What are the best Steam Deck games ranked for singleplayer survival fans?
With the highly anticipated release of Silent Hill 2, it can be a shame to discover the game is not Steam Deck Verified (as of right now). So, to scratch that single player survival game itch on the Steam Deck, we have compiled a comprehensive guide of some of the best survival games on Steam. The best part? All of them are Steam Deck verified, meaning they are perfect for on-the-go gaming! Expect ratings based on:
| ✓ Story | ✓ Exploration | ✓ Combat |
| ✓ Survival Mechanics |
Resident Evil 2 and 4 /rating:4.5
Ratings (Out of 5)
Available On:
Game Features
Resident Evil 2 and 4 bring classic survival horror to the Steam Deck, offering tense and immersive experiences that shines on the portable screen.
Combat
The combat in Resident Evil 2 and 4 is a masterclass in survival horror gameplay. Each encounter feels tense and meaningful, with limited resources adding weight to every decision. The over-the-shoulder perspective, introduced in Resident Evil 4 and refined in the Resident Evil 2 remake, provides precise aiming that translates well to the Steam Deck’s controls. Enemies are varied and challenging, requiring different strategies to overcome. The satisfying feedback of each shot and the strategic dismemberment mechanics in Resident Evil 2 create a combat system that’s both visceral and tactical.
Exploration
Both games excel in creating atmospheric environments that beg to be explored. The intricate level design encourages thorough investigation, with hidden items and secrets rewarding observant players. Resident Evil 2’s police station and Resident Evil 4’s rural village are memorable settings, each filled with puzzles and locked areas that gradually open up as you progress. The Steam Deck’s portability enhances this aspect, allowing players to dive into these rich environments whenever they have a spare moment.
Story
The narratives in Resident Evil 2 and 4 are compelling and well-paced, driving players forward through the horror-filled worlds. Resident Evil 2’s dual storylines, following Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield, offer different perspectives on the Raccoon City outbreak. Resident Evil 4’s story takes a more action-oriented approach, with Leon’s mission to rescue the President’s daughter evolving into a fight against a sinister cult. Both games feature strong character development and memorable villains, creating stories that resonate long after the credits roll.
Survival Mechanics
The survival mechanics in these games are finely tuned to create a constant sense of tension. Inventory management is crucial, forcing players to make tough decisions about what to carry. The limited save system in Resident Evil 2 (using typewriters and ink ribbons) adds to the suspense, making each safe room a welcome respite. Health is a precious resource, with herbs and first aid sprays requiring strategic use. The crafting system in both games allows for some flexibility in resource management, adding depth to the survival experience.
Resident Evil 2 and 4 stand as pinnacles of the survival horror genre, offering experiences that are perfectly suited for the Steam Deck. The combination of intense combat, atmospheric exploration, gripping storytelling, and challenging survival mechanics creates games that are both thrilling and deeply satisfying gameplay experiences.
Dead Space /rating:4.5
Ratings (Out of 5)
Available on:
Game Features
Dead Space brings deep space terror to the Steam Deck, offering a unique blend of sci-fi horror and action that’s perfectly suited for portable play.
Combat
Dead Space’s combat system is revolutionary in the survival horror genre. The strategic dismemberment mechanic adds a layer of depth to each encounter, requiring players to target specific limbs to efficiently take down the Necromorphs. This precision-based combat translates surprisingly well to the Steam Deck’s controls, with the gyro aiming option enhancing accuracy. The variety of weapons, each with alternate fire modes, encourages experimentation and adaptation to different situations. The tension of combat is amplified by the claustrophobic environments of the USG Ishimura, making each battle a heart-pounding experience.
Exploration
The USG Ishimura serves as a character in its own right, with its winding corridors and vast chambers begging to be explored. The game’s level design encourages backtracking with new abilities, revealing previously inaccessible areas and rewards. The zero-gravity sections add a unique dimension to exploration, allowing for 360-degree movement that’s both disorienting and exhilarating. The Steam Deck’s OLED screen (on newer models) enhances the game’s dark, atmospheric visuals, making exploration in the dimly lit ship even more immersive.
Story
Dead Space weaves a compelling narrative that blends cosmic horror with personal tragedy. The story of Isaac Clarke’s search for his girlfriend Nicole amidst the Necromorph outbreak is both haunting and engaging. The game’s approach to storytelling, with much of the plot revealed through audio logs and environmental details, is well-suited to the Steam Deck’s pick-up-and-play nature. The gradual unraveling of the Unitologist conspiracy and the true nature of the Marker creates a narrative that keeps players invested throughout their journey.
