TL;DR
A Verge roundup highlights eight games from 2025 that work well on Valve’s Steam Deck, spanning roguelikes, Metroidvanias, puzzles, and RPGs. The list notes Steam Deck performance where relevant, including a recent verification and community-sourced tweaks.
What happened
The Verge published a year-end roundup of eight notable games from 2025 that the author played on a Steam Deck. The selection mixes indies and larger releases, with entries ranging from short-run roguelikes to expansive Metroidvanias and narrative-driven adventures. Ball x Pit is recommended for quick, sub-15-minute runs and base-building between runs; Hades II received a 1.0 update in September that expanded characters, routes, boons, and the ending; and Hollow Knight: Silksong released in September as a closely related sequel to the original. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 received praise for turn-based combat and music and was recently verified for Steam Deck, with ProtonDB users offering additional visual tweaks. The list also includes relaxing puzzle Is This Seat Taken?, trance-like Lumines Arise, GBA-styled Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo, and the noir point-and-click thriller The Drifter, which supports Steam Deck controls.
Why it matters
- Shows 2025 produced a diverse slate of Deck-friendly titles across genres.
- Highlights that many indie games match the Steam Deck’s pick-up-and-play strengths.
- Steam Deck verification and community tweaks can affect playability and visuals.
- Confirms larger, high-profile releases can be playable on handheld hardware, even if visuals differ from high-end PCs.
Key facts
- The Verge author tested many games on a Steam Deck throughout 2025.
- Eight games highlighted: Ball x Pit; Clair Obscur: Expedition 33; Hades II; Hollow Knight: Silksong; Is This Seat Taken?; Lumines Arise; Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo; The Drifter.
- Ball x Pit combines Breakout-like shooting, Vampire Survivors-style escalation, and base-building; runs often last under 15 minutes.
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is Sandfall Interactive’s debut RPG, praised for battles, parrying, characters, story, and music; it was recently verified for Steam Deck.
- ProtonDB community members have shared settings to improve Clair Obscur’s visuals on Steam Deck.
- Hades II received a major 1.0 update in September adding a new protagonist, boons, characters, two routes, and a revised ending.
- Hollow Knight: Silksong launched in September and continues the series’ Metroidvania formula with challenging bosses and atmospheric design.
- Is This Seat Taken? is a low-stakes, relaxing seating-arrangement puzzle game; Lumines Arise emphasizes music-driven, trance-like puzzle play.
- Pipistrello channels GBA-era top-down adventure design with yo-yo mechanics; The Drifter adapts point-and-click mechanics into a darker thriller and supports Steam Deck controls.
What to watch next
- Community-sourced ProtonDB settings and guides to improve Clair Obscur visuals on Steam Deck (mentioned in the source).
- Future optimization patches or verification updates for other titles on this list: not confirmed in the source.
- Sales, discounts, or bundle offers for these games during holidays or Steam promotions: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Steam Deck: A handheld PC gaming device from Valve that runs PC games through Steam and compatibility layers like Proton.
- Roguelike: A genre characterized by procedurally generated runs, permadeath or run-based progression, and often high replayability.
- Metroidvania: A style of action-adventure game emphasizing exploration, ability-based progression, and interconnected map design.
- ProtonDB: A community resource where players share compatibility reports and settings for running Windows-only or non-native games on Linux-based systems, including the Steam Deck.
Reader FAQ
Are these games playable on the Steam Deck?
The author reports them as playable on Steam Deck; Clair Obscur is noted as recently verified and community tweaks are available for visuals.
Is Hades II fully updated?
The game received a major 1.0 update in September that added content and revised the ending.
Is Hollow Knight: Silksong available?
Silksong launched in September and is described as delivering the series’ established Metroidvania experience.
Which pick is best for short sessions?
Ball x Pit is highlighted for short runs that typically last under 15 minutes.
ENTERTAINMENT GAMING REPORT 8 great games for your Steam Deck from 2025 Hades II, Silksong, and a whole lot more. by Jay Peters Dec 27, 2025, 1:00 PM UTC 0…
Sources
- 8 great games for your Steam Deck from 2025
- These Games Released in 2025 Look Amazing on the …
- Best games to play on Steam Deck in 2025
- Top 10 Best Games of 2025 List
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