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Metaphor: ReFantazio is a step forward for ATLUS, of which I am a huge fan. The story and characters are both fantastic and engaging, while the combat and the new changes from them are wonderful. I love the entire archetype system and the new fantasy world that they built. It still has the deep story and meaning behind it that we have come to know from the Persona series, but with a new fantasy angle that I dig. There are a couple of areas that feel a bit monochrome or textures that don't look amazing, and I do wish getting around was a bit easier, but these criticisms are far few compared to just how enjoyable the game is.
Monster Hunter Wilds may have had a bit of a slow start, but it became one of my favorite experiences afterward. The game retains what made it a sensation after World and adds some great new mechanics to keep the long, arduous hunts engaging and exciting. The world and quests feel dynamic with one of Monster Hunter's best stories. While I don't play this series for the story, some parts were quite intriguing. It's an addictive gameplay loop with fantastic progression that only gets better the more you play, and it's truly a joy when playing with others. Even with some of its low points, Monster Hunter Wilds has become one of my favorite games that I have ever played, which had me addicted to grinding and getting more and better materials to master what it took to hunt monsters and make myself more powerful. If you have a more powerful PC or console like a PS5, this is a must-have game.
Bionic Bay is one of the best platformers I have played in a long time, and quite possibly one of the best I have ever played. The combination of precision and chaos, mixed with a gorgeous sci-fi aesthetic and vibrant atmosphere, makes this one of the best experiences. The powers you can use to manipulate the physics-based world to solve puzzles are exciting, while the speedrunning focus and online mode give more of a reason to come back and try to get through the levels as fast as possible and find shortcuts. It's an addictive, enjoyable time all the way through, with no complaints I could think of. It also runs brilliantly on the Steam Deck, and while there are some minor drops here and there, that doesn't change just how perfect it fits for portable play. This is an essential to add to your Steam Deck library.
2024 has seen many fantastic indie titles, and Arco is among them. If you like tactical games with deep world-building, or if you want a challenge, it will sate those taste buds. I like both, and although Arco pushed me to hell and back on the difficulty front, it deserves its Overwhelmingly Positive score on Steam with every juicy mouthful of berries, and it is a great Steam Deck performer.
Neva is an outstanding short experience that wows on so many fronts. The visuals are extremely appealing and vibrant, while the story tells an emotional, wholesome tale that feels elevated thanks to telling it in a more unique way through actions versus dialogue. The gameplay is a bit simple, but it does the job for the scope of the game. And while I had some stopping points with the environment, it was ultimately worthwhile and didn't take too long to figure out. It is also perfect to play on the Steam Deck, and I can't say that enough! This is an essential for your portable library, especially if you have an OLED screen.
Had this game debuted in 2024, this would likely win my Game Of The Year award. Even when not on sale, its base price of $17.99 is a steal for the quality of what’s on offer. There have been a few minor bugs, but these were so infrequent that they were barely worth mentioning. Chilling, brilliant, and disturbing, Slay The Princess is in its best condition yet with the arrival of the Pristine Cut.
Organic and honest is how I would describe Drova: Forsaken Kin. It combines the best parts of what made me fall in love with RPGs into a brilliant package. Great worldbuilding and lore, challenging combat without feeling like it's mocking the player for trying, and surprisingly gorgeous visuals blend in wonderfully. This is an absolute bargain for the quality, even at full price.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is one of the best adventure games of recent memory because it truly captures that sense of "adventure." Minor niggles concerning inventory management and story pacing don't deter from the solid gameplay, the intriguing story as a whole, and the immersive environments making you feel like you are playing an Indiana Jones movie. The solid voice acting is a cherry on top. As for how the game runs on the Steam Deck, well it's up to you whether it is "playable" or not. I did find it playable and enjoyable. The image is quite blurry, but I didn't find that it hindered playing the game; having said that, it's understandable if those visuals offend your eyes. But if you want to play Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and a Steam Deck is all you have, it is an option to play it. I would just recommend you use a desktop instead if possible.