Survival Mechanics
Dead Space excels in its survival mechanics, creating a constant sense of vulnerability even as the player grows stronger. The resource management is tight, with ammo and health packs always feeling scarce. The unique health bar integrated into Isaac’s suit adds to the immersion, eliminating the need for a traditional HUD. The upgrade system for both weapons and Isaac’s suit provides meaningful progression, allowing players to tailor their playstyle. The Store and workbench mechanics add a strategic layer to resource management, forcing players to make tough decisions about what to buy, sell, or upgrade.
Dead Space stands as a masterpiece of survival horror, offering an experience that’s both terrifying and exhilarating on the Steam Deck. Its combination of innovative combat, atmospheric exploration, engaging storytelling, and challenging survival mechanics makes it a must-play for fans of the genre looking for a premium portable gaming experience.
Dying Light /rating:4
Available On:
Game Features
Dying Light brings parkour-infused zombie survival to the Steam Deck, offering a unique blend of action, exploration, and horror in a portable package.
Combat
Dying Light’s combat system shines in its visceral, up-close encounters with the infected. The melee-focused gameplay feels weighty and impactful, with each swing of a weapon carrying real consequence. The addition of parkour elements to combat creates dynamic encounters, allowing players to use the environment to their advantage. The progression system, which unlocks new combat abilities over time, ensures that fighting remains engaging throughout the game. While firearms are available, their limited ammo makes each shot count, maintaining the tension of survival horror.
Exploration
The city of Harran is a playground for parkour enthusiasts, with its dense urban environment designed for fluid movement. The freerunning mechanics are smooth and intuitive, translating well to the Steam Deck’s controls. The open-world design encourages exploration, with hidden caches, side quests, and scenic vistas rewarding curious players. The day/night cycle adds a thrilling dimension to exploration, with the more dangerous nighttime encouraging risky excursions for greater rewards. The Steam Deck’s portability enhances this aspect, allowing players to engage in quick scavenging runs or longer expeditions as time allows.
Story
While not the game’s strongest aspect, Dying Light’s narrative provides sufficient motivation to progress through its zombie-infested world. The story follows Kyle Crane, an undercover agent sent to infiltrate a quarantine zone, and touches on themes of survival, loyalty, and the breakdown of society. Side quests often offer more compelling narratives, presenting moral dilemmas and character-driven stories that add depth to the world. The game’s approach to storytelling, with many quests able to be completed in short bursts, is well-suited to the Steam Deck’s portable nature.
Survival Mechanics
Dying Light’s survival mechanics create a constant sense of tension and progression. The crafting system allows players to create and modify weapons, adding a layer of strategy to resource management. The day/night cycle is a standout feature, with the more aggressive nighttime zombies forcing players to adapt their tactics. Safe zones provide respite and serve as fast travel points, but reaching them often requires careful planning. The skill trees for survival, agility, and combat provide a sense of growth, with each level-up feeling impactful. The inclusion of consumables like medkits and boosters adds depth to moment-to-moment survival decisions.
Dying Light offers a unique take on the survival horror genre, blending parkour mechanics with zombie survival to create an experience that feels fresh and exciting. Its emphasis on fluid movement and environmental interaction, combined with solid combat and survival elements, makes it a real standout title.
SOMA /rating:3.25
Ratings (Out of 5)
Available On:
Game Features
SOMA brings existential dread to the Steam Deck, offering a thought-provoking and atmospheric horror experience that challenges players’ perceptions of consciousness and humanity.
Combat
SOMA intentionally eschews traditional combat mechanics, focusing instead on stealth and avoidance. The lack of combat contributes to the game’s atmosphere of vulnerability and dread. Players must navigate around hostile entities, using sound and environmental cues to avoid detection. While this approach may not appeal to action-oriented players, it creates a tense and immersive experience that aligns perfectly with the game’s themes of helplessness and survival. The Steam Deck’s intimate screen and headphone setup enhance these stealth sections, making every encounter feel immediate and dangerous.
Exploration
The underwater facility of PATHOS-II is a masterpiece of atmospheric level design. Each area feels distinct and lived-in, with environmental storytelling providing insights into the facility’s history and the fate of its inhabitants. The game encourages thorough exploration, with terminals, audio logs, and interactive objects fleshing out the rich backstory. The underwater sections, where players navigate the abyssal depths between facility sections, create a sense of isolation and wonder.
