By I’ve fallen behind on these roundups, so I’m kicking things back off with a bigger batch than usual: 20 games that picked up Verified or Playable status on Steam Deck and Steam Machine over the last three weeks. It’s a mixed bag this time, from a AAA hunting sequel to a cereal-box card sim, so I’ve split it into three groups based on where each one landed.
Freshly Verified this round
Top of the pile for me is Monster Hunter Wilds finally picking up full Verified status — it’s been a rocky one on Deck, so seeing Valve sign off on it properly is a big deal. NBA 2K27 also went Verified, and I’ve already put together a full performance and best-settings write-up on that one if you want the specifics. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition rounding out its Verified badge is honestly overdue given how long it’s been a Deck staple, and How to Fish closes out the list at number one with a Verified stamp of its own. On the smaller side, Cat Mail Co., Funguys Swarm, and ReStory: Chill Electronics Repairs all went Verified too — none of them are big-budget releases, but they’re exactly the kind of cosy, controller-friendly games that make sense to check off first.
Newly Playable titles
A chunk of this batch landed at Playable rather than full Verified, which usually just means there’s a manual tweak or two involved rather than anything being broken. Mortal Shell II and Silent Hill f are the two I’d flag first if you’re after something with more weight to it. Going Medieval and Combolands: Roguelike Citybuilder are both solid picks if city-builders and colony sims are your thing, and WEBFISHING has turned into a proper surprise hit that plays nicely on Deck. Gallipoli and VHOLUME round things out, and KOTAMON takes the number 20 spot with what might be the best premise of the bunch — my sister found a genuinely rare card in a cereal box and it somehow became a game about that.
Bridging Deck and Machine
A few titles this round landed at different statuses depending on which device you’re checking — Playable on one, Verified on the other — which is worth knowing before you assume a badge carries over. Dark and Darker is now playable across both, which is a nice bit of housekeeping for a game that’s had a bumpy relationship with handhelds. CICADAMATA and Sludgineers both sit in that same in-between spot, as does The Lantern of the Laughless Saint. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is probably the one to watch here — if you’ve been holding off on it for Deck, this is close to the point where it’s worth another look.
That’s 20 to work through — plenty to fill out a backlog either way. As always, drop a comment if there’s something you’ve been playing that deserves a look next time, and I’ll try not to let three weeks turn into four again.