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Instead of sitting on a reservation list for months, it’s a good moment to check in and make sure the finest Steam Deck games are getting their due. That is, if you can excuse the rather ambiguous phrase, because there aren’t actually “Steam Deck games” as such: as developers Valve are quick to remind out, it’s essentially a computer, not its own platform. Some games may not run well enough or be too dependant on mouse and keyboard inputs to play comfortably, but large portions of your Steam library should be playable on the Steam Deck as soon as they complete installing.
With that in mind, I’d want to emphasize that this is not a structured ranking of quality in the same way that our top strategy games or best RPGs lists are. But they’re all games that I’ve discovered are particularly well suited to the Steam Deck lifestyle, whether through ease of adaptation to its onboard controls, high performance, or, preferably, both. Of course, if you’ve recently purchased a Steam Deck, you can disregard all of this and simply play the PC games you already own – that’s one of the reasons it’s such a cool technology in and of itself. Below we have mentioned some of the best PVP Games on Steam Deck.
Best PVP Games on Steam Deck
Hi-Fi Rush
Hi-Fi Rush sprang seemingly out of nowhere. Tango Gameworks’ game was announced and launched on the same day, and it is now available on Xbox Game Pass. As an extra bonus, the hack and slash title has already been validated by Steam Deck, so portable device users can get started right now. Overall, this is one of the best PVP Games on Steam Deck that you can download.
Hi-Fi Rush is a sensory overload, with stunning graphic design and terrific music. Finally, a great production value doesn’t matter much if the gameplay isn’t up to par, which Tango clearly recognizes. Hi-Fi Rush rewards players who coordinate their movement with the rhythm, and this goes beyond simply increasing fighting strength. This synergy benefits even exploratory activities. You can also read more information on its official website.
Persona 5 Royal
A PlayStation system was once required to play a mainstream Persona entry, however that is no longer the case. Persona 5 Royal, the newest turn-based entry in Atlus’ brand, is now available for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC, with the latter also allowing it to be played on the Steam Deck. With more than 100 hours of material, this popular JRPG may keep you occupied for months.
The Phantom Thieves are a group of youths that want to influence societal change by invading a corrupt individual’s Palace, which is a metaphysical embodiment of their negativity. P5R is split into two categories: social sim and dungeon exploring. The latter offers fairly standard turn-based combat, but boosted by a stylish presentation and an addicting monster-collecting mechanic. This is the best PVP Games on Steam Deck.
Apex Legends
Apex Legends swept the globe by storm at launch, fusing the battle royale genre with Respawn’s tight gameplay, and has rarely missed a beat since then. The primary mode is similar to a conventional free-for-all, however instead of battling alone, users form teams. Instead of using generic characters, players select a Legend who comes with their own set of special skills, providing a tactical element to fights.
Apex Legends is just entertaining; the gunplay is accurate, the levels are well-designed, and the game plays nicely on the majority of platforms. Although it is not the only option to play the FPS on the move, Steam Deck is designed specifically for Apex Legends’ fast play sessions. For now, this is one of the best PVP Games on Steam Deck you can consider.
Them’s Fightin’ Herds
Great things frequently take unexpected shapes. We’ve already seen unexpected pairings like an excellent turn-based strategy game starring Mario and Rabbids, or some of the most beloved action-adventure games of all time being Batman games – and now one of the best fighting games of 2020 is based on (but legally distinct from) My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. What a strange world we live in.
Them’s Fightin’ Herds is outstanding by any standard, not simply in the context of its origins as a fangame for a children’s TV show. It hits practically every major box on a fighting game fan’s wish list: it looks amazing, has a terrific narrative mode, deep gameplay, GGPO rollback netcode, and an extensive training system. Its main flaw is that it only has six playable characters, yet the manner in which developer Mane 6 has managed to achieve so much with so little is remarkable in a genre where other games have done much less with much more.
Splitgate
Splitgate encapsulates the essence of classic first-person shooter games, and I like it for it. Since the 1990s and 2000s, the FPS genre has evolved significantly. While some newer titles feature plenty of treasure, big missions, and more realistic physics, some of us miss the simpler arena shooters.
Sure, you can play the classics, but why not branch out? What if there was a game that paid respect to classics like Quake and Unreal Tournament while adding its own spin? Splitgate, a game best characterized as “Halo meets Portal,” comes into play here. Splitgate combines the straightforward gunplay of previous Bungie-led Halo titles with the inventive puzzle-solving of Portal.
Elden Ring
Elation when I finally beat them, and a fair amount of sorrow for the mountains of exp I lost along the way to some of the most difficult boss encounters FromSoftware has ever conceived. But it was the many absolutely jaw-dropping vistas, the sheer scope of an absolutely enormous world, the frequently harrowing enemies, and the way Elden Ring nearly always rewarded my curiosity with an interesting encounter, a valuable reward, or something even greater that kept me in near-constant awe.
FromSoftware continues with the ball that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild started, building a fascinating and deep open world about freedom and adventure above all else, while simultaneously effortlessly weaving a full-fledged Dark Souls game into the heart of it. It should come as no surprise that Elden Ring ended up being one of the most memorable gaming experiences I’ve ever had.
Team Fortress 2
Aren’t you glad Team Fortress 2 didn’t turn out this way? With the long-awaited Team Fortress sequel, Valve has built a game that has many parallels to its predecessor while incorporating enough modifications to feel new. The visual aesthetic is the most evident component, as you may have observed from any displays and videos. Even been dragged into probably too many hours of beta play over the past several weeks, we’re still blown away by the visual design, both in terms of how it looks and how it animates.
But don’t get too carried away with the visuals. After all, it’s a game, and the most crucial component is how it plays and whether or not it’s fun. It’s strange to see Team Fortress 2, which has been in production on and off for the past seven years, and Splash Damage’s Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, which has had its own share of setbacks and delays, finally release at the same time. Their virtually simultaneous retail release creates an intriguing quandary for you, the customer, in terms of how to spend your money.
Final Words
Valve’s Steam Deck is an astonishing technology that allows you to carry PC gaming experiences wherever you go. The Steam Deck thrives because of its console-like simplicity of use, reducing many hurdles with PC gaming. While there is no shortage of premium gaming experiences on the Steam Deck, the platform also includes a bevy of amazing free-to-play titles.
