The Best PC Games for Handhelds: 2025 Edition

It should surprise absolutely no one that in 2025, handheld PC gaming has become an increasingly more important hardware niche for game developers to consider. Featuring a low-power envelope, reasonably powerful and efficient hardware, and ergonomic integrated controls, handheld PCs are fast becoming a key aspect of modern gaming, and we feel completely secure in saying that the niche isn't going anywhere anytime soon. That's why we knew we needed to look at the best PC games for handhelds sooner or later!

That, of course, is in no small part thanks to Valve's Steam Deck. As anyone familiar with the niche may tell you, however, there are plenty of other competitors on the market right now. Lenovo, Asus ROG, Loki, GPD Win... everyone's got their hand in the jar right now, and no matter your device, today we'd like to present you with a list of awesome games that will play phenomenally well on your handheld, too!

READ MORE: How Far PC Gaming Has Come Since the 2000s

Best PC Games for Handhelds

Right off the bat, it's worth highlighting that performance really isn't the be-all-end-all for modern gaming handhelds. Getting almost any game to run well on these devices is, surprisingly, not that hard, and the likes of ROG Ally or the Deck will be able to pull off virtually any modern title at reduced settings.

Keeping that in mind, we're also going to look at how playable the featured games are. There's a whole world of difference between Vampire Survivors and Dwarf Fortress on a handheld, just to pull off an obvious example. One of these will be a joy to play on a handheld, while the other one simply lends itself better to a mouse and keyboard.

To that end, each of the games listed below will not only run well, but also play well with a controller. Preferably with a savestate structure that works great on the go, too. But no more dawdling! Let's get to the good stuff.

Sulfur

Incredibly deep and engaging, Sulfur is easily one of the most comprehensive and satisfying Roguelite shooters on the market right now. Even though it's still in Early Access, it's already Steam Deck-ready and runs like an absolute dream on Valve's handheld gaming baseline. Imagine what that means for faster, more efficient handhelds, then! This one comes highly recommended for sure.

We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie

An upgraded version of the classic We Love Katamari Damacy just released on Steam not long ago, and it really should come as no surprise that it's a great fit for handhelds, too. This is one of those games that are hard to put into words but makes perfect sense once you get around to playing them. The crux of the experience is that you'll be literally rolling through stages to grow your avatar to a galactic scale. It just so happens that this is delightfully fun and easy to do on a modern gaming handheld!

Dredge

A Lovecraftian fishing adventure, Dredge takes its players on a wild romp through horror-infested waters. It's a contained, yet free-form experience that only becomes more immersive as you go on, with delightfully creepy encounters and a satisfying sense of progression. It plays about as well as it runs on low-spec hardware, which is to say that it's a must-have for indie fans.

Warhammer 40K: Boltgun

If shooters are your forte and you've got plenty of experience playing FPS titles on a controller, consider Boltgun! This amazing rendition of what it's like to be a high-powered Ultramarine on a crusade against the forces of Chaos does need a small tweak to truly run well on handhelds, but it's otherwise a necessary addition to any gamer's library.

Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak

Nothing quite like a good round of Monster Hunter on a gaming handheld, right? Ever since the days of PSP, Capcom's MH franchise has been a bit of a staple on handhelds of all sorts, be it Sony or Nintendo. Then, when World came out, the IP took a home console sort of turn, only to come exploding back with Rise, better than ever before. Add the Sunbreak DLC to the mix and you'll keep yourself busy for hundreds of hours on end, easy.

Little Nightmares + Little Nightmares 2

A horror platformer may not sound like an obvious must-play choice, but in our experience, the Little Nightmares series offers something no other game has succeeded in providing. What you've got here is a remarkably immersive (and spooky!) adventure that only hits harder if you play it alone, in the dark, on a gaming handheld.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy

Another Capcom must-play comes via the legendary Ace Attorney franchise, which only recently debuted on PC. Instead of having to dabble with emulation and whatnot, here's a first-party offering instead! And, indeed, it is a heck of a release: you're getting three games in one! Without any fussing and mussing about; it just works.

Digimon Survive

Steering away from the classics and more towards a modern slant is Digimon Survive, a long-awaited horror-adjacent turn-based RPG with light visual novel elements. The game is far more engaging and complex than it initially lets on, with deep narrative twists and hard-hitting consequences for your own decisions. Not the sort of thing you'd expect out of Digmon, yeah? Well, you do now.

Rollerdrome

Believe it or not, the wonderfully brutal violence of Rollerdrome comes from the same guys who made OlliOlli - which is also a great handheld game, mind. We chose Rollerdrome for this featurette because it's fascinating, novel, and almost entirely unique in its strange niche. Think of it as of a Tony Hawk game, but with guns and bazookas. Intrigued? We recommend it!

