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Steam Deck Verified means Valve says a game works well on Deck without extra configuration for a complete experience. The badge covers more than whether a game launches: Valve also reviews controls, text entry, display readability, launchers and system compatibility. It does not guarantee a specific frame rate in every scene. For any individual game, open its Steam Store compatibility details to see the current rating and the reason behind it.
What do the four Steam Deck compatibility labels mean?
Valve uses four labels to summarize its review of a game’s compatibility with Steam Deck. The rating describes Valve’s current assessment; it is not a substitute for the game’s compatibility details.
| Label | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Verified | Valve’s definition is that the game works great on Deck, right out of the box, without extra user configuration for a complete experience. | It is a strong sign that the game passed Valve’s checks for controls, display, usability and system compatibility. It is not a promise of a particular frame rate in every scene. |
| Playable | The game functions, but may need a manual adjustment or workaround. | Read the compatibility details for the issue. It may involve choosing a control layout, using the touchscreen for a launcher, or entering text manually. |
| Unsupported | Valve currently considers the game nonfunctional on Deck, or it failed a blocking compatibility check. | Read the Store page’s stated reason. Unsupported is a review result, not an indication that Valve has not checked the game. |
| Unknown | Valve has not completed a compatibility check for the game. | Unknown means there is no Valve rating yet; it does not establish whether the game works or fails. |
Valve describes the review as ongoing across a Steam catalog of tens of thousands of titles, with new games and updates arriving regularly. Its program page does not provide a dated current count for any Deck rating category, so a badge is more useful than an undated aggregate tally.
What does Verified actually check?
Valve’s review considers whether someone can have a usable experience on Deck, not just whether the game starts. The public criteria cover input, display, seamlessness, system support and default-configuration performance.
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- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
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Controls and text entry
The built-in controls should work, and the button prompts shown in the game should match the active input. If the game requires text entry, it should be possible to complete it using a controller and the on-screen keyboard, or an equivalent in-game method. Valve recommends SteamInput so developers can show appropriate glyphs across supported controllers.
Resolution and readable text
The game should support a Deck resolution. Valve’s overview names 1280×800 or 1280×720; its Steamworks criteria recommend native Deck resolutions and readable interface text. Steamworks specifies a minimum font-character height of 9 pixels at 1280×800 and recommends aiming for 12 pixels where possible.
Launchers and warnings
A game should not display compatibility warnings, and any launcher should be navigable with a controller. If a launcher requires a touchscreen interaction, the game may still be playable but can fall short of Verified because the user must make a manual adjustment.
Proton, middleware and anti-cheat
For a game running through Proton, the game and any necessary middleware—including anti-cheat—need to be supported. A blocking Proton or middleware problem can lead to an Unsupported rating; Valve may retest after the issue is addressed.
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- 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
What is the difference between Verified and Playable?
The practical distinction is whether the complete experience works without extra user configuration. Verified is intended to work well by default. Playable means the game functions, but the player may need to handle a specific inconvenience or setup step.
Valve’s examples include manually choosing a community controller layout or using the touchscreen to navigate a launcher. These are limited workarounds, but they matter when deciding whether a game will feel seamless on a handheld. Check the Store page’s Steam Deck Compatibility section—or the compatibility details in Library—to find the particular requirement that kept a game from meeting a higher category.
Why might a Playable game need touchscreen or controller setup?
A title can support Deck controls in general and still have one step that does not work smoothly with them. A launcher might require touch, a control layout may need to be selected manually, or a game may occasionally show a keyboard prompt that does not match the handheld controls. The badge summarizes the overall result; the detail panel identifies the specific limitation.
In its March 4, 2022 update, Valve gave historical examples of edge cases: a game that usually showed controller prompts but sometimes asked the player to “press F” could be Playable; a crash in an optional minigame or a tutorial video that failed to render could lead to Unsupported under the standards described in that announcement. These are examples from Valve’s 2022 explanation, not universal outcomes for every similar issue today.
Can I play Unsupported or Unknown games on Steam Deck?
Unknown means Valve has not checked the title yet, so the label does not answer whether it will work. Unsupported means Valve’s review found it nonfunctional or identified a blocking issue. Neither label guarantees what will happen on a particular player’s setup, but neither should be mistaken for Verified.
For a practical decision, inspect the game’s current compatibility details and the reason shown there. If the listing says Unknown, there is no Valve rating to rely on. If it says Unsupported, the stated failure can help you judge whether it affects a feature you need, but the badge itself does not promise a workaround.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does Verified mean the game runs at 60 FPS?
No. Steamworks gives a performance criterion for the default Deck configuration: a playable frame rate of 30 fps at 800p. That is a review threshold, not a promise that every scene or user-selected setting will hold that rate. Valve’s public overview refers to good default settings but does not guarantee a single frame rate for all scenes. Verified therefore does not mean 60 fps.
Frame rates can vary by scene, settings and later game or system updates. Treat the rating as evidence that Valve’s compatibility checks—including its default-configuration performance criterion—were met, not as a benchmark for every configuration.
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- 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.
Do ratings change, and do they apply to LCD and OLED Decks?
Yes, ratings can change. Valve says its compatibility review is ongoing and that games, Proton and Deck support improve over time. For games Valve has tested, it says the rating applies to both LCD and OLED Steam Deck models. Check the individual game’s Store compatibility section when you need its current result.
How should I compare compatibility for two games?
Do not compare badges alone if a specific limitation matters to you. Open each game’s compatibility details and compare the factors Valve reviews:
- Whether built-in controls work by default and whether button prompts match.
- Whether a launcher or text-entry step needs touch, keyboard input or a manual layout change.
- Whether the resolution and interface text are suitable for Deck.
- Whether Proton, middleware or anti-cheat support presents a blocking issue.
- What the rating indicates about Valve’s default-configuration performance review.
The badge gives the category; the game-specific detail explains what passed or what may require attention. Official guidance is available on Valve’s Steam Deck Verified page, the Steam Deck software and troubleshooting guide, and the Steamworks compatibility review criteria.
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