Steam Deck: How To Run Game Boy Games

Unleash Retro Gaming on Your Steam Deck: A Guide to Playing Game Boy Games with EmuDeck

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 enjoy classic Game Boy games on your Steam Deck, enhancing the experience with Decky Loader and Power Tools.

Pre-Installation Checklist:

Before diving in, ensure you have:

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

1. Connect your keyboard and mouse.
2. Launch a browser (DuckDuckGo or Firefox recommended) and download EmuDeck.
3. Choose SteamOS and select "Download for Free."
4. Opt for "Recommended Settings" then "Custom Install."
5. Select your SD card as the "Primary" installation location.
6. Choose your desired emulators (RetroArch, Emulation Station, Steam ROM Manager are recommended).
7. Enable "Auto Save."
8. Complete the installation.

Optimizing EmuDeck Settings:

1. Open EmuDeck and access "Quick Settings."
2. Enable "AutoSave," "Controller Layout Match," "Bezels," "Nintendo Classic AR," and "LCD Handhelds."

Adding Game Boy Games:

1. Use Dolphin File Manager to access your SD card ("Primary" under Removable Devices).
2. Navigate to Emulation/ROMS/gb.
3. Transfer your correctly named Game Boy ROMs (.gb extension) into this 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. Go to Library > Collections.
3. Select your Game Boy collection and launch a game.

Customizing Game Colors (RetroArch):

Many Game Boy games support colorization via RetroArch.

1. Launch a game.
2. Access the RetroArch menu (usually Select + Y).
3. Navigate to Core Options > GB Colorization.
4. Toggle "Auto" for automatic colorization or "Off" for original monochrome.

Using Emulation Station:

1. Press the Steam button.
2. Go to Library > Collections > Emulators > Emulation Station.
3. Select Game Boy and launch your games. The RetroArch menu (Select + Y) remains accessible.

Installing Decky Loader and Power Tools:

For optimal performance:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Download Decky Loader from its GitHub page.
3. Install using the recommended settings.
4. Restart in Gaming Mode.
5. Access the Decky Store via the QAM and install the Power Tools plugin.

Power Tools Optimization:

1. Launch a Game Boy game.
2. Access Power Tools via the QAM.
3. Turn off SMTs.
4. Set Threads to 4.
5. In the Performance menu, enable Advanced View, Manual GPU Clock Control, set GPU Clock Frequency to 1200, and utilize Per Game Profiles.

Restoring Decky Loader After a Steam Deck Update:

If Decky Loader is affected by a Steam Deck update:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Re-download Decky Loader from GitHub.
3. Execute the installer (don't open).
4. Enter your pseudo password (create one if needed).
5. Restart in Gaming Mode.

Enjoy your enhanced Game Boy experience on your Steam Deck! The larger screen makes these classics even more enjoyable.