Steam Deck Archives

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Here are 12 free Steam games worth trying on your Steam Deck, ROG Ally, or Legion Go right now

A selection of 12 free games available for PC and handheld users includes: 1. A Cat’s Way Home - A simulation game focused on building relationships with cats. 2. Farm Wars - A real-time PvP strategy game involving crop planting and animal transformation for sabotage. 3. Starling - A game where players build a base using local resources as a Starling Corp employee. 4. A Very Merry Nightmare - A 3D first-person adventure set in a twisted Christmas world, evading an AI enemy. 5. Little Robot - A 15-minute exploration game featuring a melancholic robot in a backyard. 6. Cedric & Odious - A 2D hack-and-slash adventure in a dark fantasy realm. 7. Paw Pirates - A multiplayer game focused on chaotic battles between pirate ships. 8. Realm Traveler - An RPG-style game where players choose a class and embark on quests. 9. Strange New Tides - A 2.5D sandbox experience in Saltbay Cove, involving relationship building and home construction. 10. Templar - A 2D hack-and-slash game where players battle demons as the last Templar knight. 11. Popo & Rob - A fast-paced first-person shooter with team-based matches. 12. The Machine Arena - A game featuring dynamic 4v4 PvP battles or solo PvE matches with short gameplay sessions. Additionally, Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti GPU launches today, with listings available from major retailers.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

Relic Entertainment announces turn-based strategy game Earth vs Mars for PC

Relic Entertainment has announced a new turn-based strategy game titled Earth vs Mars, set for release in summer 2025 on PC via Steam. The game features a narrative where Martians abduct Earth's inhabitants and aim to conquer the planet. Players will lead a group of commanders in battles against Martian forces using unique mechanics like the "Splice-O-Tron," which allows the creation of hybrid supersoldiers. Key features include a single-player campaign with over 30 missions, online multiplayer, a VS mode against AI, a map editor, unique unit abilities, and multiple commanders with distinct abilities. The game will initially launch on Steam, with potential future platform expansions. Pricing and language support details are yet to be finalized, and compatibility with Steam Deck is not planned at launch. Regular updates will be provided leading up to the release.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

CHARTS: Monster Hunter Wilds pre-orders were third highest grossing title on Steam last week

Pre-orders for Monster Hunter Wilds have surged, making it the third best-performing game on Steam for the week ending February 18. The game is set to release on February 28. Counter-Strike 2 is in first place, and Sid Meier's Civilization 7 debuted at second place. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 dropped to fourth, while Apex Legends rose to fifth. The Steam Top Ten includes Counter-Strike 2, Sid Meier's Civilization 7, Monster Hunter Wilds, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Apex Legends, Steam Deck, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Marvel Rivals, Avowed, and Warframe.

AppWizard

February 15, 2025

Keep Driving review

Keep Driving is a turn-based road trip RPG priced at .99/£15.00 from YCJY Games, designed for single-player experiences and compatible with the Steam Deck. Players embark on a journey to a music festival, gathering supplies and selecting routes while managing a car that serves as both vehicle and inventory. The game features road events that affect attributes like gasoline, cash, car durability, and energy levels, requiring strategic use of skill cards and items. Players can pick up hitchhikers, each with unique skills and backstories, adding depth to the gameplay. The game includes humorous crime elements and an indie soundtrack, with multiple endings possible. Some interactions may be challenging on the Steam Deck due to item management intricacies.

Winsage

February 14, 2025

We need a Snapdragon X-powered gaming handheld sooner rather than later — How Qualcomm can challenge the Steam Deck

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips show potential for handheld gaming devices due to their impressive performance and battery efficiency. Testing of the Snapdragon X Plus on games like 7 Days To Die, Kingdom Come Deliverance, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider revealed comparable performance to the Steam Deck, especially when using Auto SR, an AI-driven upscaling solution. However, Auto SR currently supports only 14 games and is limited to DX11 or DX12 titles. The installation of games from Xbox Game Pass and the Microsoft Store on Snapdragon devices is restricted, with the Xbox app lacking a Game Pass section. There is a significant opportunity for a Snapdragon-powered handheld device, similar to the impact of the Steam Deck, but the current market lacks urgency for such a product.

