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 dives into recent gameplay experiences, reviews, and noteworthy sales. Missed my Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 review? Catch it here!

Steam Deck Game Reviews & Impressions

NBA 2K25 Steam Deck Review

NBA 2K25 marks a significant milestone: the PC version finally mirrors the "Next Gen" console experience. Officially optimized for Steam Deck (though not yet officially rated by Valve), it delivers a satisfying portable basketball experience, despite some familiar 2K quirks.

Key improvements for PC players include ProPLAY technology (previously exclusive to PS5 and Xbox Series X) and the WNBA's PC debut alongside MyNBA mode. If you've held off on recent PC 2K titles, this is the one to get. The game's success could pave the way for future Next Gen PC ports and continued Steam Deck optimization.

The Steam Deck and PC versions boast 16:10 and 800p support, AMD FSR 2, DLSS, and XeSS (though I disabled these for better clarity). Extensive graphical settings are available, allowing for customization of texture detail, shader quality, and more. I recommend caching shaders on initial boot and capping the framerate at 60fps for optimal performance.

A Steam Deck visual preset is included, but I found it too blurry and opted for manual adjustments. While offline play is limited (MyCAREER and MyTEAM require online connection), quick play and eras modes work offline.

While technically inferior to the console versions (especially regarding load times), the portability factor makes the Steam Deck version my preferred platform. Crossplay with consoles is absent. Microtransactions remain a concern, particularly for certain game modes. At $69.99, the price point is higher than previous iterations.

NBA 2K25 Steam Deck review score: 4/5

Gimmick! 2 Steam Deck Impressions

Unverified by Valve but running flawlessly, Gimmick! 2 (read Shaun's Switch review here) boasts a 60fps cap on Steam Deck. For OLED users, forcing 60hz is recommended. While lacking graphical options, it supports 16:10 for menus (gameplay remains 16:9). A strong contender for future Steam Deck Verified status.

Arco Steam Deck Mini Review

Arco, a dynamic turn-based RPG, shines on Steam Deck with its captivating combat system, audio, and story. The Steam version (currently more updated than Switch) is Steam Deck Verified, capped at 60fps (16:9 support), and includes a beta assist mode.

Arco Steam Deck review score: 5/5

Skull and Bones Steam Deck Mini Review

Recently added to Steam, Skull and Bones is rated "Playable" on Steam Deck. While the Ubisoft Connect login process is clunky, gameplay is smooth at 30fps (16:10, 800p) with FSR 2. Performance is better with the performance upscaling preset. I recommend low settings except for textures (high).

Skull and Bones Steam Deck review score: TBA

ODDADA Steam Deck Review

ODDADA, a music-making experience, runs perfectly at 90fps on Steam Deck with touch controls (no controller support yet). Graphical options are limited but sufficient. Menu text is small.

ODDADA Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5

Star Trucker Steam Deck Mini Review

Star Trucker blends automobile simulation and space exploration. While not deeply engaging in either genre, it offers a unique experience. Runs well on Proton Experimental with customizable graphics settings (16:10 support). Controls could use improvement.

Star Trucker Steam Deck review score: 4/5

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia Steam Deck Mini Review

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia, a visual novel, runs flawlessly on Steam Deck (720p, 16:9). Check system settings to ensure proper button configuration.

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia Steam Deck Review Score: 4/5

Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES Steam Deck Review Impressions

Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES, a significant update to the original, is playable on Steam Deck using trackpad and touch controls (no controller support). Initial impressions are positive.

Pinball FX Steam Deck Impressions

Pinball FX offers a robust PC port with extensive graphics options and HDR support on Steam Deck. Gameplay is highly enjoyable. Download the free version to test compatibility and sample tables.

New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the week

Notable additions include Hookah Haze and OneShot: World Machine Edition (Verified). Black Myth: Wukong is surprisingly listed as Unsupported, despite playable performance.

Steam Deck Game Sales, Discounts, and Specials

The Games from Croatia sale features discounts on the Talos Principle series and more, ending Monday morning.

That concludes this week's Steam Deck Weekly. Share your feedback below!