Best Narrative Steam Deck Games
Steam currently has 392 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 5/19/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best narrative games on Steam
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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 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 58,189 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 56,332 positive reviews and 1,857 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $1.99 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.
2. 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 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 18,339 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,825 positive reviews and 514 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 |
3. Scarlet Hollow
From the developers of Slay the Princess, return to the crumbling coal town your family built generations ago for the funeral of your aunt. You won't be able to save everyone. You might not even be able to save yourself. Welcome home.
Scarlet Hollow has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,992 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,976 positive reviews and 16 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 |
4. Journey
Explore the ancient, mysterious world of Journey as you soar above ruins and glide across sands to discover its secrets.
Journey has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 30,432 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 28,774 positive reviews and 1,658 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 |
5. 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.
Night in the Woods has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 16,677 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,796 positive reviews and 881 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 |
6. If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers
If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers is a narrative-driven point-and-click adventure with horror elements that explores the stories of four characters in a masked ball taking place aboard a train in the late 1920s.
If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,003 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,936 positive reviews and 67 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free 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 | 9/21/2021 |
| Developer | Dead Idle Games |
| Publisher | Dead Idle Games |
| Steam App Id | 1603980 |
7. Pentiment
Step into a living illustrated world in a time when Europe is at a crossroads of great religious and political change. Walk in the footsteps of Andreas Maler, a master artist who finds himself in the middle of murders, scandals, and intrigue in the Bavarian Alps.
Pentiment has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,784 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,504 positive reviews and 280 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 | 11/15/2022 |
| Franchise | Xbox Game Studios |
| Developer | Obsidian Entertainment |
| Publisher | Xbox Game Studios |
| Steam App Id | 1205520 |
8. How Fish Is Made
Are sardines trustworthy? Are you? Do you want to be?
How Fish Is Made has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,140 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,002 positive reviews and 138 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 | 1/14/2022 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1854430 |
9. Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery
Guide brush strokes and solve a variety of puzzles to help an aspiring artist complete her masterpiece amid her brusque neighbor’s gaze and his pesky cat. As her painting starts to take shape, uncover an emotional tale of chance and artistry revealed behind unrelated yet familiar moments.
Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery 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 5,952 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,644 positive reviews and 308 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $12.99 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 | $12.99 |
| Release Date | 8/25/2021 |
| Franchise | Akupara Games |
| Developer | Silver Lining Studio |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1634150 |
10. Wylde Flowers
Join Tara on a heartfelt journey to become a witch in Wylde Flowers. Farm by day, and cast spells by night as you craft your cottagecore life and bond with your coven. Come to know and love the fully voice acted characters of Fairhaven, as you unravel a local mystery.
Wylde Flowers has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Narrative Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,716 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,654 positive reviews and 62 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 | 9/20/2022 |
| Developer | Studio Drydock Pty Ltd |
| Publisher | Studio Drydock Pty Ltd |
| Steam App Id | 1896700 |
More Narrative Steam Deck Verified Games
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Narrative games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 123 | 7/7/2016 | 95 | $1.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 142 | 12/14/2016 | 95 | $2.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 41 | 6/11/2021 | 94 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 60 | 6/11/2020 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 107 | 2/21/2017 | 92 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 7 | 9/21/2021 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 87 | 11/15/2022 | 92 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 4 | 1/14/2022 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 9 | 8/25/2021 | 92 | $12.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 155 | 9/20/2022 | 91 | $24.99 | 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, May 19). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 19). INSIDE on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 13). Sally Face - Episode One on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 17). Scarlet Hollow on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 30). Journey on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 16). Night in the Woods on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 29). If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 5). Pentiment on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 20). How Fish Is Made on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 16). Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 15). Wylde Flowers on Steam. Steam Store.