Best Difficult Steam Deck Games
Steam currently has 7,250 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 12/15/2024.
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 271,604 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 266,961 positive reviews and 4,643 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 Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| 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 96,462 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 94,799 positive reviews and 1,663 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $13.49 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 | $13.49 |
| 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 63,192 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 62,195 positive reviews and 997 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 97, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Difficult Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 170,042 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 166,361 positive reviews and 3,681 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $8.49 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 | $8.49 |
| 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 97, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Difficult Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 137,979 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 135,037 positive reviews and 2,942 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. 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 #6 spot for the best Difficult Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 315,404 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 307,319 positive reviews and 8,085 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 |
7. 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 #7 spot for the best Difficult Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 68,585 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 67,239 positive reviews and 1,346 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 | 4/18/2019 |
| Developer | Askiisoft |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Steam App Id | 460950 |
8. 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 #8 spot for the best Difficult Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 383,209 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 372,048 positive reviews and 11,161 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 |
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 111,548 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 108,728 positive reviews and 2,820 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 | 1/25/2018 |
| Franchise | EXOK Games |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Maddy Makes Games Inc. |
| Steam App Id | 504230 |
10. Rhythm Doctor
Save patients with your rhythm mastery! Rhythm Doctor is a rhythm game where you heal patients by defibrillating in time to their heartbeats. Learn each patient's unique heartbeat and defeat boss viruses trying to sabotage your rhythm, all set to heart-pumping, soul-soothing music.
Rhythm Doctor 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 20,584 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 20,262 positive reviews and 322 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $15.99 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 | $15.99 |
| Release Date | 2/26/2021 |
| Franchise | 7th Beat Games |
| Developer | 7th Beat Games |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 774181 |
More Difficult Steam Deck Verified Games
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Difficult games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,934 | 9/17/2020 | 97 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 20,180 | 2/20/2024 | 97 | $13.49 | Steam Charts | |
| 300 | 1/26/2023 | 97 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 17,247 | 1/23/2019 | 97 | $8.49 | Steam Charts | |
| 1,715 | 9/3/2020 | 97 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 32,816 | 11/4/2014 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 128 | 4/18/2019 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 8,529 | 2/24/2017 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 1,838 | 1/25/2018 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 75 | 2/26/2021 | 96 | $15.99 | 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. (2024, December 15). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 15). Hades on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 14). Balatro on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 12). Pizza Tower on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 30). Slay the Spire on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 9). ULTRAKILL on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 12). The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 4). Katana ZERO on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). Hollow Knight on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). Celeste on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 14). Rhythm Doctor on Steam. Steam Store.