Tales of Graces f has become one of my favorite games in the series. The combat feels amazing and addicting thanks to the fast-paced action and great progression depth with the Titles and Dualize system. The story isn't the most surprising, but the cast of characters is fantastic and carries the plot as it continues. The visuals hold up nicely, too, thanks to the cel-shaded aesthetic. It can be a little obnoxious to run from place to place, and the story is predictable at times, but it's still an incredible way to experience one of the best Tales games in existence. It also runs wonderfully on the Steam Deck, with only some minor issues here and there that are inconsistent. Since the issues don't always pop up, I would say this is a safe bet to play on your Deck without problems, and I recommend setting the TDP limit a little lower to save on battery without compromises.
Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter is a brutal tale that feels like it came straight out of a storybook. From its visual style to its excellent narration, right down to its cast of characters, the developers didn't hold back from certain actions if they thought it served the story well to take them, and that's a great thing. I can wholeheartedly recommend that you try Tails of Iron 2 when you can. Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter also runs great on the Steam Deck, with excellent controls, a smooth 60 FPS experience, and great battery life. There isn't much you can say against it, so don't worry about playing this one on the go.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is quite possibly one of the best non-linear RPGs I have ever played. No game has ever made me feel like anything could actually happen based on my choices to the degree this game has. The story and side content are both varied and enticing, making me want to stop and just go experience all the side quests I could. The combat and progression mechanics are also solid, and I even loved the more realistic mini-games like smithing or alchemy, which give a nice break from the fighting and running around. There are some minor issues here and there, like getting stuck on terrain and the pre-rendered cutscenes taking out a little of the immersion, but these are small in the grand scheme. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a fantastic game through and through, and it would be a shame not to have this one in your library.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a fantastic entry in the series, and while it doesn't reach the heights of Infinite Wealth, it's still a joy to play. The story is filled with great moments and a cast of memorable characters, along with solid gameplay mechanics and a ton of activities to partake in. The progression systems were okay, with ship navigation and crew formation feeling a little underwhelming, but the choices you have and activities to do make up for it. For a spin-off entry in this franchise, RGG Studio succeeded in creating an engaging, gripping experience that paid off in the end. And while there are some compromises needed, Pirate Yakuza is a fantastic time on the Steam Deck. It is optimized enough to be very versatile, whether you want a high framerate for smooth gameplay or the highest quality settings with upscaling, all while retaining its visuals. I am so glad it runs as well as it does, and I can happily recommend it to anyone who would mainly play this on the go.
Blue Prince is an outstanding game that feels like a fantastic mesh of roguelikes and puzzle games. The layers of strategy piled on each other, coupled with the puzzles and the way each room has information for another, make this an addictive experience. I found it hard not to come back to. It could get a little obnoxious having to backtrack, and some puzzles are a bit too difficult, but once you get the hang of things, it's an experience like no other. It's absolutely worthwhile to experience this for yourself, and I really recommend having a notebook to jot down notes on. It's also a blast to play on the Steam Deck. There are no settings to change, but with a framerate limit of 45, we can curb minor drops and save on battery. This is a great game to play on the go, and I can't recommend it enough!
DOOM: The Dark Ages is a fantastic next step for the franchise and a nice return to its roots. The horizontal-movement focus is easier to wrap my head around, and with a great assortment of weapons and the new shield, there were so many chaotic and destructive moments that I always found myself having a great time in the beautiful world. There were some moments when the shield would disrupt the flow of my movement, and there wasn't much to do outside of completing the campaign and collecting the secrets, but it's hard not to recommend the game just based on its addictive and refined gunplay.
