Everyone is using their Steam Deck like a better Nintendo Switch

Valve Steam Deck in use while sat outdoors
(Image credit: Future)

Steam Deck users, despite owning a surprisingly powerful handheld PC, are primarily using it like an upgraded Nintendo Switch.

Valve released a list of the most played games (by hour count) on the handheld and it largely includes ones that are also available on Nintendo's console. Vampire Survivors, which doesn't currently have a Switch version, sits on top, but Cult of the Lamb, Stardew Valley, Hades, Skyrim, and Monster Hunter Rise are all games that work well on Nintendo's handheld. And I'm sure Switch owners wish they could have a version of Spider-Man and Elden Ring that didn't run like trash or via cloud streaming.

The Steam Deck is truly the answer for a Nintendo Switch form factor that can handle modern games. The only real caveat is that its beefier hardware impacts the battery life, so everyone combing through Elden Ring or other newer games have to keep it juiced up.

Unsurprisingly, none of the games in the list, except Skyrim, are first-person, and none of Steam's most popular competitive FPS games are on it either. Trying to do the finger gymnastics to compete in a CS:GO match against mouse and keyboard players seems futile. Non-FPS games make more sense: Multiverse has cross-play with consoles, so playing it on a Steam Deck isn't as punishing.

Games with anti-cheat software require a little extra work from the developers to add compatibility, so that's why Multiversus (Easy Anti-Cheat) has flourished, but Destiny 2 (BattlEye) hasn't—Bungie has no plans to add Steam Deck support and will punish you if you try to play it.

See more

Not only is the Steam Deck a better Nintendo Switch, it can also literally be a Nintendo handheld too—via emulation. Earlier this week, Twitter user GameXData showed a 3DS game on the Steam Deck that also emulated its second screen. Nintendo's own console can't even do that.

Almost 10% of Steam's massive library of games are playable on the Steam Deck. This year's biggest games are not only playable, but being played, and if you combine that with its fantastic emulation capabilities, it really seems like the handheld to get.

TOPICS

Tyler has covered videogames and PC hardware for 15 years. He regularly spends time playing and reporting on games like Diablo 4, Elden Ring, Overwatch 2, and Final Fantasy 14. While his specialty is in action RPGs and MMOs, he's driven to cover all sorts of games whether they're broken, beautiful, or bizarre.

Read more
Vampire Survivors on the Steam Deck outside
The best Steam Deck games
Valve Steam Deck with GeForce Now app overlaid on screen.
After a year in its company, I've done a complete 180 on my Steam Deck
Valve Steam Deck OLED handheld PC
'The future of hardware at Valve is bright': Valve celebrates the success of Steam Deck and Steam OS
OneXPlayer 2 pro on a table
I never thought a handheld PC bloated with Windows could replace my Steam Deck, but after gaming on an old OneXPlayer 2 Pro I can see now I judged it too harshly
Valve Steam Deck with GeForce Now app overlaid on screen.
Nvidia announces dedicated GeForce Now app for Steam Decks and more, streamlining cloud gaming for mixed-reality headset wearers too
A screengrab of a Nintendo Switch 2 reveal trailer, showing the Switch 2 playing Mario Kart on a light blue background.
Nintendo Switch 2? Nah, I'll take a next-gen handheld gaming PC thanks very much
Latest in Handheld Gaming PCs
Valve Steam Deck OLED handheld PC
'The future of hardware at Valve is bright': Valve celebrates the success of Steam Deck and Steam OS
Still from a CNET video highlighting the Samsung concept device from MWC 2025
Samsung's handheld prototype delivers folding phone screens to Switch-like gaming hardware, and I am absolutely here for it
Xbox handheld
Microsoft is reportedly prepping a handheld Xbox for later this year with new consoles coming in 2027
OneXPlayer 2 pro on a table
I never thought a handheld PC bloated with Windows could replace my Steam Deck, but after gaming on an old OneXPlayer 2 Pro I can see now I judged it too harshly
A Razer Handheld Dock Chroma with a Steam Deck OLED
Razer Handheld Dock Chroma review
The Logitech G305 Lightspeed gaming mouse floats in a teal, deal header image void. This is the black colourway with silver-y grey accents. A stylised 'G' is painted on to the lower portion of the palm rest.
Clicking fingers at the ready—you can snap up the best budget gaming mouse for $30
Latest in News
A woman with an arcane slingshot uses it to light a distant fire
Deconstructeam's next game is about training to shoot a single fireball at an impossible target
assassin's creed shadow naoe
We asked two parkour athletes to rate the realism of Assassin's Creed's acrobatics, and a surprising 'crime against parkour' might actually be one of the most realistic things they saw
Mechs fight on the outside of a spaceship
MechWarrior 5: Clans is getting DLC with playable Elementals and a fight on the outside of a spaceship
Aloy - Horizon
'I feel worried about this art form:' Unsurprisingly, the real Aloy from Horizon isn't a fan of AI Aloy
Crying laughing emoji with disturbing realistic elements for REPO
REPO's first update will add a new map and a 'duck bucket' so we can finally give that pesky quacker a time out
Man facing camera
The Day Before studio reportedly sues Russian website for calling infamous disaster-game a 'scam'