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Whether you're a fan of LEGOs or not, LEGO games from TT are a joy to behold. The Skywalker Saga, in particular, is a Star Wars completionist's dream come true. Bring hundreds of characters to life across all nine mainline SW film storylines, with matching open-world sandboxes to fiddle around with, too. The best part of it all, though, is that you're not even locked to your TV or monitor anymore.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Finally, the Yakuza titles simply run far too well on modern handheld PCs to ignore the franchise. We chose to include the eighth mainline entry, Like a Dragon, because it's a great choice both for franchise newcomers and for veterans alike. This is not a game to miss out on, and in our experience, it's even better on the go.

Want More? Stay Tuned!

That about does it... for now. This article is designed to host future content updates, too, and we aim to add to this list as time goes on. For now, though, any of the titles on this list will play delightfully well on your handheld gaming PC. Whether you're running a baseline Steam Deck or a heavily customized version of the GPD Win 4, 2Game's got you covered.

Do stay tuned and consider bookmarking the Community Hub if you'd like to get more content of this type daily. Have fun!

CHECK OUT: The Ultimate Low-End PC Optimization Guide - Updated for 2025

It should surprise absolutely no one that in 2025, handheld PC gaming has become an increasingly more important hardware niche for game developers to consider. Featuring a low-power envelope, reasonably powerful and efficient hardware, and ergonomic integrated controls, handheld PCs are fast becoming a key aspect of modern gaming, and we feel completely secure in […]

Games You Forgot to Play: An Up-To-Date List of Recommendations

For those of us who get all caught up in AAA production cycles and top-end game releases, such as Tekken 8 or Dragon's Dogma 2, it's easy to forget that there's a whole world's worth of other, more experimental and prospective lower-end games out there. That's where this article comes in!

Down below, we've prepared a package of delightful games that the vast majority of gamers have probably simply forgotten about or, heck, never even knew about them in the first place. What this means is that we've got a whole selection of games that'll surprise you in more ways than one. Whether that's a comprehensive deconstruction of modern Americana or, perhaps, a story about truck maintenance and life on the road, we've got oodles of that sort of stuff.

READ MORE: Build a Family Game Library with 2Game on PC!

The Best Games You Forgot to Play - July 2025 Edition

Every Day We Fight

Every Day We Fight has more to it than just a fancy, memorable title. This is a time-loop XCOM title in essence, featuring a team of Cold War-era operatives stuck in an alien-incurred time-loop amidst an ongoing invasion of Earth. For strategy game fans with a specific penchant for the likes of XCOM, we cannot recommend this game enough. Just note that it had only just released in Early Access!

Len's Island

Len's Island isn't shy about what it is. This is one of the most straightforward sandbox survival games we had ever seen, but that's not what makes it a good experience though. Instead, Len's Island sources its charm from the vibe and the gameplay loop, both of which are absolutely excellent across the board. Build out your estate, survival the monsters' onslaught, and thrive - one day at a time.

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed - Battle Destiny Remastered

Even though it's incredibly popular, Gundam games always seem to go under the radar on PC, which is a strange development if you consider the fact that giant, super-powered mecha are... awesome. Well, the new remastered version of Mobile Suit Gundam Seed - Battle Destiny is your chance to jump straight in without any of the old games' jank in place!

Xenonauts 2

Sure, we're cheating a tad with this one, but Xenonauts 2 has simply gotten too good to ignore over the past couple of updates. This retrofit of the classic X-COM (not XCOM, mind!) anti-alien warfare formula delivers an unfathomably good retelling of what the old titles were all about. At the same time, you're not foregoing cutting-edge gameplay and QoL improvements that have come to the genre in the years since. A must-have, in our book.

Men of War 2

A hotly anticipated sequel to one of the greatest WW2 real-time strategies of all time, Men of War 2 is one of the most cinematic examples of the genre yet. Intense, impeccably balanced, and just a plain delight to observe in motion, Men of War 2 isn't perfect, but it sure as heck did get us back into the groove of the early aughts, and that's a massive success in its own right.

Alone in the Dark

A re-envisioning of the game that kickstarted the survival horror genre (no, it was not Capcom's Resident Evil that kicked it off), Alone in the Dark is a delightfully compelling take on classic Lovecraftian horror that won't leave you disappointed. Return to Derceto Manor with Jodie Comer and David Harbour, and see if you can unravel the game's horrific mystery down to its impossible truth.

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley

One of the coziest RPGs we've ever played, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a charming environmentalist tale of perseverance and friendship, where Snufkin needs to explore Moominvalley proper and solve puzzles to help his friends. Inspired by the works of the legendary Tove Jansson, this game will take you into some unexpected places while delivering tried-and-true feelings of warmth and accomplishment. Don't sleep on this one.

Contra: Operation Galuga

A phenomenally nostalgic revival of Contra, Operation Galuga is the super-fast side-scrolling shooter that veteran gamers have been waiting for. What you get here are absolutely copious amounts of running, gunning, and alien blasting, and more content than you could shake a laser carbine at. With over half a dozen unique stages to fight through, multiple playable characters, weapons both old and new (with stackable upgrades!) and more, Operation Galuga is a must-play.

