Ahead of the Switch 2 reveal, you might be surprised to know that the best console for hardcore and non-pro gamers is here, and the Steam Deck is a fantastic buy.
It's been almost eight years since the launch of the Nintendo Switch, and the system that allowed us to take a home console everywhere has been a resounding success.
By no longer dividing its time between a portable system and a home system, Nintendo has been able to offer incredible games that you can play anywhere and the market has responded with huge sales.
That's also sparked interest from rivals, as Xbox is considering a handheld, while Sony is set to re-enter the market, according to reports. With the Switch 2 on the horizon, I'm here to tell you that the best portable console for you might be the one available now: the Steam Deck OLED.
What is a Steam Deck anyway?
If you're new to the idea of Steam Deck, let me summarize it for you. A Steam Deck is, in essence, a small PC with console-like controllers. It runs Linux, an operating system less common than Windows or macOS, but packed with flexible features.
It comes from Valve, a company that made its name developing some of the most incredible games in history with Half-Life, Counter-Strike, and DOTA 2, which has since established a huge digital storefront called Steam.
Steam is the leading place to buy PC games, offering thousands of titles and often at fantastic discounts. Combining it with a portable device that, while too small to fit in your pocket, but can still be thrown into a bag before a long flight, means you can get a huge library of PC games and take them anywhere.
A time machine to play
Steam has been around for so long that you can buy classics like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and more for the price of your morning coffee, making it a great way to catch up on important games you may have missed.
It's a library that even the Xbox Series Winter sale at the time of writing this article.
If you've been reluctant to pay £50 or more for a new game, the Steam Deck could be for you. And, if you're wondering about power, fear not.
Not only is the console a great place to play indie titles, but it also has enough power for AAA games. If someone had told you in 2020 that Cyberpunk 2077 could be played on a handheld, you would probably have suggested they were angry, but CD Projekt's adventure is a great experience on the Steam Deck.
One of the best games of the last decade, Elden Ring was developed with Steam Deck optimization in mind, meaning it's just as playable as it is on other platforms, and even on old PS4 and PS5 exclusives like God of War or Horizon: Forbidden. The West is great.
If you also have a powerful gaming PC, you can always use Steam cloud saves to pick up where you left off when you get home, but it's not just about what's on Steam.
That Linux base means you can install the Epic Games Store and Battle.net with a few minutes of work, but it also means you can run a host of emulators for classic games from bygone eras.
Why am I telling you this now?
None of this is really new information, I admit, but recently I found myself reaching for my Steam Deck more often than my PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch to catch up on titles I missed this year.
This year's big hits, Balatro and Animal Well, are perfect for quick bursts of fun and the latter feels much more suited to the OLED Steam Deck than the LCD version.
In fact, my wife has the LCD version and between us, we've logged a lot of time on the pad once our son is asleep. While she's working on her Disney Dreamlight Valley to-do list, I've been killing all sorts of nasty things in Path of Exile 2 and Diablo 4 while we watch TV.
I've been able to spend time with my favorite games of the year, like Tactical Breach Wizards and the PC version of Front Mission 2 Remake, something I simply wouldn't have been able to do if I'd been forced to wait until the TV was free. , or sitting in my dark and gloomy office.
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