Anybody using a Steamdeck or another SteamOS device?

[Brock Beauchamp]

I bought a Legion Go S just after Christmas, and I'm super-impressed with the device. SteamOS is pretty sweet, though it's necessarily more complicated than owning a Switch or some other prepackaged console. I'm a parent of two kids, and I found that it was basically impossible for me to ever play a game more adult than The Legend of Zelda. The Legion allows me to be a psychotic murder hobo without the ensuing unfortunate conversations with my kids.

Who here has a SteamOS device and/or uses Steam? What games are you playing?

I'm such a fan of this device that I'm in talks with other owners to create a SteamOS news/reviews site.

[TheLeviathan]

26 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

I bought a Legion Go S just after Christmas, and I'm super-impressed with the device. SteamOS is pretty sweet, though it's necessarily more complicated than owning a Switch or some other prepackaged console. I'm a parent of two kids, and I found that it was basically impossible for me to ever play a game more adult than The Legend of Zelda. The Legion allows me to be a psychotic murder hobo without the ensuing unfortunate conversations with my kids.

Who here has a SteamOS device and/or uses Steam? What games are you playing?

I'm such a fan of this device that I'm in talks with other owners to create a SteamOS news/reviews site.

My brother in law just got a Steam Deck, I was impressed with it.  Well designed, great lighting/size on the screen, good layout for controls.  Loved how easily it could switch from game mode to browser mode.  If I wasn't so set as a console gamer I'd strongly consider it.

Playing BG3 or Expedition 33 on the go as a parent would be awesome.  

[TheLeviathan]

What are you playing Brock?

[Brock Beauchamp]

17 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

What are you playing Brock?

Right now, playing Assassin's Creed Origins. I already went through Dead Space (2023 remake), and Assassin's Creed Black Flag.

I bought during the Steam Christmas sale, and landed like 20 games. I'll be going through them for the next several months.

[nicksaviking]

I only know about 95% of the words you guys just said, but I'll ask my 15-year-old about this. He has an X-Box of some variety, the newest I think. And a switch. The Playstation has to be at least two decades old though. But there has been much talk about what will be needed when GTA 6 comes out. 

Seems like the last one came out when I was still age appropriate to enjoy all the murder and destruction. It feels like a guy in his late mid 40's shouldn't enjoy that stuff now, but I'm really excited to run over a bunch of people on the sidewalk and blow up police cars just to find out.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Right now, playing Assassin's Creed Origins. I already went through Dead Space (2023 remake), and Assassin's Creed Black Flag.

I bought during the Steam Christmas sale, and landed like 20 games. I'll be going through them for the next several months.

I could practically adopt you as one of my sons.

[Danchat]

I've got a Steamdeck and have been going through a bunch of classic games using EmuDeck. I have a big backlog of Steam games and classic games to go through, and I like being able to not have to be at my computer to do it. I'm making my way through the Batman Arkham games and have been going through N64 and PS2 games.

[TheLeviathan]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

I've got a Steamdeck and have been going through a bunch of classic games using EmuDeck. I have a big backlog of Steam games and classic games to go through, and I like being able to not have to be at my computer to do it. I'm making my way through the Batman Arkham games and have been going through N64 and PS2 games.

The Arkham games are all-timers.  Just fantastic.

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

I've got a Steamdeck and have been going through a bunch of classic games using EmuDeck. I have a big backlog of Steam games and classic games to go through, and I like being able to not have to be at my computer to do it. I'm making my way through the Batman Arkham games and have been going through N64 and PS2 games.

I'll end up buying the final Arkham game sooner or later. I have it on Xbox, but never played all the way through.

[PseudoSABR]

I bought my stepson a Legion Go 1 last Xmas, it came with Windows 11, which was part of the appeal.  

Brock, did yours come with SteamOS installed, or is that something you did on your own.

[Brock Beauchamp]

16 hours ago, PseudoSABR said:

I bought my stepson a Legion Go 1 last Xmas, it came with Windows 11, which was part of the appeal.  

Brock, did yours come with SteamOS installed, or is that something you did on your own.

I bought the SteamOS version. After doing some reading on the subject (and at the advice of a good friend), the SteamOS version has a bunch of plusses, and few minuses.

First and foremost being that without a Windows layer running on the device, framerates are 20% better on pretty much any game. Also, SteamOS is wayyyyyyy more small-screen friendly than Windows.

On the downside, SteamOS has less compatibility with games. But thus far, it hasn't really been a problem for me.

[PseudoSABR]

On 1/23/2026 at 8:48 PM, Brock Beauchamp said:

I bought the SteamOS version. After doing some reading on the subject (and at the advice of a good friend), the SteamOS version has a bunch of plusses, and few minuses.

First and foremost being that without a Windows layer running on the device, framerates are 20% better on pretty much any game. Also, SteamOS is wayyyyyyy more small-screen friendly than Windows.

On the downside, SteamOS has less compatibility with games. But thus far, it hasn't really been a problem for me.

I convinced my wife he could use it for school too. 😁

[Brock Beauchamp]

10 hours ago, PseudoSABR said:

I convinced my wife he could use it for school too. 😁

The Windows device is definitely more versatile.