Ahead of the Switch 2 reveal, you may be surprised to know that the best console for hardcore and lapsed gamers alike is already here and the Steam Deck is a fantastic purchaseTech16:37, 31 Dec 2024I love the Steam Deck OLED for its convenience and huge library(Image: Lloyd Coombes/Daily Star )Its been almost eight years since the Nintendo Switch launched, and the system that let us take a home console on the go has been nothing short of a roaring success.No longer splitting its time between a handheld and home system, Nintendo has been able to deliver incredible games you can play anywhere, and the market has responded with huge sales.Thats sparked interest from rivals, too, with Xbox considering a handheld, while Sony is poised to re-enter the market according to reports. With Switch 2 on the horizon, Im here to tell you that the best handheld console for you might just be the one thats already out the Steam Deck OLED.It's a beauty(Image: Lloyd Coombes/Daily Star )If youre new to the idea of a Steam Deck, let me summarise. A Steam Deck is, in essence, a small PC with console-like controllers. It runs Linux, an operating system less common than Windows or macOS, but packed with flexible features.It comes from Valve, a company that made its name developing some of the most incredible games in history with Half-Life, Counter-Strike, and DOTA 2, which has since established a huge digital storefront called Steam.Steam is the premiere place to by PC games, packing thousands of titles and often at a fantastic discount. Pairing that with a handheld device that, while too small to fit in your pocket but can still be thrown in a bag before a long flight, means you can nab a huge library of PC games and take them anywhere.The Steam store is packed with games, and they're often discounted(Image: Lloyd Coombes/Daily Star )Steam has been around for so long you can buy classics like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and more for the price of your morning coffee, making it a great way to catch up on huge games you may have missed.Its a library even the Xbox Series X, with its multi-generational backward compatibility would be envious of, with games like 2004s Half-Life 2 (widely regarded as one of the best games of all time) just a couple of quid in the Steam Winter Sale at the time of writing.If youve balked at paying 50 and up for a new game, the Steam Deck might be for you. And, if youre wondering about the power, have no fear.Not only is the console an ideal place to play indie titles, its got enough grunt for AAA games, too. If someone told you in 2020 that Cyberpunk 2077 would be playable on a handheld, youd have probably suggested they were mad, but CD Projekts adventure is a great experience on Steam Deck.Elden Ring, one of the best games of the last decade, was developed with Steam Deck optimization in mind, meaning its every bit as playable as it is on other platforms, and even former PS4 and PS5 exclusives like God of War or Horizon: Forbidden West are great.If you happen to have a powerful gaming PC too, you can always use Steams cloud saves to pick up where you left off when you get home, but its not all about whats on Steam.That Linux base means you can install Epic Games Store and Battle.net with a few minutes of work, but it also means you can run a whole host of emulators for classic games of bygone eras.The OLED model is even better than the prior one(Image: Lloyd Coombes/Daily Star )None of this is really new information, I admit, but Ive found myself reaching for my Steam Deck more often than my PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch recently to catch up on titles I missed from this year.This years breakout hits, Balatro and Animal Well, are perfect for quick bursts of fun and the latter feels much more suited to the OLED Steam Deck than the LCD version.In fact, my wife has the LCD version and, between us, weve racked up a whole host of time on the platform once our son is asleep. While she works through her Disney Dreamlight Valley to-do list, Ive been slaying all manner of nasties in Path of Exile 2 and Diablo 4 while we watch TV.Ive been able to put time into my favourite games of the year like Tactical Breach Wizards and the PC version of Front Mission 2 Remake that I simply wouldnt have been able to do had I been restricted to waiting until the TV was free, or sitting in my dark, dingy office.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED