To the surprise of nobody, Nintendo’s Switch 2 is already a huge success, managing more than 3 million sales in its first three days. Despite some issues with the screen and battery life, fans are more than happy with Nintendo’s current-gen system.
Naturally, gamers like me are feeling major FOMO about not having the handheld. I've only been coping by playing more games on the original Switch and Steam Deck. Maybe it’s desperation or clinging to some form of happiness, but I’m actually enjoying the Steam Deck more now as I consider buying Nintendo’s new system.
While the Steam Deck is pretty niche when compared to the Switch and Switch 2, it still has a ton of games to play. Even if it doesn’t match the power of Nintendo’s new system, the handheld PC is still a great home for powerful titles like Control and Hi-Fi Rush. This system can also play a number of games on the Switch 2’s launch lineup, like Street Fighter 6 and Cyberpunk 2077.
Valve’s Steam Deck also has a secret up its sleeve, as the handheld can play a number of Sony’s PlayStation titles. The chances of these games coming to Nintendo’s handhelds are relatively low, LEGO Horizon notwithstanding, so having a handheld system that can play these titles is still nifty.
One game I’ve really enjoyed on my Steam Deck is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which not only got better SD compatibility but also had its region block removed. Granted, there are major concessions that have to be made when playing this open-world title on Valve’s handheld, as this is a PS5 game. Still, even at Low Settings and 30 FPS, the game is a blast, and very few titles can match its sheer fun.
Activision Blizzard’s Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy also got a steep discount during the Steam Summer Sale, so I picked it up. Despite owning this game on PS4 and Switch, it was fascinating to see this collection load so quickly and play smoothly. Although the options claim it's “limited” to 45 FPS, the Deck can play this trilogy at an awesome 60 FPS. I stuck with 40 FPS to save battery, but it’s still a cool feat.
Beyond having PlayStation games and improved third-party ports, the Steam Deck is also the ultimate emulation machine. I’ve mentioned it before, but this system can play most of the PSP, GameCube, and PS2 library, giving players a ton of great titles to try out.
Considering how the Switch 2 is being carried by existing Switch games and a few exclusives, there isn’t a huge reason to jump into that new system right now. Being able to run some games better is tempting, but fans who have a Steam Deck and are willing to wait shouldn’t be in a rush.
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