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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Verified means a game meets Valve’s compatibility checks for a good Steam Deck experience with no special setup; Playable means it works but may require an adjustment. The badge is about compatibility, not a score of a game’s overall quality. Check the game’s Compatibility details to see what, if anything, you may need to do.
What each Steam Deck compatibility label means
| Label | Valve’s meaning | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Verified | “The game works great on Steam Deck, right out of the box.” It passes the compatibility checks without user configuration to access all functionality. Valve’s Verified program and Steamworks documentation. | A strong choice if you want to start playing without first changing settings. The label does not promise identical performance in every scene or configuration. |
| Playable | The game functions, but may require manual tweaking. Valve’s Verified program and Steamworks documentation. | Read the compatibility note: the caveat might be as minor as selecting a community controller layout, opening the on-screen keyboard yourself, or using the touchscreen for a launcher. |
| Unsupported | The game currently does not function on Deck, or has a blocking compatibility problem. Valve’s Verified program and Steamworks documentation. | Expect an issue that prevents normal play at the time of review. Game, Proton, or Deck updates can change the result. |
| Unknown | Valve has not completed a review. Valve’s Verified program and Steamworks documentation. | The label is not a failed test; Valve has not provided a rating. |
What Valve checks
Valve’s public checklist groups compatibility under four headings: Input, Display, Seamlessness, and System Support. Its developer-facing Steamworks documentation also specifies a default-configuration performance threshold.
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Input: controls, prompts, and text entry
The game must support the Deck’s built-in controls, and all content must be accessible through the default controller configuration without requiring an in-game settings change. On-screen button prompts should match the active input. If text entry is required, the game should invoke Steam’s on-screen keyboard or provide a controller-only way to enter text. Steamworks compatibility checklist.
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Display: resolution and readable text
The game must run at a supported Deck resolution; Valve recommends the native 1280×800 or 1280×720 resolutions. At 1280×800, the smallest interface characters must be at least 9 pixels high to meet the documented legibility check; Valve recommends aiming for 12 pixels where possible. The public checklist also considers whether default settings are suitable and text is legible. Steamworks compatibility checklist and Valve’s public checklist.
#1 Best Overall
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass, 7.4" Diagonal display size up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
- Carrying case with removable liner
Performance: a default-configuration review threshold
Steamworks specifies a playable frame rate of 30 fps at 800p on the default configuration. This is a review threshold, not a promise that every scene will hold a locked 30 fps or that every user’s settings will produce the same result. Steamworks compatibility checklist.
Seamlessness: warnings and launchers
A game should not warn that Deck hardware or software is unsupported. Any launcher must be fully navigable with a controller, although Valve strongly recommends avoiding a launcher requirement. A launcher that needs touchscreen input or another extra step can be a Playable caveat. Steamworks compatibility checklist.
Rank #2
- International (UK) Version
- 7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
- SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
- 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
- 6 nm AMD APU, CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32
System support: Proton and middleware
For games that run through Proton, the game and required middleware must be supported. Valve specifically calls out anti-cheat: unsupported middleware can prevent a game from working and contribute to an Unsupported rating. Valve’s public checklist and Steamworks compatibility checklist.
How to check a game’s rating and caveats
- Open the game’s Steam Store page or find it in your Deck library. Reviewed games display a compatibility rating there. Valve’s program page.
- Read the Steam Deck Compatibility section on the Store page. It explains which requirement is not met for a game with a caveat; Steam Support directs users there for the explanation. Steam Support: Steam Deck compatibility.
- Use the detail, not just the color or badge, to decide. Consider how much setup is involved, whether the caveat affects content you want to play, and whether the game has been reviewed at all.
On Deck, you can also filter your library by compatibility rating. A badge does not measure story, difficulty, value, or overall game quality; it describes compatibility with the Deck.
Rank #3
- Operating System: SteamOS 3.0
Why ratings can change
Valve’s review reflects a particular state of a game and the Deck’s software. Updates to the game, Proton fixes, new Deck features, or further review information can change the rating. Valve described ratings as a snapshot in its March 4, 2022 announcement: “Whenever we talk about compatibility rating numbers, we emphasize that this is just a snapshot of a single moment, and that ratings change over time.” Valve, March 4, 2022.
Valve tests titles against the checklist and gives developers detailed results. The documented workflow includes a developer preview period before results may publish automatically after roughly a week if the developer takes no action. Games can enter review through automated heuristics, Valve prioritization, or a developer request when that option is available. Steamworks documentation.
Rank #4
- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
- Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
- Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
Do the ratings apply to both Steam Deck models?
Yes. Valve says a title’s existing compatibility rating applies to both LCD and OLED Steam Deck models. That shared rating is not a promise of identical frame rates, battery life, or visual performance across every setting. Valve’s Steam Deck OLED information.
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