The short answer
Valve rates every tested game Verified, Playable, Unsupported or Unknown on Steam Deck. To be Verified, a game needs full controller support with correct button icons, an on-screen keyboard when text is needed, support for the Deck's default resolution with legible text, no launchers or warnings that break the flow, and full compatibility with Proton, including middleware and anti-cheat. Most games that land on Playable miss on text size, mouse-only menus or launchers, all of which are fixable.
The four ratings
| Rating | What it means for players |
|---|---|
| Verified | Works great out of the box with little or no user effort |
| Playable | Works, but may need settings changes, touchscreen use or a community controller layout |
| Unsupported | Does not currently work on Steam Deck |
| Unknown | Valve has not tested it yet |
The four criteria
Input
- Full controller support: every part of the game, including menus and settings, works without mouse or keyboard.
- Correct glyphs: button prompts match the Deck's controls, not keyboard keys or another console's buttons.
- On-screen keyboard: when the game asks for text, the keyboard appears automatically.
Display
- Supports the default resolution of 1280×800 or 1280×720.
- Text is legible at the Deck's screen size.
- Default graphics settings give a good experience without tweaking.
Seamlessness
- No compatibility warnings when the game starts.
- Any launcher or account screen can be navigated with the controller.
System support
- The game runs under Proton, Valve's compatibility layer, or ships a working native build.
- Middleware and anti-cheat are supported under Proton.
Common reasons games miss Verified
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Text too small | Scale UI for 800p and add a text size option |
| Menus need a mouse | Add controller navigation and focus states to every screen |
| Keyboard prompts shown | Detect the Deck and show the correct glyphs, for example through Steam Input |
| Text entry with no keyboard | Call Steam's on-screen keyboard API when a text field is selected |
| Third-party launcher | Remove it, or make it fully controller-navigable |
| Anti-cheat not working | Enable Proton support in the anti-cheat middleware, where available |
| Poor default performance | Detect the Deck and apply sensible default settings |
Engine notes for Unity and Unreal
Both engines run well on Steam Deck through Proton, and many teams ship Windows builds only. In Unity, the Input System package handles controllers, but glyphs and UI focus navigation need deliberate work; the Steamworks SDK exposes the on-screen keyboard and Steam Input. In Unreal, the Common UI plugin helps build controller-friendly menus with focus handling and input-aware prompts. In both, test middleware such as video players, launchers and anti-cheat early, because they are the usual source of Proton problems.
Designing UI for a 7-inch screen
- Increase base text size and test at arm's length, not on a monitor.
- Avoid dense tables and tiny icons; add a text scaling option.
- Make focus states obvious so players always know which button is selected.
- Keep important information away from screen edges.
- Support both 16:10 (1280×800) and 16:9 layouts without cropping.
Using Steam Input
Steam Input lets players remap controls and lets developers support many controllers through one API, including correct glyphs per device. Games that already support Xbox-style controllers often work on Deck with little extra work, but glyphs and menu navigation still need checking.
Performance targets
Steam Deck is a portable PC with limited power and battery. Players generally prefer stable performance over maximum detail. Detecting the Deck and applying a dedicated preset, with a sensible frame-rate cap and lower-cost effects, makes a big difference to both experience and battery life. Our article on frame rate and player experience explains why stability matters most.
Testing
- Play through the whole game on a Deck, or on a similar setup with a controller only and 1280×800 resolution.
- Check every menu, settings screen and text field with the controller.
- Check text legibility at arm's length.
- Test suspend and resume, a common handheld behaviour.
- Check offline behaviour if the game has online features.
Online and account features
Games that require an account or online connection need extra care on a handheld. Sign-in screens must work with the controller and on-screen keyboard, the game should handle sleep and wake without losing its connection, and it should explain clearly when it is offline. Players often play on the move, so graceful offline behaviour is part of a good Deck experience.
After fixing issues
Ratings are not permanent. Once you have fixed problems, Valve's Steamworks documentation explains how to request a new compatibility review. Mention Deck improvements in your update notes; Deck owners pay attention.
Why it matters
The badge appears on your store page and in the Deck's own store, and Deck owners often filter for Verified games. A Playable rating is not a disaster, but Verified removes doubt at the moment of purchase. It also signals polish to the wider PC audience.
Originally published on A Plus Games Studio, a game, AR and VR development studio in Sacramento, CA.
Top comments (0)