Lord Gabe continues to pull all the gamers under his rule with Valve’s release of the Steam Deck. The handheld computer allows you to carry your entire Steam library with the power of a decent gaming laptop and the flexibility of a portable console. The device now has at least 5,000 verified titles and more than 600 playable games without official support.

You may not think expansive tales and mechanics would do well on the device, but there are actually a solid bunch of excellent RPGs that give a smooth playing experience. With an ever-expanding library of titles, you can pick out the best RPGs for the Steam Deck easily.

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Updated September 30, 2022, by Sachi Go: The Steam Deck continues to receive new updates and expand its library of verified titles that run smoothly on the device. With firmware changes, exciting new games, and classics that have finally been optimized for the deck, we've revamped our list of the best RPGs you can play from your Steam library on the go.

15 Best Action RPG On Steam Deck - Scarlet Nexus

Yuito Sumerago jumps in the air to attack

Players that love JRPGs with engaging combat systems and awesome soundtracks worth getting swept in will enjoy Scarlet Nexus. Its style makes it a great game to have on the Deck when you’re on the go.

You can play as either Yuito or Kasane, whose combat abilities and storylines diverge significantly from each other. This game heavily encourages upgrading, as you’ll get the most enjoyment out of it when you’ve got some mastery. While the story isn’t as riveting as its gameplay, it provides a great jumping off point for all the action to ensue.

14 Best Dystopian RPG On Steam Deck - Horizon Zero Dawn

Aloy sits in the rain outside and catches droplets in her hand

The futuristic world of Horizon Zero Dawn is an iconic part of RPG history, pushing forward how modern hardware can truly result in games that have both style and substance. It succeeds in providing a wondrous land worth exploring and creating a story that actually fills each area legitimately.

The combat style is also engaging, so you pretty much have every section covered in terms of what makes a great game. Since it was formerly a PS4 exclusive, the controls are already well-optimized for handheld gameplay. Aloy’s adventures can be enjoyed whether you’re in your gaming chair at home or stuck on a long train ride.

13 Most Promising Indie RPG On Steam Deck - There Is No Light

The Hero faces off a large opponent surrounded in flame

Any player looking for a great souls-like pixel RPG will eventually find their way to There Is No Light. Violence, darkness, and the pervasive feeling of despair are wrapped into one challenging arena filled with tough enemies and gorgeous environments.

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This game is not forgiving, but the challenge is worth it for the story, artwork, and just being able to say you did it. If we’re being honest, the lack of a map seems like a misstep, but that just adds to the mystery and exploration that the game beckons you to relent to.

12 Most Relaxing RPG On Steam Deck - Stardew Valley

players attend the Flower Dance with other Pelican Town residents

The great thing about Stardew Valley is that it never feels stressful even when you’re mastering it. Although there are minor combat elements in certain parts of the game, it stands out as being decidedly more wholesome and peaceful than other RPGs out there.

Stardew Valley is extremely smooth to play on the Steam Deck, so you can easily tend to your farm whenever you want. As you help Pelican Town thrive, it’s hard not to feel warm and fuzzy throughout the game.

11 Best Fantasy RPG On Steam Deck - Divinity: Original Sin 2

the party stands by a cart in one of Fort Joy's subregions

If we’re going to talk about legendary RPGs that defined the genre, you can’t go without mentioning Divinity: Original Sin 2. It’s wildly enjoyable and creates such a rich world full of lore and excitement.

Despite being a sequel, you can dive into this game without feeling lost. It does a solid job of explaining the world, and the story itself isn’t dependent on the first game. Whether you’re playing solo or multiplayer, DOS 2 will wrap you into it just like that. It runs great on the Deck, and you can even get away with running on Ultra as long as you have the proper VC Redistributables installed.

10 Best Turn-Based RPG On Steam Deck - Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Yakuza Like A Dragon - Kazuga Ichiban Falls Into A Trash Can

Yakuza: Like A Dragon took all the best elements from the series’ previous entries and added a solid turn-based RPG system that makes for some amazing gameplay. And, yes, it still carries the Yakuza tradition of having awesome minigames you can spend hours doing.

Whether you want to roam the streets as a hero of sorts or dive into the pretty compelling main story, it’s a whole lot of fun that really proves why the genre still works. It’s verified for the Steam Deck, so you’ll have no problems taking Ichiban Kasuga on the go.

9 Funniest RPG On Steam Deck - South Park: The Stick Of Truth

South Park Stick Of Truth - Kyle, Eric, Clyde, and Stan in Kupa Keep Talking to New Kid

Every player deserves to experience the irreverence, absurdity, and surprisingly solid gameplay of South Park: The Stick Of Truth just once. With the way it’s set up, it almost seems like it was made to be the kind of game you decide to boot up while you’re on your commute or bored in a waiting room.

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You get to see both the main gang and some of the most iconic characters from South Park show up throughout the game as either playable characters or fun throwaways. The real fun comes in how you build your party as you would in any other fantasy RPG, just with a lot more raunch, farts, and stupid jokes.