Story
SOMA’s narrative is its crowning achievement, tackling complex philosophical questions about consciousness, identity, and the nature of humanity. The story follows Simon Jarrett as he awakens in the underwater facility, unraveling the mystery of his situation and the fate of the world above. The game presents moral dilemmas that have no easy answers, forcing players to confront uncomfortable truths about existence and continuity of self. The narrative unfolds through a combination of environmental storytelling, character interactions, and pivotal choice moments, creating a deeply engaging experience that lingers long after the game ends.
Survival Mechanics
While not as prominent as in other survival horror games, SOMA’s survival mechanics contribute significantly to its atmosphere of tension and vulnerability. Resource management is minimal, focusing instead on careful navigation of hostile environments. The player’s ability to interact with the environment to create distractions or hide from threats adds a layer of strategy to survival. The game’s approach to player “death” is unique, with failures often resulting in disorientation rather than a traditional game over, maintaining immersion.
SOMA offers a unique and thought-provoking survival horror experience on the Steam Deck. While it may not feature traditional combat or extensive survival mechanics, its atmospheric exploration, masterful storytelling, and philosophical depth create an unforgettable journey that’s perfectly suited for immersive portable play.
Outlast 1 & 2 /rating:3
Ratings (Out of 5)
Available On:
Game Features
Outlast 1 and 2 bring pure, unadulterated horror to the Steam Deck, offering intense and terrifying experiences that push the boundaries of the survival horror genre.
Combat
Outlast intentionally removes all combat options, leaving players completely defenseless against the horrors they encounter. This design choice creates a constant state of vulnerability and fear, as every encounter becomes a desperate struggle for survival. The lack of combat is compensated by intense chase sequences and stealth sections, where timing and environmental awareness are crucial. While this approach may frustrate players looking for more active gameplay, it perfectly serves the game’s goal of creating pure, unrelenting terror.
Exploration
Both Outlast games excel in creating richly detailed, nightmarish environments that beg to be explored – albeit cautiously. The first game’s Mount Massive Asylum and the second’s rural Arizona setting are filled with dark corners, hidden passages, and environmental storytelling elements. The level design encourages thorough investigation to find key items, batteries for your camera, and documents that flesh out the backstory. The Steam Deck’s portability allows players to dive into these terrifying worlds in short bursts, perfect for those who might find the intensity overwhelming in longer sessions.
Story
Outlast’s narratives delve into dark, controversial themes that push the boundaries of horror storytelling. The first game follows journalist Miles Upshur as he uncovers the twisted experiments at Mount Massive Asylum, while the sequel explores religious fanaticism and cult psychology through the eyes of cameraman Blake Langermann. Both games use a combination of found footage style storytelling, environmental clues, and intense set pieces to craft narratives that are as disturbing as they are engaging. The stories unfold at a brisk pace, well-suited to the Steam Deck’s pick-up-and-play nature, keeping players invested in uncovering the next shocking revelation.
Survival Mechanics
Outlast’s survival mechanics are minimalistic but effective in maintaining tension throughout the experience. The core mechanic revolves around managing the battery life of your night vision camera, which is essential for navigating dark areas and spotting threats. This creates a constant risk-reward dynamic, as players must decide when to use this limited resource. The inability to fight back means that stealth and quick thinking are your primary tools for survival. Hiding spots like lockers, beds, and dark corners become crucial for evading enemies. In Outlast 2, the addition of a microphone feature for detecting distant sounds adds another layer to the survival mechanics. The Steam Deck’s touchscreen can enhance interactions with the camera and inventory, adding to the immersive experience.
Outlast 1 and 2 offer intense, psychological horror experiences that are well-suited to the Steam Deck’s portable nature. While they may not feature traditional combat or complex survival systems, their focus on stealth, exploration, and storytelling creates a uniquely terrifying journey that horror enthusiasts can enjoy on the go.
In conclusion, the Steam Deck offers an impressive selection of single-player survival games that cater to a variety of horror enthusiasts. From the intense combat and atmospheric storytelling of Resident Evil 2/4 and Dead Space to the unique parkour mechanics of Dying Light, each title provides a distinct experience that shines on the portable platform. SOMA and Outlast further demonstrate that survival horror can thrive without traditional combat, focusing instead on psychological tension and immersive narratives. The Steam Deck’s portability enhances these chilling adventures, allowing players to dive into terrifying worlds anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re battling zombies, navigating dark underwater facilities, or evading relentless foes, these games ensure that survival horror fans have plenty of thrilling options to explore on the go.
