List of games that dont work on Steamdeck?

[Chugster]

So I see lots of lists on unsupported games that cant be guaranteed to run but is there a definitive list of games that definitely dont run on the Deck?

I am trying to decide between the Steamdec, Rog Ally and MSI Claw

[GoalieG]

Given the sheer number of games out there, you may get a more helpful response by listing the games you really care about and seeing if folks have experience running them on any of the devices you are considering. I would also note that I am a very happy Steam Deck owner - it has become my primary gaming platform.

[Haruspex]

I wouldn't call it definite, but ProtonDB[www.protondb.com] is a great place to start.

Mostly, the Deck has issues with certain multiplayer titles that feature an aggressive anti-cheat system, like Destiny 2, Fortnite, and the newer Call of Duty games.

[Drak3]

Let me save you some time. Don’t get the Claw, Intel has major driver issues. Skip the original Ally as well, battery life is bad and you WILL kill an SD card if you use one.

If you’re going to go with a Windows handheld, the Ally X is the best offering right now, though it still has the major flaw of Windows sucking on a handheld.

Otherwise, follow Haruspex’s advice on seeing if the games you want to play run on the Deck.

[Chugster]

Oh if its only MP games that have issues then im fine, cant remember the last time I played online

[Prezidentas]

Steam deck OLED has a lot better frame pacing and better power efficiency than Ally X. Ally X however tries to push though its lack of efficiency with a bigger battery. Ally X will perform better (not counting ♥♥♥♥ frame pacing which feels ass) docked since it supports higher power levels when plugged-in.
For me a handheld without proper trackpads is instant no-buy since joysticks are unusable for first person and even third person games. Performance and efficiency doesn't matter if you can't control games properly.

[GoalieG]

Originally posted by Chugster:

Oh if its only MP games that have issues then im fine, cant remember the last time I played online

But, this goes beyond playing MP. For example, Madden 24 (and 25) won't run on Steam Deck due to EA's anti-cheat software, even in offline mode. Some games may have incompatible software like that, even preventing solo play.

[invision2212]

If you value dollar to performance than the steam deck isn’t a good buy unless you are buying the cheapest one. Not to mention it struggles hard on newer games.

You should also consider the lenovo legion go as it can be found for 600.00 often and has a better display than the Ally

[Chugster]

Well the Rog Ally (non X version) is around the same price as an SteamDeck OLED.

I was thinking of not spending over 500 as I am not sure exactly how much I will end up playing it.

I dont really want to spend 700-800 for the Lenovo or Ally X and have it sit around gathering dust if I end up preferring to stick with my desktop PC for the bulk of my gaming

[Mahjik]

@Chugster

Search YouTube for videos of some games you think you might play on a handheld like:

[Game Name] [Handheld Device Name]

like:

"God of War Steam Deck"

Take a look at the different devices with the games you think you might want to play. That will give you an idea of what you'll get for your money.

[Haruspex]

Originally posted by Mahjik:

@Chugster

Search YouTube for videos of some games you think you might play on a handheld like:

[Game Name] [Handheld Device Name]

like:

"God of War Steam Deck"

Take a look at the different devices with the games you think you might want to play. That will give you an idea of what you'll get for your money.

Absolutely. Great advice. This not only will give you a feel for how well a game will run and how it will look on the Deck, but those videos usually also test out a range of different settings and offer the "best" settings for playing that particular game.

[Drak3]

Originally posted by Chugster:

Well the Rog Ally (non X version) is around the same price as an SteamDeck OLED.

I was thinking of not spending over 500 as I am not sure exactly how much I will end up playing it.

I dont really want to spend 700-800 for the Lenovo or Ally X and have it sit around gathering dust if I end up preferring to stick with my desktop PC for the bulk of my gaming

If you're going to be using it at home and not really on the go, then that opens up the option of streaming any games that don't work natively on the deck. So long as you've got a decent wifi router, it should perform fairly well.

[invision2212]

Originally posted by Chugster:

Well the Rog Ally (non X version) is around the same price as an SteamDeck OLED.

I was thinking of not spending over 500 as I am not sure exactly how much I will end up playing it.

I dont really want to spend 700-800 for the Lenovo or Ally X and have it sit around gathering dust if I end up preferring to stick with my desktop PC for the bulk of my gaming

In that case than go to Best Buy website and looked for used asus ally. I’ve seen them for 325.00 recently

[Paulo]

Check protonDB.
The games listed as broken in protonDB page dont run on deck.