To check whether a game is compatible with Steam Deck, open its Steam Store page or find it in your Deck Library, then read the compatibility badge and its details. Verified means it should work out of the box; Playable means it may need adjustments; Unknown means Valve has not tested it, not that it is confirmed broken.
Check a game’s compatibility status
- Search Steam for the exact game and edition you intend to play. This helps avoid confusing it with a similarly named release.
- On the game’s Steam Store page, find the Steam Deck compatibility badge. You can also open the title in your Steam Deck Library. Valve identifies these as places to check a game’s status in its Steam Deck: Deck Verified information.
- Open the compatibility details, especially if the badge says Playable or Unsupported. Steam Support says the Store page’s Steam Deck Compatibility section shows which Verified requirements the game does not meet: Steam Deck Software Info & Troubleshooting Guide.
- Decide whether the listed limitation matters to you. For example, using the touchscreen to navigate a launcher may be fine at home but inconvenient if you expect to play entirely with the controls.
- If the result is Unknown, treat Valve’s assessment as inconclusive. Check recent developer notes or player reports as additional evidence, making sure they refer to the same game version and circumstances.
The Steam Store search interface also provides Steam Deck compatibility filters, which can help when browsing rather than checking one title at a time: Steam Store search.
What the four compatibility labels mean
| Label | What Valve’s rating means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Verified | The game works well on Steam Deck out of the box, without additional modification. | Review the details if you want to understand the criteria, then start playing. |
| Playable | The game works, but may require some manual tweaking. | Read the compatibility notes for the specific adjustment, such as choosing a community controller layout or using the touchscreen for a launcher. |
| Unsupported | Valve currently considers the game not playable on Steam Deck. | Read the Store page’s compatibility details to see which criteria it misses; the label alone does not explain the issue. |
| Unknown | Valve has not checked the game for compatibility. | Do not treat this as a confirmed failure. Look for current, version-specific information if you need more confidence before buying or launching. |
What the Verified criteria check
Valve groups its criteria into four areas. A rating summarizes the result, while the details help explain why a game may fall short of Verified.
- Input: The game should support a full controller experience, use appropriate controller input icons, and bring up the on-screen keyboard automatically when needed.
- Display: It should support the Deck’s default resolution—1280×800 or 1280×720—use suitable default settings, and present legible text.
- Seamlessness: It should not show compatibility warnings, and any launcher should be navigable with a controller.
- System support: If the game runs through Proton, its game software and middleware, including anti-cheat, must be supported by Proton.
These criteria help make a specific rating actionable: look for whether the issue is setup, controls, launcher navigation, readability, or system support. A Playable rating does not mean every game has the same kind of workaround.
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- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass, 7.4" Diagonal display size up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
- Carrying case with removable liner
How much to rely on a rating
Compatibility is a current assessment, not a permanent guarantee. Valve says reviews are ongoing: game updates and improvements to the Deck can change whether a title meets the criteria. Recheck the live listing near the time you plan to play if you are relying on an older result. Valve’s March 4, 2022 Deck Verified update described ratings as snapshots that can change; that announcement is historical context, not a current catalog count.
Valve says a game’s Deck Verified rating is the same for LCD and OLED models. That describes the rating system; it does not promise identical performance under every game version, setting, or user configuration. For broader context, Valve explains that SteamOS is Linux-based and Proton helps many Windows games run without a separate Linux port on its SteamOS Gaming page.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
- Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
- Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
Rank #3
- Operating System: SteamOS 3.0
Rank #2
- International (UK) Version
- 7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
- SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
- 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
- 6 nm AMD APU, CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32
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