Outcast - A New Beginning

The old gamers among us will know and appreciate the original Outcast: a true pioneer of the open-world sandbox gameplay we now know and love. A New Beginning is the long-lost sequel that never materialized back in the day, only to come back roaring in 2024. Oh, sure, it's janky alright, but you probably know by now: jank does not preclude awesomeness, and Outcast is nothing if not awesome.

American Arcadia

A first-person exploration game combined with an Inside-style 2.5D platformer, American Arcadia tells the story of a man attempting to escape from an oppressively dystopian reality TV show. American Arcadia is highly regarded as an accessible, immersive, and interesting exploration of two distinctive characters - each with their own unique gameplay systems - that need to work together to survive.

Loddlenaut

Into ecology and picking up trash to save the environment? Loddlenaut is the game for you! Step into the shoes of an interstellar custodian working to clean up an otherwise delightful ocean paradise. Loddlenaut tasks you with the exploration and recovery of GUP-14, an open-world planet where curious axolotl-looking loddles take an interest in your activities. If you need a comparison, this is basically a low-pressure Subnautica without monsters out to get you.

Alaskan Road Truckers

Sometimes, what you really need in a game is a whole new universe to immerse yourself into, and Alaskan Road Truckers is precisely just that - with a particular focus on, well, trucking. What's special about this game is that it is incredibly in-depth, to the point where the whole trucking schtick is just the start of it. The really interesting bit, in our book, is that whereas most driving-focused games turn you into the vehicle you're driving, Alaskan Road Truckers gives you an actual personified avatar you'll need to feed and whatnot. And yes - you can just walk around the wilderness, if that's what you want!

From Space

If you're more interested in twin-stick isometric shooters than anything else, From Space is not the game to sleep on. Fast, fun, and as zippy and arcadey as they get, this solo and co-op shooter is practically Killing Floor from a bird's eye point of view. From Space is less immersive than, say, Alaskan Road Truckers, but it makes up for this with how easy it is to get into it, and with how much content there is to choose from. And look, if you're just in the market for a good opportunity to gun down some monsters, this is the cheapest new option you've got!

Stay Tuned for More!

This is, of course, just the start of this particular adventure. We'll tune back in with an update every so often, so if you're often on the hunt for niche and underappreciated PC games, this is the place to be. We'll keep the list topped up with new AA and indie releases as we get them, of course, but we've also got heaps of other content for you to check out:

And, naturally, if you're reading this early on, you've got the opportunity to snag some of 2Game's best-ever discounts through our Black Friday sale. In fact, many of the games featured on this list are also available at lowered prices thanks to the sale! Make use of 2Game's deals while you can, then, and play games that you won't really find if you only keep track of mainstream gaming media!

CHECK OUT: Everything You Need to Know About Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League on PC

You missed out, but now’s the time to fix that!

Code Vein II: Time-Bending Battles, Blood-Soaked Bonds, and a Future Worth Saving

Two worlds collide. New Revenants rise. Are you ready to bleed for the truth?

The long-awaited sequel to Bandai Namco’s cult hit Code Vein is finally on the horizon and, while there's no exact release date just yet, it's already sending shockwaves through the ARPG scene.

When Code Vein launched back in 2019, it was quickly dubbed “anime Dark Souls.” However, those who stuck with the game found something much deeper: a grim, emotionally charged story, stylish combat, and one of the best AI partner systems in the genre. Now Bandai Namco is back with Code Vein II, and it’s a full-blown evolution.

With a time-twisting storyline, revamped combat systems, and a world teetering on the edge of ruin, Code Vein II looks set to push the series into bold new territory. Here's everything we know so far.

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A Story That Bleeds Through Time

Code Vein II isn’t just retreading old ground. It’s literally rewriting history.

The sequel throws you into a dying world where Revenants and humans coexist (kind of). Then come the Luna Rapacis, a new existential threat that turns Revenants into Horrors—mindless monsters with no trace of their former selves. The result? Fuel for nightmares. Your job is to change the course of history.

As a Revenant hunter, you’ll partner with Lou, a mysterious girl with the power to manipulate time. She’s not just your guide through collapsing timelines; she’s your link to uncovering the buried truths that hold the past and present together. Think Chrono Trigger meets Bloodborne, with a little anime melodrama sprinkled on top.

You won’t just explore ruins and fight monsters. You’ll actively travel between eras, confront pivotal moments in the lives of other Revenants, and shape what the future becomes. Basically, there's a lot more going on than merely trying to survive.

Combat That Demands (and Rewards) Skill

If you thought the first Code Vein’s combat was good (albeit a little clunky), you'll be pleased to know that Code Vein II is tightening things up.

The new build system lets you freely customize weapons and abilities, so you’re no longer boxed into rigid playstyles. For example, you could build a glass cannon with teleporting blood skills and a scythe the size of a car door. Or, if you prefer a tanky hammer-wielder with healing buffs and parry timing that makes you feel like a god? That’s on the table too.

Then there’s the blood drain system, which is still brutal, but now it's more versatile. Draining blood mid-fight to activate high-impact abilities looks smoother, punchier, and a lot deadlier.

