Valve’s new portable console, Steam Deck, is an innovative addition to the gaming world that’s packed with exciting features. You may have heard that the device can even emulate other gaming systems. Is it true? Can you run emulators on the Steam Deck?
You can emulate almost anything on the Steam Deck using a range of easy-to-use emulators, including user favorites Dolphin, DuckStation, and PCSX2.
Now that you know it’s possible get ready to enjoy all of your favorite retro games on this modern device. Let’s take a look at the emulators you might like to try so that you can get started right away.
Do Emulators Work On Steam Deck?
The good news is that all types of emulators will work on Steam Deck. This option adds even more PS2 classics to the mix. The Steam Deck was created so that gamers could take their Steam libraries with them wherever they went.
Valve’s new hardware is based on Linux, which means the software can run various programs.
And given the success of the Dolphin Emulator, which is used for GameCube and Wii games, it’s safe to assume that a slew of old Nintendo games will be playable on the Steam Deck.
6 Emulators That Work On Steam Deck
You may not be emulating the first night you’ve got your new Steam Deck, but with a bit of effort to get Windows up and running on the device, you’ll be off to the races with emulation, ready to play any game you want to.
To help you get started, here are three emulators that function on the Steam platform.
Dolphin
Dolphin, first launched in 2003, is one of the most powerful GameCube and Wii emulators. It is a cross-platform that works with a variety of operating systems. This emulator for the GameCube and Wii runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android.
The great majority of games run smoothly or only with minor issues. There are also games with high resolutions, such as 1080p and higher. This is a notable feature missing from the GameCube and Wii platforms.
Dolphin is updated nearly every day, with new features and bugs fixed. Throughout the years, it has undergone several optimizations, adjustments, and quality-of-life enhancements.
Dolphin relies on accessing large amounts of files quickly to manage items like the Wii NAND and GameCube GCI folders.
If accessing certain files takes an exceptionally long time, the user may notice severe lag or crashes while playing games. However, unlike some other emulators, Dolphin does not offer the option of merely requesting permission to browse specific directories.
DuckStation
One of the most popular PlayStation 1 emulators is DuckStation. All of the games have been accurately recreated. Playability, efficiency, and long-term operation are all prioritized. The goal is to be as accurate as possible while keeping a low device performance.
DuckStation was created to test code that would later be put into Dolphin.
The use of “hack” settings is discouraged; instead, the default configuration should work with all playable games, with only a few exceptions causing compatibility concerns.
The internal resolution of DuckStation is equivalent to 8K, which is incredible and allows for a considerably better and more seamless visual output.
PCSX2
PCSX2 is a free and open-source PlayStation 2 (PS2) emulator. It was also the first PS2 emulator to show that it is possible to emulate the system. It currently has a long list of game compatibility that grows with each new update.
PCSX2 emulates the PS2’s hardware using a combination of MIPS CPU Interpreters, Recompiles, and a Virtual Machine to manage hardware states and PS2 system memory.
This gives you the ability to play PS2 games on your PC, as well as a handful of additional benefits. Custom resolutions and upscaling, virtual and sharable memory cards, and a patching system are some of the benefits and features.
The project has been ongoing for nearly two decades. Surprisingly, recent versions can run most games at high speeds, while the earlier versions could only play a few public domains.
Over 80% of all PS2 games are playable, providing a fantastic experience for low-powered machines while also enabling lower-end PCs for those who want to play their PS2 games on their PC.
The emulator allows you to play games directly from the disc or an ISO image from your hard drive, giving you a PlayStation-like experience.
PPSSPP
PPSSPP is a PlayStation Portable (PSP) emulator that allows you to play most games on Sony’s initial portable console. Anyone who wants to improve the code is welcome to do so.
Due to such contributions, PPSSPP’s compatibility is gradually improving, allowing us to play our PSP games on the devices of our choice.
According to users, PPSSPP is a top-of-the-line option. If you’re searching for a “master” emulator that can achieve everything, this is the emulator for you. It even allows players to play PSP games in full HD on any PC, and it can even upscale visuals created for the smaller screen of the original PSP, which would thus be too small.
Since it has a steep learning curve, however, this option may not be ideal for everyone.
bsnes
Near’s bsnes is a cross-platform Super Nintendo emulator that places emphasis on speed, features, and ease of use. Bsnes was created in response to less reliable emulators like ZSNES.
Yuzu
Yuzu is the world’s most popular open-source Nintendo Switch emulator. It’s written in C++ for portability, and Windows and Linux builds are being actively developed.
Yuzu’s game quality is exceptional, but any game you wish to play requires constant adjusting and improvements. They even offer a list where you can check if your favorite games are compatible.
If you reach the basic hardware requirements, you can play most commercial games at full speed using the emulator.
Is Using an Emulator on Steam Deck a Good Experience?
According to user reviews, using emulators on Steam Deck has been a very positive experience, especially when emulating on PC and rendering at 4K since their graphics hold up so well, even on devices that can only display 480 p.
Furthermore, the GPU in the Steam Deck is capable of running most PS2/GameCube emulation at a considerably higher resolution for improved sharpness.
If you’re primarily using the Steam Deck as a retro emulation machine, a battery life of a minimum of four hours is expected, with up to eight hours achievable for even older systems or lower brightness settings.
Regardless of its benefits, numerous users have remarked that while emulators work, they are more complicated and time-consuming to use on the Steam Deck than on Windows. Furthermore, people have reported the emulator on Steam Deck flickering.
But don’t worry; this is due to a flaw in Steam Deck’s rendering of games. The flickering usually goes away on its own, and the overall experience has generally been very good.
Still, not every game that was put to the test by users was a full success. One of the most demanding Wii games, Mario Galaxy 2, was unable to run at full speed.
Do note that emulation is a constantly-evolving art form. Just because a game is running poorly now doesn’t mean we won’t see improvements in the months and years.
Conclusion
Many people have been trying to install emulators on their Steam Decks so that they can play older games that would otherwise require old-school hardware to operate.
While some reviews suggest the Steam Deck isn’t fully optimized for newer games, it does appear to be quite capable when it comes to imitating older systems.
Overall, emulators of all kinds run on Steam and provide a smooth experience for users, barring some small problems.