The Steam Deck is the best thing to happen for gaming in decades, offering thousands of games for everyone, including kids. Today, we’re gonna do y’all a favor and give you the very best offerings for the wee ones in 2024’s beginning. This is to prime yourself and the kiddoes for the surprises in store for the year. The devs now also have a standard to top that’s set by our top 4 picks.
Which Steam Deck Games Are Best for Kids To Check Out In 2024?
Since we’re gonna have another one of the shorter lists of just the top 4, you know the competition’s gonna be tough. So, understand this: we’re not gonna waste time with filler titles. Only the super fun, engaging, and most of all captivating Steam Deck games that are suitable for kids are gonna make the cut. Now, let’s take a look at our choices and get this party started! Here we go!
4.) Vampire Survivors
We’re kicking off our list of exciting Steam Deck games for kids with a personal favorite, Vampire Survivors. Ironically, there are no vampires in the game, believe it or not, but that doesn’t make it any less fun than our top vampire games on PC. If you love rogue-lite games with a power fantasy twist, then Vampire Survivors will definitely appeal to you.
In Vampire Survivors, the goal is simple but pretty challenging to pull off. You gotta survive! Enemies in the form of demons come from any and all directions, and they grow in number the more you slay them. The screen fills up quickly to surround from all sides. Vampire Survivors manages to make such a punishing difficulty still enjoyable thanks to its clever progression system.
The powers, weapons, and armor you collect along the way before your character’s inevitable demise carries over. You also can respec your character stats for free to try your hand at a different build in Vampire Survivors. The replay value alone of Vampire Survivors makes it a clear-cut contender for the best Steam Deck games for kids.
3.) Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
For the next entry on our list of dope Steam Deck games for kids, we’ve got a modern rendition of a beloved Sony franchise. It’s a throwback to the era of PS2 platformer games. Specifically, we’re talking about the stunningly spectacular Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. This game’s a true showcase of the PS5’s visual fidelity but holds up pretty darn game on the Steam Deck.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart stars the dynamic duo of anthropomorphic lombax Ratchet and his sentient robot buddy Clank. This time around, you go through multiple dimensions in a truly dynamic experience. You never know where you’ll land as the game throws constant surprises your way. There are huge stakes with the nigh-impossible task of fighting back against an evil empire.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart has the series’ signature exaggerated weapons and gadgets. You’ll also feel the fluid movement and traversal and high adrenaline rush of combat are far superior to the previous installments. Honestly, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is just pure fun and rightfully deserves its place among the best Steam Deck games for kids to try.
2.) Hi-Fi RUSH
We’re gonna pick another absolute favorite of ours for the runner-up slot on the list of top-tier Steam Deck games for kids. Hi-Fi RUSH was the surprise hit that blew us away. It’s one of the best Xbox X|S games of 2023, and we still can’t get enough of it. The game’s a wholesome tale of pursuing your dreams, no matter how many obstacles come your way.
The game’s hero, Chai, is an aspiring rockstar who wants to get famous. Oh, yeah, there’s also the whole bit of rebelling against a power-hungry corporate tyrant. Hi-Fi RUSH is all about syncing your movement with the tunes. But the best part is during the combos, where you gotta time your button presses for that perfect sweet spot. The moment you get it right, it’s just the most satisfying feeling.
Hi-Fi RUSH takes the time to help you familiarize yourself with the world’s layout and the icing on the cake? The story is just the best; every character in the game gets time to develop, and you’ll never feel bored. Trust us: Hi-Fi RUSH is the quintessential benchmark for innovative game design. It’s, without question, one of the best Steam Deck games ever for kids and adults alike.
1.) Golf With Your Friends
And finally! Our top spot goes to Golf With Your Friends, one of the most hilarious yet enjoyable Steam Deck games for kids. This game’s just the best when it comes to having a good time, whether with family or friends. Golf With Your Friends combines both realism and a high degree of absurdism, and the result is side-splittingly hilarious.
With up to 12 players joining a game session, you can bet there’s gonna be lots of funny banter. You’ll be poking fun, getting the same treatment in kind, and overall having a great time together with the people you care about. Golf With Your Friends allows customization of the golf courses. You can create some truly outlandish ones to test who’s the most creative one of the bunch.
Another huge appeal of Golf With Your Friends is the level of shenanigans you can pull off. Trapping the golf ball while it’s hurling toward the hole, you can slow it down using honey on the field or even bend it out of shape. The possibilities are endless, and make Golf With Your Friends one of the most fun party games on Steam Deck for kids.
Final Thoughts On the Best Steam Deck Games For Kids To Play In 2024
Well, that was a close one, wasn’t it? But! We’re done with our list of the top 4 Steam Deck games for kids, and we’re feeling pretty darn good about it. So, then, what’s the verdict, folks? Think we did an excellent job here? Or have we fumbled big time? Either way, tell us about it in the comments below. We look forward to the fireworks and feedback from y’all.
If you’re still hankering for some more kiddy gaming, don’t worry; we’ve got suggestions for days. For instance, take a gander at our top 4 Oculus Rift games for kids for something within the same ballpark. Alrighty then, that’s gonna do it for today, we’ll see y’all in the next one. Take care, everybody, and check back in soon; happy gaming!
