Steam Deck: How To Run Game Boy Games

Unleash Retro Gaming on Your Steam Deck: A Comprehensive Guide to EmuDeck and Game Boy Emulation

The Steam Deck's versatility extends beyond modern titles; its PC-like architecture makes it a powerhouse for retro gaming. This guide details how to install EmuDeck and play Game Boy games on your Steam Deck, maximizing performance and customization.

Pre-Installation Essentials:

Before beginning, ensure you have:

• A fully charged Steam Deck.
• An A2 microSD card for game and emulator storage.
• Legally obtained Game Boy ROMs.
• A Bluetooth or wired keyboard and mouse (recommended for easier navigation).

Enabling Developer Mode:

1. Press the Steam button.
2. Navigate to System > Developer Mode and enable it.
3. Enable CEF Debugging within the Developer menu.
4. Power > Switch to Desktop Mode.

Installing EmuDeck (Desktop Mode):

1. Connect your keyboard and mouse.
2. Download EmuDeck via a browser (e.g., DuckDuckGo, Firefox). Choose SteamOS and the free download.
3. Select Recommended Settings then Custom Install.
4. Choose your SD card (Primary) as the installation location.
5. Select desired emulators (RetroArch, Emulation Station, Steam ROM Manager recommended).
6. Enable Auto Save.
7. Complete the installation.

Optimizing EmuDeck Settings:

Access Quick Settings within EmuDeck and enable:

• AutoSave
• Controller Layout Match
• Bezels
• Nintendo Classic AR
• LCD Handhelds

Adding Game Boy Games:

1. Use Dolphin File Manager to access your SD card (Primary > Emulation > ROMs > gb).
2. Ensure ROMs are correctly named (.gb extension).
3. Transfer your Game Boy ROMs to the gb folder.

Integrating with Steam ROM Manager:

1. Open EmuDeck and select Steam ROM Manager.
2. Close the Steam client (if prompted).
3. Disable Toggle Parsers.
4. Add your Game Boy games.
5. Save to Steam.

Playing Your Games:

1. Press the Steam button.
2. Open your Library > Collections.
3. Select your Game Boy collection and launch a game.

Enhancing Visuals:

Many Game Boy games support colorization. Access RetroArch's Core Options > GB Colorization to enable automatic or manual color adjustments.

Utilizing Emulation Station:

Emulation Station provides an alternative launcher:

1. Library > Collections > Emulators > Emulation Station.
2. Select Game Boy and launch your games.

Boosting Performance with Decky Loader and Power Tools:

For optimal performance, install Decky Loader and the Power Tools plugin:

1. Download Decky Loader from its GitHub page in Desktop Mode.
2. Install using the recommended settings.
3. Restart in Gaming Mode.
4. Install Power Tools via the Decky Store.
5. Adjust Power Tools settings (disable SMTs, set threads to 4, adjust GPU clock if needed) for each game using the Per Game Profile feature.

Restoring Decky Loader After Updates:

Steam Deck updates may remove Decky Loader. Reinstall it from the GitHub page as described above, remembering your pseudo password.

Enjoy your classic Game Boy games on the larger screen of your Steam Deck! Remember to always obtain ROMs legally.