Our five favorite autobattlers for the Steam Deck

Autobattlers fit the Deck because most decisions happen between fights and combat resolves on its own. The usual strategy-game caveats remain: small text and crowded menus on a 7-inch screen. These five favorites include a few adjacent battle simulators and run from the most plug-and-play to the most compromised on handheld.

Totally Accurate Battle Simulator

Steam Deck Verified. Totally Accurate Battle Simulator is the loosest genre fit here. It is a physics battle sandbox where you arrange armies of wobbly units, start the fight, and watch the ragdolls settle it. It also includes a campaign, unit creator, and online multiplayer.

SteamDB's current compatibility metadata lists proper Deck controls and icons, legible text, suitable default graphics, and SteamOS support. Start here if you want a battle sandbox with no setup work.

9 Kings

Steam Deck Verified. 9 Kings combines kingdom building, deckbuilding, and autobattling in short roguelike runs. You place cards on a small grid to build and defend a kingdom while its units fight rival factions. It entered Early Access in May 2025 and has a Very Positive rating across more than 20,000 Steam reviews.

Older Deck impressions reflect its mouse-driven launch. The February 2026 Endless Patch added full controller support, and SteamDB now lists proper Deck controls and icons, readable text, and SteamOS support. Steam Deck HQ's earlier performance testing remains useful, but its control notes predate that update. The game is still in Early Access.

Gladiator Guild Manager

Steam Deck Verified. Gladiator Guild Manager is the management pick. You hire and equip gladiators, arrange them before each arena fight, then manage money, recruiting, upgrades, and alliances between championships.

SteamDB lists accessible default controls, legible text, suitable default graphics, and SteamOS support. One community report recommends the trackpads over the sticks for its menu-heavy interface.

Mage & Monsters

Steam Deck Playable. Mage & Monsters is the most literal autobattler here: build an army, cast spells while it fights, and decide whether each run's resources go into units or magic. It is a single-player, Windows-only pixel-art roguelike that runs through Proton.

SteamDB flags small text, non-Deck icons, and a native-resolution caveat, while confirming accessible default controls, suitable graphics, and SteamOS support. Expect to adjust its display or controls. The 2025 sequel, Mage & Monsters II, is also currently Playable on Deck.

Legion TD 2

Steam Deck Playable. Legion TD 2 is the competitive pick and the only true multiplayer autobattler here. Descended from the Warcraft 3 Legion TD mod, it lets you draft from more than 100 fighters and play solo or in matchmade 2v2 and 4v4 battles.

SteamDB flags small text, default-control limitations, and mouse or keyboard icons, so a custom layout helps. It also needs an internet connection for single-player, ruling it out for offline travel.

Which one to pick

Start with TABS for sandbox battles, 9 Kings for short deckbuilding runs, or Gladiator Guild Manager for planning. Mage & Monsters needs interface adjustments, while Legion TD 2 needs both a custom layout and a steady connection.