Best Difficult Steam Deck Games
Steam currently has 8,551 Difficult 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. Difficult game rankings were last updated on 1/5/2026.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
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1. Hades
Defy the god of the dead as you hack and slash out of the Underworld in this rogue-like dungeon crawler from the creators of Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre.
Hades holds the #1 spot for "best Difficult Steam Deck game" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 296,441 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 290,841 positive reviews and 5,600 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $24.99 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 | $24.99 |
| Release Date | 9/17/2020 |
| Franchise | Supergiant Games |
| Developer | Supergiant Games |
| Publisher | Supergiant Games |
| Steam App Id | 1145360 |
2. Balatro
The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.
Balatro has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Difficult Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 180,204 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 176,484 positive reviews and 3,720 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 | 2/20/2024 |
| Franchise | Playstack |
| Developer | LocalThunk |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2379780 |
3. Pizza Tower
Pizza Tower is a fast paced 2D platformer, with an emphasis on movement, exploration and score attack. Featuring highly stylized pixel art inspired by the cartoons from the '90s, and a highly energetic soundtrack.
Pizza Tower has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Difficult Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 69,481 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 68,328 positive reviews and 1,153 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 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 | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 1/26/2023 |
| Developer | Tour De Pizza |
| Publisher | Tour De Pizza |
| Steam App Id | 2231450 |
4. Slay the Spire
We fused card games and roguelikes together to make the best single player deckbuilder we could. Craft a unique deck, encounter bizarre creatures, discover relics of immense power, and Slay the Spire!
Slay the Spire has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Difficult Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 201,130 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 196,514 positive reviews and 4,616 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $24.99 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 | $24.99 |
| Release Date | 1/23/2019 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 646570 |
5. ULTRAKILL
ULTRAKILL is a fast-paced ultraviolent retro FPS combining the skill-based style scoring from character action games with unadulterated carnage inspired by the best shooters of the '90s. Rip apart your foes with varied destructive weapons and shower in their blood to regain your health.
ULTRAKILL has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Difficult Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 200,401 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 195,646 positive reviews and 4,755 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $24.99 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 | $24.99 |
| Release Date | 9/3/2020 |
| Franchise | New Blood Interactive |
| Developer | Arsi "Hakita" Patala |
| Publisher | New Blood Interactive |
| Steam App Id | 1229490 |
6. Katana ZERO
Katana ZERO is a stylish neo-noir, action-platformer featuring breakneck action and instant-death combat. Slash, dash, and manipulate time to unravel your past in a beautifully brutal acrobatic display.
Katana ZERO has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Difficult Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 73,852 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 72,367 positive reviews and 1,485 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $8.99 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 | $8.99 |
| Release Date | 4/18/2019 |
| Developer | Askiisoft |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Steam App Id | 460950 |
7. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a randomly generated action RPG shooter with heavy Rogue-like elements. Following Isaac on his journey players will find bizarre treasures that change Isaac’s form giving him super human abilities and enabling him to fight off droves of mysterious creatures, discover secrets and fight his way to safety.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Difficult Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 376,154 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 365,822 positive reviews and 10,332 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 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 | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 11/4/2014 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Nicalis, Inc. |
| Steam App Id | 250900 |
8. Chants of Sennaar
In this award-winning puzzle adventure game, play as the Traveler on a quest to reunite the Peoples of the Tower. Observe, listen, and decipher ancient languages in a fascinating universe inspired by the Myth of Babel.
Chants of Sennaar has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Difficult Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 27,506 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 27,039 positive reviews and 467 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $11.99 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 | $11.99 |
| Release Date | 9/5/2023 |
| Franchise | Focus Entertainment |
| Developer | Rundisc |
| Publisher | Focus Entertainment |
| Steam App Id | 1931770 |
9. Celeste
Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight platformer from the creators of TowerFall. Brave hundreds of hand-crafted challenges, uncover devious secrets, and piece together the mystery of the mountain.
Celeste has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Difficult Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 134,730 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 131,254 positive reviews and 3,476 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 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 | $4.99 |
| Release Date | 1/25/2018 |
| Franchise | EXOK Games |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Maddy Makes Games Inc. |
| Steam App Id | 504230 |
10. Hollow Knight
Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs, all in a classic, hand-drawn 2D style.
Hollow Knight has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Difficult Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 517,937 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 501,975 positive reviews and 15,962 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 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 | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 2/24/2017 |
| Developer | Team Cherry |
| Publisher | Team Cherry |
| Steam App Id | 367520 |
More Difficult Steam Deck Verified Games
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Difficult games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,782 | 9/17/2020 | 97 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 10,987 | 2/20/2024 | 97 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 454 | 1/26/2023 | 97 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 20,973 | 1/23/2019 | 96 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 3,278 | 9/3/2020 | 96 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 128 | 4/18/2019 | 96 | $8.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 25,145 | 11/4/2014 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 270 | 9/5/2023 | 96 | $11.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 2,241 | 1/25/2018 | 96 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 14,062 | 2/24/2017 | 96 | $14.99 | 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. (2026, January 5). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 5). Hades on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 15). Balatro on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 11). Pizza Tower on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 6). Slay the Spire on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 5). ULTRAKILL on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 31). Katana ZERO on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 15). The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 16). Chants of Sennaar on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 12). Celeste on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 15). Hollow Knight on Steam. Steam Store.