Plus, there’s a new resource called “Gell”—which fuels flashy combo attacks and dynamic movement, adding another strategic layer to fights.

Combat isn’t just about timing dodges anymore. It’s about adapting on the fly, reading enemy patterns, and knowing exactly when to press the advantage. It’s still got that Soulslike intensity—but now it’s tuned for creativity over punishment.

Partners You’ll Care About

The partner system in the first game was a game changer. Not just because partners saved your hide in boss fights, but because your companions were characters. They had real backstories, motivations, and emotional arcs.

Code Vein II doubles down on that. More than glorified support, partners are tied directly to the story, and to the world itself. Lou, in particular, seems to play a significant role both narratively and mechanically, serving as your anchor in time and possibly even influencing which missions or periods you access.

Each partner comes with unique combat abilities, personalities, and likely, heartbreak. I mean, in the world of Code Vein, tragedy isn’t a twist; it’s a given.

Expanded Character Creation

Character creation is back, and this time, it's more flexible than ever.

Players will have access to deeper customization options for appearance, class builds, and possibly even origin lore that affects early-game choices. Whether you're a spiky-haired swordmaster or a mask-wearing mystic, the game wants your character to feel truly personal.

A Summary of What’s New and What’s Coming

To break down the nitty gritty, here are the key details about Code Vein II that have emerged so far:

Why Code Vein II Demands Your Attention

Code Vein II isn’t just chasing the “anime Soulslike” label; it’s forging its own path. If Bandai Namco delivers on even half the systems they’re teasing, we’re looking at one of the most ambitious ARPGs they’ve ever made. The emotional stakes feel higher. The world feels richer. And the gameplay looks way tighter.

It’s rare for a sequel to completely rethink its formula while preserving what made the original special. But Code Vein II looks ready to take that risk. And, if Bandai Namco sticks the landing, it could be something truly memorable.

You know what they say about blood being thicker than water? Well, in Code Vein II, blood is power. Memory. And maybe, if you’re lucky, redemption. The future's worth saving. Do you have what it takes to step up?

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Hold on to your hats

What Do We Know About Resident Evil 9 Gameplay?

After the huge successes that were Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil: Village - to say nothing of the phenomenal Resident Evil remakes - it was only a matter of time before Capcom finally revealed the inevitable ninth canonical sequel. Obviously, Capcom's dropped the admittedly clumsy "9" for titling purposes, opting instead to call the game Requiem, and that's where we are today.

We've previously gone over the brunt of what's been shown off about Resident Evil: Requiem, of course. If you need the absolute lowdown with all the big beats explained, that's the article to read. Today, we're largely interested in the gameplay of the experience, as we already have a bunch of facts to dispense with.

Resident Evil: Requiem will, for example, support both first and third-person perspectives with players being able to switch between the two willy-nilly. More crucially, everything points to there being two entirely different playable characters, with Grace Ashcroft being the obvious title-bearer this time around. What does this all mean in practice, then? How will the apparent bifurcation in gameplay work? Let's see what we've got to work with!

It should go without saying that we've got very few specifics at this time: Capcom is holding cards close to its chest, as per usual, and since Requiem isn't due to release until late February 2026, this isn't a huge problem. Of the bits and bobs we've been hearing about, though, we do know that Grace Ashcroft is going to be the primary protagonist in this specific game. Grace's connections to old-school RE lore should be fairly obvious (Ashcroft, of Alyssa Ashcroft fame), but the curious bit is that she is going to be the more grounded, horror-centric character of the alleged two.

We do not know who the other, action-heavy character might be (yet), but the obvious bet is that they're going to have been intimately familiar with Racoon City, which means it's likely going to be either Leon or Jill. The other character is also supposed to be heavily armed, suggesting an expanded version of what we went through with Ethan and Chris in Resident Evil: Village.

If you don't recall, players take control over Chris Redfield towards the tail end of RE: Village, and get to finish the job where Ethan Winters simply couldn't. Whereas Winters' gameplay loop felt and behaved more like that of a proper survival horror game, this section instead behaved like a straight-forward FPS micro-campaign, with Chris's squad of contractors easily mopping up BOWs left and right.

That was, of course, just a short aside in what was otherwise a reasonably grounded RE game. With Requiem, we're presumably looking at a deeper and more properly balanced difference between the two protagonists. Should make for a very interesting gameplay dynamic, that's for sure.

This duality in gameplay loop is also mirrored in the way Resident Evil: Requiem presents itself. With both first and third-person viewpoints available at any given point, each player is going to be able to tailor their gameplay experience however they think is best. We expect that the way to go might be to do Grace sequences first-person due to them being straight-up action horror, while the heavily armed and trained protagonist's sequences might be better suited to RE4R-style third-person combat.

And on the latter point, it should be pretty obvious that the list of potential secondary action protagonists isn't that long. Realistically, it's going to be Leon, Jill, Chris, or perhaps even Claire. Though there's no shortage of heavily armed and combat-tenured badasses in RE history, the fact that the game takes place specifically in the remainder of a nuked-out Racoon City means that Capcom is going to want to bring things full circle with a classic character, rather than someone such as Piers Nivans.

