Steam Deck: Playing Game Boy Games

Quick Links

• Before Installing EmuDeck

  • Change Developer Mode

• Download EmuDeck In Desktop Mode

  • Quick Settings

• Adding Game Boy Games To The Steam Deck

  • Steam ROM Manager

• Playing Game Boy Games On The Steam Deck

  • Customize The Game's Colors

• Using Emulation Station For Game Boy Games

• Install Decky Loader On The Steam Deck

• Installing The Power Tools Plugin

  • Power Tools Settings For Emulated Games

• Restoring Decky Loader After A Steam Deck Update

The Steam Deck is a versatile gaming device capable of running modern games and, with the help of EmuDeck, it can also serve as an excellent platform for playing retro games, including those from the original Game Boy. The charm of these classic games lies in their craftsmanship, despite the limitations of the Game Boy's monochrome display. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to install EmuDeck and enjoy Game Boy games on your Steam Deck.

Updated January 13, 2024, by Michael Llewellyn: While the Game Boy games don't require much power to run on the Steam Deck, achieving a perfect emulation experience involves installing Decky Loader and the Power Tools plugin. These tools allow you to fine-tune settings like SMTs for optimal performance. This guide has been updated to include detailed steps for installing Decky Loader and Power Tools, as well as instructions for restoring Decky Loader after a Steam Deck update.

Before Installing EmuDeck

Before you dive into installing EmuDeck, ensure you have the following essentials to run emulators and store your favorite Game Boy games:

• A fully charged Steam Deck.
• An A2 microSD card for installing games and emulators.

- Legally obtained Game Boy ROMs.

• A Bluetooth or wired keyboard and mouse for easier navigation and transferring ROMs (a docking system can be used for wired peripherals).

Change Developer Mode

To prepare your Steam Deck for EmuDeck installation, follow these steps to enable Developer Mode:

• Press the Steam button.
• Navigate to the System menu and toggle Developer Mode on.
• Open the Developer menu and enable CEF Debugging.
• Select the Power option.
• Choose Switch to Desktop Mode.

Download EmuDeck In Desktop Mode

Once in Desktop Mode, connect your keyboard and mouse, then proceed with downloading EmuDeck:

• Launch a browser like DuckDuckGo or Mozilla Firefox and navigate to the EmuDeck website.
• Click the "Download" button at the top-right of the page, select "Steam OS," and choose "Download for Free."
• Opt for "Recommended Settings" and then "Custom Install."
• In the EmuDeck menu, select the "Primary" SD card image.
• Choose to install all emulators or select RetroArch, Emulation Station, and Steam ROM Manager, then click "Continue."
• Enable "Auto Save."
• Skip through the next few screens and click "Finish" to complete the installation.

Quick Settings

After installation, configure EmuDeck's Quick Settings for an optimized experience:

• Open the EmuDeck program and navigate to Quick Settings.

- Turn "AutoSave" on.

• Select "Controller Layout Match."
• Enable "Bezels."
• Turn "Nintendo Classic AR" on.
• Activate "LCD Handhelds."

Adding Game Boy Games To The Steam Deck

With EmuDeck set up, it's time to add your Game Boy games to the Steam Deck:

• Use Dolphin File Manager to access your files.
• Click on "Primary" under "Removable Devices" on the left panel.
• Navigate to the "Emulation" folder, then "ROMS."
• Find and open the "gb" folder.
• Ensure your ROMs have the correct file extension (.gb).
• Transfer your Game Boy files into this folder.

Steam ROM Manager

Once your games are in the correct folder, use Steam ROM Manager to integrate them into your Steam library:

• Reopen the EmuDeck program and click on "Steam ROM Manager" on the left panel.
• Confirm to close the Steam client and click "Next."
• In the "Parsers" screen, toggle "Parsers" off.
• Click on the three Game Boy tabs and select "Add Games."
• After the Steam ROM Manager adds the games and their cover art, click "Save to Steam."
• Wait for the "Done adding/removing entries" notification, then close the Steam ROM Manager.
• Exit EmuDeck and switch back to Gaming Mode.

Playing Game Boy Games On The Steam Deck

Now that your games are added, you can play them directly from your Steam library:

• Press the Steam button.
• Open the Library.
• Go to the "Collections" tab.
• Select a Game Boy collection.
• Choose a game and tap "Play."

Customize The Game's Colors

Some Game Boy games support color options, which you can customize through RetroArch:

• Launch a Game Boy game.
• Press the "Select" button (with two squares above the left analog stick) and the "Y" button to open the RetroArch menu.
• Navigate to "Core Options."
• Open "GB Colorization."
• Choose "Auto" for color or "Off" for a more authentic Game Boy experience.

Using Emulation Station For Game Boy Games

While you can launch games from the Steam Library, Emulation Station offers an alternative method:

• Press the Steam button.
• Open the Library.
• Navigate to the "Collections" tab.
• Select the "Emulators" window.
• Choose "Emulation Station" and select "Play."
• Scroll to the Game Boy icon and press the "A" button to open it.
• Press "A" again to launch your Game Boy games.
• The RetroArch commands (Select + Y) also work within Emulation Station.

Install Decky Loader On The Steam Deck

To optimize the performance of your Game Boy games, install Decky Loader and the Power Tools plugin:

• In Gaming Mode, press the Steam button.
• Open the Power menu and switch to Desktop Mode.
• Launch a web browser and visit the Decky Loader GitHub page.
• Click the large "Download" icon to start the download.
• Once downloaded, double-click the launcher and select "Recommended Install."
• After installation, restart the Steam Deck in Gaming Mode.

Installing The Power Tools Plugin

With Decky Loader installed, add the Power Tools plugin to enhance your gaming experience:

• In Gaming Mode, access the Quick Access Menu (QAM) and select the new plugin icon at the bottom of the side menu.
• Click the store icon next to the settings cogwheel to open the Decky Store.
• Search for and install the Power Tools plugin.

Power Tools Settings For Emulated Games

To fine-tune your Game Boy games' performance:

• Launch a Game Boy game from the "Collections" tab or the "Non-Steam" library list.
• Press the QAM button to access Decky Loader and select the Power Tools menu.
• Turn off SMTs.
• Set the Threads to 4 using the slider.
• Access the Performance menu via QAM.
• Enable "Advance View."
• Turn on "Manual GPU Clock Control."
• Increase the GPU Clock Frequency to 1200.
• Enable "Per Game Profile" to save customized settings for each game.

Restoring Decky Loader After A Steam Deck Update

Steam Deck updates can sometimes disrupt third-party apps like Decky Loader. Here's how to restore it:

• Switch to Desktop Mode via the Steam button and Power menu.
• Launch a browser and revisit the Decky Loader GitHub page.
• Click "Download" to start the process again.
• After downloading, select "Execute" and enter your pseudo password when prompted.
• If you haven't set a pseudo password, follow the onscreen instructions to create one.
• Restart the Steam Deck in Gaming Mode.
• Access your Decky Loader app via QAM to ensure all settings and plugins are restored.

With these steps, you can enjoy Game Boy games on your Steam Deck with optimized settings. The larger screen of the Steam Deck makes it an ideal platform for reliving the classics.