Game Reviews Roundup: NBA 2K25 and More

This week's Steam Deck Weekly is here! Missed my Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 review? Catch it here. This edition dives into my recent Steam Deck gaming experiences, featuring reviews and impressions of several titles, including some newly Verified games, and highlighting current sales.

Steam Deck Game Reviews & Impressions

NBA 2K25 Steam Deck Review

Despite the annual release cycle, I've always enjoyed 2K's NBA games. NBA 2K25 stands out for two key reasons: it's the first PC version since the PS5 launch to offer the true "Next Gen" experience, and 2K officially confirmed Steam Deck optimization (though it lacks Valve's official rating). After playing it on the Steam Deck, and on both consoles, I'm very pleased, though some familiar issues remain.

Longtime PC players will appreciate the inclusion of ProPLAY technology (previously exclusive to PS5 and Xbox Series X) for enhanced gameplay, and the PC debuts of WNBA and MyNBA modes. If you've held off on recent PC versions hoping for the complete experience, NBA 2K25 delivers. I hope its success ensures future PC releases continue this trend of Next-Gen parity and strong Steam Deck support.

The PC and Steam Deck versions boast 16:10 and 800p support. It also offers AMD FSR 2, DLSS, and XeSS, though I disabled them (explained later). You can adjust v-sync, dynamic v-sync (targeting 90fps during gameplay and 45fps otherwise), HDR (yes, it works on the Steam Deck!), texture detail, overall quality, and shader options. Caching shaders on the initial boot is recommended for optimal gameplay. NBA 2K25 on the Steam Deck performs a brief shader cache on each launch, a minor but noticeable detail.

The advanced graphics menu provides extensive control, 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 kept most settings low or medium, disabling upscaling due to increased blurriness. Player and shader detail were set to medium, and I capped the framerate to 60fps at 60hz using the Steam Deck's quick access menu. This yielded the most stable and clearest experience.

The default Steam Deck visual preset, while functional, appeared too blurry for my preference, prompting my adjustments.

Offline playability was tested. While many modes require online access, I booted the game in airplane mode. MyCAREER and MyTEAM were inaccessible, requiring a connection retry, but quick play and eras functioned offline. Load times were notably faster offline.

While the console versions technically surpass the Steam Deck experience, I find myself playing more on Valve's handheld. The most significant difference is load times, which are slower on the Steam Deck OLED, even with its internal SSD, though not as dramatically as on older systems. Note that PC lacks crossplay with consoles.

Microtransactions remain an issue, impacting certain game modes. However, if you simply want a visually appealing and enjoyable basketball game, this might be less of a concern. But remember, NBA 2K25 is priced at $69.99 on PC, higher than in previous years.

NBA 2K25 provides a fantastic portable basketball experience on the Steam Deck, matching PS5 and Xbox Series X features. With minor tweaks, it looks and runs great. 2K has finally delivered the full feature set to PC after years of waiting. Steam Deck owners wanting a quality NBA 2K25 experience will be satisfied, but be mindful of the microtransactions.

NBA 2K25 Steam Deck review score: 4/5

Gimmick! 2 Steam Deck Impressions

Unfamiliar with Gimmick! 2? Check out Shaun's Switch review here. My Steam Deck experience was positive; it runs smoothly out of the box, even mentioning Steam Deck and Linux fixes in its latest patch.

Gimmick! 2 is capped at 60fps on the Steam Deck; forcing your Steam Deck screen to 60hz (especially on OLED) is recommended to avoid jitter. No graphical options are available, but 16:10 menu support is present. 1080p testing confirmed proper 16:10 support for menus (gameplay remains 16:9).

While I hoped for higher than 60fps, it's not a major drawback. Steam Deck Verification seems likely given its flawless out-of-the-box performance. I agree with Shaun's review; Gimmick! 2's Steam Deck performance is excellent.

Arco Steam Deck Mini Review

I loved Arco from the start, but felt it needed a few updates to reach its full potential. Its recent PC and Switch release included a significant Steam update resolving many of my initial concerns (this update isn't yet on Switch). This review focuses on the updated Steam Deck version.

Arco is more than a visually appealing tactical game; its combat system is surprisingly deep, and the audio and story particularly impressed me. The combat blends real-time and turn-based elements, best described as a unique mix of Superhot and a pixel art tactical RPG.

Arco is Steam Deck Verified and ran perfectly on both my devices. It's capped at 60fps and supports 16:9. The Steam Deck build includes a beta assist mode (skipping combat, infinite dynamite, etc.) and a first-act skip option for replays.

