Best Narrative Steam Deck Games

Steam currently has 672 Narrative 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. Narrative game rankings were last updated on 8/3/2025.

Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:

1. INSIDE

Hunted and alone, a boy finds himself drawn into the center of a dark project. INSIDE is a dark, narrative-driven platformer combining intense action with challenging puzzles. It has been critically acclaimed for its moody art style, ambient soundtrack and unsettling atmosphere.

INSIDE banner

INSIDE holds the #1 spot for "best Narrative Steam Deck game" with a Player Score of 95. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 69,162 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 67,057 positive reviews and 2,105 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $1.99 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 $1.99
Release Date 7/7/2016
Developer Playdead
Publisher Playdead
Steam App Id 304430

2. The Case of the Golden Idol

A new kind of detective game that allows you to think and investigate freely. Discover clues surrounding 12 strange and gruesome deaths and build your own theory. Pick your suspect, deduce the motive, unmask the awful truth.

The Case of the Golden Idol banner

The Case of the Golden Idol has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,935 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,768 positive reviews and 167 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $17.99 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 $17.99
Release Date 10/13/2022
Franchise Playstack
Developer Color Gray Games
Publisher Playstack
Steam App Id 1677770

3. Sally Face - Episode One

Delve into a dark adventure following the boy with a prosthetic face and a tragic past. Unravel the sinister mysteries of Sally's world to find the truth that lies hidden beneath the shadows.

Sally Face - Episode One banner

Sally Face - Episode One has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 23,376 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 22,735 positive reviews and 641 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $2.99 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 $2.99
Release Date 12/14/2016
Developer Portable Moose
Publisher Portable Moose
Steam App Id 541570

4. I Am Your Beast

Hunt the military-industrial complex across stylish comic book micro-sandboxes in this fast-paced covert revenge thriller FPS from the developers of El Paso, Elsewhere.

I Am Your Beast banner

I Am Your Beast has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,096 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,028 positive reviews and 68 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 9/10/2024
Franchise Strange Scaffold
Developer Strange Scaffold
Publishers
Steam App Id 1876590

5. Scarlet Hollow

Your aunt’s dead, your cousin hates you, and you’re stuck in the dead-end town of Scarlet Hollow. Choose your path through a branching narrative so dense that you'll see less than a 1/5 of the game on a single playthrough. You won't be able to save everyone. Good luck, and welcome home.

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Scarlet Hollow has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,209 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,157 positive reviews and 52 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 6/11/2021
Franchise Black Tabby Games
Developer Black Tabby Games
Publisher Black Tabby Games
Steam App Id 1609230

6. Mouthwashing

The five crew members of the Tulpar are stranded in the empty reaches of space, shrouded in perpetual sunset. God is not watching.

Mouthwashing banner

Mouthwashing has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 31,187 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 29,958 positive reviews and 1,229 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $12.99 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 $12.99
Release Date 9/26/2024
Franchise CRITICAL REFLEX
Developer Wrong Organ
Publishers
Steam App Id 2475490

7. Katawa Shoujo

Katawa Shoujo is a romantic visual novel set in the fictional Japanese Yamaku High School for disabled children. Hisao's congenital heart defect forces him to move to a new school. Despite his difficulties, Hisao is able to find friends—and perhaps love, if he plays his cards right.

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Katawa Shoujo has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,109 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,023 positive reviews and 86 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 8/15/2024
Developer Four Leaf Studios
Publisher Four Leaf Studios
Steam App Id 3068300

8. Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines

"Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines" - In this short story from the Endless Monday, Penny, a mild-mannered corporate grunt, spends a weekend at the office in an effort to finish her project on time while overcoming distractions from coworkers, space aliens, imaginary friends, and herself.

Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines banner

Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,624 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,605 positive reviews and 19 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 5/4/2023
Franchise Endless Monday
Developer hcnone
Publisher hcnone
Steam App Id 2262610

9. Night in the Woods

NIGHT IN THE WOODS is an adventure game focused on exploration, story, and character, featuring dozens of characters to meet and lots to do across a lush, vibrant world.

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Night in the Woods has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 18,718 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,739 positive reviews and 979 negative reviews — making it "Very 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 2/21/2017
Developer Infinite Fall
Publisher Finji
Steam App Id 481510

10. Journey

Explore the ancient, mysterious world of Journey as you soar above ruins and glide across sands to discover its secrets.

Journey banner

Journey has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 35,075 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 33,052 positive reviews and 2,023 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.99 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 $14.99
Release Date 6/11/2020
Developer thatgamecompany
Publisher Annapurna Interactive
Steam App Id 638230

More Narrative Steam Deck Verified Games

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

ImageName
Actions
INSIDE steam charts
124
7/7/2016
95
$1.99
Steam Charts
The Case of the Golden Idol steam charts
92
10/13/2022
95
$17.99
Steam Charts
Sally Face - Episode One steam charts
273
12/14/2016
95
$2.99
Steam Charts
I Am Your Beast steam charts
15
9/10/2024
94
$19.99
Steam Charts
Scarlet Hollow steam charts
22
6/11/2021
94
$24.99
Steam Charts
Mouthwashing steam charts
84
9/26/2024
94
$12.99
Steam Charts
Katawa Shoujo steam charts
91
8/15/2024
94
Free
Steam Charts
Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines steam charts
2
5/4/2023
94
$9.99
Steam Charts
Night in the Woods steam charts
72
2/21/2017
92
$19.99
Steam Charts
Journey steam charts
60
6/11/2020
92
$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. (2025, August 3). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, August 3). INSIDE on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, August 1). The Case of the Golden Idol on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, July 20). Sally Face - Episode One on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, August 2). I Am Your Beast on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, July 23). Scarlet Hollow on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, August 1). Mouthwashing on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, July 21). Katawa Shoujo on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, August 2). Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, July 26). Night in the Woods on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, July 24). Journey on Steam. Steam Store.

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