Steam Deck: Running Game Boy Games

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Steam ROM Manager

With your games in their designated folder, reopen the EmuDeck program and follow these steps:

• Click on Steam ROM Manager in the left panel.
• Confirm closing the Steam client by selecting Yes, then click Next.
• In the Parsers screen, turn off Toggle Parsers.
• Click on the three Game Boy tabs.
• Choose Add Games.
• After the Steam ROM Manager has finished adding the games and their cover art, click Save to Steam.
• Wait for the “Done adding/removing entries” notification and close the Steam ROM Manager.
• Exit EmuDeck and switch back to Gaming Mode.

Playing Game Boy Games On The Steam Deck

Once your games are added, you can easily access them from your Steam library:

• Press the Steam button.
• Open the Library.
• Go to the Collections tab.
• Select the Game Boy section.
• Choose your game and hit Play.

Customize The Game's Colors

Some Game Boy games include a color option, despite the original Game Boy's monochrome display. You can enhance your gameplay with colors or different tones through RetroArch.

Note that not all Game Boy games support color.

• Start a Game Boy game.
• Press the select button with two squares above the left analog stick and the Y button to access the RetroArch menu.
• Navigate to Core Options.
• Open GB Colorization.
• Enable Auto for color or choose Off for a more authentic Game Boy experience.

Using Emulation Station For Game Boy Games

While you can launch your Game Boy games directly from the Steam Library, Emulation Station offers an alternative approach. It can be particularly useful if you encounter issues with retro titles:

• Press the Steam button.
• Open the Library.
• Navigate to the Collections tab.
• Select the Emulators section.
• Open the Emulation Station window and click Play.
• Scroll to the Game Boy icon and select it with the A button.
• Press A to start your Game Boy games.
• The RetroArch commands using Select and Y also work within Emulation Station.

Install Decky Loader On The Steam Deck

To optimize the performance of your Game Boy games on the Steam Deck, the EmuDeck developers recommend installing Decky Loader along with the Power Tools plugin. Here’s how to set them up:

For easier navigation, connect a wireless or wired keyboard and mouse. If unavailable, use the onscreen keyboard and trackpads.

• In Gaming Mode, press the Steam button.
• Access the Power menu and switch to Desktop Mode.
• Open a web browser in Desktop Mode and visit the GitHub page for Decky Loader.
• Scroll down and click the large Download icon to start the download.
• Once downloaded, double-click the launcher and select Recommended Install.
• After installation, restart your Steam Deck in Gaming Mode.

Installing The Power Tools Plugin

With Decky Loader installed, you can further enhance your Game Boy gaming experience by adding the Power Tools plugin and adjusting your settings.

• In Gaming Mode, access the Quick Access Menu (QAM) and select the new plugin icon at the bottom of the side menu.
• Click the store icon next to the settings cogwheel to enter the Decky Store.
• Use the search bar to find and install the Power Tools plugin, or scroll down to locate it.

Power Tools Settings For Emulated Games

• Press the Steam button to open the Library and launch a Game Boy game from the Collections tab or the Non-Steam Library list.
• After the game starts, press the QAM button to access Decky Loader and select the Power Tools menu.
• Choose Turn off SMTs.
• Adjust the slider to set the Threads to 4.
• Press the QAM again to access the Performance menu.
• In the Performance menu, enable Advanced View.
• Turn on Manual GPU Clock Control.
• Increase the GPU Clock Frequency to 1200.
• Enable the Per Game Profile feature to save customized settings for each game.

Restoring Decky Loader After A Steam Deck Update

Major updates to the Steam Deck can significantly alter the user interface, potentially breaking compatibility with third-party apps like Decky Loader. Here’s how to restore your Decky Loader and any installed plugins, including Power Tools:

• Switch back to Desktop Mode by pressing the Steam button and selecting the Power menu.
• Once in Desktop Mode, launch a browser.
• Navigate to the Decky Loader GitHub page and click the Download button to start the download again.
• After downloading, select only the Execute option, avoiding Open.
• When prompted, enter your pseudo password in the pop-up box.
• If you haven’t set a pseudo password yet, follow the onscreen instructions to create one. (Choose a strong password you’ll remember for future unofficial app installations.)
• Restart your Steam Deck in Gaming Mode after installation.
• To confirm that your Decky Loader app, settings, and plugins are restored, press the QAM button to access your program. If a Steam Deck update ever removes your Decky software, repeat these steps.

With these steps, you’re now equipped to enjoy Game Boy games on your Steam Deck and fine-tune the settings to your preference. The larger screen of the Steam Deck makes it an ideal platform for reliving the classics.

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