Now, it's worth considering the actual age of these tenured badasses, too. Leon is going to be in his fifties by the time RE: Requiem takes place, which is just the cutoff age for someone of his abilities in active combat. What a sendoff that'd be, eh?

For the time being, though, we're just going to have to sit tight and wait for Capcom to grace us with more information. On that front, stay tuned, because we're going to be all over it as soon as it's out!

After the huge successes that were Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil: Village – to say nothing of the phenomenal Resident Evil remakes – it was only a matter of time before Capcom finally revealed the inevitable ninth canonical sequel. Obviously, Capcom’s dropped the admittedly clumsy “9” for titling purposes, opting instead to call the […]

Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Revisit Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles

With The Hinokami Chronicles 2 slicing its way toward an August 5th release, now’s the perfect time to revisit the original and rediscover why Demon Slayer’s blend of heart, horror, and breathtaking combat stole the spotlight.

Whether you're a hardcore devotee or a casual fan who just likes watching Zenitsu scream himself into a lightning god, the original Demon Slayer game is well worth a return trip. Particularly as the sequel picks up right where the first one left off.

Here are five reasons to revisit Hinokami Chronicles before the sequel drops (we love a good list!):

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1. Relive the Journey That Started It All

Hinokami Chronicles faithfully recreates the first major arcs of the Demon Slayer anime. From Tanjiro’s first, tear-streaked encounter with Giyu to Rengoku’s final, fiery stand on the Mugen Train, it's as emotional as you'd expect.

You’ll relive the bond between Tanjiro and Nezuko, the chaotic charm of Inosuke, and yes, the sheer anxiety-inducing panic of Zenitsu shrieking his way into unconscious competence.

If you're gearing up for the sequel, which spans the Entertainment District, Swordsmith Village, and Hashira Training arcs, this is the perfect refresher. Think of it as rewatching the anime's first major arcs, but with the added joy of taking control in battle.

2. It Still Looks and Feels Fantastic

Nearly four years after release, The Hinokami Chronicles remains one of the most visually striking anime games on PC. Its cel-shaded art direction and dramatic special effects are a near-perfect match for Ufotable’s animation style, and the combat still packs a punch, especially in versus mode.

Whether you're parrying Rui’s razor threads or unleashing Tanjiro’s Water Breathing techniques, the game feels responsive and smooth, particularly on high-end rigs. And with over 16,000 reviews on Steam and a "Very Positive" rating, it’s clearly a hit with fans.

3. Brush Up on the Roster Before the Big Leagues Arrive

With over 20 characters, including both demon slayers and demons like Akaza and Rui, the original game offers a solid playground for mastering matchups.

All original fighters return in the sequel—joined by over 20 new additions, including the full Hashira lineup and Upper Rank demons like Gyokko and Zohakuten. That means now’s the time to fine-tune your reflexes.

Learn to parry like Giyu, dash like Inosuke, or chain Nezuko’s relentless attacks. Because once the sequel launches and the full Hashira lineup is unlocked, including Muichiro and Mitsuri, you’ll want your muscle memory dialed in.

4. Packed Editions = Instant Style Points

If you missed out the first time, the Ultimate and Deluxe Editions are stacked with extra costumes, character unlocks, exclusive avatars, and even Kimetsu Points to get a head start in Versus mode.

As well as cosmetic flexing, these versions let you explore the full roster faster. This is especially helpful if you plan to jump straight into competitive matches, or if you just want to see Nezuko lay the smackdown in a school uniform.

5. See How Far the Series Has Come

The Hinokami Chronicles wasn’t just another anime tie-in. Selling over 4 million copies worldwide, it helped redefine how good anime games could look and feel. Capturing the emotional intensity and visual spectacle of Demon Slayer in a way that resonated with fans, its blend of faithful storytelling, vibrant combat, and cinematic flair continues to make it stand out.

Revisiting the game now gives you a real sense of how far the series has come. As well as how far it’s about to go.

The sequel expands on everything: More characters; more arcs; and more potential. Playing the original before launch puts you back in sync with the story, the rhythm of the fights, and the heart of what made the journey so powerful to begin with.

Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles - One Last Swing Before the Next Battle

Whether you're a day-one fan or someone who finally caved after the Infinity Castle trailer lit up your feed, Hinokami Chronicles is the perfect way to reconnect with the story before everything escalates. This isn't just a warm-up. Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles is a reminder of how good the foundation already is.

So sharpen your blade, ready your breathing technique, and jump back in. Because once The Hinokami Chronicles 2 drops on August 5th, you’ll want your instincts honed, and your resolve unwavering. Remember, the demons won’t wait, and your story’s just getting started!

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Be prepared!

Shadow Labyrinth is our Go-To Steam Deck Metroidvania: Here’s Why

So, Pacman is now a dark, gritty survival franchise, didn't you hear? In case you missed it, one of Amazon's episodes of Secret Level features a reinterpretation of Pacman as... a remarkably violent and brutal property. It's a whole thing, and once you re-contextualize everything you know about the funny yellow hockey puck, it's a genuinely compelling piece of art. And oh hey, Shadow Labyrinth is a direction continuation of this particular story, as such.

