Best Classic Steam Deck Games

Steam currently has 1,583 Classic games, but not all of them can be played on the Steam Deck. Explore our list with the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Classic game rankings were last updated on 5/18/2024.

Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:

1. Portal

Portal™ is a new single player game from Valve. Set in the mysterious Aperture Science Laboratories, Portal has been called one of the most innovative new games on the horizon and will offer gamers hours of unique gameplay.

Portal banner

Portal holds the #1 spot for "best Classic Steam Deck game" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 156,541 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 154,187 positive reviews and 2,354 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 10/10/2007
Developer Valve
Publisher Valve
Steam App Id 400

2. The Henry Stickmin Collection

A choose-your-own-path where failing is more fun than succeeding.

The Henry Stickmin Collection banner

The Henry Stickmin Collection has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Classic Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 44,014 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 43,414 positive reviews and 600 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $14.99
Release Date 8/7/2020
Franchise Innersloth
Developer PuffballsUnited
Publisher Innersloth
Steam App Id 1089980

3. Half-Life 2

1998. HALF-LIFE sends a shock through the game industry with its combination of pounding action and continuous, immersive storytelling. Valve's debut title wins more than 50 game-of-the-year awards on its way to being named "Best PC Game Ever" by PC Gamer, and launches a franchise with more than eight million retail units sold worldwide.

Half-Life 2 banner

Half-Life 2 has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Classic Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 191,786 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 187,220 positive reviews and 4,566 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 11/16/2004
Franchise Half-Life
Developer Valve
Publisher Valve
Steam App Id 220

4. Resident Evil 2

A deadly virus engulfs the residents of Raccoon City in September of 1998, plunging the city into chaos as flesh eating zombies roam the streets for survivors. An unparalleled adrenaline rush, gripping storyline, and unimaginable horrors await you. Witness the return of Resident Evil 2.

Resident Evil 2 banner

Resident Evil 2 has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Classic Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 154,449 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 149,710 positive reviews and 4,739 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $39.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $39.99
Release Date 1/25/2019
Developer CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Publisher CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Steam App Id 883710

5. Dishonored RHCP

Dishonored RHCP banner

Dishonored RHCP has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Classic Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 13,334 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,066 positive reviews and 268 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $0.00 to play and is not available to play on Windows, Mac OS, or Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Release Date 10/11/2012
Steam App Id 217980

6. Half-Life

Named Game of the Year by over 50 publications, Valve's debut title blends action and adventure with award-winning technology to create a frighteningly realistic world where players must think to survive. Also includes an exciting multiplayer mode that allows you to play against friends and enemies around the world.

Half-Life banner

Half-Life has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Classic Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 126,512 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 122,200 positive reviews and 4,312 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 11/19/1998
Franchise Half-Life
Developer Valve
Publisher Valve
Steam App Id 70

7. POSTAL 2

Live a week in the life of "The Postal Dude"; a hapless everyman just trying to check off some chores. Buying milk, returning an overdue library book, getting Gary Coleman's autograph, what could possibly go wrong?

POSTAL 2 banner

POSTAL 2 has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Classic Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 99,854 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 96,486 positive reviews and 3,368 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 11/2/2012
Franchise Postal Franchise
Developer Running With Scissors
Publisher Running With Scissors
Steam App Id 223470

8. Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Half-Life® 2: Episode Two is the second in a trilogy of new games created by Valve that extends the award-winning and best-selling Half-Life® adventure. As Dr. Gordon Freeman, you were last seen exiting City 17 with Alyx Vance as the Citadel erupted amidst a storm of unknown proportions.

Half-Life 2: Episode Two banner

Half-Life 2: Episode Two has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Classic Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 39,616 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 38,455 positive reviews and 1,161 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $7.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $7.99
Release Date 10/10/2007
Franchise Half-Life
Developer Valve
Publisher Valve
Steam App Id 420

9. DUSK

Battle through an onslaught of mystical backwater cultists, possessed militants & even darker forces as you attempt to discover just what lurks beneath the Earth in this retro FPS inspired by the '90s legends.

DUSK banner

DUSK has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Classic Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 21,674 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 21,118 positive reviews and 556 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $19.99
Release Date 12/10/2018
Franchise New Blood Interactive
Developer David Szymanski
Publisher New Blood Interactive
Steam App Id 519860

10. The Expendabros

The Expendabros have assembled and set their sights on the forces of ruthless arms dealer Conrad Stonebanks in the forests of Eastern Europe. Battle in a flurry of bullets and non-stop action through ten full-throttle missions set amongst the picturesque tree tops and the absurdly dangerous lumber mills teeming with enemy soldiers,...

The Expendabros banner

The Expendabros has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Classic Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 18,028 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,529 positive reviews and 499 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Release Date 8/5/2014
Franchise Free Lives
Developer Free Lives
Publisher Devolver Digital
Steam App Id 312990

More Classic Steam Deck Verified Games

Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Classic games available on Steam.

ImageName
Actions
Portal steam charts
425
10/10/2007
97
$9.99
Steam Charts
The Henry Stickmin Collection steam charts
162
8/7/2020
97
$14.99
Steam Charts
Half-Life 2 steam charts
622
11/16/2004
96
$9.99
Steam Charts
Resident Evil 2 steam charts
1,034
1/25/2019
96
$39.99
Steam Charts
Dishonored RHCP steam charts
18
10/11/2012
95
???
Steam Charts
Half-Life steam charts
693
11/19/1998
95
$9.99
Steam Charts
POSTAL 2 steam charts
264
11/2/2012
95
$9.99
Steam Charts
Half-Life 2: Episode Two steam charts
120
10/10/2007
95
$7.99
Steam Charts
DUSK steam charts
87
12/10/2018
95
$19.99
Steam Charts
The Expendabros steam charts
11
8/5/2014
95
Free
Steam Charts

Soures & References

Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.

  • Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Portal on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). The Henry Stickmin Collection on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Half-Life 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Resident Evil 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, May 7). Dishonored RHCP on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Half-Life on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, April 22). POSTAL 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Half-Life 2: Episode Two on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). DUSK on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, May 16). The Expendabros on Steam. Steam Store.

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