Best Classic Steam Deck Games

Steam currently has 1,673 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 12/12/2024.

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 169,158 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 166,560 positive reviews and 2,598 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 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 47,507 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 46,869 positive reviews and 638 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $5.99 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 $5.99
Release Date 8/7/2020
Franchise Innersloth
Developer PuffballsUnited
Publisher Innersloth
Steam App Id 1089980

3. Half-Life 2

Reawakened from stasis in the occupied metropolis of City 17, Gordon Freeman is joined by Alyx Vance as he leads a desperate human resistance. Experience the landmark first-person shooter packed with immersive world-building, boundary-pushing physics, and exhilarating combat.

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 225,979 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 220,536 positive reviews and 5,443 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 11/16/2004
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 164,193 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 159,213 positive reviews and 4,980 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 1/24/2019
Developer CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Publisher CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Steam App Id 883710

5. 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 #5 spot for the best Classic Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 107,938 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 104,442 positive reviews and 3,496 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

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 141,349 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 136,497 positive reviews and 4,852 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. Dishonored RHCP

Dishonored RHCP banner

Dishonored RHCP 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 13,731 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,452 positive reviews and 279 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

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 42,015 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 40,777 positive reviews and 1,238 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $0.00 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.

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 22,573 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 21,988 positive reviews and 585 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $6.79 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 $6.79
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.

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 18,118 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,614 positive reviews and 504 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
607
10/10/2007
97
$9.99
Steam Charts
The Henry Stickmin Collection steam charts
154
8/7/2020
97
$5.99
Steam Charts
Half-Life 2 steam charts
7,555
11/16/2004
96
$9.99
Steam Charts
Resident Evil 2 steam charts
956
1/24/2019
96
$39.99
Steam Charts
POSTAL 2 steam charts
439
11/2/2012
95
$9.99
Steam Charts
Half-Life steam charts
1,482
11/19/1998
95
$9.99
Steam Charts
Dishonored RHCP steam charts
132
10/11/2012
95
???
Steam Charts
Half-Life 2: Episode Two steam charts
69
10/10/2007
95
???
Steam Charts
DUSK steam charts
85
12/10/2018
95
$6.79
Steam Charts
The Expendabros steam charts
10
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, December 12). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 12). Portal on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 6). The Henry Stickmin Collection on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 7). Half-Life 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). Resident Evil 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 10). POSTAL 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 8). Half-Life on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, November 28). Dishonored RHCP on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). Half-Life 2: Episode Two on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 11). DUSK on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). The Expendabros on Steam. Steam Store.

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