Shadow Labyrinth isn't perfect, mind. It's a fairly challenging and brutal game with background assets that are going to seem a tad low-rez on your big 4K display. Thing is, this also makes it a perfect fit for a handheld gaming device such as the Steam Deck, and we naturally gravitated towards it in this particular use-case. Down below, you'll get a sense of our experiences and why we enjoy the game so much!

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Shadow Labyrinth Performance on the Steam Deck

The obvious first order of business, then: Shadow Labyrinth runs like a dream on the Steam Deck. Both the LCD model's 60Hz display and the OLED's 90Hz variant can run the game at their maximum refresh rates with minimum tweaking and tuning. The game works astonishingly well out-of-the-box, and our findings are vouched for by Steam Deck HQ's Noah Kupetsky. In fact, Shadow Labyrinth is one of those games that will easily get you 5-6 hours' worth of playtime at the native 1280x800 resolution, at 90Hz, and with just about 8W's worth of power expenditure. It's great!

The bit we find particularly notable here is that all of Shadow Labyrinth's assets render perfectly on the Deck's display, and the game looks that much more impressive on a handheld by default. On top of that, it's worth pointing out that Shadow Labyrinth is otherwise a full-on visual tour de force with excellent animations both in and out of combat. In other words, it's just a stellar experience both in regards of performance and visual fidelity. Not something you get to say about many modern Steam Deck titles, frankly.

Since Shadow Labyrinth comes with no shortage of punishing platforming sections and combat sequences, you're going to be hard-pressed for good performance. Further, you will be dying in this game left and right, so having access to a rapid-fire sleep function on the go is going to come in extremely handy whether you want it or not. The Steam Deck is handy like that, you see.

Steam Deck perfectly compensates for some of Shadow Labyrinth's issues

The fact of the matter is that the Steam Deck has a proven history of being the best possible platform to play Metroidvania games on, and Shadow Labyrinth simply slots into that niche. We particularly appreciate the fact that this game requires no additional tweaking and tuning, especially now that the Deck's chipset is slowly aging out of relevancy.

With that all out of the way, Shadow Labyrinth is one of the better Metroidvanias even if we set aside this particular use-case. Sure, it's going to press the player in most ways, and there's some amount of built-in difficulty frustration to be expected, but the end result is still an often surprising and satisfying gameplay loop that successfully redefines Pacman in a truly wild manner. Give it a shot!

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Making things weird, the right way.

Super Loco World: Cozy Train Automation – Is This Indie Hit Worth Your Time?

Ukrainian solo developer Andriy Bychkovskyi has quietly released one of the most charming simulation games of 2025. Super Loco World: Cozy Train Automation launched on Steam on July 14, and it's already earning mostly positive reviews from players who appreciate its relaxed approach to the traditionally complex train tycoon genre.

What Is Super Loco World?

Super Loco World positions itself as a cozy alternative to the demanding logistics puzzles found in games like Factorio or OpenTTD. You start on a sparsely populated island with one goal: build a railway network that transforms sleepy villages into thriving towns. The twist is that everything happens at your own pace, wrapped in a pastel-colored world that looks more like a watercolor painting than a spreadsheet simulator.

The game was published by Curve Games, the indie label behind hits like Human Fall Flat and For The King II. What makes this release particularly interesting is that it's the passion project of a single developer who somehow managed to create a fully-featured automation game without sacrificing accessibility.

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Building Your Railway Empire Without The Hassle

The standout feature of Super Loco World is how it handles track placement. Instead of wrestling with grid-based construction or precise angles, you move your cursor like a paintbrush and let the game figure out where junctions, bridges, and curves should go. This design choice removes the frustration that typically comes with building complex rail networks while still giving you complete control over your layout.

Villages start with basic needs like food and wood. Meet those demands and they expand into small towns with more complicated requirements. This progression forces you to think strategically about your rail network, but the game never punishes you for experimenting. Fuel consumption matters because every train has limited range, so sprawling networks become more expensive to operate than compact, efficient designs.

Automation That Actually Makes Sense

Where Super Loco World really shines is in its automation systems. You have three main tools: signposts that direct trains carrying specific goods, logic-based stop signs for managing congestion, and traffic lights that control station flow. These systems sound simple on paper, but combining them creates surprisingly deep optimization puzzles.

The game expects you to think about routing trains based on their cargo rather than just drawing lines between stations. A train carrying iron ore needs different routing logic than one hauling finished goods. As your network grows, you'll find yourself creating elaborate sorting systems that feel satisfying when they finally click into place without constant manual intervention.

Procedural Generation Keeps Things Fresh

Every map in Super Loco World is procedurally generated. Resources spawn in different locations, villages have varied starting positions, and terrain changes with each new game. This design choice means replaying the game feels different every time rather than following the same optimal strategy.

