Can you comfortably play 2d iso games on a handheld gaming system such as steamdeck or other similar clones?

[rpggamer329182]

I am considering getting one of these handhelds, probably one with native linux, be it out of the box or tinkered to make how I want as I don' mind DIYing at all.

My goal ideally would be able to have a machine capable of running open world games that would otherwise off limits due to my usual work only laptop being by no means capable of it, having only been able to watch videos of them online. Stuff like Red Dead Redemption 2 - I am not going to say Elden Ring, although it looks nice the core soul's like gameplay does not interest me, having spend a few hours on Dark Souls and finding it just frustrating and more buttom mash than RPG. You get the idea though, I am sure there are many open worlders that have similar system requirements that I haven't kept up with that I would like to run on a small handheld system.

I reckon that handheld would lend itself nicely to these kind of 3rd or 1st person open world game since I played Skyrim happily years ago using a gamepad, which was preferable to mouse and keyboard, once I got the gamepad buttons how I wanted them.

I do wonder though about our classic 2d iso RPG view which I have many indie titles I would like to play. Would such a handheld work ok for this type of view? I could not see it working to well for the micromanagment of RTWP/turn based type games with lots of usually mouse based micro management? Any comments there?

I suppose I could have year's worth of entertainment just diving into the open worlders I had been missing out on all this time and many other genres that would lend themselves better to this kind of handheld setup and save those isos for the normal desktop experience.

For my use purposes the machine I buy doesn't have to be cordless so I could just get a mini pc as I would still be indoors, not on the go, it is just handheld seems appealing for the pick up and play aspect to it. It would have to be USB/12V charge only though as I don't have mains socket power as have DIY 12VDC solar setup only.

 

[Antimatter]

BG3 offers a native Steam Deck build. But that's Larian, a big company that could invest resources in releasing an officially supported Steam Deck version.

Baldur's Gate 3 is easier to play on your Steam Deck than ever before

The game's latest update adds a native Steam Deck build, allowing for more on-the-go fun in Faerûn

www.polygon.com

The Enhanced Editions of BG I&II etc do not have native Steam Deck support. According to players, though, they can be played on Steam Deck:



There are some enthusiasts who can even make original BG games run on Steam Deck:

 

[rpggamer329182]

BG3 offers a native Steam Deck build. But that's Larian, a big company that could invest resources in releasing an officially supported Steam Deck version.

Baldur's Gate 3 is easier to play on your Steam Deck than ever before

The game's latest update adds a native Steam Deck build, allowing for more on-the-go fun in Faerûn

www.polygon.com

The Enhanced Editions of BG I&II etc do not have native Steam Deck support. According to players, though, they can be played on Steam Deck:



There are some enthusiasts who can even make original BG games run on Steam Deck:

Thanks. Actually, following some very helpful advice elsewhere I have changed course and see it would be much better to get a 2nd hand gaming laptop instead, to give more bang for the buck plus negating the issues I had initially highlighted with a handheld device. Since I would be running indoors either way there is no advantage to the handheld and lots of disadvantages.

Btw maybe I am a curmudgeon but I don't like the look of BG3 at all. Not only that I hate Larian's other games with their stupid 4th wall breaking jokes every 5 minutes - which weren't even funny to me yet everyone else online seems to think are peak comedy - so I can imagine they have butchered it. I know that view will get a lot of hate but it is my opinion. The 'look' also looks rubbish compared to my beloved 2d iso hand drawn games I fell in love with the series for. It is like a modern blockbuster of a classic imo just like one of the later Alien films vs the classic 1 and 2 - 3 is still good in comparison to the other monstrosities.

 

[WarChiefZeke]

All the original games work on Steam Deck. Modding them is another matter. I'm 99% sure it is just a matter of finding the right compatdata folder (to put your mods in) and Proton set up (to get the mod manager running) but I haven't tried it.