Best Side Scroller Steam Deck Games
Steam currently has 5,656 Side Scroller 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. Side Scroller game rankings were last updated on 4/2/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best side scroller games on Steam
- Best side scroller Steam games for Mac
- Best side scroller Linux games on Steam
- Free side scroller games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
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1. 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 holds the #1 spot for "best Side Scroller Steam Deck game" with a Player Score of 96. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 407,388 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 395,321 positive reviews and 12,067 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 |
2. 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 #2 spot for the best Side Scroller Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 118,212 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 115,211 positive reviews and 3,001 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 |
3. BattleBlock Theater®
Welcome to BattleBlock Theater! You’ve got no where to go but up...on stage. Play single player or co-op to free your friends and save Hatty Hattington! Jump, solve and battle your way through a mysterious theater inhabited by highly technological felines.
BattleBlock Theater® has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Side Scroller Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 71,457 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 69,466 positive reviews and 1,991 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 | 5/15/2014 |
| Franchise | The Behemoth |
| Developer | The Behemoth |
| Publisher | The Behemoth |
| Steam App Id | 238460 |
4. Cuphead
Cuphead is a classic run and gun action game heavily focused on boss battles. Inspired by cartoons of the 1930s, the visuals and audio are painstakingly created with the same techniques of the era, i.e. traditional hand drawn cel animation, watercolor backgrounds, and original jazz recordings.
Cuphead has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Side Scroller Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 182,259 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 175,542 positive reviews and 6,717 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 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 | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 9/29/2017 |
| Developer | Studio MDHR Entertainment Inc. |
| Publisher | Studio MDHR Entertainment Inc. |
| Steam App Id | 268910 |
5. The Expendabros
The Expendabros have assembled and set their sights on the forces of ruthless arms dealer Conrad Stonebanks in the forests of Eastern Europe.
The Expendabros has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Side Scroller Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 18,167 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,656 positive reviews and 511 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free 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.
| Release Date | 8/5/2014 |
| Franchise | Free Lives |
| Developer | Free Lives |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Steam App Id | 312990 |
7. Until Then
A fateful meeting sets off a chain reaction, upending Mark's life. People disappear and memories prove unreliable. Uncover a hidden truth with Mark and his friends in this narrative adventure and race to unravel the mystery before it's too late.
Until Then has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Side Scroller Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,860 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,648 positive reviews and 212 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 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.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 6/25/2024 |
| Franchise | Maximum Entertainment |
| Developer | Polychroma Games |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1574820 |
8. Mark of the Ninja
In Mark of the Ninja, you'll know what it is to truly be a ninja. You must be silent, agile and clever to outwit your opponents in a world of gorgeous scenery and flowing animation. Marked with cursed tattoos giving you heightened senses, every situation presents you with options.
Mark of the Ninja has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Side Scroller Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 15,832 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,356 positive reviews and 476 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $0.00 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.
| Developer | Klei Entertainment |
| Publisher | Microsoft Studios |
| Steam App Id | 214560 |
9. Touhou Hero of Ice Fairy
Touhou Hero of Ice Fairy is an indie game developed by GAMEPULSE.Step into the shoes of Cirno, the Hero of Ice, as she embarks on a journey against evil, liberating Gensokyo and saving her dear princess.
Touhou Hero of Ice Fairy has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Side Scroller Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,761 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,585 positive reviews and 176 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.19 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 | $4.19 |
| Release Date | 4/3/2024 |
| Developer | GAMEPULSE 游戏脉冲 |
| Publisher | GAMEPULSE 游戏脉冲 |
| Steam App Id | 1955830 |
10. The Void Rains Upon Her Heart
Help her heart battle tough bosses in this Boss Rush, Bullet-hell with rogue-like elements. Fight through several randomly chosen boss battles leading up to a final battle. Each defeated monster will give her random gifts that power up her heart. Don't let her heart break!
The Void Rains Upon Her Heart has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Side Scroller Steam Deck games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,618 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,606 positive reviews and 12 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 | 2/14/2018 |
| Developer | Veyeral Games |
| Publisher | The Hidden Levels |
| Steam App Id | 790060 |
More Side Scroller Steam Deck Verified Games
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Side Scroller games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,600 | 2/24/2017 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 1,278 | 1/25/2018 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 110 | 5/15/2014 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 1,409 | 9/29/2017 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 14 | 8/5/2014 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 11/15/2021 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 150 | 6/25/2024 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 4 | ??? | 94 | ??? | Steam Charts | |
| 185 | 4/3/2024 | 94 | $4.19 | Steam Charts | |
| 22 | 2/14/2018 | 94 | $12.99 | 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, April 2). Steam Store. 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 14). BattleBlock Theater® on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 12). Cuphead on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, March 21). The Expendabros on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, March 15). 100 hidden frogs on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, March 20). Until Then on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, March 26). Mark of the Ninja on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 14). Touhou Hero of Ice Fairy on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 14). The Void Rains Upon Her Heart on Steam. Steam Store.