How to play non-Steam games on a Steam Deck

Quite a few video game titles are not registered with Steam, which is disheartening for many Steam Deck players. Thankfully, a workaround exists for playing unofficial games on the Steam Deck console. It's pretty simple and easy to do once you know how, so read our guide below!

How to install non-Steam games on a Steam Deck

Here's what you need to install a non-Steam game on Steam Deck:

• Enter Desktop Mode
• In Desktop Mode, download your game from whatever client you use other than Steam
• Open up the Steam application and hit Add a Game at the bottom left of the screen
• Find your game in your desktop files and select that game file
• Go to the game now in your Steam Library
• Go to the game's Settings, Properties, and then Compatibility. Then select the checkmark and choose Proton in the dropdown

Your game should now be ready to run on Steam Deck! Enjoy and repeat this process as many times as needed to install more non-Steam games.

Related: Best Steam Deck Settings to make Hogwarts Legacy run better

How do you know if a non-Steam game will work on Steam Deck?

Adding non-Steam games to your Steam Deck is pretty similar to running games on your PC that are not from Steam. This is because the Steam Deck essentially works as a hybrid between a PC and a gaming console. As long as you know how to download and install a game normally, you'll only have a few extra steps. So, there's no verification process. If you can install the game on your PC, you can also do it with Steam Deck.

Want to read more about Steam Deck? If so, check out Will Resident Evil 4 Remake be on Steam Deck? Answered on Pro Game Guides.