There’s a reason why platformers – side-scrolling or not – have been around for almost as long as gaming has existed. People love jumping in video games, so it is a bit obvious that the movement mechanic itself should be worked into a game genre all of its own. And that, indeed, is what this list is all about. If our previous FPS, RPG, racing, and free-to-play Steam Deck featurettes did nothing for you, that may all be about to change if you’re a fan of platforming.
This genre, in particular, has possibly got more examples of truly amazing Steam Deck offerings than any other. Examples include the likes of Fez, Blasphemous, Cave Story+, and even Terraria, depending on how far we’d want to stretch the definition. They all work great on the Deck, too, due to the nature of the niche and genre. If none of the games featured here tickle your fancy, then, it should be easy to find something else that fits the bill!
What are the best platformers for the Steam Deck?
Broadly speaking, many of the best platformers on the market are fully two-dimensional ordeals. This is because side-scrolling platformers are, essentially, the bread-and-butter of indie game developers. And even though the era of 3D mascot platformers may have come and gone with PlayStation 2, the good news is that we’ve managed to get some of those onto this list, too. A little bit of something for everyone, in other words.
Top 10 Steam Deck platformers
#10: Celeste
We’re kicking things off on a ridiculously high note with Celeste, yes. The only reason this amazing hardcore platformer isn’t higher up on this list is that the other featured titles are a tad more distinctive in their own right. If you want pure, uninterrupted platforming goodness, though, Celeste is about as good as it gets. Do be prepared for a difficulty spike every so often, of course, as this game isn’t afraid of challenging its players.
#9: Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is an indie darling for good reason. What you’re getting here is a side-scrolling adventure experience that simply does not falter in any meaningful way. It’s a huge, engaging experience that goes all-in on its story, and the Steam Deck is absolutely the perfect platform for it. Oh, and the sequel should be coming out sometime soon. Maybe. Do make sure to play the original title as soon as possible, just to be sure.
#8: Spyro: Reignited Trilogy
An important caveat: depending on how nostalgic you are about PS2-era mascot games, the remake of the Spyro trilogy might not necessarily be better than Celeste and Hollow Knight in your case. What makes it special in our book, though, is that it’s a modern (and huge!) 3D platformer that runs really, really well on the Deck, making it a bit of a must-have for a certain type of gamer. You are getting three games in one bundle, too, which is certainly worth keeping in mind.
#7: Inside
Inside is quite unlike most any other game on this list. To most of them, you’ll be coming back over and over again, but you’ll only get two or three playthroughs here, max. That’s because Inside is extremely narrative-heavy, with all of its features playing into this approach. The kicker, though, is that this is one of those games that will stick with you for a good long while. No spoilers, of course!
#6: Rogue Legacy 2
Rogue Legacy 2 is, obviously, a rogue-lite, but its main gimmick is that each death moves you one step further down the family bloodline. The same can be said about the original Rogue Legacy, yes, but the improvements present in the sequel are manifold: heaps more variety, content, and progression options are all a given. Add better graphics and an even more satisfying bloodline feature, and you’ve got something special indeed.
#5: Cuphead
Cuphead won’t be for everyone, but golly is it an objectively incredible game. This is, quite easily, one of the sleekest side-scrolling platformers ever created. Its graphics alone are a sight to behold, but combine those with laser-precise combat and finely tuned levels, and you’ve got something special at hand. The issue to keep in mind, though, is that Cuphead is a very, very difficult game at times, and therefore won’t be a good fit if you’re hoping to relax.
#4: SteamWorld Dig 2
SteamWorld Dig 2 is a game all about exploring, digging, and hoarding shiny goodies in a machine-built world. As far as Metroidvania titles go, this is easily one of the best games ever made, with a surprisingly enticing gameplay loop that’s hard to peel yourself away from. On the Steam Deck, it’s one of those games you’re not going to want to stop playing, and it’s often available at a really, really low cost!
#3: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Choosing between the two Ori games was never going to be easy, but slotting two of them into this feature did not make much sense in the end. Do play both titles if you’ve got the chance, of course, but if you’re only gunning for one of them, the Will of the Wisps is the better choice. You’re getting much-improved combat and more variety in abilities, and the whole thing is just a joy to behold in motion. The game also stands on its own two feet fairly well story-wise, so you won’t be at a huge loss if you do end up skipping Blind Forest.
#2: Psychonauts 2
Finding a half-decent modern 3D platformer is no mean feat, and finding a genuinely phenomenal one is virtually impossible. Double Fine, however, succeeded in doing the impossible with Psychonauts 2. Featuring all the charm of its predecessor and a number of great attempts at updating the experience, Psychonauts 2 runs perfectly on the Deck. This adds even more value to the game’s must-play status, helping elevate it above almost everything else.
#1: Dead Cells
Dead Cells is, arguably, one of the best indie productions of the past decade, and for a variety of reasons. Not only is it absolutely loaded with content and satisfying to play from top to bottom, but Dead Cells also works amazingly well on the Steam Deck. It’s a fast, punchy title that’s totally open for the player to modify and adapt, and it’s really easy to jump back into it whenever the opportunity shows. Really, though, it was Dead Cells‘ contagious gameplay and progression loop that helped nudge it to the very top of this list.
