Best New Indie Games To Play on Steam Deck in 2023 – Planet of Lana, Cassette Beasts, Idol Showdown, Fuga 2, and More – TouchArcade

A number of months after I wrote about the very best video games of 2023 on iOS, Change, and Steam Deck as of the primary quarter of the yr, I’ve been taking part in a ton of nice indie video games on Valve’s handheld system. It has been onerous to deliver this checklist down to simply 10 (ish), however these video games have impressed me fairly a bit. I’ve additionally included two bonus video games which I discuss intimately on the finish of this function. Take a look at all our Steam Deck protection here. As traditional, this checklist of the very best new indie video games to play on Steam Deck is in no specific order.

Finest New Indie Video games To Play on Steam Deck in 2023

Planet of Lana

I wasn’t conscious of Planet of Lana till just a few weeks in the past once I noticed the beautiful trailer main as much as its launch on Xbox and PC platforms. The puzzle journey recreation is gorgeous with wonderful music, and it has been one of many largest surprises of the yr to date. Whereas some puzzles and platforming parts is perhaps simpler than anticipated, Planet of Lana is a straightforward advice in case you’re focused on emotional tales, nice visuals, and attention-grabbing gameplay. Having loved it fairly a bit on Steam Deck, I’ve been replaying it on Xbox due to how a lot I really like the ambiance.

Darkest Dungeon II

Darkest Dungeon II is a recreation I used to be trying ahead to ever because it hit early entry on the Epic Video games Retailer. When Threat of Rain 2 was introduced, I wasn’t bought on it going 3D after having fun with the primary recreation as a lot as I did. It delivered in spades, and bought me excited for extra sequels like that. With Darkest Dungeon II’s 1.0 launch, it hit Steam, however had a little bit of a rocky launch. After just a few updates, Darkest Dungeon II on PC is a large step ahead for the franchise, and is a pleasure to play with some tweaking on Steam Deck. It is perhaps my favourite indie sequel in years alongside Rogue Legacy 2. Whereas Darkest Dungeon II performs quite a bit higher on my laptop computer, I loved the unique an excessive amount of on a transportable to surrender on taking part in this on Deck. It doesn’t have official controller assist, so I perceive if somebody needs to attend earlier than grabbing it. As one in all my favourite indie releases, the hassle to make it run and play comparatively nicely has been price it for me. As soon as this will get full controller assist, it’s possible going to be probably the greatest video games of the yr total for Steam Deck.

Idol Showdown

Idol Showdown from Besto Video games is a very free hololive fan recreation that occurs to be an excellent enjoyable preventing recreation as nicely. It allows you to play as hololive vtubers with straightforward controls, sturdy on-line play, and quite a lot of care and love for the supply materials. Whereas I get that this won’t enchantment to those that aren’t followers of hololive expertise, it’s nicely price trying out for the low asking worth of free. In case you do occur to be a fan of hololive, this could already be in your Steam Deck. It has a stunning quantity of content material for a free fan recreation as nicely.

Cassette Beasts

A good friend of mine who is a large Pokemon fan instructed me Cassette Beasts is his favourite monster accumulating recreation ever. Whereas it has all the time appeared good, that remark bought me focused on checking it out. I’ve been taking part in it on each Change and Steam Deck, and whereas the previous is in a tough state proper now, it performs brilliantly on Steam Deck. I really like the model, music, and gameplay mechanics. We’ve seen a great deal of video games attempt their hand at monster accumulating, however Cassette Beasts is the primary one that truly manages to go all the way in which with its designs, gameplay, and exploration.

Fuga: Melodies of Metal 2

CyberConnect2’s ardour mission Fuga: Melodies of Metal is a recreation I featured in our best hidden gems of 2021 list for Nintendo Change. The sequel launched just a few weeks in the past a day earlier than The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I’ve been chipping away on the turn-based tactical RPG, and it is a wonderful sequel. I’d suggest attempting the demo for the primary recreation in case you’ve not heard of this. Whereas Fuga: Melodies of Metal 2 does have additions and enhancements over the primary recreation, it nonetheless may be very a lot a sequel persevering with the story with gameplay that feels acquainted. It’s going to be attention-grabbing to see what occurs when Fuga: Melodies of Metal 3 releases sooner or later. Fuga: Melodies of Metal 2 is a elegant and meaty recreation in its present state, however one which I hoped to see do a bit extra in comparison with the primary entry.

Countless Monday: Desires and Deadlines

Countless Monday: Desires and Deadlines is a visible novel about procrastinating, initiatives, burgers, nice characters, wonderful artwork, and catchy music. It has been an outstanding distraction and stress-free expertise from all of the lengthy RPGs I’ve been taking part in over the previous couple of weeks. It’s ironic that I used Countless Monday: Desires and Deadlines as a break from ending my very own writing work as I attempted to get the endings and soak in additional of the characters. Whereas there’s a profit to figuring out a few of the characters by the hcnone’s (the developer and artist) work, it’s nonetheless price experiencing by itself in case you just like the artwork within the screenshots on Steam.

