There was once a time when travelling meant leaving your gaming hobby behind for a few days or weeks. The few portable consoles that existed couldn’t hold a candle to stationary ones or to desktop PCs, but we’re far beyond those dark times now.
Handheld devices, such as the Steam Deck, the Nintendo Switch, or non-platform holding hardware like the ROG Ally, allow you to take games with you on your travels! And you don’t need to settle for inherently lesser versions, either! Modern portable consoles can often handle high-profile hits with surprising ease, especially the Steam Deck, which taps into the same massive library as your PC.
If you already own one of these devices and are hunting for titles that truly shine away from your couch, you’re in luck. Here are top handheld games ideal for traveling, all featured in G2A.COM’s Gaming on the Go sale, designed with portable play in mind.
Travel while you travel!
If you’d like to get a bit more journey before your destination, there are two games which might get the job done. One is perfect in short bursts, the other great for longer stretches, both excellent in their own right.
The first one is Hades, a phenomenal roguelite by Supergiant Games. It’s two games, actually. The original sends you on a perilous trip through the Underworld as Zagreus, the son of Hades, while the sequel, currently in Early Access, sends Zag’s younger sister Melinoë on a journey through even more locales, including the surface world.
Both games are fast-paced, action-packed, presented via an isometric camera, and focused on relatively short runs through a sequence of mostly self-contained rooms. Thanks to strong designs and aesthetics, even when Zag and Mel are boosted by divine boons greatly increasing the density of visual effects, Hades remains easy to read, even on the small screens of Steam Deck and Nintendo Switches.
The other game you could use to put more travel into your travel is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This sleeper hit of 2025 manages to capture the magic of classic Japanese RPGs, complete with overworld exploration, turn-based battles, and a gripping story that’s left millions of players emotionally floored.
Combat blends tradition with real-time reflexes as you’ll need to time your defenses precisely, especially parries, to unleash powerful counters. Despite its realistic art style, the game remains clean and legible on handheld screens, making it one of the best titles for the Steam Deck, and one of this year’s standout releases.
Too Much Action? Let’s Relax
Both of these games can become a bit stressful, and maybe it’s not the vibe you’re looking for on your travels. Perhaps, then, you should try something like Balatro, a creative blend of poker and… a roguelike? How does that even work? Quite well, actually.
Your objective is to clear certain point thresholds, and you do it by assembling a good poker hand. So far, so simple. The trick is that the cards can be upgraded, rules can be changed, and effects can result in satisfying point combos. If you have any affinity towards math and poker at all, Balatro will serve you well.
Thanks to its pixel art-based art style and relatively low need for bombastic high-fidelity, it can run easily on Switch, Steam Deck, and smartphones alike, with no loss of flair and clarity. Just remember not to spend the entire night with it.
Another relaxing game is one of the most universally beloved games of the last decade: Stardew Valley. The premise is simple: your character inherits a neglected farm and has to bring it back to full glory. Clean up the land, plant new crops, find a way to make produce, and build bonds with a charming local community.
With Stardew Valley, it’s easy to settle into a pleasant rhythm, and there is a ton of stuff to do, so you won’t run out anytime soon. Its friendly pixel art doesn’t claim a ton of resources and remains clear even on small screens. Whether you’re winding down for the day or soaking in a slow morning, this one’s perfect for cozy handheld gaming.
The Middle Ground
And finally, a game to merge the action and the vibes. Vampire Survivors is a game which can be as actively engaging as you want it to be.
At its most laid-back, you can move around your character casually through a simple map, pick up random weapons and see the auto-attacks unfold into total destruction as you gain more levels. At its most committed, you pay attention to niche items to score hard-to-get synergies or pick the most skill-based weapons just to test yourself against complex maps, such as the one inspired by Castlevania.
Like Stardew Valley, Vampire Survivors uses its pixel art to great effect, somehow managing to keep late-stages of each run easy to parse despite the number of effects flying everywhere. With a huge roster of characters, varied maps, and loads of customization, Vampire Survivors offers hours of entertainment without taxing your handheld’s performance.
May the games be with you
These games are just the beginning. Whether you’re on a train, relaxing in a hotel, or stealing a few minutes between responsibilities, today’s handhelds let you keep gaming close without compromise.
You can find many more if you visit G2A.COM’s Gaming on the Go sale, including a great range of Nintendo Switch options, to find something that matches your current gaming cravings a little better. Travel smarter, game better – and never leave your hobby behind.