There is no single one-to-one ProtonDB replacement: the best checker depends on whether you need a Steam Deck rating, a native Linux build, Windows-game Proton reports, or multiplayer anti-cheat status. For a Steam Deck decision, start with Valve’s Deck Verified rating; for desktop Linux or games outside Steam, combine store platform indicators with current community reports and a separate anti-cheat check.
Which ProtonDB alternative should you use?
| Resource | Best for | What it tells you | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valve Deck Verified | Checking games on Steam Deck | Valve’s Deck-specific rating: Verified, Playable, Unsupported, or Unknown. | It rates the Deck experience, not desktop Linux performance. Unknown means Valve has not checked the game. |
| Steam Linux platform indicator | Finding native Linux releases on Steam | Whether Steam lists a Linux version for the game. | It does not establish how a Windows-only version will run through Proton. |
| GamingOnLinux compatibility guide and anti-cheat list | Cross-store checks and multiplayer risk | Store-specific indicators and a curated list of anti-cheat compatibility information. | These references are not a test of your exact setup; check current status and recent reports. |
| GOG Linux filter | Finding native Linux releases on GOG | Games GOG lists as available for Linux. | It does not show whether a Windows release works through Proton or Wine. |
| itch.io Linux tag or platform icon | Finding native Linux games on itch.io | Linux builds identified by the store or creator. | A platform listing alone does not guarantee quality, performance, or ongoing support. |
| Wine AppDB | Looking up Wine compatibility information | Application reports and ratings; Valve’s Proton wiki describes its rating system as similar to ProtonDB’s. | Coverage, report dates, and tested Wine configurations may differ from your setup. |
Pick a checker for your device and storefront
Steam Deck: use Valve’s rating, then inspect the details
Deck Verified is the most direct alternative when the question is whether a Steam game suits the Steam Deck. Valve’s review considers controller input, display legibility and resolution, seamlessness, and Proton or system support. The four categories have distinct meanings: Verified is intended to work well out of the box; Playable may require some manual adjustment; Unsupported is currently not functional on Deck; and Unknown means Valve has not checked it. Read the rating as a Deck-specific assessment, not a guarantee about every Linux PC.
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Steam desktop: separate native builds from Proton
Steam’s Linux platform indicator is useful for finding games with a native Linux build. It answers a different question from ProtonDB, which is useful for community experience running Windows games through Proton. A native build is not automatically the best-supported option, and a Linux store label does not describe the behavior of a Windows-only release. The GamingOnLinux compatibility guide explains how store indicators differ.
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GOG’s Linux filter and itch.io’s Linux tag or platform icon help identify games offered with native Linux builds. If the title is Windows-only, those indicators do not tell you whether it works under Wine or Proton. Launchers such as Heroic or Lutris can run some Windows releases through compatibility layers, but that is a separate compatibility question from whether the store supplies a Linux build.
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Multiplayer: check anti-cheat for the exact game
Anti-cheat support can determine whether a game launches successfully but lets you join multiplayer. Valve documents support paths for Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye, but developers or publishers must configure the relevant game build; BattlEye titles also require a manual configuration step. The anti-cheat product name alone is not enough to establish compatibility. Check the current GamingOnLinux anti-cheat list and recent reports for the specific title.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to judge a compatibility report
Compatibility reports are evidence about a particular combination of game version, compatibility layer, hardware, drivers, launcher, and settings—not a permanent property of a game. Before relying on a report, check:
- Target device: Is the report from a Steam Deck or a desktop Linux system similar to yours?
- Evidence type: Is it Valve’s official Deck assessment, a store platform listing, or a player’s report?
- Storefront and build: Does it cover the Steam, GOG, or itch.io release you own, and a native or Windows build?
- Version and date: Does the report mention the game update, Proton or Wine version, driver, launcher, and date? Recent reports matter more when a game or its anti-cheat changes.
- Failure mode: Does the issue concern launching, graphics, input, a launcher, or multiplayer anti-cheat? A successful launch does not prove every feature works.
Proton is Valve’s compatibility layer for running Windows games on Linux, based on a modified Wine and graphics API components. Its behavior can change with game updates, Proton releases, drivers, launchers, and publisher decisions. Treat older reports as a lead to investigate, not a current guarantee. ProtonDB is still worth checking alongside these alternatives: Valve’s Proton documentation points to community compatibility reports, and Ubuntu’s Proton/Steam Play documentation also describes ProtonDB as a crowdsourced compatibility database.
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A practical checking sequence
- Identify the question. Decide whether you need Deck usability, a native Linux version, Windows-game Proton/Wine behavior, or multiplayer access.
- Check the relevant official or store listing. For Deck, look up the game in Valve’s Verified program. For native availability, inspect the Linux platform indicator on Steam or the Linux filter/tag on GOG or itch.io.
- Find reports for the same build and device. Use ProtonDB or Wine AppDB for compatibility experiences, and prioritize recent reports that name their configuration.
- Verify multiplayer separately. If the game uses anti-cheat, consult the current curated list and recent game-specific reports; do not infer support from the anti-cheat brand alone.
- Recheck before relying on an old result. Game, Proton, driver, launcher, and anti-cheat changes can make a once-valid report stale.
What these alternatives can—and cannot—settle
No published comparison here establishes that one database is universally more accurate or comprehensive. Valve says its Deck review is ongoing across tens of thousands of released Steam titles, but that is not a comparative coverage or success-rate figure. Use each source for the claim it is positioned to answer: Valve for its Deck review, store indicators for listed native builds, and dated reports for observed behavior on a particular setup.
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