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The Best Steam Deck Games To Play In 2025These are the very best Steam Deck games. The Steam Deck has become a staple of PC gaming as the go-to portable solution for many PC players, and its popularity has seemingly inspired more portable PC manufacturers to join the market. Now you can enjoy a wide range of games, from the latest AAA releases to intriguing indie games, all in a convenient portable device. You can read our Steam Deck review to see what we thought of it, but more than likely, you're ready to dive in for yourself. As soon as you boot it up, you'll find your Steam library is intact, which is exciting, but not all games are created equal when it comes to playing them via Steam Deck. We've rounded up a few dozen of the best games to play on Steam Deck, including major AAA hits, under-the-radar indies, and everything in between. In most cases, these games have already been declared as " Deck Verified " by Valve, meaning it's fully supported without any caveats. Plus aside from just technical verification, some games just feel great in portable form, so we've taken that quality into account as well. And while the Steam Deck is great for PC tinkerers, for the purposes of this list we've stuck with games that run natively through the Steam interface without any special hoop-jumping. These are our best of the best recommendations for Steam Deck, and we regularly reevaluate and update. That means even now in 2024, you can reference this as a resource for finding great games. If you do want to expand your horizons, though, you can also install Epic Games Store on Steam Deck to broaden your library even more. In most cases in our experience, these games work just as they would on your home PC, which is great when you consider how often Epic hands out free games on its platform. If you want to get the most out of your new toy, check out our list of the best Steam Deck accessories . As the list of Steam Deck-compatible games grows, so too will this list here. Keep checking back for recommendations on the best games to play on Steam Deck. Arcade Paradise Arcade Paradise starts out unassuming enough, as you go through the tedious work of managing an old laundromat. Soon you discover a few arcade machines sitting in storage in the back room and decide to open them up to the public. As you start to develop your business, you build up more and more cabinets, converting more of the laundromat to a burgeoning arcade business. While you need to manage your business, you can also play all of your own arcade machines to your heart's content. In effect, this makes Arcade Paradise a great minigame collection, letting you dabble in tons of different retro-styled games. And those play habits feed into the business management mechanics as well, as your performance in the arcade machines increases their popularity and profitability. The Steam Deck is a perfect fit, as you can while away the hours playing games or just check in for a day of managing your business while you're on the go. See at Fanatical Ball X Pit You're not going to believe this, but Ball x Pit is a game that's all about balls and pits. Playing like Arkanoid with a roguelike spin, Ball x Pit combines deeply engaging--yet captivatingly simple--gameplay with "just one more turn" energy that makes it hard to put down. Beneath the deceptively simple facade lies a layered game of nuanced strategy, as you juggle a roster of characters with pros and cons, roguelike buildcrafting, and exploiting enemy weaknesses with correctly angled attacks to triumph. It's a simple concept perfectly executed, and it's the kind of game that'll make you run out the battery on your Steam Deck as you play into the late hours of the night. Read our Ball x Pit review . See on Steam Blade Chimera This metroidvania follows closely in the footsteps of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night while forging an identity all its own. The beautiful pixel art and tightly designed combat make it a joy to explore its sci-fi/fantasy dystopian setting, where the world has been ravaged by wild demons. You play as Shin, a high-ranking commander in a paramilitary cult that hunts down demons, whose life gets complicated when a demon bonds with him. It's a delightful surprise and a great harkening back to classic metroidvania design. See on Steam Blue Prince The less you know about Blue Prince the better. The puzzle adventure game is one of this year's best-reviewed games , as you explore and learn about a unique shape-shifting manor house that reconstitutes itself every day. You determine the layout of the rooms as you explore and carve a path through the house every day, and slowly learn the ways the rooms and systems interlock with each other. It's a game that will keep your brain churning even when you turn it off, and it's a great fit on Steam Deck so you can put it to sleep mid-run and pick up right Read our Blue Prince review . See on Steam Cauldron Cauldron cooks with a lot of genre-ingredients, but the end result is a tasty blend of ideas. With its collection of minigames, turn-based combat, and skill-trees that you can spend an obscene amount of time exploring, Cauldron has plenty of "just one more turn" energy that makes it hard to put down and perfect for some bedtime gaming. Celeste Celeste is a challenging platformer with an emotional story to tell. It follows Madeline as she navigates her anxiety and depression--and it’s a story that’s arguably even more poignant today than it was in 2018. The narrative is best experienced without any spoilers, and it’s a journey that’s propelled to incredible heights thanks to its minimalistic graphics and a fluid movement system that works perfectly on Steam Deck. It only takes about eight hours to finish the journey, but completionists can stick around much longer if they want to uncover everything Celeste has to offer. It's a beautiful game that all platforming enthusiasts should play. See on Steam Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 A match-3 puzzle game with a metroidvania influence and a novel twist--which revolves around a psychic clone attempting to take over your mind and turn you into a cannibal--Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 is absurd, weird, and hilarious. It's a sequel to a game that doesn't exist, a fast-paced puzzle adventure that's also an honest tale about sequels, game development, and reality falling apart on itself. Made by the developers behind Clickolding, I Am Your Beast, and Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator, it offers an exciting mash-up of genres and a great soundtrack full of polka music. See on Steam Cult of the Lamb Part dungeon crawler, part simulator, Cult of the Lamb enlists you as the leader of a tribe of cultists as you try to gain the favor of a mystical being that saved you from death. Combat is fast and fluid, with levels randomly generated for replayability. There are also tons of ways to enhance your skills, giving you plenty of reasons to