Steam Spring Sale 2026 - Deck Highlights
Those of us with Steam Decks know we have a backlog problem, however I told myself this year that I would not submit, I would save money, I wouldnāt add to my backlog just because the games were priced well. Iām weak though, so I sold a bunch of items from my Steam Inventory that I did not need anymore, and had a $125 budget for this sale. So, hereās what I already own that I would recommend you buy during this sale, and what I bought to play on the Steam Deck! All prices listed are USD.
My Current Library
Hollow Knight
While I havenāt finished Silksong yet (so far it is excellent, and a good deal at $15.99), the original Hollow Knight, at $7.50, is in my top 10 games and is the pinnacle of the āMetroidvaniaā genre in my eyes. Iāve been a fan of the ambiance and quiet exploration, since the game released, and the weighty platforming paired with the challenging combat really shines. Plus you get to be a cute little guy who fights bugs. The soundtrack is incredible for another $5, I have it on my iPod. (Iām listening to it as I write this post, actually)
Terraria
Another game I bought on day one and can always recommend on a sale, is Terraria. It has brought me immense joy over the years, playing both single player and online with friends. Often derided as a 2D Minecraft clone, it is truly another āMetroidvaniaā with digging, building, and crafting as featured elements. The worlds you create have such depth, and a wide variety of aesthetics and content, all for $5. Iām a sucker for the pixel art.
Coffee Talk & Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly
First, these games have an incredible soundtrack on these games, so keep that in mind. Iām a big Coffee Talk fan, as long time readers will know. Great visual novel type games, with a fun drink making minigame to break things up. The story and atmosphere are to die for! The combo pack is $13.98 right now, and I definitely would recommend you get both for the full experience. Plus the third game, Coffee Talk Tokyo, will be out in a couple of months!
Chained Echoes
I havenāt finished Chained Echoes, but it is one of the first games I bought after owning my Steam Deck, and I really should get back to it. $10 gets you one of the best modern turn based RPG experiences, and it shouldnāt be overlooked. Itās great looking, has a very fun gameplay loop without grinding, and I truly recommend it.
Donut County
Iāve played Donut County 4 times, on 4 separate platforms, and it never gets old. For $3.89 Iād be kind of offended if you didnāt buy it. I mean, just look at it, itās cute, and you get to play Katamari with a hole. Itās so charming, and tells a compelling story with its brisk runtime.
I could recommend dozens more games, but for now I think these indies are excellent pick ups for the Deck, or Steam in general, if you donāt already own them.
New Games for the Backlog
Letās have a short rundown of the games I bought. As a disclaimer, I havenāt played any of these much yet, if at all.
Persona 3 Reload
Iāve been waffling on getting back into Persona recently, and after trying Persona 3 Portable, and Persona 4 Golden on my Vita, I decided to sink my teeth into the new version on Deck.
Wytchwood
It looks cute, and cozy, and I really wanted it. I feel like it has been on my wishlist forever.
Gravity Circuit
Iāve been a lifelong fan of Megaman X, and this seemed to be a great addition to that genre.
Frogsong
Again, cute. I love frogs, I havenāt even tested if it runs on Deck, it is not verified. But it was too cute for me to pass up.
Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Chill and Match-3 To
Iāve wanted a chill Match-3 game on my Deck for a while, and this one looked perfectly suited to me. I love the aesthetic, and I love Lofi Hiphop.
Guild Wars: Reforged
Iāve been missing the world of Guild Wars, but donāt have the desire to jump back in to another MMO right now, with World of Warcraft: Midnight being so enjoyable. Iāve never played the original Guild Wars, so this seemed like a nice game to check out on Deck to scratch that itch.
(Editing note: Due to an issue with accounts, I had to refund Guild Wars: Reforged)
Shadow of the Depth
A friend recommended this one to me, and I made a blind purchase. It looks cool though, I think Iāll enjoy it.
Cult of the Lamb
My wife has been loving this one on Apple Arcade, and I thought it looked cute. Itās been on my wishlist forever. I picked it up in the dual pack with the expansion!
UFO 50
UFO 50 looks like a fun experiment of a game (games?) and I think itāll be nice to unwind with on late nights.
And thatās it! Thank you for putting up with such a long post, I hope this helps shed some light on the games I enjoy, and I truly hope you take some of my recommendations into account!