Steam Deck Emulator Guide: Play Classic Console Games on the Go

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The Steam Deck by Valve is a remarkable portable computer designed for playing modern triple-A video games. Its collection encompasses action games, role-playing games, platformers, as well as other gaming genres. Notably, the Deck is capable of running many contemporary games and serves as an outstanding emulation device that can play numerous classic console games.

This is a good way to play some classics without spending extra money on an Anbernic.

Gladly, emulating games on Valve’s handheld device turns out to be less complex than initially thought. However, some additional steps might rub fans the wrong way. I can’t guide you towards ROM sources, but this tutorial will walk you through the fundamentals for getting most retro gaming systems up and running. If there are any classic games that have eluded your gaming experience thus far, prepare to change that!

Now, without further ado, here’s our guide for Steam Deck emulation.

EmuDeck

To make it effortlessly convenient for you to manage all your emulators, consider using EmuDeck on your Steam Deck. This straightforward procedure will help gamers consolidate their various gaming systems into a single location.

Here’s what you need to do:

  • Press the “Steam” button and go to Power
  • Once you’ve pressed Power, pick “Switch to Desktop.”
  • In Desktop Mode, go to a browser like Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome
  • Type EmuDeck and go to its official website
  • Go to download and pick the file for Steam OS
  • After the download is completed, double-click your file to install EmuDeck
  • Choose which emulators and frontends you want on your DeckInstall everything

Picking your emulators

After installing EmuDeck, Steam Deck users can now pick out the emulators they desire for their device. With a variety of options available, the popular choices often end up in Retroarch for running classic systems.

You’ll need BIOS files as well for PS1, PS2, and Xbox. It is legal to obtain Sony’s official firmware for the PS3 and PS Vita directly from their site.

Let’s get started. Here are the proper emulators to get on EmuDeck:

  • Retroarch (NES, SNES, SEGA Master System, Genesis, Game Gear, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, and more)
  • DuckStation (PS1)
  • PCSX2 (PS2)
  • PPSSPP (PSP)
  • Dolphin (Gamecube/Wii)
  • Xemu (Xbox)
  • Melon DS (DS)
  • RPCS3 (PS3)
  • Xenia (Xbox 360)
  • Cemu (Wii U)
  • Citra/Lime 3DS (3DS)
  • Vita3K (PS Vita)

Virtually any game, such as Batman on the NES and Dragon Quest 8 on the PS2, could potentially run smoothly on Valve’s portable device. While some games may require adjustments, the majority of these classic titles should work seamlessly with the Steam Deck.

While many games for PlayStation 3 (PS3) and Wii U can be played, some high-end titles might pose challenges during emulation. Emulating Xbox 360 games remains challenging, offering a limited selection of playable games.

Emulation Station and Steam Rom Manager

Once you’ve decided on the systems for Steam Deck emulation, it’s now time to decide how you want to present these games. Emulation Station serves as a display case for your classic games without requiring them to be added to your Steam library. For users who wish to showcase their classic game collection, Steam Rom Manager offers this functionality, allowing you to organize these games within your library’s collections.

As a gamer on EmuDeck, I get to pick between two different frontends for my gaming experience. If I go for Emulation Station, I can customize the look of it within my Steam library, select various themes, and decide how I want my games displayed. On the other hand, if I opt for Steam Rom Manager, it’ll make my classic games appear right in my Steam library, with all the artwork included. So, I’ve got to pick the one that suits me best!

As time passes, more games are becoming incompatible with the Steam Deck, Valve’s pioneering handheld device. While it might be simple to switch to an ROG Ally X or Lenovo Legion Go, there remains a niche for the original PC handheld that paved the way. Emulation will ensure this system continues to thrive, even when its potential successor arrives.

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2025-02-28 14:25