dive back in for another quest. When you’re not swinging swords or slinging spells, you’ll need to manage your cult in typical sim-game fashion. That means feeding your members, giving them jobs… and picking up their poop. See on Steam Cuphead Don’t let its colorful, cartoon graphics fool you--Cuphead is a brutally difficult game. You play as the eponymous Cuphead as he battles a series of increasingly difficult enemies on his journey toward the Devil. Battles play out from a 2D perspective and take place in a single room, although each boss always manages to bring something new to the table. Beyond its striking graphics, Cuphead features some of the smoothest combat mechanics on this list, making it a blast to face off against each new villain (even if they destroy you just a few seconds later). Toss in a variety of unlockable weapons and abilities, multiple playable characters, and the stellar Delicious Last Course expansion, and it’s easy to see why Cuphead remains so popular more than five years after its release. It feels right at home on Steam Deck and is a must-play for anyone who likes challenging action games. See at Fanatical Dave the Diver On the surface, Dave the Diver is a cute adventure sim game in which you go spear fishing during the day and then bring your catches in at night to serve as the menu for a burgeoning sushi restaurant. But like the Big Blue Hole that you're diving into, there's unexpected depth here. Dave the Diver ends up being a wild hodge-podge of tons of different genre influences, incorporating lots of different activities as it tells its lengthy story. Still, the loop of catching fish, serving sushi, and using your profits to upgrade your gear is so easy and compelling it's a perfect fit for the Deck. The lovable Dave is a fun, rotund hero, and the game is also home to some of the biggest and best pixel cutscenes we've ever seen. See on Steam Disco Elysium Disco Elysium is so text-heavy that it can feel like you're actually holding a Kindle when playing it on a Steam Deck, but for fans of deep RPG experiences, it's exactly what you're probably looking for. The latitude for true role-playing is vast and the story goes places that are both smart and unpredictable. The painterly art style also looks great in handheld mode and may have fellow train passengers looking over to see what it is you're doing, which admittedly is a little awkward when you start the game hungover in your underpants. See on Steam Dispatch Just when you think you've seen every superhero story there is, along comes a game like Dispatch to put a fresh spin on the genre. It's interactive fiction that harkens back to the glory days of Telltale Games, but Dispatch gives players just enough agency to move the story forward while crafting a gripping tale that anchors the entire experience. The fact that it also looks like a Saturday morning cartoon--but isn't afraid to knock a few teeth loose or shed some blood--gives it a nostalgic appeal to anyone who grew up watching Batman and X-Men on their CRT TV, and it made a strong case for how an episodic release schedule can work wonders for this kind of game. Read our Dispatch review . See on Steam Dredge A video game with a side of Eldritch horror, Dredge has you fishing the shores of Greater Marrow to reel in big catches, upgrade your boat, buy better supplies, and deal with panicked hallucinations. You know, normal fishing stuff! As the story unfolds you discover more about the horrific sea monsters that lurk below the surface, giving the whole thing a touch of lightly creeping spookiness. See at Fanatical Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Our favorite game of 2022 recently got even better with the release of a massive expansion. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree gives Tarnished a new set of tough-as-nails combat obstacles to overcome in an entirely new area, with a smart balancing system that recreates the feeling of progression without doing away with all your hard work in the main campaign. And it expands on the rich and layered Elden Ring lore in new and surprising ways. Best of all it works great on Steam Deck, so you can take The Lands Between with you wherever you go. See at Fanatical Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Proving that opposites do attract, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a cozy combination of grand adventure and wholesome life-sim games. Leaning into the best elements of both genres, the game expertly mixes the appeal of the daily level-up grind with building a community around you. There are 14 jobs (aka "Lives") to master and they feed into each other, so there's lots to keep you busy. See on Steam Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters The classic Final Fantasy series has gotten lovingly restored with the Pixel Remaster, and these classic RPGs feel readymade for portable. Thanks to mods, Steam Deck the best place to play. Not only can you grind levels while binge-watching a show, but it looks and plays great, and you can even install mods to (for example) fix the font. If you can only get one, Final Fantasy 6 is an absolute masterpiece. See on Steam Fields of Mistria Steam is awash with cozy little farm sims inspired by Stardew Valley, and it takes something novel or well-executed to stand out from the crowd. Fields of Mistria is a bit of both. It boasts very familiar Stardew mechanics, but it speeds up the pace a good bit, making it much faster for Stardew veterans. It also sets itself apart with a magical anime-inspired setting and an array of magical powers to warn that will help you delve into dungeons, grow crops, and more. While it's only in early access so far, it's already a great way to relax and farm on Steam Deck. See on Steam Hades 2 Just like the original Hades, Supergiant's anticipated follow-up is already a highly polished nail-biting action game on Steam Deck, even in early access. As Zagreus' sister, Melinoe, you cut your way through the underworld in a quest to defeat the Titan Chronos, the mythical figure behind the concept of time. While the trappings are familiar, Melinoe has a feel all her own, and new weapons and abilities make this feel noticeably different than its predecessor. If you'd rather have a game that's fully baked, the original Hades is still available and great on Deck as well. See on Steam Hitman: World of Assassination Hitman 3, now rebranded as the World of Assassination with all of the content from the trilogy in tow, is the culmination of a half-decade of hard work from IO Interactive. But also, on Steam Deck, it's a diverse world tour of portable murder playgrounds, and that's pretty neat too. If you happen to have access to the earlier games in the Hitman reboot series, this third game houses every level, weapon, and ridiculous costume into one central hub, giving Hitman fans the totality of the franchise's best entries all in the palms of their hands. Plus the addition of the roguelike Freelancer mode gives the entire World of Assassination trilogy a new lease on life. See on Steam Into The Breach Into the Breach is one of the best-designed games in recent memory, and it's perfectly at home on Deck, thanks to its turn-based nature and bite-sized missions. As the previous Switch release demonstrated, the controls work perfectly well with a gamepad, and the screen here is well up to the task of displaying all of the information you need. Performance is great (it's not terribly demanding from a hardware perspective), and it's a terrific game that you can sink hours into at a time or occasionally glance at while watching something on TV. See on Steam Is This Seat Taken? Who would have thought that a video game about organizing seating arrangements could be this engrossing? Is This Seat Taken manages to put an engaging spin on what should be the most mundane task ever, as this cunning collection of logic puzzles is consistently satisfying to play. It also looks adorable in action, and it's the perfect type of game for commuter stretches or a chill-out session on the couch. