Steam Deck Review (from a non-PC gamer perspective)
A year after the release of Valve’s Steam Deck, let’s take a look at the game-changing handheld PC of 2022 from the eyes of a console gamer.
5-minute read
When I heard that From Software’s Elden Ring (2022) would be released on a handheld gaming PC, the news blew my mind. Being able to play such a graphically demanding game on a small screen sounded practically impossible to me. Releasing the Steam Deck right after Elden Ring was a genius marketing move from Valve as the news certainly impressed mobile console players worldwide. If you grew up in the midst of the Nintendo DS and PSP frenzy as I did and loved the consoles, the desire to buy this piece of tech might have crossed your mind. As such, here’s a list of pros and cons I have found while using the Steam Deck.
What’s wrong with the Steam Deck?…
I have had a couple of problems when I decided to download Elden Ring on my Deck. Software issues are not always easy to deal with from a console gamer standpoint and having to solve them by myself sometimes felt a bit tricky. Some of the problems I have encountered also happened to a few people on PC and, with a bit of research, I got my hands around the issues and fixed them. If you’re looking to play without having to put too much thought into it, the Steam Deck might not always be the best item for you out there. Of course, it becomes even more difficult if you’ve never heard of Steam before and discover the video game digital distribution platform when buying the Deck.
One of the most redundant problems with the Deck is its battery life – it is overall very short if you play AAA games. Marvel’s Spiderman (2018), God of War (2018) or Elden Ring will probably allow you to play a little over an hour and a half depending on the settings you chose to run the game with. Having to plug your charger into the device regularly can be annoying. Although if you are more into indie games and don’t mind setting low framerates to save battery life, this might not be a problem for you at all.
… But why is it so good?
Despite encountering a few problems with Elden Ring, all the other games I played have run smoothly on the Deck so far. From the newly released AAA game Hogwarts Legacy (2023) to indie game Hollow Knight (2017), the overall experience was very enjoyable, with practically no lag or huge graphics and texture glitches. The Deck is also quite adaptable as you can manage your own settings and framerates, allowing for more control over your experience.
Speaking of control and freedom over your Steam Deck experience, you can use Valve’s tool EmuDeck to help set up emulators on the device and play a variety of games that aren’t available on Steam. Though I still haven’t tried this feature, the possibilities seem endless as you can download games ranging from the good-old Mega-Drive staple to the new Switch sensation. Since the Deck acts as a Linux PC, you can also access your own desktop and roam the internet freely – though keep in mind that the interface is less practical than a regular PC.
If you still like to see things on a big screen, the Steam Deck Docking Station allows you to connect the Steam Deck to any TV or monitor. When using this device, the Deck becomes comparable to a Nintendo Switch, only you must pay the additional price of £79 GBP/$89 USD for it. However, with the Dock and a good controller, the Steam Deck offers what is closest to a full-on console experience with a portable PC – so bonus point for the adaptability.
Is it worth the money?
Depending on the Steam Deck you’d like to buy, the prices range from £349/$399 with 64GB of storage and a carrying case to £569/$649 with 512GB of storage, a carrying case and a premium anti-glare etched glass for the screen. As an indecisive person, I bought the 256GB middle-ground model, and I am very pleased with it. The cheapest option also seems satisfying as long as you buy an SD card for extra storage – especially if you like AAA games.
A little over a year after its release, there are 8698 games either verified or playable on the Steam Deck via Steam which is enough for you to play a variety of different games. Even the recent Resident Evil 4 Remake which was released on March 24 works well on the Deck. As of now, the console is easily available compared to the time of its release when people needed to join online queues and wait to have the device with them at home.
For better internal hardware and battery life, you can go for other handheld PCs such as the Aya Neo Next Advance, but the price will significantly be higher. For what it is worth, the Steam Deck is a versatile piece of tech, offering a great range of games and possibilities for the average console gamer (like me) or the PC connoisseur.
PLUTO 
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