One day during summer 2021 I spent several hours clicking “refresh” in the hope that I would be able to pay £4 for a reservation on a Steam Deck.
One day this summer, the console finally arrived. And while it brought with it the promise of being able to play AAA games, the first thing I went and did was install Zool: Redimensioned. .
But why install Zool?
Why did I wait over 12 months for a portable PC gaming system to play a game I could run on any PC, a repackaged re-release of a game that shipped on the A500 Mini, which was also included in the Gremlin Collection 1 for Evercade?
Two reasons:
- Zool is awesome
- I needed a game I could install quickly, one I know what to expect from, so I could get a grip of the controls
The result? The Steam Deck is probably the best handheld console I’ve had in my hands. Aside from the lack of removable, motion sensitive dual controllers, it outdoes the Nintendo Switch and I’m not even talking about the hardware specs here.
There is a thing called emulation
Of course, Zool: Redimensioned and various other titles are already available in the Steam store. But what about emulated retro gaming?
Well, RetroArch is available to install on Steam, but the last time I checked this isn’t optimized for Steam Deck. Fortunately, various other options are available for retro gaming on Steam Deck, from GOG to titles in your Epic games collection and plenty of emulation tools. Batocera is a popular choice for booting into a retro environment from the Steam Deck’s microSD card
After all, the SteamOS is based on Arch Linux, so you’re almost guaranteed to get the best of emulation available on that system. Over the next few weeks I’m going to take a look at the emulation options on the Steam Deck as well as adding the various digital distribution services where you can grab your previously purchased games and enjoy them in a whole new way.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
