How to Check If Your Games Will Run Before Switching to SteamOS

Before you wipe Windows and commit to SteamOS, the smart move is to confirm your actual library will run, because a switch you regret two days later is a switch you should have audited first. SteamOS runs games through a translation layer called Proton, and while most titles work beautifully, a handful, especially competitive multiplayer ones with strict anti-cheat, do not. A 30-minute audit using two reliable sources tells you exactly where your library stands.

Quick Answer

Use two sources together: ProtonDB's crowd-sourced compatibility ratings, which run from Platinum down to Borked, and Steam's own Deck Verified badges. Cross-check your most-played titles against both. For most Steam libraries this audit takes under 30 minutes and flags the few games that need Windows before you commit to the switch.

Why a pre-switch audit is worth 30 minutes

SteamOS does not run Windows games natively. It uses Proton, a compatibility layer built on Wine, to translate Windows calls into something Linux understands. The result is that the large majority of single-player titles run flawlessly, often with no setup at all. The risk sits in specific categories: certain competitive multiplayer games whose anti-cheat refuses to run under Proton, a few titles needing manual tweaks, and the occasional release that simply will not launch.

Auditing first means you discover those exceptions while you still have Windows installed, not after. If three of your five most-played games are Borked, that is a reason to dual-boot or stay put. If they are all Platinum, you can switch with confidence.

Step 1: List your most-played games

Open your Steam library and sort by hours played. You do not need to check all 300 games you own, only the ones you actually play. Write down your top 10 to 20 titles, with extra attention to anything competitive or multiplayer, since those are the most likely to have anti-cheat complications. This focused list is what makes the audit fast.

Step 2: Check ProtonDB ratings

Go to ProtonDB and search each title. The ratings are crowd-sourced from real Linux players and use a medal system:

• Platinum: runs perfectly out of the box, no tweaks needed.
• Gold: runs perfectly after one or two small adjustments.
• Silver: runs with minor issues that do not ruin the experience.
• Bronze: runs but with significant problems.
• Borked: does not run, usually due to anti-cheat or a hard incompatibility.

Anything Platinum or Gold is effectively safe. Silver is usually fine. Bronze and Borked are your warning flags. Read a couple of recent user reports for borderline titles, since ratings shift as Proton improves.

Step 3: Check Steam Deck Verified badges

Valve runs its own official compatibility programme, and the badges apply to SteamOS broadly, not just the physical handheld. In the store page for each game, look for the compatibility rating:

• Verified: officially tested and works fully.
• Playable: works but may need a manual tweak, like changing a setting or using on-screen controls.
• Unsupported: does not work as intended on SteamOS.
• Unknown: not yet tested by Valve.

Using both sources matters because they sometimes disagree. A game marked Unknown by Valve may have hundreds of Platinum reports on ProtonDB, telling you it is fine despite no official badge.

Step 4: Flag the anti-cheat problem children

The single biggest cause of a Borked rating is multiplayer anti-cheat that the developer has not enabled for Proton. Some studios flip a switch and their game works perfectly on Linux. Others never do, and those titles stay unplayable on SteamOS no matter what you try. If a competitive game you rely on falls here, that alone may justify dual-booting Windows alongside SteamOS rather than replacing it.

Step 5: Decide and plan your switch

Tally the results. If your key games are green across both sources, you are clear to switch. If a few critical titles are Borked, weigh whether dual-booting solves it or whether those games matter enough to stay on Windows. Either way, you have made the decision with evidence instead of hope. If you are eyeing a dedicated portable to run SteamOS on, the handheld gaming consoles range is the place to start, and full desktop and laptop options sit in the PC best-sellers list for a build that can dual-boot comfortably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ProtonDB or Deck Verified more reliable?

Use both. Deck Verified is Valve's official testing, while ProtonDB reflects thousands of real players, often more current than the official badge. When they disagree, recent ProtonDB reports usually reflect the latest Proton improvements.

Why do some multiplayer games not work on SteamOS?

Almost always anti-cheat. The developer has to enable their anti-cheat for Proton, and some do not. When that switch stays off, the game refuses to launch under SteamOS regardless of any settings you change.

Can I keep Windows and use SteamOS too?

Yes, through dual-booting, which installs both systems so you choose at startup. This is the common solution when most of your library runs on SteamOS but a few essential titles still need Windows.

How long does the audit take?

For most people, under 30 minutes. You only check the games you actually play, not your entire owned library, so a focused list of 10 to 20 titles moves quickly across both sources.

Do ratings change over time?

Yes. Proton improves steadily, so a game rated Bronze a year ago may be Gold now. Re-check borderline titles using recent reports rather than relying on older ratings.