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The Steam Deck is steadily gaining traction, and with each passing week, Valve continues to expand its roster of certified games. The allure of indulging in AAA gaming experiences on the fly is truly extraordinary, rendering the Deck a truly distinctive and outstanding handheld gaming system. Embracing the “Best Action Games on Steam Deck” keyword, it’s evident that this portable powerhouse is carving out a niche for itself in the world of gaming. Its growing popularity is a testament to the demand for top-tier gaming experiences on the go, making it a remarkable handheld console indeed.
It’s proven to be an intriguing new method to play a variety of game genres. Valve has been going through the massive Steam library since its February launch to check games that perform particularly well on the device, and genres like action and action games seem to lend themselves especially well to this interesting form factor for PC gaming. There are various great Steam Deck Games that smoothly mix in.
Here is the list of Best Action Games on Steam Deck
Devil May Cry 5
The Devil May Cry series has produced some of Capcom’s best games. It’s been unashamed, edgy 2000s-era action with a dash of campiness, and it’s long been adored for it. Devil May Cry 5 was the long-awaited fifth instalment, which followed Dante, Nero, and original character V as they attempted to stop Demon King Urizen from destroying the human world.
The game received widespread acclaim for its hilariously over-the-top tale, colourful cast of characters, and fighting mechanisms that were equal parts cathartic and deep. Devil May Cry 5 is a fast-paced and explosive action game that is simple to pick up and play on Steam Deck. It is one of the best Action Games on Steam Deck that you can steam from official site.
Days Gone
Days Gone is another previous PlayStation exclusive that performs admirably on the Steam Deck. When the zombie survival game was first published on the PS4 in 2019, it was met with varied reactions. Days Gone, on the other hand, was a significantly more polished game by the time it arrived on PC in May 2021.
This Bend Studio action-adventure game was added to the Deck’s verified list a year later. Getting flawless 60fps action from this title may be a stretch, but using the Deck’s 40fps option will provide a more immersive experience. The makers did an excellent job with this PC edition, and Days Gone works flawlessly on the Steam Deck.
Rogue Legacy 2
The one-more-go nature of this excellent roguelite makes it a perfect fit for Steam Deck, and because it’s currently only available on Xbox and computers, it’s also the only platform on which you can play it natively on a handheld. It’s difficult to make your way through Rogue Legacy 2’s colourful hand-drawn dungeons, but death is a good thing in a game like this, since it allows you to gather currency that can be used to upgrade your base and classes.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Metal Gear Solid is a thrilling stealth game series created by Konami and Hideo Kojima that has become one of the most iconic titles in the gaming industry. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, released in 2013, is a spinoff that pushes things in an excitingly Devil May Cry-like manner. It follows a cyborg Raiden he battles private military firms in the aftermath of Guns of the Patriots.
It’s a quick experience, but the game was well-received for its inventive narrative take on the MGS world, complicated combat game system, and thrilling boss fights. Revengeance has oddly become one of the best Metal Gear games, thanks to both its initial accolades and retroactive attention.
Doom Eternal
Doom Eternal may be considered a shooter by some, but there are action components in Bethesda Softworks’ blockbuster hit. Doom Eternal is now available on a variety of platforms, including the Nintendo Switch. The Steam Deck version, on the other hand, may be the greatest way to play this title. Doom Eternal on the Deck has good graphics and 60fps performance, which enhances to the experience. For Doom aficionados and Steam Deck owners, this is a match made in heaven.
Hades
Supergiant Games has a solid reputation in the indie gaming community, and 2020’s Hades is likely their most ambitious project to date. The plot is based on Greek mythology, and it follows Zagreus, Hades’ son, as he strives to rebel against his father and escape the Underworld. It’s an ideal setting for an action-roguelike game, with addictive and fast-paced fighting making each run, death, and victory satisfying.
Hades earned every bit of its critical accolades, with another lauded component being how it makes the tale and cast of people so deep and compelling that players even embrace death simply to return to the House of Hades and engage with everyone. Because of the nature of its gameplay, it’s a simple choice on Steam Deck for 30 minutes or three hours at a time.
Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Collection
Another Sony title that performs nicely on the Steam Deck is Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Collection. Players have had troubles with this one since its release, but when it works properly, playing Horizon Zero Dawn on the Deck is an amazing experience. Players will have to dabble with the settings to get the appropriate combination of gameplay and aesthetics, but setting it to 30fps appears to be the best option for this one. Having Horizon Zero Dawn on a handheld device, however, is a dream come true for many fans of the franchise.
Vampire Survivors
We finally got around to playing Vampire Survivors after several RPS readers suggested it. And it rocks, FINE, FINE. Moving around and auto-attacking sounds like a boring idea, but as the XP-unlocked weapon upgrades pile up and the first trickles of foes turn into screen-filling bullet hell hordes, pushing back the tide with time-stopping lasers and weaponised Bibles becomes almost hypnotically enthralling.
It only requires the left thumbstick and an occasional face button for input, yet the framerate remains over 40fps even with the most horde-like monster crowds, so consider Vampire Survivors another Steam Deck exclusive. It also doesn’t drain the battery too quickly: although we haven’t done a full full-to-empty test yet, we’d estimate four to five hours of vampire survival before the Deck runs dry.
Stray
Stray dispels the perception that it is only a funny-cat novelty game with great worldbuilding and straightforward puzzle game– platforming, aided by a sleek context-sensitive traversal style. This is perfectly translated to the Steam Deck controls, and while being a bit of a looker, Stray avoids any major performance concerns on the portable hardware. There is some stuttering, this is common on high-end desktop computers, and lowering Effects quality option from High to Medium should keep you above 30fps.
Tunic
Tunic, one of 2022’s best indies, is reminiscent of old-school Zeldas, but Link is a small fox. You explore a fascinating fantasy realm as the titular Tunic (who also wears a tunic), progressively revealing more of the map and learning how to continue by collecting parts of an in-game instruction booklet.
It’s a great, shamelessly old-school adventure that asks you to put in the effort, and while the tough fighting isn’t our favourite, you can make yourself invincible if a specific boss is proving to be insurmountable. Tunic will most likely make its way to the Switch in the future, but for the time being, the Steam Deck is the best option to play it portable.
Final Words
There are, as you may know, rather simple ways to get non-Steam games running on the Deck, but we’ll cover those another time. This list focuses on the best Action Games on Steam Deck that you will get access to right away. While there are many reasons to check out one of the most exciting pieces of gaming gear available today, the amount of terrific, hassle-free online games accessible on the device is proof enough of its success.