Steam Deck Weekly: NBA 2K25, ARCO, ODDADA, DATE a LIVE, Star Trucker, Skull and Bones - New Verified Games Reviewed

Welcome to this week's edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. If you missed my Warhammer 40000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck review, you can catch up here. Today, we're diving into my impressions and reviews of several games I've been playing on the Steam Deck over the last few weeks, including some Steam Deck Verified titles and a notable set of discounts currently available.

Steam Deck Game Reviews & Impressions

NBA 2K25 Steam Deck Review

While many may dismiss yearly sports releases, I've always been a fan of 2K's NBA games, despite their known issues. NBA 2K25 stands out for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it's the first time since the PS5 generation that the PC version of NBA 2K25 is the "Next Gen" version, rather than being based on older consoles. Secondly, the official PC FAQ confirmed that NBA 2K25 is optimized for Steam Deck. Although it doesn't have an official rating from Valve yet, this is a promising sign. Having played NBA 2K25 on both the Steam Deck and consoles, I'm pleased with the game, though it does come with the usual caveats.

For those who've been playing NBA 2K on PC for years, the standout feature of this year's entry is the ProPLAY technology, which enhances gameplay and was previously exclusive to PS5 and Xbox Series X. The WNBA also makes its PC debut alongside the MyNBA mode. If you've skipped the last few years of NBA 2K on PC hoping for the full experience, NBA 2K25 delivers, and I hope it performs well enough to ensure continued support for the Next Gen version on PC and further optimization for the Steam Deck.

On PC and Steam Deck, NBA 2K25 supports 16:10 and 800p resolutions, which is a good start. It also includes AMD FSR 2, DLSS, and XeSS support, though I opted to disable these for a clearer image. You can adjust v-sync, dynamic v-sync targeting 90fps during gameplay and 45fps elsewhere (including The City), toggle HDR (which works on Steam Deck), texture detail, overall quality, and shader options. I recommend caching all shaders on the initial boot for the best gameplay experience. Interestingly, NBA 2K25 on Steam Deck performs a quick shader cache on each boot, which is worth noting.

The PC version's graphics options are extensive, including shader detail, shadow detail, player detail, crowd detail, NPC density, volumetric effects, reflections, era filters, global illumination, ambient occlusion, TAA, motion blur, depth of field, bloom, and max anisotropy. I set most options to low or medium, turning off upscaling to avoid blurriness, and left player level and shader detail at medium. Capping the game at 60fps at 60hz using the Steam Deck's quick access menu provided the best and most stable experience.

The default Steam Deck visual preset works out of the box but was too blurry for my taste, prompting me to tweak the settings over the past few days.

Curious about offline play? While many modes require an internet connection, I tested NBA 2K25 on my Steam Deck OLED in airplane mode. The game booted up but wouldn't let me access MyCAREER or MyTEAM. However, I could play quick play and eras offline, and noticed quicker load times.

Comparing to console versions, NBA 2K25 runs better technically on PS5 and Xbox Series X, but I find myself enjoying it more on the Steam Deck. The main difference is load times, which are slower on the Steam Deck's internal SSD compared to the consoles. Also, there's no crossplay between the PC and console versions.

As with recent NBA 2K titles, microtransactions remain a concern, particularly in modes focused on them. If you're looking for a great basketball game without delving into those modes, they're less of an issue, but keep this in mind given the game's $69.99 price tag on PC.

With NBA 2K25, the Steam Deck now offers a fantastic portable basketball experience at feature parity with PS5 and Xbox Series X. With some tweaking, it looks and runs great, and I'm glad to see 2K finally bring all the features to PC. If you own a Steam Deck and were hoping for a good experience with NBA 2K25, 2K and Visual Concepts have delivered. Just be aware of the microtransactions in some game modes.

NBA 2K25 Steam Deck review score: 4/5

Gimmick! 2 Steam Deck Impressions

If you're not familiar with Gimmick! 2, check out Shaun's review of the Switch version here. I was eager to see how it felt on the Steam Deck. As of now, Gimmick! 2 hasn't been tested by Valve, but it runs smoothly out of the box. The latest patch even mentions Steam Deck and Linux fixes.

Gimmick! 2 is capped at 60fps on the Steam Deck, and I recommend setting your Steam Deck screen to 60hz if you're using an OLED model to avoid jitter issues. There are no graphics options, but it supports 16:10 for menus. When I forced the game to 1080p on the Steam Deck's screen, I confirmed it properly supports 16:10 for menus, though gameplay remains at 16:9.

While I hoped for support above 60fps, it's not a deal-breaker. Gimmick! 2 runs perfectly out of the box, and I wouldn't be surprised if it gets Steam Deck Verified soon. As for the game itself, I echo Shaun's sentiments and am pleased with its performance on the Steam Deck.