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes The mind-bending puzzle game Lorelei and the Laser Eyes will stick with you even while you aren't playing, so why not take it wherever you go? The game's many mysteries and secrets unfold with meticulous, interlocking detail, to the point where the game opens by encouraging you to keep a notebook in real life to help keep it all straight. The puzzles are challenging and rewarding, and will keep tickling your brain even when you put it down. But you won't want to. See on Steam Marvel Cosmic Invasion There's an uncomplicated charm to games from yesteryear, and that's something that Marvel Cosmic Invasion embodies within its '90s-influenced arcade action. A love-letter to the Marvel Comics before the MCU radically changed the status quo of that universe, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a time capsule of old-school action bolstered by an all-star roster of classic characters. To its credit, Marvel Cosmic Invasion puts a new twist on the superhero side-scrollers of old with its gameplay, encouraging players to engage in titanic team-ups and experiment with modifiers to make each run feel unique. Read our Marvel Cosmic Invasion review . See on Steam Metaphor: ReFantazio Persona series director Katsura Hashino has returned with his first new game since 2016, and it's a fantastic one. Metaphor: ReFantazio is similar structurally to the Persona series, but it features a new original storyline set in a fantasy world, and a wide array of characters to find and classes to unlock. The turn-based RPG combat unfolds beautifully into deep layers of strategy, and the story is an affecting meditation on the power of storytelling. It runs decently well on Steam Deck, letting you dungeon-crawl while on the go or watching TV. Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of the few games in our history to earn a 10/10 review . Read our Metaphor: ReFantazio review . See at Steam Minishoot' Adventures One of our favorite surprises of 2024 , Minishoot Adventures blends retro Zelda-like exploration and adventuring with bullet hell shoot-em-up combat and movement mechanics. The combination may seem strange, right up until the moment you try it for yourself and find that it all gels together beautifully. Discovering the world and finding hidden secrets while also upgrading your arsenal to take on increasingly difficult swarms of enemies means there's always something interesting to see and do, whether you're exploring a tricky dungeon or just taking on a giant boss roaming the landscape. And if you miss playing Zelda games on handhelds like Game Boy, this is a perfect fit for the Steam Deck, letting you adventure on the go and soak in its colorful world. See on Steam Monster Hunter Rise Monster Hunter Rise is another Switch game that eventually found a home on PC, making it well-suited for Steam Deck. The latest game in the franchise does quite a bit to move the series forward, with the Wirebug adding a new verticality to its maps and Rampage quests offering a chaotic break from your usual hunts. Beyond those changes, everything else that made Monster Hunter so popular is here in spades. Whether you enjoy heading out on hunts with a group of friends, meticulously crafting every piece of gear, or trying to slay beasts solo, Monster Hunter Rise is bound to impress. See at Fanatical Monster Train 2 2020's Monster Train was one of the biggest games in the roguelike deckbuilder space, and in 2025, its sequel can easily be responsible for consuming far too much of your free time. While it's structurally similar to the first game, Monster Train 2 sharpens the experience with several new ideas and expands on the core concepts to create a devilishly fun sequel. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Ninja Gaiden fans are eating well right now, as between satisfying remasters and a promising sequel, there's been the delicious in-between meal of Ninja Gaiden Ragebound. Blasphemous developer The Game Kitchen has brought its A-game to this retro-inspired romp, as it combines a nostalgic art direction with engrossing combat and challenging levels that'll keep you on your ninja-toes. Read our Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound review . Octopath Traveler 2 Most of the JRPG homages are riffing on classics from Square Enix, so it only makes sense that Square would make one of the best ones itself. Octopath Traveler 2 is the sequel to its experimental first game featuring eight heroes with their own backstories, and that core idea is still intact here. But OT2 is a vast improvement in every way. The repetitive process of gathering all eight party members has been streamlined, and the roles and abilities are more differentiated. Characters also now have differing daytime and nighttime skills, as well as Latent Abilities to use in combat. It may be a little slow to get started, but when all the mechanics and systems come together, it sings. See on Steam Ori and the Blind Forest The Metroidvania genre fits like a glove on Steam Deck, and among those, one of the absolute best is the Ori series. The two games as a duology remain an immaculate and tightly-designed genre standout, arguably the best of the past decade. Taking that on the go is already possible on Switch and even Xbox Cloud Gaming, so you've maybe had opportunities to play it in handheld mode before, but if you missed it until now, the Steam Deck is the best of those handhelds thanks to it not requiring an internet connection like Xbox and its larger, nicer screen than Switch. See at Fanatical Pipistrello and the Cursed Yo-Yo You might dismiss Pipistrello and the Cursed Yo-Yo as just another retro-influenced indie game at first glance, but there's far more to it than just nostalgia and an art direction that pays tribute to the golden era of the Game Boy Advance. The game mixes a surprisingly heartfelt story revolving around dreams, backstabbing mob bosses, and family with an especially sharp critique of capitalism run amok, but it's the gameplay that makes it stand out from the pack. There's no shortage of games that harken back to classic Legend of Zelda and metroidvania titles, but Pipistrello's ingenious use of a simple yoyo to do everything is the magic sauce here and its constantly fun to learn new tricks on your journey. It also sports an inventive upgrade mechanic, which involves taking out risky loans to suffer a temporary debuff in exchange for a permanent buff. See on Steam Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown The metroidvania genre is popular for a reason, but it plays especially well on handheld platforms where you can alternate between focusing your attention and idly exploring while catching up with a bake-off. