How To Run N64 Games On Steam Deck

By
Lidia Rozo
2024-12-15 19:12:52


In this guide post we explain everything about How To Run N64 Games On Steam Deck, let's see.


From the famous 007 Goldeneye and Ogre Battle 64 to what's arguably AKI's best wrestling library, including WCW/NWO Revenge and WWF No Mercy, Nintendo 64 has an amazing library of exclusives. Thanks to the Steam Deck and some very strong software in the form of EmuDeck. Using EmuDeck, Valve's portable PC is able to play all of your old favorites without requiring any elbow grease on your behalf. Follow these steps to install EmuDeck and have your N64 games running properly on the Steam Deck.


Pre-Setup for The Emulator


Get these things before you download the emulator and put the ROMs on the Steam Deck:



  • With a docking device, you can attach a keyboard and mouse for easier access to menus and to enter game titles. If you press the Steam button and the X button simultaneously, however, the in-game keyboard does appear.
  • An external hard drive (HDD) or an A2 MicroSD card if you plan on keeping the Steam Deck docked into the Steam Deck Dock. Without an external means of storage, you cannot install the emulator and ROMs.
  • Legally owned N64 ROMs.


Enable Developer Setting


By enabling Developer Mode on your Steam Deck, you will be able to personalize more of the device and avoid some potential headaches when utilizing the handheld with emulators and emulated games, respectively. Here's how to:



  • Tap the Steam icon.
  • Bring up the System menu.
  • Scroll down in System Settings to the Developer Mode On/Off toggle.
  • Head to the left-hand side of the menu.
  • Scroll down to the bottom of the menu to find Developer.
  • Scroll down further under the Developer menu and find Miscellaneous.
  • Turn on CEF Remote Debugging.
  • Restart your Steam Deck.


Installing EmuDeck via Steam


With everything in place, it's now time to install the EmuDeck application and begin playing Nintendo 64 while on-the-go:



  • Select the Steam icon.
  • Tick the box to enable Developer Mode from the System menu.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the left menu to select CEF Debugging.
  • Press the Power button.
  • Then select "Switch to Desktop Mode" by highlighting it.


Main Menu


  • Open a web browser application like Firefox, Chrome, or DuckDuckGo and open it.
  • Once the EmuDeck website has been opened, select "Download," then "Steam OS Version," and finally "Custom Install" to start the installation process of the application.
  • Select the Primary SD Card image from the EmuDeck startup process menu.
  • Select as many emulators as you want, for instance, to play the games of Nintendo 64 you can select RetroArch and Steam Rom Manager.
  • To complete the installation, you can skip all the following screens and hit Finish.


Transfer Roms for the N64


  • Open the File Manager app in Dolphin.
  • Select the removable device and then primary.
  • In the Emulation subfolder, click to open it.
  • In the ROMs menu, select the folder of N64.
  • Transfer your N64 ROMS into the folder.



There are two N64 folders created by the emulators, but place the games inside the N64 folder, not the N64dd folder.



Make sure the Nintendo 64 ROMs have the proper file name extensions. Refer to the table below:



N64 ROM Formats



.z64.v64.n64


Steam ROM Manager


Now it's time to add the Nintendo 64 games to the Steam Deck's Gaming Mode so they show up in your gaming library with your official games.



  • Reopen the EmuDeck.
  • From the left panel select Steam ROM Manager and select yes on the popup window.
  • Select Next.
  • Then under Parsers select the two N64 emulators and select Add Games.
  • On the next screen select Parse.
  • Ensure the N64 game covers appear.
  • As two emulators are getting added, the artwork will show twice.
  • Select saving to steam.
  • Leave the Steam ROM Manager window open until you see "Done adding/removing entries" in the upper left of the window. You can now safely close the window.
  • Double click the "Return to Gaming Mode" icon on your desktop.


How To Run N64 Games On Steam Deck?






Launch your N64 games through Steam's library and go with the Steam Deck in Gaming Mode.



  • From your Steam Deck, choose Gaming Mode, then press the Steam button.
  • Select Library.
  • To enter into the Collections tab, use the R1 button.
  • Start the Nintendo 64 in a new tab.
  • Select a game to use.
  • Locate the QAM button underneath the right trackpad and click it.
  • Go to the Performance tab.
  • Activate the Use Per Game Profile.
  • Increasing the Frame Rate up to 60 Hz


Install Decky Loader On The Steam Level


If the above instructions, and adjustments in Developer Mode, do not improve performance for the N64 games, it's time to install the Decky Loader and Power Tools plugins. Decky Loader is a plugin installer that lets you enhance your Steam Deck experience with quality-of-life plugins such as Power Tools among others. The software and plugin can be installed by following these steps:



  • For maximum functionality, we recommend connecting a wired or wireless mouse and keyboard to the Steam Deck. You can also utilize the on-screen virtual keyboard and trackpad.
  • ### Using Steam Deck
  • First things first, activate the Power menu by pressing the Steam button during Gaming Mode.
  • Navigate to the Desktop Mode Option.
  • Fire up a web browser and head to the Decky Loader repository on GitHub.
  • To begin downloading, click the big Download icon.
  • Select the Recommended Install option after the launcher has finished downloading by double-clicking on it.
  • Once the installation is finished, launch the Steam Deck in Gaming Mode and restart it.
  • The creators of EmuDeck recommend using the Power Tools plugin to enhance the performance of N64 emulators and games. Installing the plugin and configuring it is as easy as following these instructions.


Power on the Steam Deck to activate it for gaming.


  • Below the right trackpad, you will find the Quick Access Menu, QAM, button; click on it.
  • Click the new plugin icon to open the QAM.
  • Click the store icon next to the settings cog to open the Decky Store.
  • Scroll down the page or type in the search field for Power Tools plugin. Click to install it.
  • Game Emulation Power Tool Configuration
  • With the Steam button down
  • Fire up a game in your Non-Steam Library, for example an N64, or navigate to your Sega Saturn collection and open the block in there.
  • Once the game is up and running, bring up the Decky Loader with the QAM button.
  • From there Disable SMTs.
  • Move the slider to set Threads to 4.
  • Press the QAM button to open the Performance menu, the one with a battery symbol.
  • In the Performance handbook, make sure Advance View is turned on.
  • GPU Clock Control needs to be put to Manual.
  • The frequency of the GPU clock shall be increased to 1200.
  • To save these changes for specific games, you can save it as "Per Game Profile."


Backing Up Decky Loader Following a Steam Deck Boost


Updates to the Steam Deck are frequent and substantial, and they have the potential to change the user interface and add new functionality. The Decky Loader software could become incompatible and disappear from the Steam Deck's Quick Access Menu if this happens. In order to get your app, customizations, and plugins back, follow these steps:



  • To get the Steam Deck back to Desktop Mode, simply press the Steam button to bring up the Power Menu.
  • Open a web browser to the desktop.
  • Start the download by opening the Decky Loader GitHub page and click Download again.
  • Click neither Open nor anything else but Execute.
  • The pop-up box will prompt for your sudo password; enter it.
  • If you haven't already, create a sudo password by following the on-screen prompts. If you plan to install unapproved third-party applications later, make sure to choose a strong password and remember it.
  • Restart the Steam Deck while it is in Gaming Mode after the installation.
  • Pressing the QAM button will revert your Decky Loader software, settings, and plugins to their states before the update. If an update from Steam Deck removes an application, you can restore it using this guide.





Now that you know How To Run N64 Games On Steam Deck, apply this guide and relive great memories.









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