Arco Steam Deck Mini Review

Arco is a game I adored from the start, though it felt a few updates away from greatness. This dynamic turn-based RPG with pixel art visuals and a compelling story hit PC and Switch a few weeks ago, and a major update on Steam has addressed most of my concerns. Since the update isn't live on Switch yet, I'm reviewing the Steam Deck version, which is the most up-to-date.

Arco's trailers might suggest it's just a nice-looking tactical game, but it's much more. The combat system is intriguing, and the audio and story were the most surprising elements. Arco lets you experience different stories with characters that have unique gameplay styles. While it's turn-based, it includes real-time elements. Someone described it as Superhot meets a pixel art tactical RPG, which captures part of its unique blend.

On the Steam Deck, Arco is Verified from the start, and I had no issues playing it on both my Steam Decks. It's capped at 60fps and supports 16:9. The current build includes an assist mode (beta) that lets you skip combat, get infinite dynamite, and more. These options are great if you want to skip combat, but I'm happiest about the option to skip the first act when replaying.

Arco exceeded my expectations with its dynamic gameplay, superb visuals, music, and a lovely story. If you're looking for an interesting tactical RPG with a memorable narrative, get Arco now. There's even a free demo available on Steam.

Arco Steam Deck review score: 5/5

Skull and Bones Steam Deck Mini Review

Skull and Bones is an interesting release to cover. It launched on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC earlier this year but only recently came to Steam. Having never played it before, I was curious about its performance on the Steam Deck, especially given Ubisoft's claim of it being playable. For this review, I'm focusing more on the Steam Deck port than the game itself.

On the Steam Deck, Skull and Bones is officially rated as Playable by Valve. The initial boot-up requires logging into your Ubisoft Connect account, which can be sluggish. I hoped it would auto-login since I'd used Ubisoft Connect for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, but I had to log in again. The tutorial runs fine, but I wanted more stable performance. I set a 30fps frame rate limit, opted for 16:10 at 800p, and used FSR 2 quality upscaling, though performance upscaling is more stable. I set everything else to low except for textures, which I set to high. This setup provided a good overall experience.

As for the game itself, I'm still early in my playthrough, but I see potential. With Ubisoft's continued support, it could become an easier recommendation. It's already improved with recent updates.

Skull and Bones is hard to recommend at full price, but the free trial is worth checking out. I enjoy naval combat and open-world Ubisoft games, and Skull and Bones, with its updates, is good but has room for improvement. Keep in mind it's an online-only experience on the Steam Deck. I might also grab it on console for cross-progression.

Skull and Bones Steam Deck review score: TBA

ODDADA Steam Deck Review

I love interactive toys like Townscaper for their ability to let me create something cool in a few minutes. When ODDADA was announced, it seemed like the next great interactive toy for me, and it delivered, with a small caveat regarding its controls.

ODDADA isn't technically a game but a music maker hybrid that feels like one. Its aesthetic reminds me of Windosill, but it's a gorgeous and elegant toolbox for creating something special. You interact with it using a mouse or touch controls on the Steam Deck, progressing through levels and instruments. The randomness element ensures every creation sounds and feels different.

On the Steam Deck, ODDADA runs perfectly at 90fps out of the box, despite lacking controller support. There are a few graphics options like resolution, v-sync, and anti-aliasing toggles, but you don't need to worry much about settings. The text in the menu is a bit small for the Steam Deck, though.

Aside from the lack of controller support, I have no complaints about ODDADA. Even with full controller support, it would likely play best with touch or mouse controls, but some prefer using a controller.

If you enjoy music, art, or creating your own music with a lovely game, ODDADA is for you. In its current state, it plays perfectly with touch controls on the Steam Deck. The team is working on getting it Steam Deck Verified, so keep that in mind if you're considering a purchase.

ODDADA Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5

Star Trucker Steam Deck Mini Review

Sometimes, a game blends two genres in a way that might not fully satisfy either fanbase. These situations can result in a game that doesn't hit as hard for anyone, but there's also a chance it captures a new audience. I feel like Star Trucker is one of those games, blending automobile simulation and space exploration without going too deep into either genre. It hasn't been rated by Valve, but I had no issues playing it on Proton Experimental.

In Star Trucker, your goal is to explore space, take on jobs, earn money, and unlock more to do on the massive galactic map. It includes many difficulty options and the ability to tweak settings before starting a new game. While I love the gameplay loop, the real highlights are the visuals, writing, and voiced banter on the radio.

On PC and the Steam Deck, Star Trucker lets you adjust video mode, resolution (including 16:10 support), refresh rate, v-sync, graphics quality, render scale, shadow quality, temporal anti-aliasing, ambient occlusion, mesh detail, and light shafts. I used a custom preset with low shadows and everything else at normal, turning off temporal anti-aliasing. This setup targeted around 40fps, and I'm sure others will find a better balance for improved performance.

