This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/steamdeck by /u/Sahbito on 2025-03-06 18:28:21+00:00.

First of all, thank you for all the upvotes, comments, and support on Part 1 of this article! Your enthusiasm truly fuels my motivation to continue, and I have more in-depth guides lined up on topics I hope you’ll find interesting, such as setting up dual screens for Wii U, DS and 3DS, online gaming on supported emulators, PKHex and Pokemon trading on the SD, the most iconic games for each console, etc… 

In the first part, I walked you through optimizing and setting up various systems on the Steam Deck, focusing on Arcade and Nintendo consoles (excluding the Switch). Now, in part 2, we’re expanding the horizon! I’ll be covering the rest of the gaming platforms, including the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Sega consoles, and more. 

Next, I want to introduce you to the three interfaces I use to launch my games: ES-DE, SRM (Steam Rom Manager), and Desktop Mode for both handheld and docked mode. Let’s get started! 

Nintendo Switch (Yuzu / Ryujinx)

⚙️ My Setup 

• Docked/Handheld Mode: Both
• Controller when docked: 8BitDo Ultimate or Dualsense (I had too many disconnection issues with the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller), for Gyro support, you have to disable Steam input in each game, using this guide
• Game Mode/Desktop Mode: Game Mode
• Launcher: SRM
• Video: Up to 60 FPS, Docked (1080p) when possible
• Sound: Stereo and Surround (5.1 sound is complex to set up in Game mode)
• Settings:
  • EmuDeck configuration
  • CryoUtilities optimizations
  • PowerTools: Disable SMT & limit to 4 cores
• Hotkeys: EmuDeck hotkeys
• Multiplayer: Native support in Yuzu/Ryujinx (but no gyro for external controllers) To use gyro: Disable Steam Input, configure each controller manually in the emulator
• Online: for certain games thanks to Yuzu’s hosting rooms (emulated local multiplayer over the internet)
• Games Played: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Pokémon let’s Go

✅ Pros 

• Playing Switch games on a Steam Deck is an achievement in itself
• FPS Boost: Many Switch games benefit from FPS mods that enhance the gaming experience.
• Faster Load Times: loading times are significantly reduced compared to the Switch
• Cheats: Useful for harder games.

❌ Cons 

• Setup Complexity: Requires firmware, keys, per-game optimizations, and manual tweaks for the best experience.
• High System Requirements: Not all games run smoothly on docked mode (1080p)
• Inconsistent Compatibility: While many games work well, others suffer from graphical glitches or performance issues.
• Battery Drain: Switch emulation is more power-intensive, leading to shorter battery life in handheld mode.
• No Reliable Switch Pro Controller Support: Frequent disconnections make it unusable with gyro and/or rumble enabled (SteamOS issue)
• Manual Gyro Configuration: External controllers lose gyro support unless Steam Input is disabled and the controller manually configured in the emulator. Switching between external controller and SD controls requires reconfiguring controls every time.
• Switch Emulation Development Status: Unfortunately, both Yuzu and Ryujinx have been shut down and are no longer under development. While there are other ongoing projects like Sudachi, the most promising one is Citron, which is making rapid progress

⚠ Note: 

In Game Mode, SteamOS uses Steam Input for each controller, meaning that all controllers appear as Steam Virtual Controllers (VC1, VC2, etc.) in games. This makes multiplayer seamless in most emulators since VC1 remains the same, and so on, as long as you have set up the controller order in SteamOS settings and VC1 to Input 1, VC2 to input 2, etc.. on the emulator. 

However, external controllers do not support gyro functionality through Steam Input for certain emulators. To enable gyro, you must disable Steam Input for each external controller individually within each game and manually configure the controllers and their order in Yuzu or Ryujinx. When switching back to handheld mode, you need to restore the Steam Deck controls in the emulator settings. This process involves a lot of manual adjustments each time. 

The ideal solution would be to enable gyro functionality for external controllers while using Steam Input, similar to how EmuDeck handles it for the Steam Deck controls with Gyro DSU. However, I haven’t found a way to achieve this yet.

🎮 Overall Experience*nbsp;

Simply being able to play Switch games on the Steam Deck is impressive. You can add mods like 60 FPS stabilizers and ultrawide screen hacks. I had a great time with my son, replaying Super Mario Odyssey, Wonder, and Pokémon Let's Go. However, setting everything up can be complicated, and performance varies depending on the game. For those willing to fine-tune the settings, it offers a solid way to enjoy Switch titles on a powerful handheld. 

I primarily use Yuzu over Ryujinx for most games since it delivers better performance and allows per-game settings. This is particularly useful for games like Pokémon: Let’s Go, which requires handheld controls to run properly. I only use Ryujinx to play Donkey Kong Country Returns. Citron emulator is also a promising project, but I’m waiting for it to reach a more mature state before considering it as a replacement for Yuzu. 

🔄 VS OG Hardware*nbsp;

The Nintendo Switch still excels in its simplicity, official support, and seamless online multiplayer experience. If you’re looking for a more powerful way to play certain Switch games, the Steam Deck is a good alternative, but it won’t replace the convenience of a real Switch, especially for online and multiplayer gaming.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder - 1080p

📸 Media

PlayStation 1 & PS2 (DuckStation, PCSX2)

⚙️ My Setup

• Docked/Handheld Mode: Both
• Controller when docked: DualSense (To me, the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller is the best option for playing any PlayStation emulator, as the button layout has remained the same since the first Sony console.)
• Game Mode/Desktop Mode: Game Mode
• Launcher: ES-DE for PS1 and SRM for PS2 games
• Video: 60 FPS, 1080p, HD texture packs (using this guide for Duckstation and this one for PCSX2), original aspect ratio
• Sound: Stereo
• Multiplayer: Yes, native on game mode for both
• Online: Yes for PCSX2 using this guide
• Settings: EmuDeck configuration + Blending accuracy : High
• Hotkeys: EmuDeck hotkeys
• Games Played: Final Fantasy VII, Gran Turismo 2, Crash Bandicoot, Metal Gear Solid 3, Shadow of the Colossus, Gran Turismo 4, ISS2, PES 6 ...

Content cut off. Read original on https://old.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/1j52brk/my_experience_playing_and_testing_various/