Steam Deck Weekly: NBA 2K25, ARCO, ODDADA, DATE a LIVE Ren Dystopia, Star Trucker, Skull and Bones, & More Reviews With New Verified Games

This week's Steam Deck Weekly highlights reviews and impressions of several games, focusing on their Steam Deck compatibility. Let's dive into the gaming goodness!

Steam Deck Game Reviews & Impressions

NBA 2K25: A Winning Portable Experience

NBA 2K25 shines on Steam Deck. This is the first PC version to match the next-gen console experience, and it's officially optimized for the handheld. While not yet officially rated by Valve, gameplay is smooth and satisfying. Key features include ProPLAY technology for enhanced gameplay and the WNBA debut on PC. The game supports 16:10 and 800p resolutions, along with AMD FSR 2, DLSS, and XeSS (though I found disabling these improved clarity). Extensive graphics settings allow for customization, enabling a balanced visual and performance experience. Load times are slower than on consoles, and online connectivity is required for some modes. Microtransactions remain a concern, impacting some game modes.

Despite technical differences compared to consoles, the portable convenience makes it a winner.

Steam Deck review score: 4/5

Gimmick! 2: Smooth Sailing on the Deck

Unverified but flawlessly playable, Gimmick! 2 runs smoothly at 60fps on Steam Deck (forcing 60hz on OLED screens is recommended). It offers 16:10 support in menus and proper 16:9 gameplay. While lacking graphics options, its performance is excellent and a strong contender for Steam Deck Verified status.

Arco: A Verified Tactical RPG Delight

Arco, a dynamic turn-based RPG, is Steam Deck Verified and performs flawlessly. Its unique blend of real-time and turn-based combat, coupled with stunning visuals, music, and a captivating story, makes it a must-have. An assist mode (beta) offers options to streamline gameplay.

Steam Deck review score: 5/5

Skull and Bones: Playable, But Needs More Time

Officially rated "Playable" by Valve, Skull and Bones provides a decent experience on Steam Deck with some adjustments. Performance is improved by limiting the framerate to 30fps at 800p with FSR 2 quality upscaling. The game is online-only. While showing potential, it needs further refinement. A free trial is recommended before purchase.

Steam Deck review score: TBA

ODDADA: A Musical Masterpiece (Touch Controls Only)

ODDADA, a unique music creation experience, runs perfectly at 90fps but currently lacks controller support. Touch controls work flawlessly. Its beautiful visuals and intuitive design make it a joy to use, despite the small menu text.

Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5

Star Trucker: A Spacefaring Truck Sim

Star Trucker blends truck simulation and space exploration. While the gameplay loop is engaging, the controls require some adjustment. It offers extensive graphics options, allowing for performance optimization.

Steam Deck review score: 4/5

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia: A Visual Novel Delight

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia runs perfectly on Steam Deck, offering a smooth visual novel experience. It's a great follow-up to Rio Reincarnation.

Steam Deck review score: 4/5

Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES: Playable, But No Controller Support

Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES is a significant improvement over the original. While playable on Steam Deck using trackpad and touch controls, controller support is absent.

Pinball FX: A Pinball Paradise

Pinball FX offers a fantastic pinball experience with extensive PC graphics options and HDR support on Steam Deck. The free-to-play version allows sampling before purchasing DLC tables.

New Steam Deck Verified & Playable Games

Several games received Verified or Playable status this week, including Hookah Haze, OneShot: World Machine Edition, and more. Noteworthy is Black Myth: Wukong, which performs well despite its "Unsupported" status.

Steam Deck Sales

The Games from Croatia sale offers discounts on titles like the Talos Principle series.

This concludes this week's Steam Deck Weekly. Happy gaming!