Yes, you can play GOG games on Steam Deck.
So, you’ve got a Steam Deck and a growing GOG library, and the question on your mind is: can you play GOG games on Steam Deck? The good news is that it’s absolutely possible, though it might take a little extra effort than games directly on Steam.
It isn’t as simple as clicking and playing; you’ll need to do some configuration using the Steam Deck’s desktop mode to install the GOG launcher. This process will allow you to manage and play your GOG titles on your portable device. This gives you more flexibility for playing games.
Can You Play GOG Games on Steam Deck?
So, you’ve got a shiny new Steam Deck, and you’re loving playing all your favorite Steam games on the go. But what about those awesome games you’ve got on GOG? Can you play them on your Steam Deck too? The short answer is: yes, you absolutely can! But it’s not as straightforward as just clicking a button. Let’s dive into how you can bring your GOG library to the Steam Deck.
Understanding the Differences: Steam vs. GOG
Before we get into the “how,” let’s quickly look at what makes Steam and GOG different. Think of them like two different video game stores. Steam is like a big, organized mall with lots of big-name shops. It’s got lots of features built-in, like friends lists, achievements, and community features. Games you buy on Steam usually work on the Steam Deck without much fuss because they’re designed for the Steam platform.
GOG, on the other hand, is more like a special boutique store that sells digital games, but they are DRM-free. DRM stands for Digital Rights Management. This means that you own the games and can play them without needing to be connected to the internet all the time. They focus on offering classic games and newer indie games. The difference in how they work means we need to do a little extra work to get them running on the Steam Deck.
The Heroic Launcher: Your Key to GOG Games on Steam Deck
The key tool you’ll need is called the Heroic Games Launcher. This isn’t something made by Valve (the people who made the Steam Deck), but it’s a very helpful app created by the gaming community to help you bring your GOG and Epic Games Store games to your Steam Deck. Think of it like a translator that helps the Steam Deck understand the games you got from GOG. Here’s what you need to know about it:
What is the Heroic Games Launcher?
The Heroic Games Launcher is a free and open-source application. It lets you download, install, and manage your GOG games on Linux-based operating systems like the one used on the Steam Deck. It takes the work out of dealing with different installers and setup processes for your games, making it simple to play games from different platforms on your portable console.
Installing Heroic Games Launcher on Steam Deck
Getting the Heroic Games Launcher set up on your Steam Deck isn’t too tricky. You’ll need to switch to Desktop Mode, which can be done by pressing the Steam button, going to “Power,” and choosing “Switch to Desktop.” Once you are in the desktop environment, you need to use the Discover App store. Here is how:
- Open the Discover App Store: Find the blue bag icon in the taskbar and click on it.
- Search for Heroic: Type “Heroic Games Launcher” in the search bar and press enter.
- Install the Launcher: Find the Heroic Games Launcher and click “Install”.
After the installation completes, you’ll find Heroic in your application list. Now you are ready to setup your GOG Account.
Setting up Your GOG Account in Heroic
Once you have Heroic on your Steam Deck, you must link your GOG account to the app. Here’s the basic process:
- Launch Heroic: Open the Heroic Games Launcher from the application list.
- Go to Settings: Look for a settings icon, often shaped like a gear, and click it.
- Choose GOG: Locate the section where you can add your accounts and select the GOG option.
- Sign In: Enter your GOG username and password. The Heroic launcher will use this to access your games library.
After the login process, Heroic will display a list of all the games on your GOG account.
Installing GOG Games Using Heroic
Now comes the fun part – choosing which of your GOG games to play on your Steam Deck! The process for installing them is pretty easy:
- Select Your Game: In the Heroic Games Launcher, scroll through your list of games and pick the one you want to install.
- Click Install: Click the “Install” button. Usually it’s an arrow pointing down.
- Choose a Location: You will be prompted for an installation location. It is recommended that you install the games on your SD card, to save space on your device’s internal drive.
- Wait: The game will download and install. This can take a while, depending on the size of the game and your internet speed.
Once the game is installed, it should appear within your Heroic Games Launcher games library, you can now launch it directly from here, but you can also add them to your Steam Library.
Adding Your GOG Games to Steam
To easily access your GOG games from the Steam Deck’s gaming interface, you need to add them as non-Steam games. This lets you start them from the main Steam Deck menu, just like regular Steam games.
