Earlier this yr, we referred to as the Steam Deck “glorious but unfinished.” Now that it’s obtained extra updates, bettering stability and including higher help for docking and exterior displays, I’m prepared to simply name it wonderful. Yes, it’s nonetheless a contact heavy and drains shortly if you happen to don’t restrict the FPS or TDP. But you can make these tweaks speaks to the customizability of the expertise, and currently, I’ve been utilizing it extra typically than my Switch or my PS5.

The magnificence to the Steam Deck is that it’s a full gaming PC. Most of the video games in my many years previous Steam library work on the factor, and I may even set up packages from different shops on it, too. I’m solely restricted by its Linux working system, although intrepid players can set up Windows on it.

It’s rather more highly effective than the Switch, which makes taking part in video games like God of War on it doable in a manner that might by no means work on Nintendo’s machine, however being the oddball I’m, I’ve been utilizing it to play indies and retro titles that don’t have Switch ports (God of War can be solely on PC and Sony machines, so AAA players positively get some further selection right here, too). Curling up in mattress with my Steam Deck and a textual content heavy title isn’t too dissimilar to studying a ebook, and the sheer consolation of the expertise means I’m lastly getting by means of my large Steam backlog in a manner I wasn’t once I needed to sit at my desk or take care of a fiddly lounge PC. It’s additionally nice for logging into MMOs from mattress to take care of each day grinds, and if I desire a large display for one thing extra action-heavy, I can simply plug it into my dock and both play natively or stream from my PC, relying on the title. The better part? I’ll be capable of simply take my Steam library with me to no matter my subsequent gaming gadget is, however I couldn’t say the identical for the Switch.

Handheld gaming PCs aren’t a brand new factor, however the Steam Deck is reasonably priced in a manner that previous entries from the likes of GPD and Aya haven’t been. Now, although, we’re seeing promising rivals just like the Aya Neo Air, and the way forward for handheld gaming appears to be like brighter than ever.

– Michelle Ehrhardt