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Xanadu Next is a Nihon Falcom action RPG with roots in the Nokia N-Gage era, and Shaun Prescott of PC Gamer reported getting it running on Steam Deck despite Steam labeling it unsupported. His workaround involved opening the separate configuration utility first and applying a community controller profile; it is a player report, not an official compatibility guarantee. Check the live Steam listing for any sale before buying.
What is Xanadu Next?
Xanadu Next is a single-player action RPG from Nihon Falcom. Steam describes it as a late entry in the Dragon Slayer series and a spiritual follow-up to the cult 1980s game Faxanadu. Its English-language Windows release is sold on Steam, with XSEED Games and Marvelous USA, Inc. listed as publishers. Steam store page
The story follows a gravely injured knight revived by ancient magic, who sets out to find the legendary sword Dragon Slayer. The adventure unfolds on Harlech Island, where sailors reportedly glimpse Castle Strangerock through the mist above Lake Orwell. Exploration, rather than a linear march from fight to fight, is central: ruins, stone tablets and letters reveal the setting’s history, while character progression includes Guardian abilities, spells, stat changes and crafting keys. Steam store page
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How does it play?
PC Gamer’s Shaun Prescott characterizes it as an isometric “slash ‘n’ grind” RPG with light puzzle-solving. Combat uses a circle-and-slash approach, and progress through the interconnected environment involves exploring, finding routes and opening doors with keys bought in the village. The village also serves as a place to rest, trade and improve the character. Prescott praised the labyrinthine world and atmosphere in his account, while describing the game as charming rather than flawless; that is his assessment, not a universal verdict. PC Gamer
#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
Can you play Xanadu Next on Steam Deck?
Steam currently labels the game unsupported, according to Prescott’s October 5, 2026 PC Gamer report. He nevertheless said he got it running by first launching the separate configuration executable, setting graphics there, then starting the game and selecting a community controller profile. He also cautioned that controller support is incomplete and mouse input may still be needed for tasks such as equipping items. PC Gamer
- Open the game’s separate configuration utility from Steam before launching the game.
- Set the graphics options in the utility, then launch Xanadu Next.
- Choose a community controller profile and be prepared to use mouse input for some interface actions, including equipping items.
This is one author’s dated experience, not an official support statement or a guarantee for every Steam Deck model, SteamOS version or later game update. Steam’s listed minimum requirements—Pentium III 866 MHz, 1 GB RAM, a DirectX 9.0c-compatible 3D accelerator with 32 MB VRAM and 2 GB of storage—are for Windows and do not establish Deck compatibility. Steam store page
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
Why does it have an N-Gage history?
PC Gamer reports that Nihon Falcom originally developed Xanadu Next for Nokia N-Gage, followed a few months later by a Japan-only PC version; the game was a Japan-only release in 2005. XSEED announced a worldwide Windows PC release for November 3, 2016, through Steam, GOG.com and Humble Store. Steam lists that same release date. PC Gamer XSEED announcement Steam store page
Is it on sale now?
Sale pricing is temporary, so check Steam’s live listing rather than relying on an older discount report. PC Gamer reported a 70% discount during Steam’s Autumn sale on October 5, 2026. A Steam listing snapshot also showed a 70% discount to $4.49 from $14.99, but that snapshot does not confirm the offer is still active or establish an end date. Steam store page PC Gamer
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
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