So, if you just got gifted a Steam Deck over the holiday (whether by a loved one, or as a well-deserved treat for yourself), or are a long-term owner looking for something new to play, these are the Steam Deck games that I believe you need to play first…

Whether you’re into first-person shooters, strategy games, or fantasy worlds, Steam offers something for everyone. Here are the top eight free-to-play games on Steam you can download and enjoy on your PC without spending a dime.

Others, such as Deep Rock Galactic and Payday 2, offer unique gameplay experiences and the opportunity to work together with friends to achieve goals.

If you’re just setting up a Steam Deck for the first time — perhaps you’re lucky enough to get one of the limited-edition white models — or you’re dusting off your Deck after a little break, I’ve put together some recommendations of great games from this year, along with one update to a classic.

Among the fun personal tidbits, Valve also revealed that only 15% of playtime "by all Steam users" was spent in games that actually came out in 2024, and so, 85% of everyone's playtime was dedicated to things that came out in 2023 or prior.

It’s a tad rote to extol the virtues of Valve’s Steam Deck in 2024; it’s been the handheld PC that’s had gaming and tech journalists alike wax lyrical about it. Yet here I am, about to tell you why it’s my most-played games device over the past 12 to 18 months.