Steam Deck Reached 7,000 Compatible Games
Since its release in early 2022, Valve’s first video game console has been making waves for its hardware quality, sleek UI and compatibility with features outside of gaming. Essentially the Steam Deck acts more as a mini handheld PC rather than just a straight games console. This freedom has been liberating- especially compared to competitors on the market. From homebrew software to emulators, the Steam Deck is host to anything you could possibly want. However, of course, the main draw is still the expansive Steam library- which has recently reached a total of 7,000 100% playable games.
Of course, you could try playing any one of Steam’s 50,000 games on the Deck (you may want to avoid some of the more 'niche’ games though if you know what I mean). However, whether a game works or not is a toss-up due to the difficulties of compatibility with the smaller device. That’s why the list of ‘verified’ games is so useful. By simply searching this list, you can see if a game will actually run well before you pick up Valve’s new toy. As the console approaches its one-year anniversary, the list of games that are given Steam’s mark of approval is going up and up. As of the writing of this article, there are 2737 verified and 4462 playable games on the system. That totals to an impressive 7199. That list likely contains most of the big releases you can imagine- and its a number that keeps rising as the Deck gains popularity.
Generally, the ‘playable’ entries will run as intended but there is the potential for minor frame rate issues or crashes. The ‘verified’ games, however, will play as they would on a PC 99% of the time. Given how recently the console was released (and how vast Steam’s library is), these are some impressive figures- especially for a handheld. From hit indies like Vampire Survivors to the vast open-world Elden Ring, the Deck has something for any type of gamer. With part shortages now somewhat under control, the ability to purchase a Steam Deck is now in the hands of the general public. If 2023 offers the same amount of growth for Valve’s breakout console as 2022 did, the Steam Deck will soon become the mus have handheld console- if it isn’t already.
