The video analyzes the top 20 most played games on Steam Deck for July 2025, based on hours played as reported by Valve. It provides insights into each game's performance, recommended settings, and estimated battery life on the Steam Deck, highlighting how well various titles, from cozy sims to demanding RPGs, adapt to handheld play.
20. Fields of Mysteria
- Massive jump of 36 places.
- Cozy life sim with farming, exploration, and relationship building.
- Charming pixel art world.
- Runs effortlessly at 60fps.
- Battery life: Up to 6 hours.
- Lightweight visuals, low demand on Steam Deck.
19. Clare Obscure Expedition 33
- Dropped six spots.
- Best performance with low settings and TSR set to low.
- Consistent 30fps.
- Battery life: Around 2 hours.
- Demanding game, but offers a solid experience.
18. Hogwarts Legacy
- Climbed five spots.
- Open-world RPG.
- Handles surprisingly well on Steam Deck.
- Medium settings yield 50-60 FPS.
- Visuals shine on handheld hardware.
- Battery life: Around 2 hours.
17. Skyrim
- Up four places.
- Legendary RPG.
- Optimal performance: Ultra settings at 40 FPS or high settings at 45 FPS.
- Looks fantastic and plays smoothly.
- Battery life: Roughly 3 hours.
16. The Witcher 3
- Holding steady.
- Great fit for Steam Deck.
- Medium preset: Solid balance of visuals and fluid gameplay (50-60 FPS).
- Low or Steam Deck preset for extended battery life and smoother performance.
15. Death Stranding
- Up five spots.
- Best to lock frame rate to 30 FPS and use low settings (due to performance dips later in the game).
- Stable experience.
- Battery life: Around 3 hours.
- Feels at home on handheld.
14. Dave the Diver
- Climbed one spot.
- Mix of deep-sea exploration and sushi restaurant management.
- Runs without a hitch at a steady 60fps.
- Battery life: 3 to 5 hours.
- Quirky, addictive, runs like a dream.
13. Vampire Survivors
- Jumped up four spots.
- Pixel-packed chaos machine.
- Ultra smooth 90fps performance.
- Minimal power usage.
- Battery life: 4 to 5 hours.
- Fast-paced action, pickup-and-play design.
12. Slay the Spire
- Holding steady.
- Deck-building classic.
- Runs effortlessly at 90 frames per second.
- Battery life: 5 to 7 hours.
- Perfect for extended handheld sessions.
11. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
- Climbing three spots.
- Legendary roguelike.
- Runs effortlessly at a stable 60fps.
- Low power consumption.
- Battery life: 5 to 6 hours.
- Addictive.
10. Hades
- Surged eight spots.
- Fast-paced roguelike.
- Fluid 60fps gameplay with crisp visuals and ultra-responsive controls.
- Battery life: Around 4 hours.
- Slick combat, rich storytelling, replayability.
9. Hades 2
- Dropped two spots.
- SuperGiant's latest roguelike.
- Runs effortlessly at 90fps with buttery smooth gameplay.
- Battery life: 4 to 5 hours.
- Fast, fluid, and addictive.
8. Brotato
- Rising three spots.
- Chaotic arena shooter.
- Consistent 90fps and tight, responsive controls.
- Battery life: 4 to 5 hours.
- Non-stop action, endless upgrades, satisfying gameplay loop.
7. Red Dead Redemption 2
- Climbing three spots.
- Cinematic open-world adventure.
- Looks incredible, especially with high settings and a 30fps cap.
- Stable frame rate even during intense moments.
- Battery life: 2 to 2.5 hours.
6. Elden Ring
- Holding steady.
- Custom mix of low, medium, and high settings with a 30fps cap for best experience.
- Stable performance and impressive visuals.
- Maintains smooth gameplay even in demanding late-game areas.
- Battery life: 3 to 3.5 hours.
5. Peak
- Soaring 17 spots.
- Tense and atmospheric co-op climbing game.
- Runs smoothly at 60fps using low settings.
- Battery life: About 3 hours.
- Thrilling test of patience and coordination.
4. Baldur's Gate 3
- Down one spot.
- Smoothest experience with a blend of medium and low settings combined with a 30fps cap.
- Battery life: Around 2 hours.
- Richly detailed RPG.
3. Cyberpunk
- Climbing one spot.
- Best approach: Low settings and lock frame rate at 30 FPS for consistent performance.
- Very playable despite dense visuals and action.
- Battery life: About 2 hours.
2. Balatro
- Dropped just one spot.
- Runs effortlessly at 90fps.
- Barely sips power.
- Battery life: Up to 8 hours.
- Addictive deck-building mechanics and fast-paced runs.
1. Stardew Valley
- Climbing one position to take the top spot.
- Relaxing farming sim.
- Runs perfectly at a locked 60fps.
- Lightweight design.
- Battery life: Around 6 hours.
- Ultimate cozy game for handheld play.
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