Unlock the Nostalgic Power of Sega CD Games on Your Steam Deck

This guide details how to play Sega CD games on your Steam Deck using EmuDeck. It's updated to include Decky Loader and Power Tools for optimal performance, and provides a fix for restoring Decky Loader after a Steam Deck update.

Pre-Installation: Developer Mode & Essentials

Enable Developer Mode and CEF Remote Debugging on your Steam Deck for compatibility with EmuDeck updates. This involves accessing the Steam menu, navigating to System > Developer, enabling both options, restarting in Desktop Mode.

You'll need:

• A fast A2 microSD card.
• A formatted microSD card (format it within the Steam Deck's Storage settings).
• Legally obtained Sega CD ROMs and BIOS files.
• (Optional but recommended) Keyboard and mouse for easier file management.

Installing EmuDeck

Switch to Desktop Mode. Download a browser (from the Discovery Store), then download EmuDeck. During installation, choose "Custom," select your SD card, and choose RetroArch, MelonDS, Steam ROM Manager, and Emulation Station (or select all emulators). Complete the installation.

Transferring Sega CD Files

Use your file browser (Dolphin) to transfer your BIOS files to SD Card/Emulation/BIOS and your Sega CD ROMs to SD Card/Emulation/ROMS/segaCD (or megaCD).

Adding ROMs with Steam ROM Manager

Open EmuDeck, launch Steam ROM Manager. Click "Next," skip the Nintendo DS steps, click "Add Games," then "Parse." This organizes your games in Steam's library.

Fixing Missing Covers

Steam ROM Manager usually handles cover art. For missing covers, use the "Fix" function, searching by game title. Alternatively, manually upload covers using the "Upload" function.

Playing Your Games

Access your Sega CD games through Steam's Library > Collections > Sega CD. Alternatively, use Emulation Station (Library > Non-Steam) for a different library view and multi-disc game support. Use Emulation Station's scraper function for metadata and cover art.

Installing Decky Loader & Power Tools

Download Decky Loader from its GitHub page and install it. Then, use Decky Loader to install Power Tools. In Power Tools, disable SMTs, set Threads to 4, and adjust GPU clock settings (in the Performance menu) for optimal emulation.

Fixing Decky Loader After a Steam Deck Update

If Decky Loader is removed after an update, redownload it from GitHub in Desktop Mode, and run the installer using "Execute." Restart your Steam Deck.

This comprehensive guide ensures a smooth Sega CD gaming experience on your Steam Deck.