25 Games Tested On The Steam Machine: A Good, But Pricey Device

Valve has finally released its $1,000 Steam Machine, and over the past fortnight I’ve been putting it to the test. As soon as the 2‑terabyte unit arrived, I populated it with a wide selection from my library and began a comprehensive evaluation.

The overarching premise of my assessment was to emulate a typical console‑owner’s experience: plug the device in, download titles, and dive in with little to no configuration. My selection spanned contemporary releases and classics, 3D and 2D experiences, indie gems and AAA blockbusters, plus a handful of curiosities I wanted to see how they fared on the hardware. I plan to revisit this review with additional titles, but for now, let’s dive in.

My initial test was Cyberpunk 2077, and the results were striking. Even after nudging the graphics to higher tiers, the game maintained a smooth 60 frames per second and delivered crisp visuals, complete with modest ray‑tracing effects. This performance was achieved at native 1080p before upscaling to my 4K screen; pushing the resolution further introduced instability. Nonetheless, the machine delivers a fully playable experience out of the box with its default configuration.

I only had to tweak the stick sensitivity to fully appreciate this striking monochrome first‑person shooter. Once adjusted, Mouse: P.I. delivers a smooth 60‑frame‑per‑second experience on the Steam Machine, with visuals that remain crisp even at factory settings.

By 2026, Mouse: P.I. is compatible with virtually every platform, and the Steam Machine receives a flawless performance. Fans of cooperative shooters might also appreciate the classic Left 4 Dead 2, which remains a personal favorite of the reviewer.

Mouse: P.I. exemplifies the type of title that the Steam Machine can run without strain—smooth gameplay, sharp visuals, and solid performance straight out of the box. Even the popular action‑adventure Hades 1 performs admirably, making it a worthwhile addition to the platform’s growing library.

On the PS5—even the upgraded PS5 Pro—the title still appears somewhat cluttered, so it was no surprise that the Steam Machine port suffered even more. A quick glance might convince a few, but I’d steer clear.

Powered by the versatile Id Tech engine, Dark Ages adapts gracefully across platforms. On the Steam Machine it runs flawlessly, though the default visuals are slightly soft. Adjusting the settings sharpens the image and preserves an enjoyable experience—surely a decision no developer would regret.

The game performs flawlessly on the Steam Deck, and unsurprisingly it matches that performance on the Steam Machine, even delivering a cleaner visual presentation. I found myself drawn in longer than intended—Megabonk’s soundtrack is superb, and this port offers a premium, albeit pricey, gaming experience.

The out‑of‑the‑box experience is solid, yet to achieve crisper visuals I boosted the resolution to 1440p and enabled frame generation. The resulting screenshots rival those of the PS5, but the fluidity falls short, and the Steam Machine’s performance lags behind.

The game’s out‑of‑the‑box performance was underwhelming, and enabling frame‑generation introduced noticeable input lag. Lowering the graphics preset to medium improved things, yet the experience never felt truly satisfying, and further reducing visual fidelity made the image appear cluttered. Consequently, I’m unlikely to keep it running on the Steam Machine.

I was pleasantly surprised by how well the title performs on the Steam Machine. From launch, the default settings deliver a smooth experience, and I can crank up the graphics and resolution without sacrificing frame rates. The added bonus is its full support for online multiplayer on SteamOS, making it a competitive alternative to the PS5 version—so close that distinguishing between the two platforms is nearly impossible.

The initial launch was hampered by a cluttered Rockstar Launcher interface and the Steam Machine’s digital keyboard, which left a poor first impression. Once I settled into the default configuration, the game ran smoothly, and boosting the visual settings kept performance stable while sharpening the image. While the PS5 Pro still edges ahead with ray‑tracing at 60 fps, PC players benefit from modding capabilities that unlock a wealth of customization possibilities.

Like several titles, the initial launch at default settings produced a slightly soft image, though gameplay remained fully playable. Raising the visual quality resolved the blurriness without compromising performance.