Check the game’s Steam store listing or its entry in your Steam Deck library and look for the Steam Deck compatibility status and its details. Verified is Valve’s clearest positive signal; Playable means the game may work with caveats; Unsupported is a warning under Valve’s criteria. Unknown or untested means there is no official rating to rely on—not that the game necessarily will not run.
Where to check a game’s Steam Deck compatibility
- Find the exact game on Steam. Check that you have the right edition or store entry; editions and bundles can have different listings.
- Open its Steam store listing or its entry in the Deck library. Look for the Steam Deck compatibility status and any accompanying details. Steam’s storefront supports compatibility filters, including Verified and Playable, and displays a compatibility review date. Steam store compatibility filters
- Read the caveats, not just the category. Consider whether any listed issue—such as input, legibility, launcher behavior, or performance—would matter for how you plan to play.
The official information confirms the storefront filters and categories, but does not establish a current, exact sequence of menus in the Deck client. Navigation labels may change, so use the game’s listing or library details rather than relying on a particular button-by-button path.
What each compatibility label means
| Status | How to interpret it | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| Verified | Valve’s strongest positive compatibility signal. Its criteria are intentionally demanding. | Read any details on the listing and consider whether they address your needs. |
| Playable | The game can work, but may have usability caveats. Valve gives the example of a game that mostly shows controller prompts but occasionally asks for a keyboard key. | Check the listed issues and decide whether you are comfortable with them. |
| Unsupported | A warning that the game has a notable issue under Valve’s criteria. It does not mean no player can ever get it to run: Valve has said even an optional minigame crash or a poorly rendered tutorial video can be enough for this label. | If you still want to try it, look for recent, game-specific player reports; treat them as supplementary evidence. |
| Unknown or untested | No official rating is available to answer whether the game works on Deck. | Look for recent reports about the exact game and current build, while recognizing that reports are not an official Valve rating or a guarantee. |
Valve describes its compatibility ratings as a snapshot: ratings can change as developers and Valve address issues. Check the current listing near the time you plan to install. Valve’s Steam Deck compatibility announcement, March 4, 2022
How to assess a game without a clear rating
If the listing has no rating—or you want more detail than the official status provides—search for recent reports about the exact title and build. Community curator reports can describe whether users got a game running and note practical issues such as controls or display behavior. Give more weight to reports that identify the game version and the issue encountered, and remember that one player’s result may not match yours.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches#1 Best Overall
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass, 7.4" Diagonal display size up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
- Carrying case with removable liner
When comparing two games, consider the official status first, then each game’s specific caveats, the age of its compatibility review, and the recency and specificity of player reports. A caveat’s importance depends on your preferences; for example, an input issue may matter more if you do not want to use a keyboard. Do not treat a higher category or an individual report as proof that one game performs better than another. Steam Deck Compatibility community curator
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why a Windows game can still work on Steam Deck
SteamOS is Linux-based, but that does not mean a game needs a Linux version to run on the Deck. Valve’s Proton compatibility layer allows the vast majority of Steam’s library to run on SteamOS without developers porting every Windows game to Linux. That broad support is not a guarantee for any individual title, so check that game’s own status and caveats. Valve’s SteamOS page
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
- Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
- Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
Rank #3
- Operating System: SteamOS 3.0
Rank #2
- International (UK) Version
- 7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
- SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
- 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
- 6 nm AMD APU, CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
