best indie games for steam deck

Top 5 Indie Games That Feel Made for the Steam Deck

Finding great indie games isn’t a challenge nowadays. And this is fantastic, truly – until it gets overwhelming. There is such a thing as too many choices. You go through the list of all those great games and you don’t know where to start so you just play games that you already have.

But if you’re the lucky owner of a Steam Deck, let me make your life easier. Indie games and the Steam Deck are a match made in gaming heaven. These gems, often designed with unique mechanics or bite-sized adventures, feel tailor-made for the Deck’s portability and controls. 

Whether you’re lounging on the couch or taking it on the go, these titles shine on the small-but-mighty device.

So, instead of endlessly scrolling through your library, here are five indie games that feel like they were crafted specifically for the Steam Deck.

1. Hades

best indie games for steam deck: hades

Hades is a type of game that you can enjoy endlessly and not get bored. It’s one the few games that I have constantly installed on my Steam Deck. I boot it up from time to time and play it casually for an hour or two and have a complete blast. It works so well on Steam Deck, like it was specifically made for it. The controls are perfect, it runs smoothly, and most importantly — it looks great.

Hades is a roguelike action role-playing game developed and published by Supergiant Games in 2020. The story follows the firstborn son of Hades, Zagreus. He is trying to escape the Underworld and get away from his father. The game features a hack and slash combat system. Zagreus has a primary attack and a secondary “special” attack depending on the weapon of choice. 

The voice acting is fantastic and the game itself is very funny, so you’ll definitely have a blast!

2. Subnautica

best indie games for steam deck: subnautica

Another game on the list that fits so perfectly on the Steam Deck. Get yourself comfortable, make a nice warm drink, maybe even get a few snacks and boot up Subnautica. If that’s not a perfect way to relax, I don’t know what is.

Anyways, Subnautica is mostly an underwater survival game set on an alien planet where you are the only surviving person of a spaceship crash. The world is filled with all sorts of flora and fauna, some of them being “friendly” and a “few” of them not being so friendly. The main goal is to survive and deal with troubles along the way. 

3. Hollow Knight

best indie games for steam deck: hollow knight

I have nothing but praise for Hollow Knight — I loved the look of it, the mechanics, and everything else about it. I have an article about it here and in there I’ve mentioned that in the future I would love to do some sort of speed run. It feels like I would be able to do it better on the Steam Deck.

In case you’re too lazy to go through the whole article, here is the gist of it: 

Hollow Knight is a metroidvania video game that was published back in 2017. The story revolves around a bug-like creature who explores the underground place called Hollownest. It’s a place filled with all sorts of bugs. Some of them are easy to deal with and some will take the best out of you. It’s a challenging game but it’s definitely worth the effort. 

4. Nine Sols

best indie games for steam deck: nine sols

Nine Sols is a 2D action-platformer, metroidvania developed and published by Red Candle Games. It’s another perfect indie game that feels made for the Steam Deck. It’s very “similar” to the Hollow Knight and yet it’s very unique.  

In this game, you control Yi, who aims to defeat the Nine Sols to get revenge.The combat is mainly melee with a few exceptions where he can use a bow for ranged combat. It also features a deflect system that mostly resembles the one in Sekiro. And on top of everything, the game is beautifully designed. You’re going to enjoy playing it.

5. Ori and the Blind Forest

best indie games for steam deck: ori and the blind forest

I played Ori and the Blind Forest on my laptop back when I was in college and I was so wowed by it back then that once I got a Steam Deck, I just had to play it. I have to admit that the game still looks as gorgeous as the first time I played it. 

It runs smoothly, there are no bugs and the controls are simple. I’m fully aware that this game was released way before they even had an idea about the Steam Deck but I can’t help it if I feel like it was meant to be played on it.  

The story follows an Ori – a guardian spirit who fell down and was raised by a creature named Naru. Once it was gone, Ori was left alone and it went on to explore the withering forest where they lived. After collapsing near the Spirit Tree and being revived by it, Ori later meets Sein, a small orb who guides Ori on a journey to restore the forest.

Honorable Mentions

Sometimes the list isn’t enough, and these games deserve a shoutout too. They’re not in the top five, but let’s be honest, they’re probably already on your Deck.

Vampire Survivors

Perfect for when you need mindless fun that escalates into pure chaos. Its pick-up-and-play style feels just right for the Steam Deck, and nothing beats the satisfaction of mowing down an absurd number of enemies on a tiny screen.

Valheim

Okay, maybe “indie” is a stretch with how massive this game got, but Valheim’s Norse survival world is just as cozy as it is epic. Whether you’re building a Viking fortress or fighting trolls, it’s a perfect fit for handheld exploration.

Euro Truck Simulator

Not everyone gets it, but if you know, you know. There’s something oddly soothing about trucking through scenic highways while pretending you’re living a simpler life. Bonus points if you play it docked for that full rig setup vibe.

Stardew Valley

If you haven’t played this farming-life sim yet, what are you doing? It’s relaxing, endlessly charming, and feels even better when you’re curled up with the Steam Deck in hand. Prepare to lose hours to pixelated perfection.

Hades II

While we’re all still obsessed with Hades, its sequel is already setting the hype-o-meter ablaze. If the Deck handles it as smoothly as the first game, it’ll likely be another roguelike masterpiece to take everywhere.

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