checking out, and it feels right at home on Steam Deck. It satiated my desire for more Mr Driller if you’ve played that as well.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Playable
PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe
PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe is another game that began life on Apple Arcade, but found a new home on PC and consoles later on. While its initial release had a few balancing issues for solo play, I can safely recommend it on Steam Deck (where it even runs at 120fps when docked) for a lovely party-style game with Q-Games’ unique charm. Q-Games is a developer I’ll try anything by, and PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe is one of its more interesting releases. I never got tired of the garbage stacking, catchy music, and excellent aesthetic PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe has. If you skipped it on Apple Arcade, this is an easy recommendation on Steam Deck.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Verified
Fae Farm*
I’m reviewing Fae Farm on Switch and Steam Deck, but can discuss the early chapters of the game ahead of the review embargo. Based on what I’ve played so far, Fae Farm is a lovely addition to the life and farming simulation genre with its own spin on things. In a lot of ways, Fae Farm feels like a greatest hits of the genre greats while trying to do its own thing, but it is a bit lacking only in its relationships right now. Everything else so far feels polished and fun. I’m also very impressed with it on Steam Deck where I might end up playing it through till the end. I’ll have more to say about Fae Farm in my full review covering the Switch version as well, but if you enjoy life and farming sims, I can’t imagine you won’t like Fae Farm. Just don’t go into it expecting Story of Seasons level character relationships. I’m looking forward to seeing how things play out later on in the game.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Untested
Goodbye Volcano High
Having originally been revealed back in 2020 for the PS5, KO_OP’s Goodbye Volcano High finally released last week, and it ended up being very good. Combining visual novel-style storytelling, choices, good music, drama, and more, Goodbye Volcano High has an interesting setting and characters, but is a bit buggy. I enjoyed my time with it on Steam Deck, but feel like it could’ve used a bit more animation variety and polish. Hopefully the latter can arrive soon, because Goodbye Volcano High is one of this year’s most interesting indie games, and the long road to release has been worth it. I don’t think it managed to hit the highs Life is Strange did for me with its story, but I still recommend trying Goodbye Volcano High on Steam Deck.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Untested
Thronefall
Even in its current early access state, Thronefall is a polished and interesting game that blends in elements of tower defense, city building, and strategy, but one that feels like it has tried to remove any fluff so to speak. It is a gorgeous game that feels very focused on what it sets out to do, and despite the short playtime for the game’s current state, I can safely recommend it, and it plays brilliantly on Steam Deck. I can’t wait to see how it evolves over time, and will be revisiting it with major updates.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Playable
Bleak Sword DX
At a certain point, I started hoping more Apple Arcade games get ported so they’d still be preserved once they leave the service. Bleak Sword from more8bit is one of my favorite games on Apple Arcade, and it got an enhanced release for PC and Nintendo Switch with Bleak Sword DX adding in more content and basically making it feel better on larger screens. I love the aesthetic and gameplay in Bleak Sword, and it feels right at home on Steam Deck. Jim Guthrie’s music is always a highlight in any game, and it is excellent in Bleak Sword DX. I’m not sure if or when the content will come to Apple Arcade, but Bleak Sword DX is an easy recommendation. Now we just need a nice physical release for Switch in the future.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Verified
Soulvars
I first played a bit of Soulvars through its iOS release, and was excited to see how it would scale to PC and console. I’ve now played it on both Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch, and the turn-based RPG that has some elements of deck-building and classic JRPGs continues to impress me. I love the pixel art, music, and the gameplay never gets old. One thing to note is you might need to swap to Proton Experimental to play Soulvars on Steam Deck. Barring that, I have no issues recommending it and urge you to try the free demo on Steam if it interests you.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Untested
Luck be a Landlord
Luck be a Landlord is a dangerous game on mobile. I spent too much time with it when I was reviewing it, and it recently got its major balance update on both PC and mobile. While I think it is best on mobile, Luck be a Landlord on Steam Deck is still awesome, and worth your time if the concept of a slot machine, roguelike, and deckbuilder hybrid appeals to you. It will consume you for days, and I don’t regret doing that to you. Go forth and slay the slots.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Verified
Bonus: Updated games from earlier this year and DLC
The Last Case of Benedict Fox
The Last Case of Benedict Fox is a game I wrote about already, but wanted to highlight for its major update. It feels like waiting on playing The Last Case of Benedict Fox might’ve been for the best with how much has been fixed and improved, and there’s more planned for future updates as highlighted on the Steam page. If you bought it and played it around launch like I did, give it another shot with the updates now.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Playable
Darkest Dungeon II
Like The Last Case of Benedict Fox, Darkest Dungeon II was a game I featured before, but it has massively improved on Steam Deck since launching. Not only is it better-optimized, but it has full controller support now, and is Steam Deck Verified. If you held off on getting it before, rectify that and play one of this year’s best Steam releases, and a worthy successor of the sublime but challenging original game. I don’t know if this will hit iPad like the first game did, but I hope it does at least come to Switch so I can buy it again.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Verified
Redemption Reapers
Redemption Reapers from the developer of Ender Lilies had a rough launch, and wasn’t playable on Steam Deck until a few months ago. The tactical RPG felt very different from the genre staples thanks to its grim setting, but it could use some more. I’ve added Redemption Reapers as a bonus here because it was updated for Steam Deck and I enjoyed my time with it, but it still could use some more work. On a discount, I’d say go for it if you enjoy the genre and want something darker and more challenging.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Playable
Let’s Build a Zoo: Aquarium Odyssey DLC
Let’s Build a Zoo: Aquarium Odyssey is the second DLC pack for Let’s Build a Zoo, and it feels like a breath of fresh air for an already excellent game. It adds a ton of new things to play with in your zoo, and I love the aesthetic. If you enjoyed the base game, this is an easy recommendation, and Let’s Build a Zoo continues to be great on Steam Deck, but the text size can be a bit too small.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Playable
TMNT Shredder’s Revenge Dimension Shellshock DLC
TMNT Shredder’s Revenge Dimension Shellshock hit PC and consoles last week, and it smashed my expectations. Not only does it add new characters, but the new mode and color options are brilliant. It is also accompanied by new music from Tee Lopes. With TMNT Shredder’s Revenge Dimension Shellshock, I can safely say that it is now my favorite TMNT game ever.
Steam Deck Rating from Valve: Verified
There are still many indies and recent DLC releases I want to play like Golden Idol Mysteries: The Lemurian Vampire, Dave the Diver (yes, I know), and more. I can’t wait to see what else releases this year, and will be sure to write about more great indie games I’ve been playing on Steam Deck. If you think I missed something you’d recommend either in today’s list or my last one, let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading.
Interested in more Steam Deck coverage? Check out our Steam Deck recommendations!
- The Best Indie Games of 2023 to Play on Steam Deck
- The Best New Games to Play on Steam Deck
- The Best New Games to Play on Steam Deck Part II
- The Best Boomer Shooters to Play on Steam Deck
- The Best New PC-Only Games to Play on Steam Deck
- The Best New Games to Play on Steam Deck
- The Best JRPGs
- The Best Accessories
- The Best Fighting Games
- The Best Games to Play on Steam Deck
- The Best Steam Deck Games You Can’t Play on Consoles