The major issue holding Star Trucker back is the controls, which took me a while to get used to. I hope these see improvements in future updates.

Star Trucker surprised me with its blend of truck simulation and space setting in a way I didn't think was possible. It caters to what I enjoy in automobile simulation and exploration games. While it might not be for everyone, I've enjoyed playing Star Trucker on the Steam Deck since receiving review code. I hope the developers optimize it further for Valve's handheld.

Star Trucker Steam Deck review score: 4/5

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia Steam Deck Mini Review

Originally released in Japan on PS4 in 2020, Sting and Idea Factory's DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia has now come to the West on Steam, serving as a great follow-up to DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation. If you're not familiar with it, Date A Live is a light novel series by Koshi Tachibana with illustrations by Tsunako. DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation was a great introduction to that world, and every fan of that release should play DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia.

In DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia, you play as Shido, who dreams about a girl named Ren, setting the narrative in motion with multiple paths and returning characters. There are many choices to make, accompanied by Tsunako's excellent art. DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia feels more lighthearted and serves as a perfect complement to DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation. It's surprising it took so long to see an English release.

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia runs perfectly on the Steam Deck out of the box. It supports 16:9 at 720p and plays all cut-scenes without issues. I recommend checking the system settings to ensure the confirm button is set to A and not B, and to avoid stretching the 16:9 image to 16:10 in fullscreen mode.

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia is an easy recommendation for fans of DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation, with its lovely art, music, and memorable characters. I don't recommend playing it before Rio Reincarnation, though.

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia Steam Deck Review Score: 4/5

Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES Steam Deck Review Impressions

It's rare to see a free game update or re-launch get a new store page on Steam, but that's what happened with Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES. When SEGA offered me early access to the update, I expected just that, not a brand new app on Steam. I always thought Total War: PHARAOH was good but needed more time before its full-price launch. Now, Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES is what the original should have been, and it's an easy recommendation on PC, though the Steam Deck version has some caveats.

Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES nearly doubles the main campaign content, adds four new factions, the Dynasty system, and numerous improvements. If you own Total War: PHARAOH, Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES feels like a sequel in some ways and an enhanced re-release in others. It's a great game right now.

On the Steam Deck, Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES still lacks controller support but is playable with the trackpad and touch controls. I'm still playing it on and off to gauge its feel, but my initial impressions are very positive as someone who enjoyed the original but felt it needed more work.

Pinball FX Steam Deck Impressions

Shaun has been raving about Zen Studios' Pinball FX series for years, and I've always wanted to try it on a handheld. I've played some of the tables on Switch before, but with the new digital version of the game, simply titled Pinball FX, out on Steam since last year, I was curious about its performance on the Steam Deck.

When the two new DLC tables were released, I downloaded the game on the Steam Deck to see how it and the DLC tables felt. What surprised me most were the PC port features and how well it plays on the Steam Deck. I haven't played every DLC table, so I can't comment on their performance, but the PC graphics options, including proper HDR support on the Steam Deck, make it hard not to recommend at least downloading the free client to try it out.

Having played about seven tables since getting the game, I love this release. I'm looking forward to covering more tables in the future, but Pinball FX feels like a love letter to pinball. While not a full review, Pinball FX is absolutely worth your time on the Steam Deck. Even if you don't want to buy anything, I recommend grabbing the free-to-play version on Steam to access a few tables at no additional cost. This will let you see how the game looks and runs on the Steam Deck and sample some of the many tables available as paid DLC.

New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the week

I'm surprised Black Myth: Wukong is marked as Unsupported and not Playable, given its better performance than many Verified games. I'm glad to see Hookah Haze and OneShot: World Machine Edition Verified this week. I'm looking forward to playing them both.

• Black Myth: Wukong – Unsupported (Read my review here showing it is playable)
• F1 Manager 2024 – Playable
• Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery – Playable
• Hookah Haze – Verified
• METAL SLUG ATTACK RELOADED – Verified
• OneShot: World Machine Edition – Verified
• Slash Quest – Verified
• Syberia – Verified
• Toree’s Panic Pack – Verified
• Volgarr the Viking II – Playable

Steam Deck Game Sales, Discounts, and Specials

Check out the Games from Croatia sale with discounts on the amazing Talos Principle series and much more this week. This sale is on until Monday morning.

That's all for this edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. As usual, you can read all our past and future Steam Deck coverage here. If you have any feedback for this feature or suggestions for what else you'd like to see us do around the Steam Deck, let us know in the comments below. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for reading.