Steam Deck offers a variety of features that make it a popular choice for gamers. The platform provides a convenient way to download and play Steam games. It also features a desktop mode which, when used with a mouse and keyboard in docked mode, is nothing less than a standard PC.
However, there’s a catch. The console was released in February of 2022 and is still new in the market, and the software side of things is not ideal. Hence, incompatible games and workarounds are to be expected.
If you are a die-hard fan of GOG and searching for a way to launch their installer on the console, we have developed this quick, easy guide to installing GOG games on a Steam Deck.
You cannot directly play GOG games on a Steam Deck since it is a Linux-based device. However, if you are using the Heroic Games Launcher, you can get GOG games up and running.
Read on to learn more about how to install and play GOG games on your Steam Deck.
How To Install GOG Games On Steam Deck
Since GOG’s official installer, Galaxy Installer, only works on Windows, you cannot install GOG games on a Steam Deck mainly because Steam Deck uses a Linux operating system.
As much as it sounds too complex, you can quickly install GOG games on your Steam Deck using the Heroic Launcher.
About Heroic Launcher
Heroic Launcher is an open-source project that helps you install GOG Games and Epic Games on a Linux-based operating system, including Steam Deck. It is one of the best solutions for gamers as it provides support for their favorite games across different devices.
It is easy to set up and install the Heroic Launcher on your Steam Deck. Just ensure you are closely following each of these simple steps.
Step 1. Install Heroic Launcher
Your first step would be downloading and installing Heroic Launcher on your Steam Deck. That said, you can download it in two different ways. Either download it on a PC from Flathub and transfer it to your Steam Deck or install it from the Discover Store on Steam Deck’s Desktop Mode.
We recommend the second method as it is easier and quicker. However, we’ve given you an option, just in case.
Here’s how to install Heroic Launcher from the Discover store for Steam Deck.
- Hold down the Power Button until a menu appears.
- Select Switch to Desktop Mode.
- Launch the Discover store from the applications list.
- Search for Heroic Launcher in the Discover Store.
- Click on Install.
That’s it, wait for the launcher to finish the installation.
Step 2. Use The Launcher To Install GOG Games
After the launcher has been successfully installed on your Steam Deck, log in to the launcher and download the game you’d like to play.
You can simply search for the game and install any GOG title on your Steam Deck. However, remember that most GOG titles may not be compatible with Steam Deck controls. Therefore, you should expect compatibility issues.
However, you can counter this by using a mouse and a keyboard to control the functions of your game.
Step 3. Add The Launcher To Your Steam Library
Now, if you leave the process at step 2, you will have to manually switch to the desktop mode of the Steam Deck whenever you want to use Heroic Launcher. Therefore, to make it quickly accessible, you can add it as a non-steam game to your library.
Follow these steps to add Heroic launcher to your Steam Library.
- Switch to Desktop Mode.
- Open Steam.
- Navigate to the Games tab.
- Find the Add a non-Steam game to My Library option.
- In the following menu, select Heroic Launcher from the list.
- Click on Add Selected Programs.
- Close the Steam store.
- Switch to the Game Mode, and you’ll find Heroic Launcher in the non-Steam Games section.
That’s all there is to it! Now you can enjoy your GOG games on Steam Deck.
GOG Games On Steam Deck
GOG games do not have any significant performance issues on the Steam Deck. Most of the games only have trouble configuring Steam Deck controls. However, these issues disappear if a mouse and a keyboard are used.
Although most games work fine, there may still be some games that cannot run or function properly because you are using a launcher to play them on an unsupported device. Since thousands of GOG Games are available, you probably won’t have to wait long to find the perfect one.
Conclusion
We hope the above guide helped you install your favorite GOG games on your Steam Deck. However, if you encounter any issues during the installation process or are stuck at a certain thing, feel free to revisit this guide for direction.
You can also get in touch; we’re always there to help. Until then, happy gaming!