Arco exceeded my expectations; its dynamic gameplay, superb visuals, music, and compelling story make it a standout tactical RPG. A free demo is available on Steam.

Arco Steam Deck review score: 5/5

Skull and Bones Steam Deck Mini Review

Skull and Bones is a recent Steam addition, released earlier this year on other platforms. My experience focuses on the Steam Deck port. Ubisoft's confirmation of playability was encouraging.

Officially rated "Playable" by Valve, Skull and Bones requires a Ubisoft Connect login (a slightly clunky process). The tutorial ran fine, but for better performance, I limited the framerate to 30fps at 16:10 and 800p, using FSR 2 quality upscaling (performance mode is more stable). Settings were mostly low, except for textures (high).

While early in my playthrough, I see potential. Continued support from Ubisoft will improve its recommendation. It's already better than its initial release, thanks to updates.

Skull and Bones is hard to recommend at full price, but the free trial is worth checking. I enjoy naval combat and open-world Ubisoft games, and Skull and Bones shows promise, but could be better. It's online-only on Steam Deck; I may get it on console for cross-progression.

Skull and Bones Steam Deck review score: TBA

ODDADA Steam Deck Review

I enjoy interactive toys like Townscaper. ODDADA felt like the next great one, and it mostly delivered, with a minor control caveat.

ODDADA is a music-making hybrid with a game-like feel. Its aesthetic resembles Windosill; it's a beautiful toolbox for creating music. It uses mouse or touch controls on the Steam Deck, progressing through levels and instruments. Randomness ensures unique creations.

It runs perfectly at 90fps, offering resolution, v-sync, and anti-aliasing options. Menu text is small on the Steam Deck.

The lack of controller support is the only significant downside; even with controller support, touch or mouse might be preferable.

ODDADA is recommended for music and art enthusiasts. While currently lacking controller support, it plays well with touch controls. Steam Deck Verification is in progress.

ODDADA Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5

Star Trucker Steam Deck Mini Review

Star Trucker blends automobile simulation and space exploration, potentially appealing to neither fanbase, but also creating a unique experience. It's unrated by Valve but runs well on Proton Experimental.

The goal is space exploration, job completion, earning money, and unlocking content. Difficulty options and customization are available. The visuals, writing, and radio banter are highlights.

PC and Steam Deck offer video mode, resolution (16:10 included), 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 (low shadows, other settings normal, TAA off) targeting ~40fps.

Controls are the main issue, requiring adjustment.

Star Trucker surprised me with its blend of genres. While not for everyone, I enjoyed it. Further optimization for the Steam Deck would be beneficial.

Star Trucker Steam Deck review score: 4/5

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia Steam Deck Mini Review

Initially a PS4 exclusive in Japan (2020), DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia's Western release is on Steam, a great sequel to DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation. It's based on Koshi Tachibana's light novels (illustrated by Tsunako).

Players are Shido, dreaming of Ren, launching a narrative with multiple paths and returning characters. Numerous choices impact the story, accompanied by excellent art. It's lighter than its predecessor, complementing Rio Reincarnation.

It runs perfectly on the Steam Deck (720p, 16:9), handling cutscenes flawlessly. Check system settings to ensure the confirm button is A, not B, and that 16:9 isn't stretched to 16:10 in fullscreen.

Recommended for fans of Rio Reincarnation, but play that one first.

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

Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES Steam Deck Review Impressions

Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES is a relaunch with a new Steam page. It significantly improves the original, nearly doubling campaign content, adding factions, the Dynasty system, and various enhancements. For existing owners, it's like a sequel/enhanced re-release.

Steam Deck play is possible using the trackpad and touch controls, though controller support is absent. My initial impressions are positive, especially considering my issues with the original.

Pinball FX Steam Deck Impressions

Inspired by Shaun's enthusiasm, I tried Pinball FX on the Steam Deck. I previously played some tables on Switch, but the new Steam version (released last year) intrigued me. The new DLC tables prompted my Steam Deck download.

The PC port's features and Steam Deck performance impressed me. I haven't played every DLC table, but the extensive PC graphics options (including HDR) make it worthwhile.

After playing several tables, I highly recommend it. I plan to cover more tables later. Even without purchases, the free-to-play version provides a good sample.

New Steam Deck Verified & Playable Games

Black Myth: Wukong – Unsupported (playable, see my review) 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

Check out the Games from Croatia sale (ends Monday) featuring Talos Principle and more.

That's this week's Steam Deck Weekly! Past and future coverage is here. Share your feedback and suggestions in the comments. Thanks for reading!