AppWizard

February 13, 2025

Avowed review

Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios, set to launch on February 18, 2025, priced at in the U.S. and £60 in the U.K. The game features engaging side quests that are integral to the experience, offering essential experience points and upgrade materials. Players will encounter well-developed companions with rich backstories, including characters like Marius and Kai. The game showcases visually stunning landscapes and offers robust combat mechanics, allowing for a mix of melee and ranged attacks, as well as character customization across various classes. Quest difficulty is influenced by gear rather than player level, and while the game has some limitations in its RPG systems, it provides a humorous and engaging narrative experience.

AppWizard

February 13, 2025

Avowed may run on a 9-year-old GPU, but Steam Deck looks like a no-go unless you like sub-30fps upscaled at minimum settings

Avowed, Obsidian's latest role-playing game, faces significant performance issues on portable devices. It crashes on the ASUS ROG Ally and has an "unknown" compatibility rating on the Steam Deck. The game's minimum GPU requirement is the GTX 1070, which is higher than that of many recent RPGs. Testing on the Steam Deck resulted in a disappointing frame rate of 20-25 fps, making combat unfeasible. While the game is designed to target 30fps on Xbox Series consoles, it performs better on more powerful hardware, such as the RTX 3070, where it runs smoothly at medium-high settings and 1440p resolution.

AppWizard

February 13, 2025

Performance quirks, both good and bad, make Avowed a real trickster on PC hardware

Avowed is a high-quality RPG with the following minimum and recommended PC specifications: Minimum PC Specs: - OS: Windows 10/11 with updates - CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 / Intel Core i5-8400 - RAM: 16GB - GPU: AMD Radeon RX 5700 / Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 / Intel Arc A580 - DirectX: Version 12 - Storage: 75GB available space Recommended PC Specs: - OS: Windows 10/11 with updates - CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X / Intel Core i7-10700K - RAM: 16GB - GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT / Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 - DirectX: Version 12 - Storage: 75GB available space Benchmark tests show the GTX 1070 achieving 37fps at Low settings on native 1080p, and 50fps with Quality-level FSR 3. The RTX 3070 reached 48fps at 1080p with the Epic preset, and 67fps with DLSS activated in Quality mode. The RTX 4060 averaged 39fps on Epic and 61fps on High at native 1080p. Lower-end systems, like an MSI GF63 Thin laptop with 8GB of RAM and an RTX 4050, may struggle to exceed 30fps. The Steam Deck requires significant compromises to maintain playability. Performance-enhancing tools like DLSS, FSR, and Unreal Engine 5’s built-in TSR can enhance gameplay. Recommended settings for optimal performance include: - Motion blur: 0% - Upscaling: Nvidia DLSS 3 on Quality / TSR on 67% - Shadow quality: Medium - Global illumination quality: Medium - Everything else: Epic preset equivalent These settings allowed the RTX 4060 to reach 82fps. Avowed supports DLSS 3 frame generation on RTX 40 series GPUs, increasing average performance from 75fps to 111fps, though minor issues with dialogue boxes were noted. The game has a storage requirement of 75GB and does not require an SSD.

AppWizard

February 11, 2025

CHARTS: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 debuts at No.1 on Steam

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 became the highest-grossing game on Steam for the week ending February 11th, after launching on February 4th. Counter-Strike 2 is in second place, while Sid Meier's Civilization 7 debuted at third on February 10th. Pre-orders for Monster Hunter Wilds secured the fourth spot, and the Steam Deck rose to fifth. PUBG: Battlegrounds dropped to sixth, Marvel Rivals climbed to seventh, and Helldivers 2 re-entered the Top Ten at eighth. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is in ninth, and Destiny 2 rounds out the Top Ten.

AppWizard

February 11, 2025

Stellar Blade’s developer expects the PC version to sell better than the PS5 one

Shift Up expressed optimism about the upcoming PC release of Stellar Blade, expecting it to surpass the PlayStation 5 sales, which have exceeded 1 million copies globally. The studio attributes this expectation to the growing popularity of gaming in Asia and a larger base of PC gamers. They noted that in the AAA game market, PC devices have a higher market share than consoles. Shift Up is observing trends in the Asian gaming industry, particularly in the single-player action game segment, and is preparing for a strategic release for sustained success in the PC market. To enhance the PC version's performance, they are implementing optimization, improving user convenience, adding supplementary content, and tailoring marketing strategies for PC gamers. They are also ensuring compatibility with ultra-mobile PC environments like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally. Shift Up's approach includes continuous updates to build a strong global community around the Stellar Blade IP.