How To Find Hidden Games On Steam Deck

How to Find Hidden Games on Steam Deck

The Steam Deck is like a magical treasure chest for video games, isn’t it? You can carry so many games with you wherever you go. But sometimes, it feels like there are games hiding in the shadows. Maybe you bought a bundle of games and some are not showing up, or perhaps you are using different filters and missing some good games. Let’s go on an adventure to learn how to find those games you might not see at first glance on your Steam Deck. We’ll explore all the nooks and crannies so no game is left behind!

Understanding Your Steam Library

First, let’s talk about your Steam library. It’s like a bookshelf, where all your games are kept. But sometimes, not every book is standing straight up and visible. Your Steam library on the Steam Deck can be a bit tricky, so knowing the basics is really helpful.

Basic Steam Library Navigation

The main place where you’ll find your games on the Steam Deck is called the “Library” tab. When you open your Steam Deck, you’ll see several tabs at the top, like “Home,” “Store,” and “Library.” Tap or select “Library” to see all your games. It’s like walking into a game store filled with your personal collection. Inside, you will find that your games are typically organized into a few sections.

• Installed: This section shows games that are actually downloaded and taking up space on your Steam Deck. These games are ready to play right away!
• Ready to Play: This section shows games that you have purchased or obtained, but are not yet installed. They’re waiting for you to give them a try.
• Collections: If you use Steam on a computer, you know what collections are. These are groups of games you’ve created and are a great way to stay organized.
• All Games: When you want to see every single game you have on your account this tab will show the whole list.

It’s useful to go between these sections often to find the games you are looking for and not miss any.

The Steam Deck’s Search Function

If you know the name of the game you want to find, using the search bar is the fastest way. On the Steam Deck, you’ll find a magnifying glass icon near the top right of your library screen. Click on that, and a keyboard will appear. Type in the name of the game, and Steam will show you all the games that match what you typed. This is super handy for when your library gets really big.

Filtering Your Steam Library

Filters are like special glasses that let you see only certain kinds of games. If you have a very big game collection, then you know the pain of scrolling and scrolling to find just one game! Steam allows you to use filters to organize the games you see. Let’s explore the different kinds of filters and how they can help you find hidden gems.

Filtering by Category

Steam uses categories to group games together. Some common categories are:

• Action: Games that involve fast-paced fighting and movement.
• Adventure: Games where you explore and solve puzzles.
• RPG (Role-Playing Game): Games where you play as a character and make choices that affect the story.
• Strategy: Games that involve careful planning and tactics.
• Indie: Games made by smaller, independent developers.

To filter by category, look for a button on your library screen that says “Filter” or a similar name. Sometimes, it looks like a funnel. Click it, and you will see all of the categories of games. Click on the categories you want to use and only the games that fit those categories will show up!

Filtering by Operating System

The Steam Deck is very flexible! It can play games that are made for Windows, and it can also play games that are made for Linux (the system the Steam Deck uses). Sometimes a game will work on Windows, but won’t work correctly on the Steam Deck (or vice versa). Sometimes, there are games that work just fine for both systems. When filtering by Operating System, you can choose whether to see just games that work on SteamOS (the Steam Deck’s version of Linux), just games that work on Windows, or both.

To filter by operating system, look for that same “Filter” button on the library screen, or for a drop-down menu labeled similar to “OS” or “Platform” inside that filter. Click on it and pick the one you want to filter by.

Filtering by Play Status

This filter helps you see the games that you are playing or have played and those that you have not.

• Unplayed: This shows games you own but haven’t played before. If you see a lot of unplayed games, it might be time for a new adventure!
• Played: This shows games you’ve already spent time on. You might return to these to play some more.

If you’re searching for something new to play, this filter can help a lot! Just go to “Filter” and look for an option about Play Status.

Using Multiple Filters Together

You can use more than one filter at a time. For example, you can search for “Action” games that are “Unplayed” and that work on SteamOS. This helps you really narrow down your library and find just the right kind of game for what you want to play at that time.

Handling Hidden Game Cases

Sometimes games might not show up because of special reasons. There can be hidden games that don’t show up in your library at first. Let’s go through some of those reasons and how to fix them.

