Now thatSteam’s Winter Sale has kicked off, Steam Deck users should get to know whatdealsawait them. To help with this, we’ve made a list of the best deals and best games you can pick up during this time.
The 15 Best Multiplayer Game Deals In Steam’s 2023 Winter Sale
Here are the best multiplayer deals from Steam’s Winter Sale 2023 you can enjoy with your friends!
The games on this list are all verified for the Steam Deck and are best used with just the Deck’s default controls. Additionally, the games on this list have a flow that fits into the Deck’s handheld nature, encouraging you to start and stop them at your leisure.
16. Death’s Door
Death’s Door
WHERE TO PLAY
Death’s Door has you play as a crow in a cell-shaded world where crows act as reapers who gather souls. At 60% off, this game is an amazing deal for your Steam Deck.
Reasons To Buy Death’s Door
With a host of endearing characters and a fascinating world to adventure through, Death’s Door is a phenomenal RPG to play on the Steam Deck. In Death’s Door, crows act as reapers, collecting souls for a large bureaucratic administration. You’ll get to play as one of these crows when one of your reaping jobs doesn’t go as planned. Now you’re forced to chase after the person who messed up your job.
On the surface, Death’s Door plays similarly to the classic Legend of Zelda games, with different tools helping you solve puzzles in each of the major dungeons you visit. However, the combat feels more like a Soulslike, especially when you’re squaring off againstthe bosses in Death’s Door. Precise rolling and taking advantage of particular damage windows will save your skin (and feathers) more than anything else.
On the Steam Deck, the game should reach a smooth 60FPS while only putting your Steam Deck down to 2–3 hours of battery life.
15. Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4
Starring Leon S. Kennedy, Resident Evil 4’s remake is now half off. If you want a good single-player horror game to play on your Steam Deck, then this is the perfect purchase.
Reasons To Buy Resident Evil 4
The originalResident Evil 4delicately balanced horror and action mechanics and, as a result, it was widely considered to be the best game of the entire Resident Evil franchise. Itsremake has lived up to the original’s reputationand brings a fresh suite of new mechanics like knife parries into the mix. If you haven’t played this game yet, the Winter Steam Sale is the perfect opportunity for you.
On the Steam Deck, it’s best run at 30–45 FPS to both look good and conserve battery life.
14. Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight takes the best parts of the classic Metroidvania genre and adds its own spin to it. Its gorgeous aesthetic and fluid combat have made it one of the best modern takes on this retro genre.Now that it’s half off, there’s even more reason to add this game to your Steam Deck’s library.
Reasons To Buy Hollow Knight
WithHollow Knight’s line of adorableNendroid figures releasing soon, this Winter Steam Sale is the perfect time to pick up this spectacular game.
Hollow Knight has improved upon the classic formula of past Metroidvanias and wrapped it in a gorgeous, lovable package. Each area you visit is simultaneously beautiful and large enough to remind you that you’re playing just a simple bug knight. Fans of From Soft’s overall aesthetic involving fallen Kingdoms will find a home in Hollow Knight.
On the Steam Deck, Hollow Knight’s text can be a little bothersome to read, but the clean animations and comfortable controls are what make this game perfect on a handheld device.
13. Dredging And Diving Bundle
Dredging And Diving Bundle
Dave the Diver and Dredge have been combined into one amazing bundle that’s now 33% off. Thanks to just how amazing these two games are, if you’re looking for a single purchase on this entire list, this is the one to get.
Reasons To Buy Dredging And Diving Bundle
Both of the games in this bundle are phenomenal fishing simulators.Dave the Diver will have you don a scuba suit and spearfish for aquatic life that you can serve at your sushi restaurant.Ridiculous mechanics, a cast of lovable characters, and a light-hearted sense of humor make Dave the Diver an unforgettable experience.
In comparison,Dredgeis a game about fishing in the tumultuous seas while also dodging the gargantuan nightmares that lurk beneath the surface. Both games run fairly well on the Steam Deck, and since they’re segmented into fishing journeys, it’s easy to pick up these games, fish a little when you’re short on time, and then put them down. When you have more time, you may aim for longer excursions in Dredge, or enjoy the hilarious story elements of Dave the Diver.
12. God Of War (2018)
God of War
Originally made for the PS4, God Of War has had a port to Steam just last year. The Winter Steam Sale has created the perfect time to leap into the adventures of Kratos and Atreus by knocking 50% off its original price.
Reasons To Buy God Of War
If you’ve always wanted to try the PC port ofGod Of War (2018), then this sale is the perfect opportunity for you. The game is now half off, and you can find out what all the buzz around this new series of God Of War games is about.
This game is perfect if you want to get lost in an epic adventure while you’re away from your computer. Just be aware that while God of War looks amazing on the Steam Deck, it’ll also eat your batteries alive if you set the graphics too high. But since it was originally developed for the PS4, its control scheme is perfect for the Steam Deck and its visuals are a feast for the eyes, making it a worthwhile buy if you have a spare battery pack or if you have time to kill near an outlet.
11. Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is the perfect addition to your Steam Library if you want to turn your Steam Deck into a gaming machine for you and your partner.Even if you just want a cozy game for yourself, Stardew is perfect to have on hand just to relax on the farm a bit while you’re on the go.
Reasons To Buy Stardew Valley
If you’re looking for a relaxing game that you can share with a friend, then this game is perfect for you. A local split-screen co-op allows you to share the cozy experience of building a farm and a new life in a valley chalked full of mystery. Even if you wanted to just play this game solo,Stardew Valleyoffers a soothing break while you’re away from your desktop that you can pick up, perform a few relaxing tasks, then go back to what you were originally doing.
The simple graphics and animations also mean you’ll get a consistent frame rate on your Steam Deck and preserve your battery for far longer than some of the other games on this list.
10. Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors is a crazy, addictive roguelike you can enjoy with up to four friends in a local co-op. Since its graphics and animations aren’t very intense, it also won’t be taxing on your Steam Deck’s battery.
Reasons To Buy Vampire Survivors
Similar to Stardew Valley,Vampire Survivorsis the perfect excuse to have multiple controllers stored with your Steam Deck. This game supports up to 4 players in local co-op, and the sheer chaos that happens on-screen looks more like a fireworks show than a game.
For a meager $3.74, you’re getting one of the best roguelikes on Steam and the game that popularized the Bullet Heaven genre. Thanks to the simple controls in Vampire Survivors it’s also a simple-to-learn game, and its simple graphics lets the Steam Deck have a consistent 40FPS without draining the battery too hard.
9. Ori And The Blind Forest
Ori and The Blind Forest
Ori and The Blind Forest is both a fun and gorgeous platformer. It’s currently on sale for $5, and between its heart-wrenching story and flawless Steam Deck compatibility, this game will earn back its price with just a few minutes of Ori’s exploration into the forest.
Reasons To Buy Ori And The Blind Forest
Watching the intro toOri And The Blind Forestis like watching the beginning of Pixar’s Up again; it’s a beautiful work of art that doesn’t hesitate to welcome you into its world, and then rip out your heart. What follows is a bewitching platformer with a stunning story and impossibly graceful animations.
If you’re looking for a good platformer to get lost in, Ori is on sale for 75% off, and the bundle with its sequel, Ori and the Will of Wisps, is only $8.90 to buy.
Be aware that Wil of Wisps is not Steam Deck verified. However, most users only report occasional slow downs. Will of Wisps plays fine besides that.
8. Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds has a mix of mechanics from Majora’s Mask and a survival simulator. The mysteries you’ll solve and the intriguing planets you’ll explore are what make this game an absolute masterpiece.
Reasons To Buy Outer Wilds
It’s best to go into this game completely blind and enjoy it for what it is. On the surface, Outer Wilds is a game about space exploration, and on the Steam Deck, it runs without any problems at all.
But thanks to the free-form exploration of Outer Wilds and its similarity to Majora’s Mask, you can explore a few areas on your Steam Deck, and when you return to your ship, you can put the game away and pick it up again later. But the mysteries in Outer Wilds are what will keep you glued to the screen.
Easily the best Roguelike you can buy for the Steam Deck. Runs are short enough and filled with enough breaks for you to put away the Steam Deck when you need to, and it’s challenging enough to keep even the best hack’n’slash players occupied for hours.
Reasons To Buy Hades
The two best roguelikes to play on Steam Deck are Vampire Survivors and Hades. Hades has you playing as Zagreus, God of Blood and son of Hades, as he tries to escape the underworld and reach the surface. However, in each of these escape attempts, the House of Hades and the Underworld will progress and change ever so slightly. This means each escape attempt will create some form of progress in the game whether you succeed or fail.
The run-based nature of roguelikes is also perfect for handheld gaming since the end of each run is the perfect place to take a break and start again the next time you boot up the Steam Deck.
6. Celeste
Celeste runs natively on the Linux system found in Steam Decks, and since it plays similarly to older platformer titles, Celeste works extremely well with the Steam Deck’s controls.
Reasons To Buy Celeste
Celeste looks like a simple climbing simulator, but as you get through the more difficult levels, each climb starts feeling more like a puzzle mixed with a few action segments. It’s very easy for the player to just drift into a sense of flow state in Celeste because of how fast your reactions have to be, but also how well the movement flows into one another.
But the biggest charm of this 8-bit climbing game is Celeste’s willingness to innovate and creatively challenge the player throughout the climb.
5. Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5 Royal is easily the best JRPG to have come out in recent times. It combines life simulation, modernized spins on classic JRPG mechanics, and even a form of monster capture. Since it’s half off, this game is a crazy good deal to add to your Steam Deck’s library.