The procedural generation also affects pacing. Some maps give you easy access to key resources while others force you to plan long-distance routes from the start. This variability keeps the experience interesting even after you've figured out the core mechanics.

The Cozy Factor Is Real

The aesthetic of Super Loco World deserves specific attention. The pastel color palette and soft character designs create a genuinely relaxing atmosphere that stands out in a genre typically associated with stress and min-maxing. The soothing soundtrack complements the visuals without becoming repetitive, which is crucial for a game where you might spend hours optimizing a single intersection.

This cozy presentation never comes at the expense of mechanical depth. The in-game economy still requires attention to profit margins. The game literally teaches you that revenue minus costs must equal profit, and those economic pressures become more relevant as your operation scales up. The difference is that failure doesn't feel punishing. You can always tear up tracks and try a different approach without losing significant progress.

Reception And Community Response

Steam reviews currently sit at 76% positive, with players praising the intuitive building mechanics and relaxing gameplay loop. The main criticisms focus on wanting more content and deeper automation options, which makes sense for an indie title from a solo developer. Recent updates have added quality-of-life improvements including hotkeys, better station logic, and a new endgame island for continued building after reaching the main objectives.

Super Loco World: Cozy Train Automation fills a specific niche. If you've ever been curious about automation games but found titles like Satisfactory or Dyson Sphere Program overwhelming, this is an excellent entry point. The cozy aesthetic and forgiving mechanics make it approachable without dumbing down the core challenge of efficient network design.

For experienced automation fans, the game offers a more relaxed experience that still rewards clever thinking and optimization. It's the kind of game you can play while listening to podcasts or unwinding after work, which is exactly what the cozy genre should deliver.

You can grab Super Loco World: Cozy Train Automation on Steam right now. With procedurally generated maps and ongoing updates from the developer, there's enough content here to justify the modest price tag.

Get Super Loco World @ 2Game today!

Super Loco World: Cozy Train Automation brings relaxing railway building to Steam. Our review covers gameplay, automation systems, and why it’s worth playing.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Cosmetic DLC Pass Overview and Content List

Monster Hunter Wilds is still slowly but certainly being iterated upon with each passing week, and as the game continues to get more and more content, with more and more work being done on polishing it up, so too are we getting more and more cosmetics as well! That's right: if you haven't kept up with Capcom's special Cosmetic DLC Pass for Monster Hunter Wilds and you're a proper fashionista, you've been missing out.

Capcom's massive Cosmetic DLC Pass is basically a huge chunk of flair goodies allowing players to customize their version of the Avis Unit however they see fit. Items include layered armor sets, hairstyles, gestures, item pendants, stickers, and even outfits for the other Avis Unit members, which makes this an excellent one-stop-shop for any MH: Wilds customization fan. Down below, we've summarized everything you actually get as part of the full Cosmetic DLC Pass, which is bound to be helpful if you're confused on what you're actually getting here.

Get the full Cosmetic DLC Pass for Monster Hunter Wilds today!

All Content in Monster Hunter Wilds: Cosmetic DLC Pass

The Monster Hunter Wilds Cosmetic DLC Pass is more-or-less a universal cosmetics expansion set allowing you to outfit your Hunter and your gamer profile with way more optional goodies than ever before. It consists of three disparate releases:

That doesn't tell us very much on its own though, right? No worries, we've got you covered:

Please note that a variety of Monster Hunter Wilds cosmetics is not actually included in the Cosmetic DLC Pass. Examples include standalone cosmetics such as the Blossomdance DLC pack. The good news is that the Cosmetic DLC Pass is by far the best Monster Hunter Wilds cosmetics bang-for-buck offer you could splurge on, so you're still getting immense value even if it's not as comprehensive as it seems at a glance.

Check out the Deluxe Pack DLC for Monster Hunter Wilds for even MORE goodies!

Cosmetics, cosmetics wherever you look!

The Latest Must-Play Indie.io Games – July 2025 Highlights

If you’re hunting for fresh indie gems that aren’t buried under triple-A hype, look no further than Indie.io. This publishing label has been on a hot streak lately, serving up a range of unique and emotionally charged games from bullet-hell roguelikes to strategy RPGs and deeply atmospheric horror.

Here’s a curated roundup of standout titles released this year that deserve a spot on your radar:

Cards and Towers

The latest addition to this lineup, Cards and Towers throws you into a chaotic fusion of deckbuilding and real-time tower defense. Stack your cards, fend off nonstop threats, and push your survival skills to the limit!

Second Chances @ 5% Off

Play as a dead writer stuck between realms, navigating emotional battles in a unique purgatorial setting. This turn-based tactics game emphasizes story choices and emotional weight over stat grinding.

Red Pistol @ 22% Off

A vampiric zombie apocalypse meets roguelike chaos in this stylish bullet-hell shooter. Fast, feral, and deeply replayable, Red Pistol thrives on procedural chaos and a flexible ability system that keeps every run fresh.

Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil! @ 5% Off

Manage resources on a dying alien world while facing down corporate exploitation and uncovering buried family secrets. Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil! is a gritty RTS with sharp environmental themes and resource management.

