With the Steam Deck OLED, Valve has introduced a new version with an OLED display. Some games particularly benefit from the better display and HDR options. MeinMMO introduces you to 12 games that you should take a look at.
With the Steam Deck OLED, Valve has given its handheld a major upgrade. The eponymous OLED display in particular is a strong improvement, which shows impressive advantages over the conventional LCD display, especially in some games.
MeinMMO introduces you to games that are particularly worthwhile on the Steam Deck OLED. We have sorted the games in alphabetical order. We present you a selection here, not a complete list of all the games that could be suitable.
Steam Deck Compatibility: There are 4 levels
Verified:
The game works “out of the box”: you can start the game directly on the Steam Deck without any additional settings.
Playable:
The game works. However, you may need to make your own adjustments. For example, the game does not support controller input or the text is very small. In some cases you have to use the on-screen keyboard.
Unverified
Valve has not reviewed the game. Untested games can work, but they don’t have to. Here you have to test the games yourself.
Unsupported
These games either don’t work at all or you have to make the settings yourself. With some adjustments, such as changing the Proton version or developer settings, these games can also work.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Release: October 2018 | Developer: Ubisoft Quebec | Genre: Action RPG | Steam Deck: Playable |
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is the predecessor to Valhalla and is set in ancient Greece. Graphically, the game is impressive anyway, thanks to HDR the colors look much better and the black levels are much richer.
According to Steam, the game is “playable” and can be easily installed on the Steam Deck despite Uplay (Ubisoft Connect). If you have problems, then switch to “Proton Experimental” in the settings.
Cyberpunk 2077
Release: December 2020 | Developer: CD Project Red | Genre: Action RPG | Steam Deck: Verified |
Cyberpunk 2077 particularly benefits from an OLED display and HDR settings. Because the effects of light and shadow and bright colors can look really excellent with well-adjusted HDR.
By the way, you can read the play test for the Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty add-on on MeinMMO. Here you can also read why the real highlight is Update 2.0.
Diablo 4
Release: October 2023 (Steam) | Developer: Blizzard Entertainment | Genre: Hack’n Slay | Steam Deck: Verified |
Games like Diablo 4 benefit particularly greatly from an OLED display and HDR options. Since Diablo 4 relies primarily on a dark color palette, you get particularly great black levels and great contrast. Thanks to the OLED display, your heroes’ abilities pop particularly beautifully on the display.
Doom Eternal
Release: March 2020 | Developer: id Software | Genre: First Person Shooter | Steam Deck: Verified |
The first-person shooter Doom: Eternal shines with activated HDR settings. The darker tones and bright reds really pop and bring the game’s intense action to life.
HDR settings boost contrast and color depth for a visually stunning experience.
If you don’t know whether the shooter is for you, then take a look at the following article directly on MeinMMO:
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by Benedict Grothaus
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Release: August 2020 (Steam) | Developer: Guerrilla | Genre: Action-Adventure | Steam Deck: Verified |
Horizon: Zero Dawn benefits from the Steam Deck’s HDR settings. This makes Horizon’s colorful world even more vivid: when HDR is enabled, the colors become richer and the darker scenes gain depth, improving overall visual fidelity.
The difference is particularly clear in scenes such as sunsets, where the game looks amazingly real thanks to the HDR effect. With Horizon: Forbidden West, the successor will soon be released on Steam and therefore probably also for the Steam Deck.
HiFi Rush
Release: January 2023 | Developer: Tango Gameworks | Genre: Rhythm and action game | Steam Deck: Verified |
Hi-Fi Rush was considered the surprise hit of 2023 and continues to enjoy great popularity. The game features a unique visual style that looks amazing on the Steam Deck.
If you are also into rhythm and action games, then you should definitely give Hifi Rush on the Steam Deck a chance. Hi-Fi Rush was only released for PC and the Xbox console. One reason why some suddenly felt like the PS5 was the wrong console:
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In 2023 I have the feeling for the first time that I have the wrong console with my PS5
by Max Handwerk
No Man’s Sky
Release: August 2016 | Developer: Hello Games | Genre: Survival game | Steam Deck: Verified |
For many, No Man’s Sky is an example of what it means when developers continue to work hard on their game after a disastrous release. To date, the survival game is receiving huge updates with new content.
No Man’s Sky generally runs excellently on the Steam Deck, which is mainly due to the good implementation of AMD’s upscaler FSR 2.0. No Man’s Sky also offers native HDR support, making it look even slicker on the Steam Deck’s OLED screen.
If you like open-world survival games, then you should check out No Man’s Sky on the Steam Deck.
Ori Will of the Wisps
Release: March 2020 | Developer: Moon Studios | Genre: Metroidvania, platformer | Steam Deck: Verified |
The two Ori games from developer “Moon Studios” both benefit from the better color representation of the OLED display. However, only the successor, “Will of the Wisps,” also supports HDR. And it’s definitely worth activating because you’ll benefit from the improved black levels.
With HDR activated, the game world looks even more lively and colors shine directly on the screen.
Persona 5: Royal
Release: October 2022 (Steam) | Developer: ATLUS | Genre: JRPG | Steam Deck: Verified |
The Persona series has always relied on a unique style when it comes to graphics and music. Persona 5: Royal unfortunately doesn’t support HDR, but it still looks significantly better and more vibrant on an OLED display than on the normal LCD.
Similar to the OLED version of the Switch, the design of the Persona series particularly benefits from the OLED display.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Release: July 2023 (Steam) | Developer: Insomniac Games | Genre: Action-Adventure | Steam Deck: Verified |
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart initially appeared as a PS5 exclusive title and has also been available on Steam and therefore also for the Steam Deck since July 2023. This means that the Ratchet & Clank series is available on the PC for the first time in 21 years.
The game, like almost all Sony games, offers excellent native HDR support. The pretty graphics are particularly effective on an OLED screen. If you already liked the old Ratchet games, then you should also take a look at the successor.
Tetris Effect: Connected
Release: August 2021 | Developer: Monstars Inc., Resonair, Stage Games | Genre: game of skill | Steam Deck: Verified |
Tetris Effect: Connected relies on bright and colorful colors, which particularly benefit from an OLED display. On top of that, the development team released a comprehensive update with HDR support for the game at the end of 2023. The HDR update is primarily aimed at owners of a Steam Deck OLED.
If you like skill games anyway, then you should give Tetris Effect: Connected a chance.
The best alternatives to the Steam Deck: Are you looking for a gaming handheld, but the Steam Deck didn’t convince you? MeinMMO introduces you to a handful of exciting alternatives that you can also buy:
Steam Deck: These are the 8 most exciting alternatives you can currently find