Elden Ring Nightreign feels like a near-perfect blend of From Software's souls-like formula and addictive roguelikes that make this experience feel like a step above the rest. The combat still feels just like Elden Ring and other souls-like games we have come to love, but the faster exploration and bite-sized expeditions kept my attention longer than most other souls-like games have. I adore the new roguelike mechanics, which make each run feel distinct and impactful, while also maintaining the quality that further elevates the experience. The Relic system can feel a little underwhelming, and the story for the characters feels significantly less complex and meaningful compared to the original game, but it's still a great, high-quality roguelike that should satisfy both fans of each genre Nightreign encompasses. It also runs quite well on the Steam Deck, even if there are some fluctuations with framerate and visuals. A lot of the issues come from an underwhelming PC port that lacks some essential settings, like V-Sync and in-game framerate limiters. However, it's still very playable, both online and offline, and is still a solid way to play this wonderful experience.
The Alters is an amazing game, and one of the few that I could actually see myself replaying for the story. The combination of survival, gathering, and base building, mixed with a winding, sci-fi story where your choices matter, is a treat and so intriguing that it only gets better the longer you play. Even with some little nuisances later and a slight overwhelming feeling, nothing ever detracted from the gameplay or story, and I was loving it. I was also surprised that it plays as well as it does on the Steam Deck. It isn't perfect, and does have some hitches and slowdowns, but it sticks above 30 FPS for the most part and looks great. It does need a lot of power, but in the end, it will be worthwhile to play on the go.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers has become my favorite soulslike game I have ever played. It's the first soulslike to not make me feel cheated when I lose and find a great balance between the traditional, slower, precise combat, while finding ways to make it feel faster and more dynamic. The combination of spells, Discipline skills, and managing Skyborn Might to enhance them is so much fun, and the multiple ways to build out and define our playstyle feel impactful and helpful. On top of that, the world is beautiful with an interesting story that sucked me in. The terminology and details for enhancing ourselves can be confusing, but it never detracted from the experience. However, this is not a game to play on the Steam Deck yet. It's possible this will change, but at this moment, it can't stick above 30 FPS on the lowest settings and frame generation makes it feel worse and more stuttery. If you have a better desktop for Moonlight streaming or GeForce NOW, that will be perfect. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is an incredible experience, and one I wholeheartedly recommend.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a fantastic remake, and I feel Konami did it justice. Choosing not to add or change the existing content helps preserve what makes up the legacy of the original. The updates, while minimal on the surface, make the game feel fresh with stunning visuals and a new way to play that brings in a new perspective. The gameplay still holds up to today's standards, so just focusing on a new over-the-shoulder camera and some quality of life changes are perfect for a release like this. Even with some minor control issues here and there, it's a blast to play through the game in this new way, while still having the old control method and top-down camera as an option. I would not recommend playing this on the Steam Deck personally, though I would say it can be powered through if the Deck is your only device to play on. The more powerful handhelds are getting there, with the AYANEO 3 making it playable while looking fantastic. This bodes well for handhelds that will have the Z2 Extreme APU, like the Xbox ROG Ally X. Still, as a fan of the series or a newcomer, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a game worth playing through.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is a fantastic first game for SEGA’s reboots. The action platforming sports solid movement mechanics, and very enjoyable combat and combo systems. The medallion and Ninpo can sometimes feel unnecessary, but there’s still some motivation to explore these due to new attacks for your moveset needing to be purchased at the store. The story does a good job setting the stage, and the artwork is just awesome to see. It also runs wonderfully on the Steam Deck. The best way to play will be at 60 FPS, but nothing else is needed otherwise. It’s a great game through and through, and one worth adding to your portable libraries.
Hell is Us is a fantastic experience that I ended up loving, even though I am not generally a fan of this style of game. The lack of hand-holding can be a little frustrating, but it encourages exploration in a way that feels rewarding in terms of general gameplay and the fantastic story. Figuring out where to go and completing puzzles to progress or discover secret items is so satisfying and keeps me wanting more. The combat combines its slower-paced soulslike feel with more Action-focused progression in a great way, with an assortment of skills to equip that help make combat feel more engaging. There are some nuisances with camera angles, but it is generally in good spots. The game is also surprisingly playable on the Steam Deck. It does need compromises to the visuals and a 30 FPS lock to make sure it runs, but it's ultimately a great experience on the go, and it feels wonderful to enjoy wherever you are.