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is no exception, and it's a great fit on Steam Deck for that reason. While it's not on Steam and therefore takes a little extra setup , it's worth the work. And this is a particularly spectacular metroidvania. The combat is tight and responsive with an emphasis on counters and parries, and it uses an equipment system that lets you cater the action to your own play style. Exploration is vast and varied, thanks to a compelling world and white-knuckle platforming challenges. Every part of it harmonizes with the others, creating one of the best metroidvanias in recent years. Promise Mascot Agency A contender for one of the weirdest games of the year--disgraced yakuza exiled to a rural town manages the careers of strange monsters that resemble Japanese mascots--Promise Mascot Agency also has great "just a few more minutes" energy thanks to its collect-a-thon design. There's something consistently satisfying about chasing down elusive collectibles, and when you're in bed and on the hunt, that makes for a stimulating experience instead of doom-scrolling on your phone. See on Steam Sea of Thieves While you do need an internet connection to play Sea of Thieves, it's still worthwhile to play when you aren't out and about. Past iterations of Rare's pirate sandbox have been less short session-friendly, but the team has taken strides to improve the game in that area, offering short and sweet daily challenges for all players and introducing new Sea Forts, which are meant to be challenged and won in as little as 15-20 minutes including the time it takes to sell all your loot. Sea of Thieves, like God of War listed earlier in this feature, is the kind of game that you once could only dream about playing on a handheld. But today the future has arrived by boat. See on Steam Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Shin Megami Tensei V has come to PC, and it's a great fit on Steam Deck--which makes sense for an RPG that originated on the handheld-hybrid Nintendo Switch. The enhanced port, Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance, adds loads of new story content and surprises for returning veterans, enhancing your relationships with human and demon characters, along with better navigation tools to find your way around. SMTV was already a deep and engrossing RPG, and it shines on Steam Deck. See on Steam Shotgun Cop Man Developed by the studio behind My Friend Pedro, Shotgun Cop Man is delightfully weird and wastes no time at all getting you up to speed on your mission: taking down Satan himself. It's time to give the devil his legal due, and while the prince of darkness is pretty fleet-footed, he's no match for a man driven by the momentum of his own weapons--and hatred for all things demonic--in this cheeky little precision-platformer. Skin Deep Essentially Die Hard meets Home Alone--but in space--Skin Deep sees you regularly outnumbered, outgunned, and out-clothed by space bandits. Full of sharp humor, gripping stealth sequences, and full of cats to rescue, this immersive-sim is at its best when you're figuring out novel solutions to strange dilemmas. Read our Skin Deep review . Spider-Man Remastered Like God of War, Spider-Man Remastered is a game that shows just how well Steam Deck can handle a big-budget, AAA experience. Marvel's Spider-Man came out in 2018, but its remastered version helped push the power of the PS5. The PC conversion can run even better with a significantly beefy PC, but the Steam Deck version runs impressively well with the right settings . That means you can pack the great-looking visuals and all the web-swinging action into a portable package. See at Fanatical Stardew Valley Stardew Valley might be the most popular farming game on the planet. Created almost entirely by a single developer (Eric Barone), the amount of content packed into its adorable, pixelated world is staggering. What starts as a simple quest to rebuild your grandpa’s farm quickly turns into something more. You’ll chat with the locals and form relationships, head out on dangerous mining expeditions, and watch as the quaint Pelican Town transforms through the seasons. Its laidback pace makes it a perfect fit for Steam Deck, giving you a chance to stick your hands in the dirt no matter where life takes you. See on Steam SteamWorld Heist 2 SteamWorld Heist 2 is only the second game in the SteamWorld series to warrant a numbered sequel, but it earns the distinction. The first SteamWorld Heist game was an inventive little take on the tactical game, with close-corridor combat that rewarded trick shots. SteamWorld Heist 2 retains that core, but builds out from it with a massive world to explore, larger stages, and more systems to manage, including a sophisticated class system. You can mix and match class abilities to create powerful combinations, making the strategy that much more rewarding. See on Steam Tactical Breach Wizards Tactical Breach Wizards takes the tropes of a gritty SEAL Team 6-like operator squadron and gives it a hilarious and fantastical twist. Instead of marines, you're a tough band of magic users. The concept grants the ability to merge deep tactical gameplay with magical abilities, like the foresight to see the full outcome of your turns. Combat is like an interlocking puzzle, reminiscent of Into the Breach, while the characters and writing make it feel new and novel. The bite-sized stages are an especially great fit on Steam Deck, where you can breach and clear a single stage or settle in for longer sessions. See on Steam UFO 50 An audacious game experiment from a band of developers led by Spelunky's Derek Yu, UFO 50 is not a single game but a collection of 50 games. Presented as the long lost library of 8-bit games made by a developer called UFO Soft, the games range from shoot-em-up to racer to puzzle game and everything in-between. Some games are modernized takes on retro genres, while others are modern genres recontextualized through an 8-bit lens. The package is almost overwhelming in scope, consisting of both a massive collection of games and also serving as a meta-commentary on classic game development. See on Steam Vampire Survivors An early access game you can grab on the cheap, Vampire Survivors is very simple but shockingly fun. The single-stick shooter has you navigate around hordes of enemies while your weapons fire off automatically, building up experience to buy new weapon upgrades. The deceptively simple premise gets increasingly fiendish and chaotic as more enemies join the fray, and your weapon upgrades get ever-more destructive. It's enough to tempt you to play just one more round until you realize, oh whoops, it's 3 AM. See on Steam

