Steam Deck Verified/Playable Highlights 1/9/23 - 1/15/23

This week had a lot of new games added to the Steam Deck Verified/Playable list! Here are the highlights we found from last week:

Verified or Playable games don't automatically mean they work amazing right out-of-the-box. Some of these games require work to optimize and play well.

CTHULHU SAVES CHRISTMAS (Playable)

The master of insanity, Cthulhu, has lost his powers and the only way he can get them back is by rescuing Santa Claus from the League of Christmas Evil! Fight Krampus, Mari Lwyd, and other Christmas League of Evil villains in unique, turn-based combat, while also building your relationship levels with friends and foes in super-streamlined life sim segments. With multiple character abilities and a humorous story, will you be able to save Christmas in this prequel JRPG?

The game is $10 and rated playable due to needing to change resolution settings in-game, needing a community or modified controller layout, and needing to use the virtual keyboard.

REMNANTS OF NAEZITH (Playable)

With the powers granted to him by the dragon, Kayra will destroy the Remnants of Naezith, enchanted fragments of the dragon's body, to prevent anyone from exploiting their power for evil. Rush and swing through levels to top the leaderboards in this fast-paced, grappling hook precision platformer. Find the hidden remnants to unlock secret levels and race against other people's best times or your own.

The game is $10 ($2.49) and rated playable due to small in-game text that may difficult to read and may require you to manually quit via the Steam overlay,

WE ARE THE CARETAKERS (Playable)

We Are The Caretakers is a 3D grand strategy RPG set in a post-apocalyptic afro-futurist world. Recruit, upgrade, and manage a secret faction of 100 high-tech protectors to defend the endangered creatures you rely on. Confront a mysterious alien ship and assemble your team while partaking in turn-based encounters to defend Shadra Falls.

The game is $20 and rated playable due to some in-game text that may difficult to read.

HELLO NEIGHBOR 2 (Playable)

Welcome back to the eerie town of Raven Brooks! Sneak into your creepy Neighbors’ houses to dig up the truth behind the original game, and maybe even uncover a larger mystery. Sneak into crime scenes and houses to find clues and evidence needed. It’s up to you to piece this puzzle together. Building upon the formula of Hello Neighbor 1, you play in a larger open world with multiple houses inhabited by suspicious characters.

The game is $40 and rated playable due to manual configuration of graphics settings to perform well on Steam Deck and you might need a community or modified controller layout.

A FOX AND HIS ROBOT (Verified)

Try to escape the grip of powerful Artificial Intelligence in this 2D action-platformer. A young fox named Alpha and his robot search for meaning in a beautiful, yet dangerous world. With every other AI gunning for his existence, Alpha must use his wit to out-fox robots in this adventure. Master the biomes as you utilize wind, portals, and more to traverse though the world with 12 different arenas while frantic matches shed light into the events of what happened right before Alpha’s escape.

The game comes out on March 1st and rated verified.

KNIGHTMARE TOWER (Verified)

Break through ceilings, rescue princesses, and escape boiling lava as you slash your way to the top of the Knightmare Tower! in this Arcade 2D game, you can upgrade your weapons and armor to defeat monsters to continue upward. There are 70 quests to complete along with several achievements.

The game is $4 and rated verified.

FLASHBACK (Playable)

After fleeing from a space ship and stripped of all memory, you play as young scientist Conrad B. Hart, as he awakens on Titan, a colonised moon of the planet Saturn with enemies and kidnappers are snapping at your heels. Now you must find a way back to Earth, defending yourself against the dangers you encounters and unraveling an insidious extra-terrestrial plot that threatens the planet. In addition to the original 1993 game, this includes a Modern mode with a brand new "Rewind" function, variable according to the level of difficulty and Post-FX graphic filters.

The game is $2 and rated playable due to some in-game text that may difficult to read, switching the active external controllers and needing the virtual keyboard to enter text at times.

AKANE (Verified)

It is 2121 A.D and, with no escape options, Akane prepares for her final battle in the rain-soaked neon streets of Mega-Tokyo. Take out as many yakuza as possible, slashing and shooting in a one-hit-one-kill fight to the death. As you reach certain criteria, you will unlock new equipment for your character that give you little perks and new abilities. The visual design and animation are gorgeous with little details and bits of dialogue, which complement the fantastic world building, flavor, and backstory.

The game is $5 and rated verified.

RIVER CITY GIRLS 2 (Playable)

The River City Girls are ready for round 2! When an old foe returns for revenge, Misako, Kyoko, Kunio, and Riki - joined by newcomers Marian and Provie - hit the streets for an all-new beat-'em-up adventure packed with new abilities, enemies, allies, locations, and more! Team up for local or online co-op, then pound punks into the dirt with brand-new guard-crush attacks, lift-off combos, elemental status effects, and other knuckle-busting techniques! Level-up to earn new moves, buy items and accessories in more than 40 shops, and recruit defeated foes and hired heavies to help you on your way! River City is bigger than ever, offering more areas to explore, more objects to destroy, and a day-night cycle!

