Newsletter
The Steam Winter Sale is here and there are a lot of great games on sale, and many of them work fantastically on Steam Deck. As there are many more Steam Deck owners out there compared to the beginning of the year, and there are surely going to be some people getting Steam Decks for Christmas, we wanted to highlight some games that are “great on Deck” that you can find at drastically cheaper prices than normal.
Whether you want something to play on your Deck during the holiday this weekend, or you just want more titles to fill up your library, these are some definite must-haves for the Steam Deck that you can find on sale. Keep in mind the Steam Winter Sale goes until January 5 at 10am Pacific Standard Time. So even if you don’t have a Steam Deck yet, if there’s one waiting under the three for you, you’ll have time to grab the games before they go back to full price.
Without further ado, give these great games on Deck a look. And, don’t forget to vote in the Steam Awards 2022.
Best Steam Winter Sale games for Steam Deck
| Game | Price | Genre |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition | $9.99 | RPG |
| Valheim | $13.99 | Survival |
| Detroit: Become Human | $19.99 | Action, Adventure |
| Little Nightmares II | $9.89 | Adventure, Horror, Puzzle |
| Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown | $9.59 | Action |
| Rimworld | $27.99 | Colony Sim, Base Building |
| Stray | $23.99 | Adventure, Indie |
| Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age | $24.99 | JRPG |
| My Friend Pedro | $4.99 | Action, Indie, Shooter |
| Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | $29.99 | Action, Adventure, Souls-Like |
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition
- Price: From $7.99
- Genre: RPG
There are many reasons to love The Witcher 3, and just as many to grab it during the Steam Winter Sale that make it one of the best options for your Steam Deck. First and foremost, the game even at full cost is a stellar pickup. Renowned storytelling, a massive open world filled with exploration, quests, loot, monster and more, and exciting action combat.
It also features great visuals for an overall complete package of a game. It also recently just received the next-gen update. While much of that is going to be of more use on a more powerful desktop or laptop PC, there are some changes that Steam Deck owners will get to take advantage of. Such as the new quick sign mechanic, as well as the Netflix show-inspired content.
Then of course, there’s the price. For $9.99, you get the base game and both expansions. This is normally a $50 bundle. And with this being a Verified on Deck title, this is too good of a price to pass up. It’s definitely a game you’ll want to for your Steam Deck this weekend if you want something to dive headlong into.
Valheim
- Price: $13.99
- Genre: Survival
Valheim was one of the most popular games to release in 2021 and for good reason. This survival crafting game is built upon an expansive world that is packed to the brim with exploration opportunities. The game is set in Viking-inspired purgatory with worlds being procedurally generated, so things are never quite the same each time you play.
There’s lots to do in this game to fill your time. Build Viking longhouses, slay monsters, tend your garden (because Vikings need to eat too). Valheim supports from 1-10 players so you can even bring along a few friends if you like.
Detroit: Become Human
- Price: $19.99
- Genre: Action, Adventure
Detroit: Become Human is big on giving players the reigns and letting them lead the narrative. Player choice is a big part of how things in this game shake out. And if you enjoy that sort of control when it comes to the story, you’ll love Detroit: Become Human. The rundown is that by the year 2038, humans have created androids that have advanced beyond a point where they’re smarter than humans yet, are no more than servants to them.
You play the role of three different androids throughout the course of the game. And each and every decision you make impacts the final outcome. The game is very narrative driven but it’s definitely a story worth experiencing.
Little Nightmares II
- Price: $9.89
- Genre: Adventure, Horror, Puzzle
Little Nightmares II builds on the suspenseful adventure gameplay that made the first game so endearing. This time around you play Mono, and with the help of Six (the protagonist from the first game), you must figure out the secrets of the signal tower and escape a dark world fraught with horrors.
Expect plenty of puzzle platforming.
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
- Price: $9.59
- Genre: Action
Pick this game up if you enjoy aerial combat. With a multitude of different jets and full 360-degree movement, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown features epic dogfights with plenty of things thrown in the mix to make things interesting.
For example, weather can affect your HUD and aircraft. The story of the game is set in a sort of alternate reality earth, with different nations than our own. One nation declares war on another which is where the story of Ace Combat 7 begins. This is a pretty big over simplification but that’s the gist of it.
Rimworld
- Price: $27.99
- Genre: Colony Sim, Base Building
If you’ve been playing the recently released version of Dwarf Fortress, then you should love Rimworld. This is a sci-fi colony sim where you and two other crew mates crash land on a far off world somewhere in the universe. You’ll have to do everything from managing colonists to building bases. And doing everything you can to make sure that your colony thrives as you fight for survival on an unknown planet.
You can also fight against pirates and rival tribes, trade with passing merchant ships and a whole lot more. Just be aware that if you give this game a shot and you do get into it, you’ll spend many hours playing and probably find it hard to put down.
Stray
- Price: $23.99
- Genre: Adventure, Indie
Where to start with Stray. Perhaps the first thing that, while obvious, deserves mentioning is that you get to play as a stray cat. Hence the name. It’s a cute setting for a casual affair. The game starts out with you and your family of stray cats enjoying your time in the sun in a post-apocalyptic world where it seems humans no longer exist.
Except pretty early on you get separated from your fellow felines and must find your way back. It’s an excellent adventure with great storytelling and fun gameplay mechanics that definitely make this a must-have game. Especially since it’s a Verified on Deck game and plays great while on the go.
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
- Price: $24.99
- Genre: JRPG
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a highly underrated title in the long-running series of JRPGs. Though I feel it definitely flies under the radar as a hidden gem. And I think many people would probably agree. Final Fantasy VII is and will probably always be my favorite, but Final Fantasy XII is full of charm thanks to a familiar world setting, as well as a diverse cast of characters that are easy to grow attached to.
This version of the game comes with HD voice acting, true 7.1 surround sound, up to 60 frames per second and a whole lot more features that weren’t available in the original. Plus, this is a JRPG and it’s Final Fantasy. So buckle up and prepare for many hours of gameplay that will fill your time with enjoyment.
Plus, for the Steam Winter sale the game is half off and it’s Verified on Deck, making it one of the best games to pick up for the Steam Deck during the sale.
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
My Friend Pedro
- Price: $4.99
- Genre: Action, Indie, Shooter
Right off the bat I’m going to suggest that if you just want something fun to play without having to dive deep into a narrative, go for My Friend Pedro. This side-scrolling action shooter game is loads of fun with some pretty cool animation and fun mechanics. Plus it’s only $4.99 during the Steam Winter Sale and that’s a hard deal to pass up for a fun game.
You should get a decent amount of hours out of it and because it’s only $4.99 you can feel good about not having a ton of money to have that fun.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Price: $29.99
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Souls-Like
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is one of the best souls-like titles released by FromSoftware. It introduces exciting action combat elements that weren’t really present in other games from the studio. With a major focus on parrying to whittle down the stance of you enemies and stagger them for killing blows, as opposed to chipping away at their life using any number of weapons or magic spells.
There’s still plenty of other elements from previous titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne, but a few new features too. The game, set in an alternate reality Japan, has you playing as Sekiro, the wolf, fighting to rescue your master Kuro, the Divine Heir. Kuro is kidnapped by the Ashina Clan and you set off to cut down anyone in your path as you make your way towards Ashina Castle to get your master back.