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18 Best Nintendo Switch 2 Games To Play Right NowWhat to play on Switch 2 right now Nintendo Switch 2 is out and setting sales records , but exciting as new hardware is, it's ultimately all about the games. The best games to play on Switch 2 games so far include a lot of familiar names, including some games from Switch 1 that have either received paid upgrades, or just run better with the increased horsepower. Mario Kart World gave the Switch 2 a well-deserved boost as its marquee launch game , and Donkey Kong Bananza is a superb single-player adventure that takes inspiration from Super Mario Odyssey and even recent Zelda games. This list will evolve over time, both as we spend more time with Switch 2 and as more games make their way to the platform in the months ahead. There are other games we expect could end up on here but we want to test them all to ensure that the Switch 2 versions are a good way to play them. We already found that Hitman, unfortunately, isn't great on Switch 2 . For now, here are what we feel are the best Switch 2 games to play right now, listed in alphabetical order. With most Switch games also being supported through backwards compatibility (even if they aren't getting Switch 2 Editions or free updates ), you can also consult our picks for the best Switch games to play in 2025 . Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster A remaster of a great RPG from 2013, Flying Fairy HD Remaster looks promising based on our time with it so far. This version rescues the original from being solely available on 3DS and gives it a great-looking new coat of paint, while maintaining the excellent combat system. There are some modern conveniences added and some new minigames that leverage Switch 2 mouse controls , but all of that takes a backseat to HD Remaster simply providing a better-looking, easier way to spend some time with a quality RPG. See at Walmart Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition Cyberpunk 2077 overcame its initial, rough launch through numerous updates and improvements to become a terrific game--one made even better with the release of the Phantom Liberty expansion. Both that DLC and the original game are packed into Switch 2's Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, which also introduces motion and mouse controls for those looking for a different style of experience (you can even use a keyboard, apparently). Based on our time with Cyberpunk on Switch 2, it runs very well, and with the ability to play in handheld mode, that makes this a great way to experience an RPG you shouldn't miss. See at Amazon Deltarune: Chapters 1-4 There's nothing quite like Deltarune, a game that gives you all the tools you need to fight back against anything in your way and then encourages you to find a better way to solve problems. The spiritual prequel to Undertale is surprisingly earnest with the themes and emotions it tackles, while also managing to constantly surprising with how it approaches these topics. It's one of those games that you want to go into as blindly as possible so that you can savor its brilliant surprises in this elegant RPG. Donkey Kong Bananza Nintendo's first big single-player adventure on Nintendo Switch 2 isn't a Mario game, but a fresh start for classic mascot Donkey Kong. Though Donkey Kong Bananza has a lot in common with Super Mario Odyssey, it sets itself apart with an inventive terrain deformation mechanic. The mighty Donkey Kong smashes his way through solid rock to find hidden secrets and delicious bananas, accompanied by the aspiring young singer Pauline. With the help of animal elders, DK unlocks "Bananza" forms that give him new powers to augment your exploration and puzzle-solving abilities. The central hook of smashing your way through layers of the planet core never gets old, thanks to a huge array of delightful surprises, so this one is not to be missed. Yakuza 0: Director's Cut While there is some room for improvement, there's an undeniable charm in Yakuza 0 on Switch 2. It's still the best game in the entire Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, as it deftly combines gangland drama with hard-hitting action and absurd diversions off the beaten path. It's that heartfelt approach to being both silly and emotionally gripping that makes it stand apart from its competitors, and with new features like English voice-overs and expanded cutscenes, it's also the perfect starting point for newcomers to the series. See at Walmart Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Stole Time The Switch was the perfect platform for cozy games, and with Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Stole Time, that trend continues on the Switch 2 with an engaging combo of action, exploration, and crafting. Playing like a mash-up between classic The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing, Fantasy Life I is a relaxing RPG that lets you set your own pace inside of its magical world. Fast Fusion At $15, Fast Fusion is an easy recommendation for Switch 2 owners who enjoy a good racing game. Yes, players already have Mario Kart World, but Fast Fusion offers a no-frills, pure racing experience akin to the iconic Wipeout series. However, the one frill Fast Fusion does include is a smart one, offering players the ability to fuse different vehicles into one design to mix and match stats. It's also one of the few Switch 2 games to offer different graphics options. And don't worry; while the game currently looks very overprocessed with Nintendo's DLSS upscaling, developer Shin'en has promised that the game's slight visual hiccups will soon receive a patch. That one foible aside, Fast Fusion's design feels like a natural evolution of the Wipeout style. Hades 2 Hades 2 has raised the bar for what a roguelite game can be, as this masterclass of design expands on the original game and improves it in virtually every department. The narrative is darker, the gameplay is beautifully refined, and the soundtrack is catchy enough to make you leave a hole in your floor thanks to several foot-tapping beats. Sequels often run the risk of being iterative improvements on the first game, but Hades 2 deftly dodges that comparison by pushing the ideas of its predecessor to glorious new heights. Roguelite action simply doesn't get better than this, and thanks to an early access development period, Hades 2 emerged as a finely-honed and deeply engaging trip through Greek mythology. See at Amazon Hollow Knight: Silksong Just how do you improve on a game that many call the gold standard for metroidvanias in the modern age? Hollow Knight: Silksong had its work cut out for