This week's Steam Deck Weekly dives into recent gameplay experiences, reviews, and noteworthy sales. Missed my Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 review? Catch it here!

Steam Deck Game Reviews & Impressions

NBA 2K25 Steam Deck Review

NBA 2K25 marks a significant milestone: the PC version finally mirrors the next-gen console experience. Officially optimized for Steam Deck (though not yet officially rated by Valve), it delivers a satisfying, albeit not perfect, portable basketball experience. Long-time PC players will appreciate the inclusion of ProPLAY technology and the WNBA debut. While the game boasts impressive graphical options (including AMD FSR 2, DLSS, and XeSS), I found disabling upscaling improved clarity. The 16:10 and 800p support is a welcome addition. Note: shader caching on each boot is slightly noticeable. Offline play is limited; MyCAREER and MyTEAM require an online connection. Load times, while improved, still lag behind console versions. Microtransactions remain a persistent issue.

Despite these minor drawbacks, the Steam Deck version provides a compelling portable alternative to console play, particularly given the improved load times compared to older systems. No crossplay with consoles is a notable omission.

NBA 2K25 Steam Deck review score: 4/5

Gimmick! 2 Steam Deck Impressions

Unverified by Valve but running smoothly, Gimmick! 2 boasts a recent patch with Steam Deck and Linux fixes. Capped at 60fps (forcing your Steam Deck to 60hz on OLED is recommended), it offers 16:10 menu support (gameplay remains 16:9). No graphical options are present, but its out-of-the-box performance suggests imminent Steam Deck Verified status.

Arco Steam Deck Mini Review

Arco, a dynamic turn-based RPG, shines on Steam Deck with its Verified status and smooth 60fps performance (16:9 only). The recent Steam update enhances the already impressive combat system, audio, and story. An assist mode (beta) offers combat skipping and other helpful features.

Arco Steam Deck review score: 5/5

Skull and Bones Steam Deck Mini Review

Newly available on Steam, Skull and Bones is rated "Playable" on Steam Deck. While the Ubisoft Connect login process could be smoother, gameplay is generally stable at 30fps (16:10, 800p) with FSR 2 quality upscaling. Performance is better with the performance upscaling preset. Early impressions are positive, but its online-only nature and full price are considerations. A free trial is recommended.

Skull and Bones Steam Deck review score: TBA

ODDADA Steam Deck Review

ODDADA, a music-making experience, runs flawlessly at 90fps on Steam Deck, utilizing touch controls effectively (controller support is absent but in development). Its beautiful visuals and intuitive interface make it a joy to use, despite slightly small menu text.

ODDADA Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5

Star Trucker Steam Deck Mini Review

Star Trucker blends automobile simulation and space exploration. While not fully optimized, it runs well on Proton Experimental with adjustable graphics settings (including 16:10 support). The controls could use improvement.

Star Trucker Steam Deck review score: 4/5

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia Steam Deck Mini Review

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia runs perfectly on Steam Deck at 720p (16:9), offering a smooth visual novel experience. Remember to check system settings for button configuration.

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia Steam Deck Review Score: 4/5

Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES Steam Deck Review Impressions

Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES, a significantly enhanced re-release, is playable on Steam Deck using trackpad and touch controls (controller support is missing). Early impressions are positive.

Pinball FX Steam Deck Impressions

Pinball FX offers a robust PC port with extensive graphical options, including HDR support on Steam Deck. Gameplay is highly enjoyable, making it a strong recommendation. The free-to-play version allows for testing before purchasing DLC.

New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the week

Notable additions include Hookah Haze and OneShot: World Machine Edition (Verified), and several Playable titles. Black Myth: Wukong, surprisingly, remains Unsupported despite playable performance.

Steam Deck Game Sales, Discounts, and Specials

The Games from Croatia sale offers discounts on the Talos Principle series and more, ending Monday morning.

That concludes this week's Steam Deck Weekly! All past and future coverage can be found here. Feedback is welcome!