This week's Steam Deck Weekly highlights recent gameplay experiences and reviews, focusing on several titles and current sales. Missed the Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 review? Find it here!

Steam Deck Game Reviews & Impressions

NBA 2K25 Steam Deck Review

NBA 2K25 marks a significant milestone: the PC version finally matches the "Next Gen" experience of PS5 and Xbox Series X. Officially optimized for Steam Deck (though not yet officially rated by Valve), it delivers a satisfying, if not perfect, portable basketball experience. Long-time PC players will appreciate the inclusion of ProPLAY technology and the WNBA debut, finally bringing feature parity with consoles.

The Steam Deck port boasts 16:10 and 800p support, along with AMD FSR 2, DLSS, and XeSS (though I found disabling upscaling improved clarity). Extensive graphics settings allow for fine-tuning, from shader detail to crowd density. I recommend a 60fps cap at 60hz for optimal stability. While a Steam Deck visual preset exists, I found manual adjustments necessary to eliminate excessive blurriness.

Offline play is limited; MyCAREER and MyTEAM require online access, although quick play and eras function offline. Load times, while improved, remain slower than on consoles. Cross-play with consoles is absent. The persistent issue of microtransactions remains, impacting certain game modes, and the $69.99 price point is higher than previous iterations.

Despite technical limitations compared to consoles, the portability factor makes the Steam Deck version surprisingly appealing.

NBA 2K25 Steam Deck review score: 4/5

Gimmick! 2 Steam Deck Impressions

Unverified by Valve but running smoothly, Gimmick! 2 benefits from recent Steam Deck and Linux fixes. Capped at 60fps (forcing 60hz on OLED screens is recommended), it offers 16:10 menu support (though gameplay remains 16:9). The lack of graphics options isn't a major drawback, and its excellent performance suggests imminent Steam Deck Verification.

Arco Steam Deck Mini Review

Arco, a dynamic turn-based RPG, shines with its updated Steam version (superior to the Switch version). Verified on Steam Deck, it runs at 60fps with 16:9 support. An assist mode (beta) offers combat skipping and other conveniences. The blend of real-time and turn-based elements, combined with strong visuals, audio, and narrative, makes it a standout.

Arco Steam Deck review score: 5/5

Skull and Bones Steam Deck Mini Review

Recently released on Steam, Skull and Bones is rated "Playable" on Steam Deck. While the Ubisoft Connect login process feels clunky, gameplay is smooth with a 30fps cap, 16:10 and 800p resolution, and FSR 2 upscaling. Performance is improved with the performance upscaling preset. Early impressions are positive, but the game's full potential remains to be seen with continued updates. It's an online-only experience.

Skull and Bones Steam Deck review score: TBA

ODDADA Steam Deck Review

ODDADA, a music-making experience, runs flawlessly at 90fps with touch controls. While lacking controller support (currently in development), it shines with its visual appeal and intuitive interface. Menu text is small on the Steam Deck.

ODDADA Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5

Star Trucker Steam Deck Mini Review

Star Trucker blends automobile simulation and space exploration. Running on Proton Experimental, it offers extensive graphics settings, allowing for customization to balance visuals and performance. Controls are a significant area for improvement.

Star Trucker Steam Deck review score: 4/5

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia Steam Deck Mini Review

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia, a visual novel, runs perfectly on Steam Deck at 720p with 16:9 support. Ensure button configuration is checked in system settings.

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia Steam Deck Review Score: 4/5

Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES Steam Deck Review Impressions

Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES, a significantly enhanced version of the original, is playable on Steam Deck using trackpad and touch controls, though controller support is absent.

Pinball FX Steam Deck Impressions

Pinball FX offers a comprehensive PC port with HDR support on Steam Deck. Gameplay is enjoyable, and the free-to-play option allows for testing before purchasing DLC.

New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the week

Notable additions include Hookah Haze and OneShot: World Machine Edition (Verified), while Black Myth: Wukong remains surprisingly Unsupported despite playable performance.

Steam Deck Game Sales, Discounts, and Specials

The Games from Croatia sale offers discounts on The Talos Principle series and more, ending Monday.

Find past and future Steam Deck coverage here. Share your feedback in the comments!