it, as Team Cherry's sophomore effort needed to match the expectations of a ravenous fanbase after spending a lengthy period of time in development. Silksong doesn't just stick the landing; it takes everything that made Hollow Knight so memorable and makes them feel better than ever with its absurdly polished gameplay and elegant animations. On a technical level, it's superb, challenging, and invigorating whenever you overcome its deadly design. But as the sum of years-long anticipation and hype? It's a game that truly was worth the wait as you delve deeper into a haunted world. It's a ruthless return to edge-of-your-seat action and platforming, but when the end result feels this good, it's hard to pull yourself away from the screen when you feel that victory is just around the corner. See at Amazon Kirby Air Riders Kirby Air Riders looks deceptively simple when you first boot it up, but under the hood, the game is a masterclass in speed told through straightforward races that encourage you to find the perfect line amidst all the chaos around you. A rock-solid karting experience, Kirby Air Riders is also a game that won't get--and doesn't need--any post-launch content, as it's packed to the gills with diversions and activities. Each mode offers a ton of content to explore, while the comprehensive multiplayer feels rich and well fleshed out. Read our Kirby Air Riders review . Kirby Air Riders for Nintendo Switch 2 $69 | Releases November 20 Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Target Preorder at GameStop Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess An underrated gem from 2024 , Kunitsu-Gami is a clever blend of action and strategy games, with its varied gameplay helping to keep things feeling fresh throughout. The boss battles, in particular, are a real highlight. The day/night cycle splits the game into two halves: Days see you planning the strategy side of the game, scouting out an area, making decisions about how to prepare for the battle ahead, and assigning jobs to rescued villagers. At night, you'll shift to hack-and-slash action as you battle against enemy hordes. What distinguishes the Switch 2 version of Kunitsu-Gami are its mouse controls: Tilt the Joy-Con to the side and you're able to control gameplay in a way that works far better than standard gamepad controls. That makes this the best way to play the game on a console, which could very well become a recurring trend with other Switch 2 ports. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition Breath of the Wild presents a similar argument to Tears of the Kingdom. All of the same improvements to Tears of the Kingdom 2's Switch 2 Edition are present here (save for the Autobuild sharing, given the building feature is exclusive to the sequel), providing even die-hard players a reason to re-explore Hyrule with the new commentary. The frame-rate improvements also stand to be a meaningful enhancement here--just imagine if you can finally visit the Korok Forest without the frame rate tanking. While Tears of the Kingdom introduced a number of steps forward for the foundation BotW built, the older of the two games is still very much a worthwhile experience. It has a demanding combat system that forces you to constantly weigh the choice of what weapons to use, rewarding exploration, and creative tools to use to solve puzzles. Both of these Zelda games received a rare 10 in GameSpot's respective reviews , and with good reason. See at Walmart The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Borrowing the Link's Awakening visual style for a new adventure, Echoes of Wisdom has the distinction of letting you play as Zelda herself. Yes, Zelda finally gets to be the hero of her own story, as she seeks to clear her name after being falsely imprisoned for causing deadly rifts all over the kingdom. This being Zelda's first game, she isn't just a duplicate of Link with his sword-slashing h'yahs. Instead, Zelda uses a magic wand to summon copies of hundreds of things she encounters in her journey--traps, rocks, enemies, and more. This summoning power is used as both a flexible way to solve the game's many puzzles, and as a combat tool to summon creatures to your defense. As your summoning power increases the puzzle and combat challenges ramp up as well. Like the Link's Awakening remake on the original Switch, Echoes of Wisdom sometimes struggled on the original Switch, so the upgrade to Switch 2 just makes for a better experience, smoothing out rough patches and improving the frame rate overall. A free Switch 2 update also adds HDR support and optimizes it for high-resolution displays. See at Amazon The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening The beloved Game Boy classic Link's Awakening got a modern remake on Switch, but it seemed at times to be pushing the hardware just a little too hard. That's not a problem on Switch 2, which has the horsepower to handle it and then some, making the remake run smooth as butter. That means you get to soak in the lovely art style that makes Link and the inhabitants of Koholint Island look like little maquette dolls without compromising on frame rate. A free update also optimizes it for the Switch 2 with improved visuals and HDR support. Link's Awakening was a trailblazer on Game Boy, squeezing a Zelda-sized adventure onto the modest portable cartridge. Its standalone story follows Link to a mysterious island being terrorized by Nightmare beasts, as he collects the sacred instruments to wake the Wind Fish. The gameplay is modeled largely after the Super NES Link to the Past but adds new elements like an item that enables jumping, and served as the template for later portable Zelda games. It's considered a classic for a reason, and the Switch remake largely didn't mess with success. This version also includes the Color Dungeon that was added for the Game Boy Color release. See at Amazon The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition Arguably the best game on Nintendo Switch will be even better on Switch 2. Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom both looks better (including HDR support) and runs better on Switch 2--the smoother frame rate really jumps out the moment you boot into gameplay. Load times are faster, too, helping to keep you in the action. Both Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild's Switch 2 Editions incorporate support for the Zelda Notes section of the Nintendo Switch mobile app (formerly known as the Switch Online app). This includes a bunch of new features: progress-tracking and voice guidance for hunting down things like shrines and Koroks; the ability to share Autobuild blueprints or items with other players; commentary from characters (including Zelda) when visiting certain locations; and more. Beyond what's new, Tears of the Kingdom is also just a spectacular experience that you can sink a huge amount of time into as you explore its expansive open world, which takes the Hyrule of Breath of the Wild and adds new underground and sky areas to venture through. See at Walmart Mario Kart World Even prior to launch, we had spent some time with Mario Kart World and were struck by it being such a bold sequel , especially given how Switch 2 itself feels like a conservative, iterative follow-up to its predecessor. It was also just plain fun in our time with it, and if there's a safer bet in gaming than "a new Mario Kart game will be enjoyable," we'd like to see it. The inclusion of Cow as one of Mario Kart World's characters might be reason enough to put the game on this list, but the new open-world format is a breath of fresh air for the series without jeopardizing the core experience. The racing itself feels largely unchanged from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, albeit with some new forms of variety like the ability to race across water, a day/night cycle, an increase to the number of competitors in a race, and a Free Roam mode that lets you explore. There look to be a ton of tracks and new items , too. But, again: Cow . 