8 Best JRPG On Steam Deck - Persona 4 Golden

Persona 4 Golden - Chie, Yosuke, Yukiko, Teddie, The Fox, and MC in Midnight Channel

Take the Mystery Inc. gang, add in a heaping serving of darkness, and put it into the multiverse of Shin Megami Tensei. With that volatile combination, you get the masterpiece that is Persona 4 Golden. It may not be the most popular entry in the Persona series, but it’s still one of the best JRPGs you can get out there.

Originally a PlayStation exclusive, you’ll find that the controls are already perfect for a handheld experience. The best part, though, is that you still get the Steam port that has better graphics.

With a great blend of slice-of-life social mechanics and combat against the mysterious forces of evil, Persona 4 is worth taking for a spin. The English voice acting is extremely well-done (as it usually is for any Atlus release).

7 Most Beautiful RPG On Steam Deck - Tales Of Arise

Tales Of Arise - Alphen In combat with a Boar

Let it be known that this isn’t the first game in the Tales series. The good news is that you absolutely do not need to play any of the other titles to understand or enjoy Arise. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from going chronologically if you want to enjoy the little references and easter eggs sprinkled in.

Combat can be a grind, but the game always finds a way of making it feel worth it. You get next-gen graphics, a story that keeps you engaged throughout, and a cast of characters you want to root for. The latest firmware has made Tales of Arise an impressively smooth experience on the Deck.

6 Best Challenging RPG On Steam Deck - Elden Ring

Elden-Ring - Troll and Godrick Soldier Attack a Hero

Elden Ring quickly rose to become one of the best RPGs out there since its release, largely due to its tough but rewarding gameplay set in an absolutely gorgeous world. Despite its large map and rather demanding graphics, you can still comfortably run the game on the Steam Deck with a smoothness that’s comparable to its PS4 performance. Thanks to Steam Deck's Pierre-Loup Griffais, it even escapes many of the issues that plague PC players.

Given how grueling some of the battles can be, it can make the experience better being able to play when you’re outside. At least when Malenia beats the lights out of you for the tenth time in a row, you can take a moment to smell the roses and delight in the fresh air.

5 Best Existential RPG On Steam Deck - Disco Elysium - The Final Cut

Disco Elysium - Harry and Kim explore port office

Disco Elysium is an isometric detective RPG fever dream filled with stunning art and a whole lot of existential questions. It’s one of those unique titles where you really feel like you are dictating who your character is as a whole, down to the nitty-gritty bits no one wants to think about. The Final Cut delivers even more story and a much-appreciated dollop of interaction between your favorite cop duo, Harry and Kim.

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The game is notoriously heavy on text, so you might be worried about reading it all on the Steam Deck’s seven-inch screen. Thankfully, it’s been optimized to render quite clearly off the bat. If you still have some difficulty reading everything, you can scale your text in the game’s settings for a more comfortable experience.

4 Best Pixel RPG On Steam Deck - Eastward

Eastward - John saves the game at a fridge in the forest

Eastward’s pixel graphics make it an easy title for the Steam Deck to accommodate, and its small install size makes it perfect for even the 64GB version. Every environment in this game is so full of detail that you could spend hours in one area just admiring all the little things.

A lot of the gameplay and story elements are reminiscent of the old Zelda games in the best way. That doesn’t just make it a copy, though. Eastward is a charming game that manages to create an immersive world of its own worth getting to know. Come for the graphics, stay for the world-building and memorable soundtrack.

3 Most Gripping RPG On Steam Deck - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3 - Geralt stands overlooking a snowy mountain

It feels like The Witcher 3 has become a mainstay in all lists about the best RPGs. It’s hard to contest its position, like that old chess veteran in the park no one can ever beat.

The Witcher 3 runs well on the Steam Deck, and you’ll find that the environments are still great to look at. That said, you’re not exactly out of the woods from some of the random and hilarious glitches that the game experiences inherently.

2 Most Replayable RPG On Steam Deck - Hades

Hades - Zagreus faces Megaera in the underworld

You get to play as the son of Hades and battle the entire underworld. If that doesn’t seem gripping enough to make you play, take a look at the roguelite gameplay and chaotic battles set to a banging soundtrack. You’ll get hooked quicker than you can say, “Get your titanic rears in gear!”

Hades is Deck Verified, too, so it sees a lot of support updates that ensure a good playing experience. It’s also one of the better RPGs for the Deck in terms of making the battery last as long as possible.

1 Most Nostalgic RPG On Steam Deck - Fable Anniversary

heroes guild art card for fable anniversary steam edition

Despite its age, Fable remains one of the greats because of its humor, enchanting world, and distinctive art style. Even if you’re not playing with the nostalgia goggles on, you’ll enjoy the Anniversary edition with its remastered audio and graphics.

Some movement and camera bob may still feel dated, but the charm and story far outweigh these little things. Avoid the temptation to mod it on your Deck, as there are players that report load time issues and optimization problems when launching a modded Fable on the Deck.

Next: Best Games To Play On The Steam Deck