Best Philosophical Steam Deck Games

Steam currently has 1,537 Philosophical 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. Philosophical game rankings were last updated on 12/7/2025.

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1. The Last Campfire

The Last Campfire is an adventure, a story of a lost ember trapped in a puzzling place, searching for meaning and a way home.

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The Last Campfire holds the #1 spot for "best Philosophical Steam Deck game" with a Player Score of 95. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 17,457 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,035 positive reviews and 422 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $1.49 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 $1.49
Release Date 10/7/2021
Franchise Hello Games
Developer Hello Games
Publisher Hello Games
Steam App Id 990630

2. Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut

You're here to slay the princess. Don't believe her lies.

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Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Philosophical Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 28,672 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 27,796 positive reviews and 876 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $9.89 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 $9.89
Release Date 10/23/2023
Franchise Black Tabby Games
Developer Black Tabby Games
Publishers
Steam App Id 1989270

3. Z.A.T.O. // I Love the World and Everything In It

USSR, 1986. A girl goes missing in the closed city of Vorkuta-5, yet not a soul seems to be concerned. Uncover the mystery behind her disappearance and transmit your signal to the universe.

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Z.A.T.O. // I Love the World and Everything In It has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Philosophical Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,456 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,417 positive reviews and 39 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 11/10/2025
Developer Ferry // Nopanamaman
Publisher Ferry // Nopanamaman
Steam App Id 4122860

4. SOMA

From the creators of Amnesia: The Dark Descent comes SOMA, a sci-fi horror game set below the waves of the Atlantic ocean. Struggle to survive a hostile world that will make you question your very existence.

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SOMA has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Philosophical Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 48,690 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 46,703 positive reviews and 1,987 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $7.49 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 $7.49
Release Date 9/21/2015
Franchise Frictional Games
Developer Frictional Games
Publisher Frictional Games
Steam App Id 282140

5. Hello Charlotte EP3: Childhood's End

"All ended well.There was nothing to grieve about." A farewell, and a greeting.

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Hello Charlotte EP3: Childhood's End has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Philosophical Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,943 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,891 positive reviews and 52 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $3.99 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 $3.99
Release Date 1/4/2018
Developer etherane
Publisher etherane
Steam App Id 760890

6. A Space for the Unbound

A magical adventure about two high school sweethearts set at the end of their school days - and the end of the world. Explore a crumbling town and help friends face their inner demons, which could be the key to stopping reality itself disintegrating. And don’t forget to pet the cats.

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A Space for the Unbound has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Philosophical Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,961 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,763 positive reviews and 198 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $10.99 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 $10.99
Release Date 1/19/2023
Franchise 方块游戏 (CubeGame)
Developer Mojiken
Publishers
Steam App Id 1201270

7. The Forgotten City

The Forgotten City is a narrative-driven time loop adventure in ancient Rome. Discover the ruins of an ancient underground city, travel 2000 years into the past, and unravel the mystery of who destroyed it by cleverly exploiting the power to wind back time. The fate of the city is in your hands.

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The Forgotten City has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Philosophical Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 12,581 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 12,086 positive reviews and 495 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $6.24 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 $6.24
Release Date 7/28/2021
Franchise Dear Villagers
Developer Modern Storyteller
Publisher Dear Villagers
Steam App Id 874260

8. The Talos Principle 2

The Talos Principle 2 is a thought-provoking first-person puzzle experience that greatly expands on the first game's philosophical themes and stunning environments with increasingly mind-bending challenges.

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The Talos Principle 2 has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Philosophical Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 12,582 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 11,987 positive reviews and 595 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $8.99 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 $8.99
Release Date 11/2/2023
Franchise Croteam Official
Developer Croteam
Publisher Devolver Digital
Steam App Id 835960

9. The Test: Secrets of the Soul

You will answer a series of questions that will reveal things from deep within. Some will be uncomfortable, but with great knowledge comes great sacrifice. Can you make it all the way through The Test, and are you SURE you want the answers you seek? For it is time to unlock "Secrets of the Soul..."

The Test: Secrets of the Soul banner

The Test: Secrets of the Soul has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Philosophical Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,527 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,493 positive reviews and 34 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 2/20/2023
Developer Randumb Studios
Publisher Randumb Studios
Steam App Id 2231890

10. Manifold Garden

Rediscover gravity and explore an Escher-esque world of impossible architecture. Witness infinity in first-person and master its rules to solve physics-defying puzzles. Cultivate a garden to open new paths forward, where an eternal expanse awaits.

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Manifold Garden has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Philosophical Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,863 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,501 positive reviews and 362 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 10/20/2020
Developer William Chyr Studio
Publisher William Chyr Studio
Steam App Id 473950

More Philosophical Steam Deck Verified Games

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

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, December 7). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, December 7). The Last Campfire on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, December 24). Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, December 28). Z.A.T.O. // I Love the World and Everything In It on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, December 18). SOMA on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, December 7). Hello Charlotte EP3: Childhood's End on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, December 18). A Space for the Unbound on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, December 7). The Forgotten City on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, December 28). The Talos Principle 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, October 11). The Test: Secrets of the Soul on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, November 27). Manifold Garden on Steam. Steam Store.

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