Best Exploration Steam Deck Games

Steam currently has 17,750 Exploration 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. Exploration game rankings were last updated on 3/25/2025.

Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:

1. Terraria

Dig, fight, explore, build! Nothing is impossible in this action-packed adventure game. Four Pack also available!

Terraria banner

Terraria holds the #1 spot for "best Exploration Steam Deck game" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,395,797 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,360,730 positive reviews and 35,067 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 5/16/2011
Developer Re-Logic
Publisher Re-Logic
Steam App Id 105600

2. Euro Truck Simulator 2

Travel across Europe as king of the road, a trucker who delivers important cargo across impressive distances! With dozens of cities to explore, your endurance, skill and speed will all be pushed to their limits.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 banner

Euro Truck Simulator 2 has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Exploration Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 822,665 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 802,368 positive reviews and 20,297 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 10/12/2012
Franchise SCS Software
Developer SCS Software
Publisher SCS Software
Steam App Id 227300

3. A Short Hike

Hike, climb, and soar through the peaceful mountainside landscapes of Hawk Peak Provincial Park as you make your way to the summit.

A Short Hike banner

A Short Hike has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Exploration Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 18,700 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 18,544 positive reviews and 156 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 7/30/2019
Developer adamgryu
Publisher adamgryu
Steam App Id 1055540

4. Cats Hidden in Jingle Jam

Find and discover 200 cute cats hidden around a festive holiday village and a winter wonderland in this FREE hand-drawn hidden object game. Can you find them all?

Cats Hidden in Jingle Jam banner

Cats Hidden in Jingle Jam has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Exploration Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 10,151 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 10,099 positive reviews and 52 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is completely free 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.

Release Date 12/1/2023
Franchise Travellin Cats
Developer Travellin Cats
Publisher Travellin Cats
Steam App Id 2608050

5. Cats Hidden in Paris

Find 100 cats hiding in Paris, France in this cute hand-drawn hidden object game

Cats Hidden in Paris banner

Cats Hidden in Paris has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Exploration Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 17,185 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,013 positive reviews and 172 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is completely free 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.

Release Date 7/17/2023
Franchise Travellin Cats
Developer Travellin Cats
Publisher Travellin Cats
Steam App Id 2313250

6. ENA: Dream BBQ

Experience surreal environments and inexplicable characters as ENA in a new wild world.

ENA: Dream BBQ banner

ENA: Dream BBQ has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Exploration Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 17,545 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,338 positive reviews and 207 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is completely free 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.

Release Date 3/27/2025
Developer ENA Team
Publisher Joel G
Steam App Id 2134320

7. 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 banner

Hollow Knight has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Exploration Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 407,828 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 395,746 positive reviews and 12,082 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

8. 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 banner

Celeste has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Exploration Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 118,254 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 115,254 positive reviews and 3,000 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

9. A Hat in Time

A Hat in Time is a cute-as-heck 3D platformer featuring a little girl who stitches hats for wicked powers! Freely explore giant worlds and recover Time Pieces to travel to new heights!

A Hat in Time banner

A Hat in Time has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Exploration Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 51,486 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 50,378 positive reviews and 1,108 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $29.99 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 $29.99
Release Date 10/5/2017
Developer Gears for Breakfast
Publishers
Steam App Id 253230

10. Subnautica

Descend into the depths of an alien underwater world filled with wonder and peril. Craft equipment, pilot submarines and out-smart wildlife to explore lush coral reefs, volcanoes, cave systems, and more - all while trying to survive.

Subnautica banner

Subnautica has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Exploration Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 310,237 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 301,033 positive reviews and 9,204 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $29.99 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 $29.99
Release Date 1/23/2018
Franchise Unknown Worlds
Developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Publisher Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Steam App Id 264710

More Exploration Steam Deck Verified Games

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

ImageName
Actions
Terraria steam charts
21,550
5/16/2011
97
$9.99
Steam Charts
Euro Truck Simulator 2 steam charts
18,279
10/12/2012
97
$19.99
Steam Charts
A Short Hike steam charts
15
7/30/2019
97
$7.99
Steam Charts
Cats Hidden in Jingle Jam steam charts
2
12/1/2023
96
Free
Steam Charts
Cats Hidden in Paris steam charts
8
7/17/2023
96
Free
Steam Charts
ENA: Dream BBQ steam charts
1,257
3/27/2025
96
Free
Steam Charts
Hollow Knight steam charts
5,919
2/24/2017
96
$14.99
Steam Charts
Celeste steam charts
1,012
1/25/2018
96
$19.99
Steam Charts
A Hat in Time steam charts
117
10/5/2017
96
$29.99
Steam Charts
Subnautica steam charts
2,011
1/23/2018
96
$29.99
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. (2025, March 25). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, March 25). Terraria on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, April 17). Euro Truck Simulator 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, April 10). A Short Hike on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, March 13). Cats Hidden in Jingle Jam on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, April 16). Cats Hidden in Paris on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, April 18). ENA: Dream BBQ on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, April 2). Hollow Knight on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, April 4). Celeste on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, April 15). A Hat in Time on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, April 3). Subnautica on Steam. Steam Store.

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