Reasons To Buy Persona 5 Royal
Having an amazing RPG like Persona 5 Royal loaded onto your Steam Deck feels like you’re carrying a good book with you. You can pick it up, open it to where you left off, get lost in an enchanting tale, then put it away until the next time you want to continue it.
Persona 5 Royal is a perfect example of a JRPG that you can easily get lost in because every pixel in this game is dripping with personality. The soundtrack, animations, voice acting, mechanics, and story all beautifully meld together to create one of the best JRPGs of recent times.
4. Monster Hunter Rise/Sunbreak And Monster Hunter World/Iceborne
Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak
Monster Hunter Rise and its expansion Sunbreak are perfect for the Steam Deck since it was originally developed for the Nintendo Switch and a handheld’s screen makes the graphics for Rise + Sunbreak look fairly good.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Master Edition
Monster Hunter World Iceborne Master Edition is the best example of a game that runs well on the Steam Deck and holds a consistent 40 FPS.
Reasons To Buy Monster Hunter Rise/Sunbreak And Monster Hunter World/Iceborne
Monster Hunter Worldand its expansion Iceborne are now atthe lowest it’s ever been. Now is the perfect time to jump into this franchise, doubly so if you’re on a Steam Deck. The controls are perfect on a controller, and it runs at a consistent 40 FPS. The segmented “Quest” system of both games allows you to jump onto the Steam Deck, knock out a few hunts, then put the Steam Deck away whenever you want to.
Monster Hunter Riseand its expansion Sunbreak also run like a dream, with a consistent frame rate and its control scheme wonderfully complimenting the Steam Deck’s layout. Since Rise was originally developed for the Nintendo Switch handheld, it feels natural to have it on the Steam Deck, the controls feel good and the display looks good on the handheld screen.
3. Control: Ultimate Edition
Control: Ultimate Edition
Control ties into Alan Wake 2 and, much like Alan Wake, it has a phenomenal story to tell its players. Its gameplay is a creative balance between gunplay and telekinetic powers, and it runs pretty smoothly on the Steam Deck. .
Reasons To Buy Control: Ultimate Edition
Thanks to the rise in popularity of Alan Wake 2 and this game’s tie-in with Wake’s adventures, it’d be a good idea to getControlwhile it’s 75% off. Control has you play Jesse Faden as she investigates an abandoned FBC (Federal Bureau of Control) building. Jesse becomes the new Director and must fix everything going on in the building and rebuild the FBC. What this translates to is Jesse explores this derelict compound and uses her telekinetic powers, multi-facted gun, and gravity-defying movement to bully the host of terrifying entities that are running rampant through the halls of the Oldest House.
Even if you aren’t sure if you’re interested in Alan Wake, this game is perfect for you if you just enjoy government agencies built to control supernatural phenomena like the SCP foundation. As you explore the Oldest House, you’ll be treated to haunting landscapes, nerve-wracking encounters, and allies who will help you regain control of the facilities.
2. Elden Ring
Elden Ring
It’s easy to spend hours lost in the Lands Between. From Soft has hit a gold standard of challenging combats and highly customizable builds.
Reasons To Buy Elden Ring
WithElden Ringbeing discounted by almost half its price, the Steam Winter Sale has created a great chance for anyone who’s been holding off on buying one of From Soft’s best games. In Elden Ring, you are a Tarnished warrior tasked with repairing the Elden Ring and slaying the demigods that rule the Lands Between. From that premise, players will journey through a land that’s fallen into disrepair through a story written by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin (the writer of Game of Thrones).
However, what’s more exciting about this sale (besides the 40% off) is the uptick in new players. Elden Ring’sColosseum, invasions, and rune summons all rely on players being online and participating in these systems. Thanks to this sale, new fans are entering the Lands Between and testing out these modes, creating a good population of players for everyone to enjoy all the features in Elden Ring. If you’re also the kind of player that gets stuck onparticularly difficult bosses(her name isMalenia, Blade of Miquella) then being able to band together with other Tarnished to defeat those bosses will be a godsend.
1. Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is now half off! If you’ve been looking for a dark and gritty sci-fi story to explore with plenty of action and an immersive city to lose yourself in then this game will be perfect for you.
Reasons To Buy Cyberpunk 2077
Similar to how God of War is a feast for the eyes that will also relentlessly consume your battery,Cyberpunk 2077is another game that looks wonderful on the Steam Deck, but you’ll want to stay near a charge to keep your battery alive. This game can get a stable 30–40 FPS, and after a massive effort from CD Projekt Red since Cyberpunk’sdisastrous launch, Cyberpunk 2077 has become a fun game.
There are more customizations, reworked combat, and the city itself feels far more vibrant and immersive. Since it’s now 50% off, if you were unsure about getting Cyberpunk 2077, this Steam Sale deal is the best way to play the game without investing too much money in it.
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