HUMANITY

When HUMANITY was introduced for VR, I used to be disenchanted as a result of I don’t see myself ever investing into that ecosystem. I borrowed a good friend’s headset for Tetris Effect and Rez Infinite which had been each elegant, however I nonetheless don’t see myself shopping for an costly headset for just a few video games. When HUMANITY was confirmed as playable on not simply PS5, but in addition PC with out VR, I used to be hyped, and the demo bought me on it. The puzzle platformer the place you play a Shiba Inu is elegant, elegant, and important with its high quality ranges and creation instruments. It appears like an summary and extra polished tackle Lemmings in 3D as nicely. That is undoubtedly a recreation I’ll check out if I finally get a VR headset. On Steam Deck, it performs like a dream barring some textual content being a bit too small.

A Area for the Unbound

Whereas A Space for the Unbound had just a few segments within the center that might’ve been higher, it is without doubt one of the greatest narrative pushed indie video games I’ve performed in a very long time. Regardless of not having been to Indonesia which evokes the setting, the storytelling, characters, and ambiance all felt excellent. It jogged my memory of how I felt taking part in The Kids We Were and Persona 4 Golden in that sense. In case you get pleasure from memorable tales and nice characters, A Area for the Unbound is a straightforward advice, and it runs completely on Steam Deck. I’ve performed it on each Change and Steam Deck, and it’s a fantastic transportable expertise.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

My expertise with Warhammer 40,000 is proscribed to the Daybreak of Conflict video games, however Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun being a boomer shooter means I used to be instantly . Having performed it, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun appears like a mix of boomer shooters with what fashionable Doom video games are going for. Merely put, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a necessary even in case you don’t care or aren’t aware of Warhammer 40,000. The gameplay and aesthetic is that good. Whereas the extent design might’ve been higher in components, I’ve been having a ton of enjoyable with Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun on Steam Deck outdoors of movies not taking part in. That’s the one caveat to bear in mind. Regardless of the unsupported label from Valve, solely the movies don’t play with the whole lot else working wonderful.

Mr Solar’s Hatbox

I’ve been a fan of Kenny Solar for a very long time, so when Uncooked Fury introduced that it was publishing Mr Solar’s Hatbox by the developer, I used to be instantly . Mr Solar’s Hatbox is a platformer roguelike that borrows from video games like Metallic Gear Stable V and XCOM 2 in hilarious methods. The mission selection, clean gameplay, and customization actually elevate Mr Solar’s Hatbox into one in all Kenny Solar’s greatest video games but. If the premise of upgrading your base, utilizing completely different sorts of hats with stats, and upgrading your staff sounds attention-grabbing, that is for you. The construction completely fits transportable play, and it’s Steam Deck Verified as of this writing.

Bonus

Cook dinner Serve Endlessly

The rationale Cook dinner Serve Endlessly is on this bonus portion and never in the principle checklist, is as a result of it’s at present in Steam Early Entry. In case you’ve not already learn my interview with David Galindo about Cook dinner Serve Endlessly and Cook dinner Serve Scrumptious, it’s here. Cook dinner Serve Endlessly shouldn’t be a Cook dinner Serve Scrumptious recreation, however a brand new simulation expertise aiming to be extra journey targeted with its accessible gameplay. Cook dinner Serve Endlessly feels constructed for a controller from the beginning, which makes it higher on Steam Deck, and it even helps co-op play for the marketing campaign. I’ll be doing a full assessment of this one when it hits 1.0, however for now, I’m having fun with many features of Cook dinner Serve Endlessly and am trying ahead to seeing the way it evolves over time.

The Final Case of Benedict Fox

The Final Case of Benedict Fox is a recreation that’s equal components spectacular and disappointing. I really like the visuals, worldbuilding, puzzles, and different features of the sport, however your entire expertise is held again by its precise platforming and fight. Having been by screenshots and trailers, The Final Case of Benedict Fox is a recreation that appears and sounds nice, however one which simply doesn’t really feel good to play sadly. In its present state, I needed to spotlight these features of The Final Case of Benedict Fox, but in addition spotlight why it doesn’t work. I loved my time with it on Steam Deck regardless of these points, however I can’t actually suggest it at full worth in its present state. In case you’re a fan of metroidvania video games, I’d suggest watching some footage of The Final Case of Benedict Fox to see how beautiful it appears to be like and sounds.

Hopefully this function launched you to an ideal recreation you hadn’t heard of whereas additionally reminding you of how good the latest indie recreation releases have been in a slew of some unhealthy AAA PC ports. If there’s a recreation you assume I ought to’ve included, let me know within the feedback and I’ll attempt it for the following Steam Deck function we do. Thanks for studying.

Be aware: Any Steam Deck label talked about like verified or unsupported applies as of the date of publishing this function. A few of these change over time so preserve that in thoughts.

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