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Game With Balls was provided by Geert Verhoeff. Thank you!

The beauty of the Steam Deck is that it's a PC, which means it can theoretically play any PC game that has been released. It still has some limitations, like needing Linux or Proton compatibility, but it is able to play almost every game on Steam to some degree. Lots of games will have optimization for the Steam Deck, working hard to get the Verified badge, but there has yet to be a game that is made for the Deck, not counting Valve's own Aperture Desk Job. However, we now have the first third-party game that has been released that was made primarily for the Steam Deck.

This is Game With Balls. Made by Geert Verhoeff, this small game has you guiding a ball through different mazes. We will have to use the Deck's gyroscope to control the ball, tilting the device in the way we plan to move it, and avoiding all of the obstacles in the way. There are about 60 levels total, but each has its own challenges with its own secrets to find, adding a little bit of replayability into the mix.

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Is this a large-scale game by any means? No. If anything, it feels like a tech demo to showcase the gyroscope of the Steam Deck in its entirety. However, for $5.99, it's worth it. The puzzles themselves are fun and beautifully handcrafted. 50 of the puzzles were made by converting real wooden creations and drawings, which interact wonderfully with the ball. The other 10 levels are all special experiences that feel unique from those. One of those is inspired by Pac-Man, while another is clearly taking inspiration from Frogger, but all of them are vastly different from the usual.

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It is a simple, yet enjoyable experience, but what makes it stand out to me is the clear focus they had for the game: Steam Deck compatibility. Game With Balls can be played with any controller that has gyro compatibility, but none of it feels nearly as good as it does playing on the Deck. Holding the Deck while moving it around to direct the ball just feels right at home, significantly better than trying to play with a controller. It just feels right to see the screen move with the device in this case.

On top of that, all of the game's marketing is filled with Steam Decks. The trailer heavily features a Steam Deck, the logo has a Steam Deck in the left-side corner, the Steam Deck is in the first little video in the description, and Greer even notes that the game can only be played on a Steam Deck or gyro controller. The idea that this game was made for the Deck is not only implied, but it's also mentioned so many times that it just feels clear this is the way the game was meant to be played.

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As for performance, it's about what I would expect from a game claiming to be perfect for the Steam Deck. It runs at a smooth 60 FPS with around 8W - 10W battery drain, getting us around 5 to 5.5 hours of battery life on the OLED Steam Deck. It's perfectly playable on the go, as it should be, and it will be great to play on the go.

Game With Balls is a nice little experience that feels like it was made for the Steam Deck. While I do enjoy playing all of the games I can on the go, it's nice to have something that feels perfectly tuned for the Deck. Using the gyroscope of the device to move the ball feels significantly better than using a controller, and that makes the Deck the perfect way to play it. And with it performing very well on the Steam Deck, alongside a low price tag, I see this as a great game to enjoy on the Deck.

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Game With Balls can be purchased for $5.99 on Steam, but it is on sale for $5.39 until February 9th.

If you enjoyed this article, check out the rest of the content on SteamDeckHQ! We have a wide variety of game reviews and news that will help your gaming experience. Whether you're looking for news, tips and tutorials, game settings and reviews, or just want to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, we've got you covered!

Noah Kupetsky
A lover of gaming since 4, Noah has grown up with a love and passion for the industry. From there, he started to travel a lot and develop a joy for handheld and PC gaming. When the Steam Deck released, it just all clicked.
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