Aperture Desk Job

If you've ever wondered what it's like to step into the quirky, science infused world of Portal, Aperture Desk Job offers a playful and free taste of that universe but with a twist. Designed by Valve specifically to show off what the Steam Deck can do, this bite sized experience is more than just a game: it’s a hands on demo that puts the handheld’s unique controls touchpads, gyro aiming, haptic feedback, and programmable rear buttons front and center.

You play as a new employee at Aperture Science, stuck at a desk on your first day. There’s no grand story or complex puzzles here instead, you’ll interact with office equipment in increasingly absurd ways, all while soaking in the same witty, laboratory chic aesthetic that made Portal 2 so memorable. The sound design is crisp, the visuals are polished, and the humor is very much on brand. It’s short you can finish it in under half an hour but it’s packed with charm.

While you can technically run it on a PC with a controller, Aperture Desk Job really comes alive on the Steam Deck. Valve built it from the ground up for this hardware, and it shows. Keyboard and mouse aren’t supported, so PC players might feel a bit left out. But if you own a Deck, this is a must play a clever, fun, and totally free introduction to one of gaming’s most intriguing handhelds.