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10 Best MMOs To Play On The Steam Deck In 2025

Christopher Saxon Posted:
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Handheld gaming has come a long way, evolving from the humble days of the Game Boy to powerful modern devices like the Steam Deck. With its enhanced capabilities and greater accessibility, the Steam Deck has opened the door for MMOs and MMORPGs to be played on the go. As long as you have a Wi-Fi connection and are willing to fine-tune the settings, you can experience these expansive worlds wherever life takes you. Personally, the Steam Deck has become my favorite handheld device of all time. Its versatility allows me to enjoy nearly every game in my Steam library, as well as a variety of other titles, including MMORPGs. Here’s a curated list of must-play MMOs for the Steam Deck.

 

Final Fantasy XIV

Final Fantasy XIV shines on the Steam Deck with its intuitive controls and accessibility features. The Cross Hotbar system makes navigating combat and menus a seamless experience, requiring no reliance on a cursor. With just a Wi-Fi connection, you can take your grand adventures on the road, whether heading to an appointment or waiting for a flight. Final Fantasy XIV is truly a standout example of how well an MMORPG can perform on a handheld device.

The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO)

Initially, I was skeptical about how The Elder Scrolls Online would translate from PC to the Steam Deck. Being accustomed to a keyboard and mouse, I doubted whether the controls would feel natural on a handheld. Thankfully, those worries were unfounded. The Elder Scrolls Online runs remarkably well on the Steam Deck, with only minor performance dips in densely populated areas. By adjusting the graphics settings slightly, you can enjoy a smooth and immersive experience, making it a fantastic MMO for gaming on the go.

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis

To my surprise, Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis runs impressively on the Steam Deck. Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis’ native controller support ensures it feels right at home on this device. While some configuration is required—like enabling Proton GE—the overall experience is fluid and enjoyable. Though occasional performance dips occur, the accessible controls and engaging gameplay make it a great choice for handheld MMO enthusiasts.

Albion Online

Albion Online plays on the Steam Deck much like it does on mobile devices, but with the added benefit of physical controls. Joysticks, buttons, and the touchscreen combine for a versatile experience. However, the small text and hit-or-miss controller support may pose challenges at times. Despite these quirks, Albion Online remains a highly enjoyable MMO on this platform.

New World: Aeternum

The latest iteration of New World now includes an official controller layout optimized for the Steam Deck. With corresponding HUD buttons, light questing, gathering, and crafting are all a breeze. While it’s not the best hardware for PvP due to performance limitations, the Steam Deck handles most other aspects of New World well, provided you stick to low graphical settings.

Path of Exile (1 & 2)

Movement fluidity is critical in any ARPG, and Path of Exile delivers a solid experience on the Steam Deck. With native controller support and community-generated layouts, both titles are well-suited for handheld play. Navigation through certain menus, like the stash, can be slightly cumbersome, but this minor inconvenience is easily overshadowed by the satisfying gameplay.

Fallout 76

Surprisingly, Fallout 76 performs admirably on the Steam Deck, running at medium settings with high textures enabled. It’s a fantastic option for players that own Fallout 76 on Steam and want to enjoy it on the couch or while traveling. The performance is stable, delivering a console-like experience on a portable device.

Neverwinter

For an MMO with maxed-out graphics, Neverwinter runs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, maintaining 60 FPS with minimal issues. The lack of official control layouts is a drawback, but community profiles or custom mappings work seamlessly. Neverwinter is a breeze to play on the Steam Deck, offering a polished and enjoyable handheld experience.

Guild Wars 2

Although you’ll need to lower graphical settings to maintain 30-40 FPS, Guild Wars 2 still looks stunning on the Steam Deck. The art style translates beautifully to the smaller screen, masking any loss in fidelity. While the absence of native controller support is a downside, the community has provided excellent layouts, making it an accessible and fun MMO to play on the go.

Warframe

Warframe feels almost tailor-made for the Steam Deck. With max settings delivering stellar performance, it’s one of the best-optimized MMOs for the device. Early issues with control schemes have been resolved thanks to official layouts and the adoption of Steam’s API. This refinement has made Warframe a joy to play on the Deck.

Final Thoughts

Playing MMOs on the Steam Deck often requires setup and adjustments, but the rewards are well worth the effort. With a reliable Wi-Fi connection, you can immerse yourself in expansive worlds from virtually anywhere. Over the past year, which MMO has been your favorite to play on the Steam Deck? Let us know!



Sometimes less than serious, in this space, we look back at the genre's history and far into the future to bring you a new list each week. Our countdowns are written by assorted members of the MMORPG.com Staff.


MrJatobi

Christopher Saxon

Since joining MMORPG.com as a freelance writer in 2015, Chris has shared his passion for JRPGs and MMORPGs with readers. When he's not gaming, he's often found enjoying anime or spending time with friends and family.