Games Not Showing After Purchase

Sometimes, you might buy a game and it doesn’t appear in your library right away. This can be confusing, but there are a couple of things you can try:

1. Restart Steam: Sometimes, Steam just needs a little nudge. Close the Steam app on your Steam Deck completely, then open it again. This can refresh your library and show the game.
2. Check Your Purchase History: Go to your Steam account and check your purchase history to make sure the game went through. If you don’t see the game in your purchase history, you may have made a mistake while buying it.
3. Check for Steam Client Updates: Steam is always being improved, and sometimes your Steam app might be out of date. Check if there’s a new update. Go to “Settings” then to “System” to update your Steam client to the latest version.
4. Contact Steam Support: If none of those things work, it’s time to ask for help from the Steam team. They can help you figure out why the game isn’t showing up. You can find support information on the Steam website.

Games Filtered Out By Mistake

Sometimes, you might accidentally set up a filter and forget about it. It’s like having a secret door that you don’t know is there. Make sure to check your filters regularly. Reset the filters if you aren’t sure and make sure you are not hiding anything.

Games Hidden By Account Settings

It’s also good to know that Steam does have family settings that can hide some of your games. This can be helpful if you are letting younger people use the account. The account owner can set restrictions on certain games and not let them appear in the library. So, if you aren’t seeing a game you think you have, then you might need to look into those settings.

Games Installed in Different Locations

When you install a game, the Steam client on your Steam Deck will save it to a particular location on the storage. If you use an SD card, sometimes the game might have been installed on the SD card instead of on the internal storage of the Steam Deck. So if you change your storage and the game doesn’t seem to be there, the storage could be the reason.

Tips for Organizing Your Library

Keeping your game library organized can make it easier to find the games you want and keep your Steam Deck working smoothly. A few small actions can make a big difference.

Create Custom Collections

If you’re a fan of specific types of games, you can make your own special collections. For example, you can have a collection for “Racing Games,” or “Relaxing Games,” or “Games to Play with Friends.” To create a new collection, just right-click on a game and choose “Add to Collection.” Then you can make new categories and customize them with a name and picture. This is good if you have hundreds of games and don’t want to sort through the whole list every time.

Regularly Review Your Library

Once in a while, it’s a good idea to go through your entire library. You can find games you might have forgotten about. You can also find games you have never tried. Reviewing is a good time to clean up games you won’t play anymore, so it is easier to find the games you do enjoy!

Use the “Favorite” Option

If you find yourself going back to a certain game frequently then you can click on it and add it to the list of your favorite games. This will make them appear at the top of your list when you go to your library, and is really handy for making your most played games easier to find!

Utilizing Steam Tags

Steam uses tags for each game, and these tags are given to a game by the people who have played it. You can see the tags on the store page for any game. These tags are also a form of category. While you can’t filter your library using these tags, they can be helpful when you are looking for new games to buy. You can use the tags as a guide to help you discover new games!

Community Resources

You’re not alone on your Steam Deck adventure! There are many other people out there playing the same games. Here are some cool resources you can check out for ideas and new ways to find great games:

Steam Forums

The Steam community forums are a great place to find tips, tricks and even friends. If you have an issue with a game that you are trying to find, you can talk to other players and ask for help. It’s a great place to get advice from other players.

Reddit Communities

There are many groups on Reddit that talk about Steam games and the Steam Deck. You can find out all the latest news and even get some good recommendations. Just do a search for “Steam Deck” on Reddit and you will find all sorts of useful advice!

YouTube Channels

There are some great YouTubers that talk about the Steam Deck and Steam games. They will often show you how to play games and make recommendations about new games to try. They might even talk about some of those hidden games that you have been missing!

Friends

Don’t be afraid to ask your friends what they have been playing! Talking to your friends is a great way to hear about a game you may not have tried before. Friends can tell you what games are really good, and they might even have some helpful advice about a hidden game that you have been missing.

Finding all of your games on the Steam Deck can be a fun quest! It just takes a little time to learn all the features. Once you know how to filter, organize, and troubleshoot those hidden games you are going to be able to enjoy your Steam Deck that much more.