Here’s the thing most people still miss about the Steam Deck—and I’m saying this as someone who’s been yelling about it since forever—is that for decades, the PC had countless exclusive games that never set foot on a console. No ports, no Nintendo love, no Sony handshake—nothing.
And trust me, I begged. Pleaded. Lit prayer candles. Still nothing.
Then along came the Steam Deck, Valve’s magic handheld that finally turned PC gaming into something I could carry around without feeling like a dork dragging my laptop onto a city bus. Suddenly, all these brilliant PC-only classics felt like they’d always been console games—only better.
So, here are 10 games that console gamers never got their hands on, until the Steam Deck made dreams come true:
1. Blood. The nastiest corner of the Build Engine Holy Trinity—alongside Duke Nukem and Shadow Warrior. It’s gory, hilarious, and way smarter than it ever got credit for. Still holds up, especially with a gamepad.
2. Septerra Core. PC’s underrated response to Final Fantasy VII. A JRPG-styled epic, crafted by Western devs who knew how to nail the vibe. It deserved controller support years ago—now it finally feels at home.
3. Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold. Imagine Wolfenstein 3D in space, add aliens and vending machines that heal you, and you’ve got Blake Stone. Campy, colourful, and always overlooked—perfect for handheld fun.
4. Jazz Jackrabbit 2. Epic’s fast, snarky response to Sonic. It somehow managed to outdo Sega at their own game, and it’s criminal it never left PC—until now.
5. Super Fighter. DOS Street Fighter 2 was trash, but this Taiwanese indie fighter landed a clean KO instead. Fast, fluid, and shockingly addictive—a perfect fit for thumbstick abuse.
6. The Witcher (2007). Yep, Geralt’s gruff first adventure never landed on console. Plans were cancelled, dreams shattered. But now? The Deck’s got you covered.
7. Divine Divinity. The name is ridiculous, but the game? Undeniably one of the best action-RPGs ever made. A mashup of Diablo-style combat and Ultima-style worldbuilding that somehow works. Never saw a console port.
8. Ghost Master. Haunt houses, traumatize homeowners, and delight in their terrified screams. Think The Sims, except you’re the one causing trauma. A joy on handheld.
9. Flight of the Amazon Queen. Adventure gaming at its pixel-perfect finest. Indiana Jones-style puzzles, lush visuals, and humour that aged surprisingly well. Built for a comfy couch or commute.
10. Spark the Electric Jester 3. A new-school 3D platformer that beats Sonic at his own speed game. Tight level design, dazzling speed, and didn't arrive on consoles—until the Deck gave it the spotlight it deserves.
Bottom line: Steam Deck didn’t just make PC gaming portable—it gave these gems a proper handheld life. It brought decades of overlooked, underplayed brilliance out of the desktop dungeon and into the light.