How to Add GOG Games to Steam
Here is what to do to add your non-Steam Games:
- Find the Game in Heroic: In Heroic, find the GOG game you want to add to Steam.
- Click Add to Steam: Look for a “Add to Steam” button or option in the game’s settings within Heroic. Click it.
Heroic takes care of the nitty-gritty, generating a shortcut that will work in game mode. You might find that after this, the game will not have proper artwork. No worries, you can easily solve that as well. Just do as follows:
- Go Back to Gaming Mode: Switch back to the Gaming Mode by clicking on the “Return to Gaming Mode” button on the top-right corner of the screen.
- Find the Game: Go to your Library and look for the game under “Non-Steam Games.”
- Manage the game: You can change the name of the game or the art work by pressing the start button on your steam deck and click on Manage.
Improving Performance
Sometimes, GOG games might not run as smoothly on the Steam Deck as games designed for the platform. Here are some tips to try:
Using Proton
Proton is a compatibility layer developed by Valve that allows many Windows games to run on Linux. Here is what you can do to use Proton:
- Select Your Game: Find the GOG game in your Steam library.
- Go to Properties: Press the start button and click “Properties.”
- Compatibility: Under the “Compatibility” section, you will see an option that says “Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool”. Tick the box and choose the latest proton compatibility option.
Keep in mind that different games may run better with different Proton versions. Experiment to find what works best for the game you want to play.
Adjusting Game Settings
Many games have graphics options that can be adjusted to improve performance. Try lowering the game’s graphical settings, like resolution, texture quality, and shadow detail, if it is running slowly. This can make a big difference on the Steam Deck.
Other Optimizations
- Check the Community: Look online for discussions or guides about your specific GOG game running on the Steam Deck. Other players might have already found great settings.
- Update Everything: Make sure your Steam Deck software, Heroic Games Launcher, and GOG games are all up-to-date. Software updates often have important performance improvements.
- Use the correct SD card: Using a very slow SD Card may impact the performance of some games. Check that your SD card is rated as A1 or A2.
Known Issues and Troubleshooting
Sometimes, things don’t go perfectly. Here are some common issues you might run into and how to handle them:
Game Won’t Start
If a game refuses to launch, here is what you can try:
- Try a different Proton version: As mentioned earlier, the version of Proton can impact a game’s playability. Try a different one.
- Check game files: In Heroic, there is often an option to check game files for corruption. Run that tool to check if that is the issue.
- Reinstall the game: Sometimes, a fresh install can work wonders. Try to delete and install the game again.
Game Crashes Often
If a game keeps crashing on you, here is what you should do:
- Lower graphics: Reduce graphics options within the game’s settings.
- Check the community: Search online to see if other players have experienced crashes and if they have found a solution for the issue.
Controller Issues
Sometimes controllers may not be detected, or the controls may not be properly mapped. Here is what you should do:
- Check controller settings: Within the game settings you should find an option to change or remap your controller settings.
- Check community control layouts: Often people will share custom layouts for the games, try to use those and see if the issue is solved.
Why is this extra work worth it?
You might be thinking, “Wow, this seems like a lot of steps!” Why bother when you can play your Steam games so easily? Well, there are many good reasons to get your GOG library up and running on your Steam Deck. First, you may already own the games on GOG, and do not want to buy them again on Steam. Second, GOG has a treasure trove of classic games and unique indie titles that you simply can’t find anywhere else. Plus, you can finally play your favorite DRM-free titles on the go! The ability to use the Heroic Games Launcher to play games that are not only available on steam can make your Steam Deck an incredibly powerful gaming machine that goes beyond the boundaries of the Steam platform.
In conclusion, while playing GOG games on the Steam Deck might require a little more effort than playing Steam titles, it’s absolutely doable. With the Heroic Games Launcher, you can access a world of amazing games on your Steam Deck, expanding your library and opening up new gaming opportunities. Don’t let the extra steps scare you – give it a try and have fun!
GAME CHANGER: Your GOG Library on your Steam Deck!
Final Thoughts
Yes, you can play GOG games on Steam Deck by using a third-party launcher like Heroic Games Launcher. These tools allow you to access your GOG library. Install the launcher, log in with your GOG account, and download the desired games.
You will find that ‘can you play gog games on steam deck’ is answered positively. You can enjoy your GOG titles on the handheld device. It is a must for many gamers.
