More folks have been getting their Steam Deck OLED over the weekend, and now is a great time to remind everyone about some excellent games to take advantage of that gorgeous display. The games featured here are in no particular order, and are from a variety of genres. I’ve played all of them on Steam Deck and consider them worth buying at full price, but many will be discounted since the new Steam sale will be live as of this writing. In fact, check out my best Steam Autumn Sale 2023 deals for Steam Deck owners here. In this feature, I’m also going to cover games with good HDR support since the Steam Deck OLED display supports HDR, and you should take advantage of it. This list is in no particular order as usual.
Best Games To Play on the Steam Deck OLED
Dave the Diver
When a good friend of mine recommended I play Dave the Diver by saying “it is a mish mash of everything you love", I should’ve just listened to him. I didn’t dig into it much until closer to the Switch version’s launch, and I’m glad I finally played it. Dave the Diver is superb in general, but it really is perfect for Steam Deck. The colors, gorgeous animations, and more from Dave the Diver definitely made me wish my Steam Deck had a better screen when I originally played it. Thankfully we now have an OLED option available, and Dave the Diver is worth your time and money. Dave the Diver is Steam Deck Verified.
Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter 6 again? Can we go a single list without Street Fighter 6? No, we cannot. You see Street Fighter 6 isn’t just the best fighting game Capcom has released since Third Strike, but it also is a fantastic modern fighter that I recommend everyone play. It also happens to have a superb aesthetic bursting with color through its many unique stages, particle effects, and animations. I’m glad Street Fighter 6 saw Capcom try something unique because it is the freshest fighter we’ve had in ages. Street Fighter 6 has a demo you can check out as well, but it really is the complete package. I can’t wait for the new costumes to be released in the near future. Street Fighter 6 is Steam Deck Verified.
Hi-Fi Rush
Just like Street Fighter 6, Hi-Fi Rush is a top tier game from 2023, and the perfect experience if you enjoy rhythm games and action games. This is easily Bethesda’s best recent game, and it has a sublime visual style that carries over into its animations. Hi-Fi Rush felt like a game made with a laser focus on appealing to me, and I love everything about it. I played it all the way on Steam Deck, and it really is a great case for the OLED screen just because of how good it looks and runs on Steam Deck. Hi-Fi Rush is Steam Deck Verified.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 with its Phantom Liberty expansion finally sees the game reach its true potential. It was a technical mess at launch, but now is a game worthy of following up The Witcher 3. One of the most surprising things is how good it looks and runs on Steam Deck even with its newest update. When I booted up Cyberpunk 2077 2.0, I really wished the Steam Deck had a better screen, and now that wish is real if you just got a new OLED model or will buy one soon. Cyberpunk 2077 is Steam Deck Verified, and it also has native HDR support.
No Man’s Sky
Whenever I think of a game that had a ton of potential, I think of No Man’s Sky’s launch. I enjoyed it right from the start, but right now it feels like it has the quality of four or five full games put together with Hello Games going above and beyond constantly for the game and the community. Calling it a labor of love would be an understatement, but it really is an incredible experience on just about every platform. I adore playing it the most on Steam Deck and Switch. No Man’s Sky also has native HDR support which will be a good showcase on the OLED screen. No Man’s Sky is Steam Deck Verified.
Persona 5 Royal
Atlus’ Persona 5 Royal is one of the highest rated games of all time, and it absolutely deserves that rating. It oozes style, has gorgeous visuals, menus that outshine most full games, and a brilliant soundtrack to keep you entertained for over a hundred hours. Persona 5 Royal is the showcase game to take advantage of the best screens, and now you have the option to play not only the best performing portable version, but also on the best looking portable device screen. It is a must play for any JRPG newcomer or veteran. Persona 5 Royal is Steam Deck Verified.
Octopath Traveler II
Square Enix’s follow up to Octopath Traveler, Octopath Traveler II, is actually one of the best RPGs the publisher has released in decades. Yes, Octopath Traveler II is that damn good. While the first game debuted only on Nintendo Switch, this one released on multiple platforms, and was the most fun on Steam Deck thanks to delivering rock solid performance, fast loading, and crisp visuals. The day and night aesthetic in the game, particle effects during combat, and HD 2D visual style will absolutely pop on the OLED screen. It also happens to have one of the best soundtracks of the last few years in gaming right now. Octopath Traveler II is Steam Deck Verified.
Yakuza 0
Yakuza 0 is the best entry point into one of SEGA’s best franchises, and while it is an older game, I love the aesthetic it has, especially during the night time portions of the game. Kamurocho’s neon soaked streets are a sight to behold. Not only is this game chock full of quality content, but it really feels like the pinnacle of brawlers and will have you thinking of the story for years to come. It also happens to have a ton of mini-games and side activities to keep you busy for dozens of hours. I spent over 60 hours on the disco mini-game since launch. Yakuza 0 is Steam Deck Verified.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Around launch, I played Ori and the Will of the Wisps on Xbox One X, and it wasn’t a good experience. It did, however look incredible. Fast forward to today, I’ve played Ori and the Will of the Wisps on Steam Deck and Switch, and it is another amazing showcase for great screens with HDR. I hope we see a third game in the Ori series, but we always have Microsoft’s Ori and the Will of the Wisps to replay until then. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is not Steam Deck Verified, but it plays like a dream on the handheld.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Insomniac Games’ Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was an amazing tech showcase for the PS5 when it came out in 2021 for its use of the SSD and its visuals. It has since been ported to PC, and while the launch was a bit rough on Steam Deck, it is in a very good place right now. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart also has superb native HDR support, and the gorgeous visuals are another fine way to show off your Steam Deck OLED screen. It also happens to be a really fun experience from start to finish. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is Steam Deck Verified.
Hopefully this feature introduced you to something you don’t own or haven’t heard of yet, and it helps you get the most out of your new Steam Deck OLED with that superlative display. Keep up with all our Steam Deck coverage on our hub for all things Deck here. If you’ve been enjoying something else on Steam Deck and think more people should try it, let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading.
