The Steam Deck is a versatile gaming powerhouse, capable of handling modern titles and transforming into a retro gaming console with tools like EmuDeck.

The Game Boy era is a testament to the ingenuity of game developers. With a limited color palette and hardware constraints, they managed to create captivating worlds and unforgettable experiences. There's a certain charm in the simplicity and focus of these early games. This guide will equip you with the knowledge to harness the power of your Steam Deck and breathe new life into these classic titles through EmuDeck. Prepare to rediscover the magic of Game Boy gaming.

Before Installing EmuDeck




To get started with EmuDeck and enjoy your Game Boy games on your Steam Deck, you'll need the following:


• A fully charged Steam Deck


• A high-speed microSD card for storing games and emulators


• Legally obtained Game Boy ROMs


• A Bluetooth keyboard and mouse (or a wired setup with a docking station) for easy ROM management

Change Developer Mode


To enable Developer Mode and CEF Debugging on your Steam Deck:


1. Press the Steam button.


2. Navigate to the System menu and activate Developer Mode.


3. Access the Developer menu and turn on CEF Debugging.


4. Press the Steam button again and select Power.


5. Choose Switch to Desktop Mode.

Download EmuDeck In Desktop Mode


To begin, connect a keyboard and mouse to your device. Then, switch to Desktop mode and open a web browser like DuckDuckGo or Mozilla Firefox. Download the EmuDeck program by clicking "Download" in the top right corner of the page and selecting "Steam OS" followed by "Download for Free."


Choose "Recommended Settings" during the installation process, but opt for a "Custom Install" when prompted. Select the SD card image named "Primary" from the EmuDeck menu and again when starting up EmuDeck. You can install all emulators or choose specific ones like RetroArch, Emulation Station, and Steam Rom Manager before continuing. Enable "Auto Save," skip the following screens, and click "Finish" to complete the installation.

Quick Settings


To optimize EmuDeck settings, open the 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 installed, it's time to populate your Steam Deck with Game Boy classics. To do this, you'll need to transfer your game files to the correct location.


First, open Dolphin File Manager and navigate to the following path: Primary > Emulation > ROMS > gb. This is where your Game Boy ROMs should reside. Ensure each ROM has the correct .gb file extension (refer to the table below for guidance). Once verified, simply copy your Game Boy ROMs into this folder.


Game Boy File Names:


• .gb

Steam ROM Manager


Once your games are correctly placed in their designated folder, reopen EmuDeck. From the left panel, select "Steam ROM Manager." Confirm closing the Steam client by clicking "Yes" and proceed to the next step. In the "Parsers" screen, disable the "Toggle Parsers" option. Navigate to the three Game Boy tabs and select "Add Games." After Steam ROM Manager completes adding games and their cover art, save the changes to Steam. Wait for the "Done adding/removing entries" message to appear and then close Steam ROM Manager. Finally, exit EmuDeck and return to Gaming Mode.

Playing Game Boy Games On The Steam Deck


Your newly added Game Boy games are now easily accessible on your Steam Deck. To play, simply press the Steam button, open your Library, navigate to the Collections tab, select one of the new Game Boy collections, and launch the desired game.

Customize The Game's Colors


Surprisingly, some Game Boy games were designed with color palettes in mind, even though the original Game Boy console only displayed grayscale. Today, you can enhance your retro gaming experience by adding color to these games using emulators like RetroArch.


To enable this feature:


1. Launch your Game Boy game in RetroArch.


2. Open the RetroArch menu by pressing Select + Y.


3. Navigate to "Core Options" and select "GB Colorization."


4. Choose "Auto" for automatic colorization or "Off" to maintain the original grayscale look.


Please note that not all Game Boy games support colorization.

Using Emulation Station For Game Boy Games


While you can access your Game Boy games directly through the Steam Library, running them through Emulation Station often provides a more stable experience. To launch your Game Boy games using Emulation Station:


1. Open the Steam Library.


2. Navigate to the Collections tab, then select the Emulators window.


3. Choose the Emulation Station window and select Play.


4. Scroll to the Game Boy icon and press A.


5. Press A again to start your game.


Alternatively, you can use the RetroArch command with Select and Y while in Emulation Station.


Now that you know How to Run Game Boy Games on Steam Deck, we hope you will be able to run the games now.




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