The game is $40 and rated playable due to small in-game text that may difficult to read and switching the active external controllers.

LIFELESS PLANET PREMIER EDITION (Playable)

While seeking life on a distant planet, an astronaut discovers an abandoned Russian town. He suspects his mission is a hoax until a mysterious young woman saves him from a strange and deadly phenomenon. Experience an exciting and intriguing story told through rich graphics and cinematic cut-scenes that features spectacular environments in the spirit of classic action-adventures. Equipped with a limited-use jet-pack and a mobile robotic arm, you must use wits and skill to solve puzzles, unravel the mystery, and survive the Lifeless Planet.

The game is $20 and rated playable due to needing the virtual keyboard to enter text at times and some in-game text that may difficult to read.

IXION (Playable) (SDHQ Review)

IXION is an unrelenting, city-building odyssey across the stars. As Administrator of the Tiqqun, a DOLOS’ prototype space station, you are tasked with balancing preservation and exploration as you manage infrastructure, resources and crew.  Find new ways to provide for your settlement and construct new buildings to encounter other survivors and bring them into the fold of your mission: to survive. Can you keep the flame of humanity alight in the cold dark?

The game is $35 and rated playable due to small in-game text and sometimes showing non Steam Deck controller icons.

DIVINE KNOCKOUT (Playable)

KO your enemies in this 3rd-person platform fighter! Become a small-but-mighty god of myth, brawl in all three dimensions, and knock your friends off the map to reign supreme. Enjoy combat inspired by 2D platform fighters, but brought into a unique third-person perspective. Customize each god to play exactly how you want and show off your unique style. Each arena features new mechanics that players must master to win. With full cross-play and cross-progression, you can play against anyone, anywhere.

The game is $10 and rated playable due to entering some text requires manually invoking the on-screen keyboard and small in-game text.

SOUL HACKERS 2 (Playable)

Explore a supernatural RPG with stylish summoners and dark dangers lurking under the neon lights of a cyberpunk Japan. It is up to Ringo, an agent of Aion, to save the world from the apocalypse. Strengthen the bonds with your teammates and dive deeper into their souls, reliving their last adventures and discovering the truth of their stories and yours in this turn-based JRPG.

The game is $60 and rated playable due to needing active internet connection in the first-time setup and  sometimes showing non Steam Deck controller icons.

STALCRAFT (Playable)

STALCRAFT is a dynamic MMOFPS with survival horror elements, set in the open world of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Search for artifacts, mutant hunting, exploration of uncharted locations, doing quests and laboratories, participation in faction wars. The main storyline introduces the player to the Zone and allows you to enjoy an intriguing story, complete with cut-scenes and fully voiced dialogues. The world is also filled with many side quests steeped in stalker spirit. One of the key features of the project is a complete freedom of PvP - players join one of the warring factions and can kill outsiders anywhere, except for small safe zones and quest dungeons.

The game is free to play and rated playable due to showing non Steam Deck controller icons, some small in-game text, Entering some text requires manually invoking the on-screen keyboard, and some functionality is not accessible when using the default controller configuration.

VAMBRACE : COLD SOUL (Verified)

Vambrace: Cold Soul is a story-driven roguelite set amidst a frozen landscape. Plan expeditions, then journey to the cursed city surface with your party. Wield unique powers, avoid traps, brave strange encounters, and survive deadly combat in this gothic fantasy adventure!

The game is $25 and rated verified.

SHOVEL KNIGHT : SHOVEL OF HOPE (Verified)

Shovel Knight is a sweeping classic action-adventure game with awesome gameplay, memorable characters, and an 8-bit retro aesthetic. If you love games with perfect platforming, beautiful art, infectious music, lovable bosses, humor and levity, and real heart… Shovel Knight is for you! Flip enemies! Leap over gaps! Duel with foes! Dig up treasure! Find Secrets! Upgrade! Shovel Knight is simple to learn and play, but challenge lies everywhere. The systems of today also give Shovel Knight modern touches: detailed animation, multilayered parallax backgrounds, and novel game design. Relive the adventure and uncover all of the world's secrets with New Game+!

The game is $15 and rated verified.

SHANTAE : HALF-GENIE HERO ULTIMATE EDITION (Playable)

Shantae embarks on her first full HD adventure! When a mysterious crime wave sweeps Sequin Land, it’s up to Half-Genie Hero Shantae to save the day! Use Shantae’s devastating Hair-Whip Attack to send monsters flying or Belly Dance to transform into a more powerful creature form! Topple the masterminds behind each criminal caper and prepare for the ultimate showdown against Shantae’s arch nemesis - the bodacious buccaneer Risky Boots! The new Relic System allows players to unlock new powers and customize moves for Shantae and her many forms.

The game is $30 and rated playable due to some in-game text that may difficult to read.

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