Best Retro Steam Deck Games
Steam currently has 12,041 Retro 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. Retro game rankings were last updated on 6/30/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
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1. Vampire Survivors
Mow down thousands of night creatures and survive until dawn! Vampire Survivors is a gothic horror casual game with rogue-lite elements, where your choices can allow you to quickly snowball against the hundreds of monsters that get thrown at you.
Vampire Survivors holds the #1 spot for "best Retro Steam Deck game" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 250,961 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 247,088 positive reviews and 3,873 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $3.74 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. DELTARUNE
Dive into the parallel story to UNDERTALE! Fight or spare your way through action-packed battles as you explore a mysterious world alongside an endearing cast of new and familiar characters. Chapters 1-4 will be available on launch, with more planned as free updates!
DELTARUNE has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Retro Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 49,495 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 48,851 positive reviews and 644 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $24.99 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.
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 Retro Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 66,974 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 65,874 positive reviews and 1,100 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $13.39 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 | $13.39 |
| Release Date | 1/26/2023 |
| Developer | Tour De Pizza |
| Publisher | Tour De Pizza |
| Steam App Id | 2231450 |
4. 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 96, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Retro Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 174,784 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 170,772 positive reviews and 4,012 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $16.74 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 | $16.74 |
| Release Date | 9/3/2020 |
| Franchise | New Blood Interactive |
| Developer | Arsi "Hakita" Patala |
| Publisher | New Blood Interactive |
| Steam App Id | 1229490 |
5. 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 #5 spot for the best Retro Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 71,486 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 70,081 positive reviews and 1,405 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $8.99 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 | $8.99 |
| Release Date | 4/18/2019 |
| Developer | Askiisoft |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Steam App Id | 460950 |
6. The WereCleaner
Kyle is a Janitor. He's also a Werewolf. And now he's got the night shift. Try not to kill anyone while working to get your paycheck - in a stealth-comedy game with surprises around every corner.
The WereCleaner has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Retro Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 10,352 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 10,293 positive reviews and 59 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 | 5/7/2024 |
| Developer | Howlin' Hugs |
| Publisher | USC Games |
| Steam App Id | 2795000 |
7. ENA: Dream BBQ
Experience surreal environments and inexplicable characters as ENA in a new wild world.
ENA: Dream BBQ has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Retro Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 25,264 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 24,919 positive reviews and 345 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.
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 has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Retro Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 121,750 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 118,651 positive reviews and 3,099 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 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 | $4.99 |
| Release Date | 1/25/2018 |
| Franchise | EXOK Games |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Maddy Makes Games Inc. |
| Steam App Id | 504230 |
9. Hotline Miami
Hotline Miami is a high-octane action game overflowing with raw brutality, hard-boiled gunplay and skull crushing close combat.
Hotline Miami has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Retro Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 107,301 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 104,211 positive reviews and 3,090 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $1.99 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 | $1.99 |
| Release Date | 10/23/2012 |
| Developer | Dennaton Games |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Steam App Id | 219150 |
10. Papers, Please
Congratulations. The October labor lottery is complete. Your name was pulled. For immediate placement, report to the Ministry of Admission at Grestin Border Checkpoint. An apartment will be provided for you and your family in East Grestin. Expect a Class-8 dwelling.
Papers, Please has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Retro Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 74,543 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 72,515 positive reviews and 2,028 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 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 | $4.99 |
| Release Date | 8/8/2013 |
| Developer | Lucas Pope |
| Publisher | 3909 |
| Steam App Id | 239030 |
More Retro Steam Deck Verified Games
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Retro games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,044 | 10/20/2022 | 97 | $3.74 | Steam Charts | |
| 13,001 | 6/4/2025 | 97 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 446 | 1/26/2023 | 97 | $13.39 | Steam Charts | |
| 3,619 | 9/3/2020 | 96 | $16.74 | Steam Charts | |
| 292 | 4/18/2019 | 96 | $8.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 33 | 5/7/2024 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 176 | 3/26/2025 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 2,513 | 1/25/2018 | 96 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 464 | 10/23/2012 | 96 | $1.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 875 | 8/8/2013 | 96 | $4.99 | 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, June 30). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 30). Vampire Survivors on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 26). DELTARUNE on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 30). Pizza Tower on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 26). ULTRAKILL on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 19). Katana ZERO on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 28). The WereCleaner on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 30). ENA: Dream BBQ on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 30). Celeste on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 27). Hotline Miami on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 30). Papers, Please on Steam. Steam Store.