Best Classic Steam Deck Games

Steam currently has 1,700 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 2/14/2025.

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 173,083 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 170,418 positive reviews and 2,665 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 48,860 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 48,206 positive reviews and 654 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

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 236,238 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 230,551 positive reviews and 5,687 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 167,786 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 162,716 positive reviews and 5,070 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 111,209 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 107,643 positive reviews and 3,566 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $0.99 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 $0.99
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 144,793 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 139,803 positive reviews and 4,990 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 13,849 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,567 positive reviews and 282 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 41,941 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 40,704 positive reviews and 1,237 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 22,908 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 22,305 positive reviews and 603 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.

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 18,154 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,646 positive reviews and 508 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
828
10/10/2007
97
$9.99
Steam Charts
The Henry Stickmin Collection steam charts
146
8/7/2020
97
$14.99
Steam Charts
Half-Life 2 steam charts
2,826
11/16/2004
96
$9.99
Steam Charts
Resident Evil 2 steam charts
1,920
1/24/2019
96
$39.99
Steam Charts
POSTAL 2 steam charts
926
11/2/2012
95
$0.99
Steam Charts
Half-Life steam charts
1,132
11/19/1998
95
$9.99
Steam Charts
Dishonored RHCP steam charts
114
10/11/2012
95
???
Steam Charts
Half-Life 2: Episode Two steam charts
53
10/10/2007
95
???
Steam Charts
DUSK steam charts
67
12/10/2018
95
$19.99
Steam Charts
The Expendabros steam charts
19
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. (2025, February 14). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, February 14). Portal on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, February 1). The Henry Stickmin Collection on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, February 11). Half-Life 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, February 11). Resident Evil 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, February 12). POSTAL 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, February 5). Half-Life on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, January 22). Dishonored RHCP on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, February 11). Half-Life 2: Episode Two on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, February 13). DUSK on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, February 11). The Expendabros on Steam. Steam Store.

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