I’m going on a family road trip where I’ll get to relax and use my Steam Deck for about 6 hours in the car. My older sister will be sitting next to me, and she loves watching me play, but she’s not really a gamer herself. I want to pass my Steam Deck to her during the trip so she can try playing some casual games. Ideally, something super easy to pick up like Mario Kart since that’s the type of game she’s used to. She enjoys racing, platformers, and puzzles, and doesn’t want anything with heavy story or complicated controls, just quick, light fun. She’s played Mario Kart, Kirby, Mario platformers, and tried Dirt Rally 2.0 briefly. Budget for games is flexible. Any recommendations for simple, casual games she could enjoy on the Steam Deck?
4 Answers
Since she’s familiar with Mario Kart and similar games, you could definitely have her try out some easy-to-learn racing or fun platformers on the Steam Deck. Also, there are great chill puzzle games that don’t require much prior gaming experience and are perfect for quick sessions on the road.
For budget-friendly picks, you can look at “Spilled!” or “Tinykin.” They’re casual, colorful, and easy to jump into without much learning curve. Also, if your sister is into racing, maybe “Nightmare Kart” – it’s free and lightweight, so she can try it out easily without any investment.
Check out “Untitled Goose Game.” It’s quirky and funny with simple puzzles and controls, so it’s beginner-friendly and good for quick play sessions. Another option is “Carto,” which mixes puzzles with exploration but still stays pretty casual and charming. Both have light stories and are quite relaxing for non-gamers.
Just a heads-up: avoid giving her “Balatro” — once she starts playing that, you might never get your Steam Deck back! But seriously, if she’s new to gaming, casual racing and puzzle games like the ones mentioned here are your best bet for keeping things fun and stress-free.
That sounds exactly like what I’m looking for! Any specific puzzle or chill platformer titles you recommend?