'nuff said. You can check out our Mario Kart World review for a more in-depth analysis. See at Walmart Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Metroid Prime 4: Beyond arrives with years of expectations behind it. Seemingly stuck in development hell for an eternity, the game has miraculously made it out of the trenches and onto Switch consoles. Does it live up to the hype after all this time? Not entirely, as the game can feel dated, with its AI-controlled teammates and a barren open-world that offers little. But at its core, this is still a Metroid Prime experience that feels impeccably polished, thanks to finely crafted levels, boss battles that require you to use every tool in Samus' arsenal, and a sense of discovery that's hard to beat. Read our Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for Nintendo Switch 2 $70 | Releases December 4 Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at GameStop Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for Nintendo Switch $60 | Releases December 4 Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Preorder at GameStop Pokemon Scarlet & Violet The original launch of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet was maligned for its underwhelming visuals and even worse performance. While the duo haven't received any new gameplay features or changes on Switch 2, they do benefit from one of the aforementioned free updates, making it both look better and--more importantly--run far more smoothly, with a more consistent and much higher frame rate than on Switch. While it's not the best-looking game around by any means, the improved performance is transformative, making it feel like a brand-new game. That means those of us who held off playing due to that issue can now enjoy what we called the best new mainline Pokemon game in years . Pokemon battles are deeper than before thanks to the new Terastallizing mechanic, while hardcore players into shiny-hunting and egg-hatching will find welcome improvements. Its open-world format and non-linear progression also breathe new life into the series, making this the best opportunity to jump into Scarlet and Violet. See at Walmart Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Streets of Rage 4 developer Lizardcube is quickly becoming the go-to studio for resurrecting Sega classics, as the developer just delivered another killer game with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance . Combining its eye for crafting engaging combo-laden 2D action with a beautifully illustrated art direction, Lizardcube brings Joe Musashi into the modern age with a rip-roaring adventure. The game is at its best when you nail its flow-state, as a killer combo of acrobatics, attacks, and ninja arts makes for a joyful homage to the classic Shinobi games. See on the Switch eShop Street Fighter 6 The Switch 2 port of Street Fighter 6 has two big things going for it. First, it includes all of the extra DLC characters from the first two years of the game's life on other consoles, so characters like Akuma, Rashid, Bison, and guest characters Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui are available from the start. Secondly, it's a damn good port of what was already a damn good fighting game, with impressive visuals, smooth gameplay, and a serviceable online experience. What's more, the portable nature of the Switch 2 lets you take SF6 with you wherever you go, which was technically possible on portable PCs, but Nintendo's console makes it easier for non-PC players to enjoy. Street fighting on the go has never been easier, as SF6 is a perfect fit on Switch 2.

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What is the weekly challenge in Phasmophobia? If you think you've mastered the art of ghost hunting in Phasmophobia , you may be ready to put your skills to the test. Weekly challenge modes are a great way to see just how good you are. These special trials modify how the game works, usually with rules that make the experience a lot harder. Successfully finishing the challenge gets you plenty of XP and cash, so it's well worth the effort. Here's the weekly challenge in Phasmophobia and everything you need to know to beat it . Table of contents Phasmophobia weekly challenge mode (Nov. 30-Dec. 7) How to complete the weekly challenge in Phasmophobia All Hide and Seek: Extreme weekly challenge modifiers in Phasmophobia Phasmophobia Hide and Seek: Extreme weekly challenge mode tips When does the challenge mode change in Phasmophobia? Next weekly challenge mode in Phasmophobia All weekly challenge modes in Phasmophobia Special challenge modes Phasmophobia weekly challenge mode (Nov. 30-Dec. 7) Screenshot by Destructoid From Nov. 30 to Dec. 7, the weekly challenge is Hide and Seek: Extreme in Phasmophobia . In this challenge, the ghost is ready to hunt you almost as soon as you step through the door. The odds are stacked against you right from the start, so you have to hide and investigate diligently to successfully win this trial. How to complete the weekly challenge in Phasmophobia To finish the weekly challenge mode in Phasmophobia , you need to correctly identify the ghost present on the featured map three times. The specific changes present in each trial mode vary, but your goal is always the same. All Hide and Seek: Extreme weekly challenge modifiers in Phasmophobia This challenge mode has several specific rules that modify the way the contract functions. Here are all the key details you need to know about this trial. Map: Camp Woodwind Starting sanity: Zero percent Sanity drain speed: 100 percent Hiding spots: Few Setup time: One minute Ghost speed: 150 percent Cursed Possession : Monkey Paw Equipment: Mix of Tier I and Tier II items. Tier I: Sound Recorder , Igniter, Head Gear, Firelight, Flashlight, Motion Sensor, Parabolic Microphone, Sound Sensor, Salt, Video Camera, and Ghost Writing Book. Tier II: Crucifix, EMF Reader, Thermometer, Photo Camera, DOTS Projector, Spirit Box, and Tripod. Missing Equipment: Sanity Medication, Incense, Flashlight, and UV Light. Screenshot by