Oops, overslept
Prepared by Joe
Wussgood fellow Half-Life 3 Copium huffers, I’m writing a better article right now but having trouble with ED (Editorial Dysfunction). I’m also buying a bunch of games on Steam for no reason. So I wrote this article in hopes I can write these games off as business expenses on my taxes.
My Baby
I am a Steam Deck enjoyer, so all of my picks here are Steam Deck-approved/playable. I enjoy myself a good RPG, Open World, Metroidvania, platformer, and farming sim. So expect those, probably, in no particular order.
Star Ocean The Second Story R
The art here is very good
For those who hadn’t fallen for the propaganda, Star Ocean is a hit-and-miss series of RPGs that had arguably 2 good entries, a couple of problematic remakes/remasters, and 1 extremely well-done and highly praised remake. This is that one. You’ll get a flavor of 90s JRPG sci-fi vibes mixed with medieval fantasy to bring a very strong premise for a JRPG story, complete with great music, a competent combat system, very attractive 2D-HD art style, fishing, and a near-perfect 60-90 fps on the Steam Deck.
The game’s price, now on its first sale since release at $39.00, showcases the confidence behind it. I’ve stalked this game for ages for a sale and this is the best you can do right now. Play the demo, enjoy it on your OLED screen of choice (Steam Deck or Switch), and thank me later.
Star Ocean The Second Story R on Steam
Jedi Fallen Order
When you see that one frog on Bogano, be brave
While Jedi: Fallen Order does nothing new for its genre, to me it does too-much-too-right in bringing a condensed metroid prime-esque level design with Souls combat in a Star Wars skin. I love it dearly and named my twin children Cal and BD-1 (they are girls). Yes, it’s still buggy and has all the snappy UE4 jank. Honestly, this game shouldn’t even exist. But it does. And it was a true gem of the last gen. And it’s only $4. Dunky made the best review of it IMO.
DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition
Technically the only edition
I am so sick of Unreal Engine 4, but I also can’t stop buying titles that use it on the Steam Deck. The engine is infinitely scalable. DQ11 runs perfectly on the Steam Deck and can be run at a full 90fps with settings maxed out with 3 hours of battery life. But honestly, you can easily get away with 10TDP, locked 45fps for about 5 hours, and a quieter fan.
This game is super chill and is a great way to wind down before bed. Sure, it’s a 70-hour RPG, but it’s designed for enjoyment in short bursts. So, don’t stress too much about it; give it a try! DQ11 is a great game, and in the wake of Akira Toryama’s death, will be worth checking out for the art style alone. Also, it’s $23.99
DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition on Steam
CD Keys
If you have been sleeping on CDkeys.com, don’t. They are by far the best outlet to buy heavily discounted Steam titles in a manner that won’t steal your well-earned Robux and grift you with extra fees. This site doesn’t use grey market tactics or sell you Steam accounts, so just verify you’re region and you’ll get a working key. Dragons Dogma 2 right now is $61 if you feel groggy about paying $70 USD. This article isn’t sponsored, I just highly recommend it. Here are some titles I’d look at. Amongst others. Note: CD Key purchases are non-returnable.
Dragon’s Dogma
The monsters are climbable
The first one. Honestly, this game remains impressive in 2024 and continues to surprise me. I played the Switch port and loved it then, but tried out the PC version on the Steam Deck and it runs pretty much maxed out at 90fps. The title screen displays like it lost signal in 2004 but otherwise, the game runs and looks fantastic. The systems are pretty deep and have almost a Souls-like quality to the art style and item management. I’d call it niche and dated, but I’d also call it extremely unique and part of my trifecta of best Medieval Fantasy RPGs of the 2010s: Kingdoms of Amalur, Dragon’s Dogma, and Skyrim. Also, it’s $4.19 btw.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon
Robot
I actually hadn’t played this one yet, so you can @ me in the comments and harass me over DMs for it, but reviewers have reported that this game is a very good Steam Deck title. For a new game, it’s reported to run at the full 800p and get about 40fps on medium-high settings, which isn’t a shocker coming from the same engine and developer as Elden Ring. While not a Souls-like, it’s still a challenging title and has a heavy focus on meaningful and purposeful mech customization. You can enjoy Armored Core 6 from CD Keys for $31.99.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon at CDKeys
That’s it
Aaaaand that’s it for now. What did you pick up during the Spring Sale? Did you miss it as well? Anything you would recommend? What’s your favorite color? Do you have a dog? Where do you live? What’s your credit card number? Sound off in the comments!
What did you think of this article? Let us know in the comments below, and chat with us in our Discord!
This page may contain affiliate links, by purchasing something through a link, Retro Handhelds may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you.