The Steam Deck has some great platformers for you to try out.
Everyone with a Steam Deck has a preference, but platformers are what fits into the device so well. The days are still early for Valve's hybrid machine, but it still has plenty of verified or playable games in the genre that feel great and play smoothly.
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It can be the traditional platformer or something that mixes various elements for a unique experience. The platformer net wrangled up a bunch of good ones for new Deck owners or people who got in early. Whether you want an easy, chill time or to break out a sweat while playing, you will have something to scratch that itch.
Cuphead is more than a platformer, as it blends a run-and-gun style with its platforming. It is snappy and effective, yet deadly and frustrating due to its intense difficulty. It tests your skills at being able to move while executing attacks on the bosses that push you to your limits.
While its challenging nature is not for everyone, it is hard to resist its style. The 1930s cartoon drawings will make your grandma not realize you're playing a modern video game rather than watching a cartoon from when she was growing up. Along with the music, it makes for a delightful and beautiful session — that is, until you are in a boiling rage.
Celeste requires precision and the right speed for the moment, whether going fast to overcome obstacles or slowing down to let your patience guide you. As you climb a mountain for a personal journey, you will face plenty of brick walls you will have to overcome.
Mechanically, it has everything you may want, but there is more. Accompanying its colorful pixel art is a story that tackles themes of anxiety and identity. Many may give Naughty Dog a pat on the back for emotional stories, but Celeste is a prime example of indies taking the initiative in storytelling.
Fans of hand-drawn art styles, tough battles, and Metroidvanias, Hollow Knight is for you. It offers a bag full of action, adventure, and ways of getting through the maps as you jump. Upon mastering the game and gaining abilities, you start to feel this tiny knight become an agile, deadly warrior.
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One of the alluring qualities is hand-drawn art. Along with its bosses, its moody atmosphere and challenging gameplay give a hint of a Soulslike (yes, a Souls comparison, not like that is made all the time now).
The first of the Ori games, Blind Forest was one of those Xbox games that eventually spread its wings to other platforms, starring cute characters in a striking fantasy environment with an identity to set itself from the rest. Ori provides more substance once you start to chew on it.
Between its combat, platforming, and skills you earn as you progress, plenty of mechanics are introduced to keep things fresh. You will have to fight and move, keeping you away from boredom as you learn about this world and digest its story.
If you like Metroidvanias and have a Steam Deck, then you should be quite happy. Out of the plentiful selections is The Messenger. It leans into its retro aesthetic in a way to trick the untrained eye that it really did release in the 90s when in reality, it was released in 2018.
It has a story that Doom Guy may approve of, as it follows a ninja fighting demons that attacked his village; you will have to teach them a lesson in the world that you dive into. It refines its retro roots into something that fits the modern world.
Your trigger finger might need some exercise while you are jumping around. Neon White is a speedrunning FPS full of parkour and quick decision-making. Grab cards for new weapons, and continuously swap out while thinking rapidly on your next move.
For speedrunners, it is that classic experience of throwing a run in the trash when you know that you are going to be a second off your previous time. It is a cycle that keeps you going to earn a better run for your own satisfaction or to outdo others.
You can throw so many adjectives at Dead Cells — roguelite, platformer and Metroidvania all come to mind. A stylish art style should not distract you from the challenges that lie ahead, but it is worth the play, especially if you are talking about playing it on the Steam Deck, aka the fancy Nintendo Switch, as some might call it.
With it being a Metroidvania, there is plenty of exploration. The roguelite elements make it a risk, as death has weight to it, but you will need to extend yourself to succeed. With all the competition under this umbrella of a genre, Dead Cells is a prime contender as one of the best.
My Friend Pedro swings as more of a shooter than a platformer, but it has enough of it to earn the label. It is an energetic dance of dodging bullets and shooting enemies in a way that will make you feel like a spry John Wick as bullets fly past you in slow motion.
It is all about moving to avoid death and killing bad guys. Simple enough, but each level is creative, as it changes the layout, adds new mechanics, or has a fun twist to keep things fresh. With its short campaign and some extra things to do on the side, it is not a time-eater but only a fun ride with your banana friend, Pedro, in the passenger seat.
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Tristan is an entertainment journalist who has covered movies and TV, video games, and music. His experience has taken him across multiple websites like KeenGamer and Guide Fall, along with print like Daily Titan and From Gamers. When he is not writing or gaming, he likes to read, get tattoos, and think about corgis.