Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesCheck a Steam game’s Store page for its system requirements and supported operating systems. If you want to play on Steam Deck, also check the game’s Deck compatibility rating and open its details. These are separate checks: a Deck rating describes the Deck experience, while PC requirements describe the game’s stated hardware and OS needs.
Check compatibility on Steam Deck
- Open the game in the Steam Store or your Library on the Deck.
- Find its Deck compatibility rating: Verified, Playable, Unsupported, or Unknown.
- Open the rating details, particularly for Playable or Unsupported, to see which criteria the game meets or misses.
- If the rating is Unknown, treat it as unchecked—not as evidence that the game will run or fail.
Valve defines Verified as: “The game works great on Steam Deck, right out of the box.” Playable means the game works but may need an adjustment, such as changing controls or using the touchscreen to navigate a launcher. Unsupported means Valve currently considers it not functional or playable on Deck. Valve says ratings apply to both LCD and OLED Deck models. Valve’s Steam Deck compatibility overview explains the categories and review process.
What the rating checks
- Input: Whether the game supports Deck controls, displays suitable button prompts, and provides keyboard access when needed.
- Display: Whether it supports the Deck’s resolution, uses suitable defaults, and presents readable text.
- Seamlessness: Whether warnings and launchers can be handled without undue friction.
- System Support: Whether the game and relevant middleware, including anti-cheat where applicable, work with SteamOS and Proton.
The rating is a device-specific compatibility and usability signal, not a guarantee of a particular frame rate or performance level.
Check a desktop PC’s requirements
- Open the game’s Steam Store page.
- Scroll to System Requirements.
- Compare the listed minimum or recommended CPU, graphics hardware, memory, and storage with your PC.
- Check the supported operating system separately; meeting the hardware requirements does not make an unsupported OS compatible.
Steam Support advises checking both the game’s hardware requirements and its compatible operating systems. If Steam says “Game is not available on your current platform,” that indicates the current operating system is unsupported; the message does not tell you whether the processor or graphics hardware is powerful enough. See Steam Support’s platform and system-requirements guidance.
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#1 Best Overall
- 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
Check VR compatibility
For a VR game, inspect the Store page’s VR Support information and the title’s own requirements. Confirm both that the game supports the intended VR mode and that your PC and headset meet the requirements; headset compatibility and SteamVR PC requirements are not interchangeable. Steam Support’s Windows Mixed Reality setup guidance includes legacy headset-specific material, so verify current headset support and availability of any referenced test before relying on it.
Why Deck and PC results can differ
Steam Deck runs SteamOS; many desktop gaming PCs run Windows. SteamOS includes Proton, a compatibility layer that lets many Windows games run without a separate Linux port, but a particular game or its middleware may still behave differently. A game’s Deck rating and its Windows system requirements therefore answer related but distinct questions. Valve describes SteamOS and its software approach and provides Steamworks documentation on Deck compatibility reviews.
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
Compare the right factors for your device
| Play target | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Desktop PC | Supported operating system, then the game’s listed CPU, GPU, memory, and storage requirements. |
| Steam Deck | Deck rating and its details, including controls, text, launcher flow, and system support. |
| VR setup | The game’s VR support, the headset and VR mode, and the PC requirements for that setup. |
Valve says its Steam hardware family includes Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame, and describes expanding compatibility ratings beyond Deck. That is a developing, device-specific scope: do not assume every title already has a rating for every device. Ratings remain an ongoing review, and Unknown means the game has not been checked through the program. See Valve’s Steam hardware overview and its Deck compatibility information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If a game has a Deck problem
Install current system updates and, where appropriate, try a different Steam Play compatibility tool such as the latest Proton. This is troubleshooting, not a guarantee that the game will work; the rating details can help identify whether the issue concerns controls, display, launcher flow, or system support. Steam Support outlines Deck compatibility and Proton troubleshooting.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →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
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