Dark Deity 2 @ 4% Off

A polished sequel to the 2021 tactical RPG, Dark Deity 2 cranks up the combat complexity while delivering richer character arcs and gorgeous pixel art. For fans of Fire Emblem, this is a spiritual cousin worth your time.

The Haunting of Joni Evers @ 2% Off

Set in 1990s Oklahoma, this slow-burn psychological thriller explores memory, trauma, and family with an eerie narrative twist. A deeply personal ghost story wrapped in retro Americana.

Nedra @ 5% Off

A Soviet-flavored cosmic horror adventure. Navigate abandoned Antarctic stations and face down eldritch threats with a moody atmosphere straight out of a Lovecraftian fever dream.

The Witch of Fern Island

A cozy life sim with a magical twist. Brew potions, join covens, and build your reputation as a young witch in training. Relaxing and full of charm, The Witch of Fern Island is perfect for players who enjoy slow-paced, slice-of-life magic sims.

SCP: Fragmented Minds

Sci-fi horror done right. Survive the aftermath of a containment breach on Mars in a twisted SCP facility. Early access but already promising, blending stealth, puzzles, and survival tension.

Voidsayer @ 11% Off

A dark, turn-based monster-tamer RPG where you collect and battle corrupted beasts across a doomed world. Strong aesthetic, strong systems, it's perfect for Pokémon fans who like their monster-tamers darker, with procedural worlds and eldritch creature fusions.

Knights of the Crusades @ 4% Off

A grand strategy meets RTS experience rooted in medieval warfare. Forge a crusader kingdom, manage diplomacy, and lead armies into siege battles. Knights of the Crusades is still in early access but shows serious depth and ambition.

Wrapping Up the Best of Indie.io’s Current Wave

Whether you’re into carefully crafted tactics (Dark Deity 2), lore-rich horror (Nedra, Joni Evers), or relaxing spellcraft (Witch of Fern Island), Indie.io is delivering one of the most versatile and impressive indie lineups this year. These aren’t throwaway titles. They’re tightly built, genre-driven experiences with heart and style.

If you're looking for something a bit different, give these games a go. Indie.io is proving that small teams can still craft big ideas, and do it with flair!

Games not to miss!

Super Robot Wars Y: What Content Are We Getting?

It's time for Super Robot Wars, folks, and after Super Robot Wars 30 set the stage as one of the best and most nostalgic takes on the concept, it's not hard to see why we'd be excited for a new title too. And a new title is precisely what we're getting, in fact: Super Robot Wars Y is set and primed to hit the stores on August 28!

As per usual, Super Robot Wars Y is going to lean heavily into the beloved series' tried-and-true grid-based strategy combat with RPG-style meta-progression elements. If you're even remotely familiar with the franchise's roots, you've got a pretty good idea of what to expect out of Y. The really, really exciting bit here, though, is the matter of content though: what robots and mecha are we getting this time around?

Super Robot Wars basically exists almost exclusively to pit awesomely cheesy retro combat-bots against one another, and so the roster of fighters is obviously the most important feature of the package. And that's precisely what we're going deep into in this here article. Down below, you'll learn about the entire comprehensive combat roster of Super Robot Wars Y, including its Deluxe and Ultimate editions. Let's get into it!

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All Content Featured in Super Robot Wars Y

Super Robot Wars Y is, somewhat expectedly, aiming to be one of the most comprehensive SRW titles yet. Here's the full list of all featured mecha, enemies, characters, and gear, all of it sourced from the following anime and manga franchises:

Naturally, Gundam is the big showstopper of the bunch, but having the likes of Godzilla and Aura Battler around is an excellent way of filling out some extra content niches. Better still, this really is one of those games where 'the more the merrier' applies to its utmost. There can never be enough mecha in a Super Robot Wars title, and we're thrilled to report that SRWY is going to be no slouch in this respect.

With that in mind, you can take things a notch further still...

Bonus Pre-Order Content for Super Robot Wars Y

Of course, there's a bespoke pre-order bonus for all the early birds out there, and it consists of the following goodies:

Note that these items will be afforded to all pre-purchase owners of Super Robot Wars Y, including the base edition of the game.

Super Robot Wars Y Deluxe Edition Bonus Content

On top of all of the goodies included in the base game, anyone who purchases the upgraded Deluxe Edition of the game will also get all of the following items:

Not bad, right? If you're an absolute completionist, though, this isn't the version of the game you'll be after...

Get the Deluxe Edition of SRWY today!

Super Robot Wars Y Ultimate Edition Bonus Content

For those who absolutely need to have all the extra goodies for Super Robot Wars Y, there's no doubt about it: Ultimate Edition of the game is where you should be at. Here's what this version of the game includes:

It's a massive chunk of content for sure, though it ought to be said that the Deluxe Edition of SRWY is probably the most cost-effective version of the game if you're not too keen on the Sound & Data Pack bonus.

Get the Ultimate Edition of SRWY today!

Yes, but Y?