The best ProtonDB alternative depends on what you need to check. For Steam Deck usability, start with Valve’s Deck Verified rating. To find native Linux releases, use the platform indicators on each store. For Windows games, check recent reports and anti-cheat status for the exact game, storefront and device—no single alternative answers all of those questions.
Which compatibility checker should you use?
| Option | Best for | What it tells you | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valve Deck Verified | Steam Deck checks | Valve’s official categories are Verified, Playable, Unsupported and Unknown. Reviews consider input, display, seamlessness and system support. | It rates the Steam Deck experience, not overall Linux desktop performance. Unknown means Valve has not checked the game. |
| Steam Linux platform indicator | Finding native Linux builds on Steam | Whether Steam lists Linux platform availability. | A native-platform indicator does not describe how a Windows build runs through Proton. |
| GamingOnLinux compatibility guide and anti-cheat list | Cross-store orientation and anti-cheat checks | Explains store-specific indicators and links to a curated anti-cheat list. | A guide or list is not a test on your exact setup, and compatibility status can change. |
| GOG Linux filter | Finding native Linux releases on GOG | Games listed with native Linux availability. | It does not establish how a Windows release behaves with Proton or Wine. |
| itch.io Linux tag or platform icon | Finding native Linux releases on itch.io | Store-listed Linux builds. | Platform availability alone does not guarantee quality, performance or support. |
| Wine AppDB | Wine application compatibility information | An alternative application database; Valve’s Proton wiki describes its rating system as similar to ProtonDB’s. | Coverage and history may differ. Check report dates and the Wine configuration involved. |
For Steam Deck: use Valve’s Deck Verified rating
Deck Verified is the strongest choice when the question is whether a game is suited to Steam Deck. Valve’s four categories describe the Deck experience, not a universal Linux compatibility status:
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- Verified: Valve says, “The game works great on Steam Deck, right out of the box.”
- Playable: Valve says, “The game may require some manual tweaking by the user to play*.”
- Unsupported: Valve says, “The game is currently not functional on Steam Deck.”
- Unknown: Valve says, “We haven’t checked this game for compatibility yet.”
Valve’s criteria cover controller input, display legibility and resolution, seamlessness, and support from Proton or the system. Its review is ongoing across “tens of thousands” of released Steam titles, according to Valve; that is a description of the catalog, not a comparison of checker accuracy or coverage. See Valve’s Deck Verified program for the rating details.
To find native Linux games, check the store’s platform labels
Steam
Steam’s Linux platform indicator is useful for identifying games with a native Linux build. It does not tell you whether a Windows-only version works well through Proton. Native builds can also vary in support, so treat the label as a starting point rather than a quality guarantee.
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GOG and itch.io
GOG’s Linux filter and itch.io’s Linux tag or platform icon help locate releases listed for Linux. These labels indicate platform availability; they do not assess performance or establish whether a Windows build runs through Proton or Wine. For store indicators across Linux, SteamOS and Steam Deck, see the GamingOnLinux compatibility guide. Launchers such as Heroic or Lutris can use Proton or Wine for some Windows releases, but that does not guarantee a particular game will work.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.For Windows games, look for reports that match your setup
Proton is Valve’s compatibility layer for running Windows games on Linux, based on a modified version of Wine and graphics API components. A compatibility report is most useful when it is recent and describes the setup you intend to use. Before relying on one, compare:
- Target device: Linux desktop or Steam Deck.
- Evidence: Official Deck review or community report.
- Storefront: Steam, GOG, itch.io or another launcher.
- Likely failure point: Anti-cheat, launcher behavior or general operation.
Game updates, Proton versions, drivers, launchers and publisher decisions can change results. Treat an older report as historical evidence, not a promise about the current build. ProtonDB remains a useful cross-check: Valve’s Proton wiki points to community compatibility reports, and Ubuntu’s Proton documentation describes ProtonDB as a crowdsourced compatibility database.
For multiplayer games, check anti-cheat separately
Do not infer compatibility from the name of an anti-cheat product alone. Valve documents support paths for Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye, but developers must enable or configure support for their games. That makes status title-specific: check the GamingOnLinux anti-cheat compatibility list and recent reports for the exact game. Valve’s Steamworks Proton documentation explains the developer configuration involved.
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- Decide what you are checking: Deck usability, native Linux availability, Windows-game behavior through Proton, or multiplayer anti-cheat.
- Match the source to the question: use Deck Verified for Deck ratings, store platform labels for native builds, and recent community reports for practical Proton or Wine behavior.
- Verify the details: check the report date, device, storefront, Proton or Wine configuration, and any launcher or anti-cheat requirements.
No published numerical comparison establishes which checker is most accurate or has the broadest coverage. Use the source that matches the game and decision you are making, and cross-check when a failure would matter.
Quick Recap
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