How to run Daggerfall Unity via Steam on Linux + Steam deck

A simple way to install Daggerfall Unity on linux, and how to run it via steam for the overlay and hour logging.

Intro

Daggerfall Unity is a great mod that makes the game so much better! But often I find most guides focus on windows, lets fix that!

I'm going to assume you know how to enter desktop mode (on steam deck) and use file/internet browsers on linux for this guide.

Downloading and Installing DF Unity

First things first you're going to want to actually download the game. First install it via steam (duh.)

Next head on over to https://github.com/Interkarma/daggerfall-unity/

Go into the releases section, and download the linux version of DF unity. The downloads are at the bottom of the release page.


Once you've downloaded the zip extract it and copy the contents of the folder into your daggerfall directory in your steam library. It should look something like this.


That's it! Now let's make it so we run DF Unity instead of dosbox when we play via steam.

Running DF Unity via steam

Find daggerfall in your library and right click to head into properties, find the launch options section.




Now what you're going to want to do is put in a command in the launch options tab to tell steam to run df unity instead of trying to play dosbox. This command will be different for everyone since it relies on where you installed steam. Use the command below, but replace the path to your steam apps common with your own path.

"PATH TO YOUR STEAMAPPS COMMON FOLDER/The Elder Scrolls Daggerfall/DaggerfallUnity.x86_64" %command%

(you need to have the quotation marks)


If you know how to fill out the command you should be done! Launch it via steam, and do the first time set up, and you're set just as if you were using DF unity on windows! If you need help finding your steam folder keep reading.

How to find your steamapps/common folder

If you're not sure where to find the path to your common folder, here's how.

First find daggerfall and again head into properties by right clicking.

Go to the Installed Files tab of properties and click on browse to open the install location in your file browser of choice.



Once you've entered the install directory. Head into the common folder by going up one folder. This may be different for different file browsers.


This is the location of your steam apps common folder. MOST file browsers will allow you to copy the location. I can't tell you how your file browser does this, but for me, I click the three dots on the location bar. You may need to lookup how to do that for yourself if you can't do something similar.

For me, my directory was
/mnt/5d652/SteamLibrary/steamapps/common


With this in mind, I replace the path to steamapps common section and get the command,

"/mnt/5d652/SteamLibrary/steamapps/common/The Elder Scrolls Daggerfall/DaggerfallUnity.x86_64" %command%

And that's it! Now that you know how to put in the command, you can do so, and run the game via steam, it should automatically boot up DF Unity! Follow the first time set up, and have fun.

[Jobko]

Nevermind, reopening the game fixed it.

[Jobko]

Trying to play just gives me a black screen after I locate the Arena2 folder in the game and click "test".

[CtenosaurOaxacana]

@Shin Dan
To elaborate on OP's 2nd piece of advice:
right-click on 'DaggerfallUnity.x86_64', click Properties, go to Permissions tab,
then make sure 'Allow executing file as program' is check-marked.

[crust]

@Shin Dan My best guess would be you've got the path to the file wrong?

That, or for some reason dagerfall unity's executable isn't executable as a program. You can right click it to see in most desktop environments.

I'm sorry that's not much it's the best I can do with my limited knowledge. If it can work without steam, I'm betting that the command isn't proper.

[Shin Dan]

this ain't working for me. I got the command down and everything put in the folder and it just keeps exiting out when I click play.

[CtenosaurOaxacana]

I've played a lot Daggerfall Unity on Linux,
but thank you for this simple guide for setup on Steam!