Destructoid Phasmophobia Hide and Seek: Extreme weekly challenge mode tips The Hide and Seek: Extreme challenge is one of the trickier ones you can attempt in Phasmophobia , so here are some of the best tips to help you get it done. Learn Camp Woodwind's layout. It's one of the smallest maps you can visit, but knowing the exact layout is crucial for success. If you aren't familiar with it, you won't know where to run to during ghost hunts, and you'll likely end up caught before you manage to figure it out. Before attempting this trial, load a custom version of the game with the friendly ghost option turned on to freely explore this map and learn everything there is to know about it. Find hiding spots ahead of time. There aren't many spots you can hide around this small map with limited obstructions, so be sure to scout out some spots you can use before starting this challenge. Loop the map during hunts. Camp Woodwind is essentially one giant circle, so you can generally loop around it endlessly to escape the ghost during hunts. Focus on breaking line of sight with the ghost as you go to ensure this extra-fast version of it can't catch you. Watch for hunt patterns and unofficial evidence. Successfully catching actual evidence is tough since the ghost will hunt you constantly. Watch out for unofficial evidence and unique hunting patterns to have a better chance at identifying the ghost. Poltergeists throw an item every 0.5 seconds during hunts, Banshees target only one player until they're deceased, Wraiths never step in Salt, Onis can't perform the airball event, and so on for most other ghosts. Learn the specific behaviors that make each ghost different and use them to catch the ghost. Play with friends. Your odds of success are a lot better with allies helping you through this tricky trial. With additional ghost hunters at your side, you can explore the map more quickly, work together to gather evidence, and continue the investigation even if you perish. Don't give up. Since all equipment is provided for free, there's nothing to lose in this challenge. Because of this, you can keep trying without worrying about losing money or equipment. Give each contract your all and keep at it until you get it done. Make an educated guess. Some ghosts are just easier to identify than others, so luck plays a large role in how easy or tough this trial is. You should always make a guess before you leave, then reroll to try again, even if you have no idea what the correct ghost type is. When does the challenge mode change in Phasmophobia? The challenge mode changes every Monday at 12am UTC, which translates to 6pm CT every Sunday. You have a full week to tackle each challenge mode when it's available. All challenge modes return regularly since they're on a rotating schedule, so if you don't get to finish one, you can always try it again in the future. Next weekly challenge mode in Phasmophobia The next weekly challenge mode, which will run for a full week from Dec. 7 to 14 , will be Glow in the Dark . This challenge mode will begin as soon as this week's featured one, Hide and Seek: Extreme, ends. All weekly challenge modes in Phasmophobia Screenshot by Destructoid There are 26 challenge modes in Phasmophobia . A different one is available to complete each week, and the challenge order stays exactly the same, so it's easy to know which one is coming next. Here are all of the challenges you may face in Phasmophobia . Name Description Map Lights Out! Get your candles at the ready, all the lights are out! 6 Tanglewood Drive Speed Demons There must be something in the air, everyone's going crazy! Maple Lodge Campsite Detectives Only Put your detective skills to the test, this ghost is giving nothing away! 42 Edgefield Road Hide and Seek: Seeker There's a very quiet ghost hiding somewhere, can you find it? Brownstone High School Hide and Seek: Hide! This ghost wants to play a game, you better hide quick! Point Hope Frostbitten It's so cold that it's slowing everyone down, including the ghost! Camp Woodwind Do as I Command You'll have to force this ghost to give you evidence, luckily, we've found some extra items to help you out. Grafton Farmhouse Tortoise and the Hare: Hare Give it your all, this ghost is feeling especially frail. Bleasdale Farmhouse Tortoise and the Hare: Tortoise After last week you're feeling a bit worn out, and to make matters worse, the ghost has recovered! Grafton Farmhouse Gotta Go Fast! No hiding, no sanity, get going! Prison Sanity Survival Sanity is a scarce resource with no pills or lights. Be careful finding this Nightmare ghost. 10 Ridgeview Court Speedrun! Maybe you could start a timer, how quickly can you find this ghost's identity? 6 Tanglewood Drive Survival of the Fittest You've got no pills, no sanity and no evidence to work with. It's gonna be a tough one! 42 Edgefield Road Primitive I'm afraid all of the electronic equipment has short-circuited, you'll have to make do without 10 Ridgeview Court Vulnerable You'll be going into this one with no defenses, be careful out there. 13 Willow Street Missed Delivery We didn't receive our full equipment delivery this week, so you won't have everything you might need! Brownstone High School Audio Only We've managed to get hold of some extra audio equipment. You'll have to use your ears on this one. Sunny Meadows Mental Institution Technophilia We've thrown out all of those prehistoric items, this contract is all about technology! Bleasdale Farmhouse No Evidence These ghosts really don't wanna help you out, but we're sure you're up to the task. Grafton Farmhouse The Apocalypse Draws Near The hardest possible challenge, but with normal investigator speed. Good luck. Sunny Meadows Mental Institution (Restricted) Slow and Steady This ghost may be slow, but it's angry. Keep on your toes! Camp Woodwind Paranormal Paparazzi You've got cameras, lights and sound. Find that ghost type! Point Hope Hide and Seek: Extreme This ghost wants to play a game, you better hide. Camp Woodwind Glow in the Dark Some of our equipment has stopped working, hopefully this'll be enough for you to see. 42 Edgefield Road Deja Vu This one feels pretty nostalgic, don't you think? 6 Tanglewood Drive Tag! You're It! This ghost will chase you immediately, better get running! Brownstone High School Special challenge modes In addition to the regular challenge modes that rotate in and out on a consistent basis, there are also sometimes special challenge modes that have only ever appeared once and left the rotation afterward. These trials are generally designed for testing out features that are new at the time, like fresh equipment and maps. Name Description Map Date On Record Try out the media overhaul in this new challenge, can you get a perfect game? Bleasdale Farmhouse June 24 to July 1, 2025 Open For Business A storm is brewing outside the diner...but is it really safer inside? Nell's Diner Nov. 11 to 16, 2025 The post What is the weekly challenge in Phasmophobia? appeared first on Destructoid .

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