Home News Steam Deck: Guide to Playing Game Boy Games

Steam Deck: Guide to Playing Game Boy Games

Author: Gabriel Apr 12,2025

The Steam Deck is a versatile device that not only handles modern games with ease but also serves as an excellent platform for retro gaming, thanks to its PC-like capabilities. With EmuDeck, you can transform your Steam Deck into a powerhouse for playing classic Game Boy games, immersing yourself in the charm and nostalgia of these timeless titles.

Despite their age, Game Boy games hold a special place in the hearts of many gamers, showcasing the creativity and dedication of developers working within the constraints of the original handheld's limited color palette. This guide will walk you through the process of installing EmuDeck and running Game Boy games on your Steam Deck.

Updated January 13, 2024, by Michael Llewellyn: While the Game Boy games don't demand much power, achieving a perfect emulation experience on the Steam Deck involves installing Decky Loader and the Power Tools plugin. These tools allow you to fine-tune performance settings like SMTs and more. This guide has been updated to include detailed steps for installing Decky Loader and Power Tools, as well as instructions for restoring Decky Loader after a Steam Deck update.

Before Installing EmuDeck

Before you dive into the world of Game Boy emulation, ensure you have the following essentials:

A fully charged Steam Deck.
An A2 microSD card to store games and emulators.
Legally owned Game Boy ROMs.
A Bluetooth or wired keyboard and mouse for easier navigation and file transfer.

Change Developer Mode

To prepare your Steam Deck for EmuDeck installation:

Press the Steam button.
Navigate to the System menu and enable Developer Mode.
Open the Developer menu and turn on CEF Debugging.
Access the Power option and switch to Desktop Mode.

Download EmuDeck In Desktop Mode

Once in Desktop Mode, connect your keyboard and mouse, and follow these steps:

Open a browser like DuckDuckGo or Mozilla Firefox and head to the EmuDeck website.
Click Download at the top-right of the page, select Steam OS, and then Download for Free.
Choose Recommended Settings followed by Custom Install.
On the EmuDeck menu, select the Primary SD card image.
You can opt to install all emulators or just select RetroArch, Emulation Station, and Steam ROM Manager, then click Continue.
Enable Auto Save.
Skip through the subsequent screens and click Finish to complete the installation.

Quick Settings

Launch the EmuDeck program and navigate to Quick Settings.
Enable AutoSave, Controller Layout Match, Bezels, Nintendo Classic AR, and LCD Handhelds.

Adding Game Boy Games To The Steam Deck

With EmuDeck set up, it's time to add your Game Boy games:

Use the Dolphin File Manager to access your files.
Navigate to Primary under Removable Devices.
Open the Emulation folder, then ROMS, and locate the gb folder.
Ensure your ROMs are named correctly (refer to the table below for the correct file extension).
Transfer your Game Boy files into the gb folder.

Game Boy File Names

.gb

Steam ROM Manager

Once your games are in the correct folder:

Reopen the EmuDeck program and click Steam ROM Manager on the left panel.
Select Yes to close the Steam client, then click Next.
In the Parsers screen, toggle Parsers off.
Click on the three Game Boy tabs and select Add Games.
After the Steam ROM Manager finishes adding the games and their cover art, click Save to Steam.
Wait for the "Done adding/removing entries" notification, then close the Steam ROM Manager and return to Gaming Mode.

Playing Game Boy Games On The Steam Deck

With your games now in the Steam Deck library, you can play them easily:

Press the Steam button.
Open the Library.
Navigate to the Collections tab.
Choose a Game Boy game from the list and hit Play.

Customize The Game's Colors

Some Game Boy games support color options, which can be adjusted in RetroArch:

Launch a Game Boy game.
Press the Select button (with two squares above the left analog stick) and the Y button to open the RetroArch menu.
Go to Core Options and then GB Colorization.
Enable Auto for color or Off for the classic monochrome look.

Using Emulation Station For Game Boy Games

While you can launch Game Boy games directly from the Steam Library, Emulation Station offers an alternative:

Press the Steam button.
Open the Library.
Go to the Collections tab and select Emulators.
Choose Emulation Station and hit Play.
Navigate to the Game Boy icon and press A to launch your games.
The RetroArch menu can also be accessed here using Select and Y.

Install Decky Loader On The Steam Deck

To optimize the performance of your Game Boy games, install Decky Loader and the Power Tools plugin:

In Gaming Mode, press the Steam button, access the Power menu, and switch to Desktop Mode.
Open a web browser and visit the GitHub page for Decky Loader.
Click the Download icon to start the download.
Once downloaded, double-click the launcher and select Recommended Install.
After installation, restart your Steam Deck in Gaming Mode.

Installing The Power Tools Plugin

Enhance your gaming experience by installing the Power Tools plugin:

In Gaming Mode, access the Quick Access Menu (QAM) and select the new plugin icon at the bottom of the side menu.
Click the store icon next to the settings cogwheel to enter the Decky Store.
Search for and install the Power Tools plugin.

Power Tools Settings For Emulated Games

Launch a Game Boy game from the Library or Non-Steam list.
Access the Power Tools menu via QAM.
Select Turn off SMTs.
Adjust the Threads slider to 4.
Access the Performance menu through QAM, enable Advance View, and turn on Manual GPU Clock Control.
Set the GPU Clock Frequency to 1200.
Enable Per Game Profile to save customized settings for each game.

Restoring Decky Loader After A Steam Deck Update

Steam Deck updates can sometimes break third-party apps like Decky Loader. Here's how to restore it:

Switch to Desktop Mode via the Steam button and Power menu.
Launch a browser and return to the Decky Loader GitHub page.
Download the app again and select Execute without clicking Open.
Enter your pseudo password when prompted, creating one if necessary.
Restart your Steam Deck in Gaming Mode.
Access Decky Loader via QAM to ensure your app, settings, and plugins are restored.

By following these steps, you'll be able to enjoy Game Boy games on your Steam Deck with optimized settings, making the most of its larger screen and powerful capabilities.

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