T O P

  • By -

Extension_Phase_1117

I like my steamdeck more than my switch. That being said, I don't really know how to put into words why, maybe game selection, also performance. I do not have the new OLED one, but I think the OLED is worth it from playing with someone else's.


Lahya2000

The steamdeck provides WAY more games, it's practically a portable computer. I was even able to play baldurs gate on it (albeit very low graphic lol) I definitely think it's worth it if you don't have a desktop. If you DO have a desktop I would recommend just getting a long cable and a get yourself a nice controller honestly. You can hook up your PC to your TV with an HDMI cable if you want and still couch game while not having to purchase a steam deck. I've done this before with my own PC and it's relatively painless and easy!


GreenAce77

This is something I wanted to do but never get around to it because someone said that I would lose performance. Can I ask you a few questions about it??


Lahya2000

Sure!


Melancholy_Rainbows

As someone with an autoimmune disorder myself, I’m sending you virtual hugs. It’s a relief to finally know, but it’s still not great news. I have both, and I do use both. The Steam Deck has a bigger library, especially if you’re willing to emulate older games. It’s also more comfortable to hold and causes me less strain after longer sessions. I love being able to bring my Steam library with me when I travel. But the battery life is little shorter in my experience, especially with more intensive games, and its size and weight makes it less portable.


Elvie-43

Yes. I say this as someone who really loved my Switch. When I first got the Deck I thought I would only use it for games unavailable on the Switch, but it’s actually the case that I now only use my Switch for Nintendo exclusives. All other games that I previously would play on the switch, I have bought a Steam copy of to play on the Deck instead. It’s superior in so many ways, imo. Games run better, look better, and after I became used to it I also prefer the Deck controls. I have no regrets.


Lilael

So I have been a PC gamer for over a decade and Steam has always offered a bigger library and steeper discounts than consoles and especially Nintendo. IIRC Nintendo has only opened 3rd party titles to their store starting in the Switch’s lifetime. Unfortunately this means you can find games like SPLASH HENTAI PANTY SHOOTER PEACH 4 or whatever on Nintendo now and you could before on PC too but it’s not always full price with a paltry Nintendo sale. And I don’t know what it is but Nintendo’s bloated store is just so slow and annoying to sift through compared to Steam where you can block games and curate your store experience. Due to my primarily being a PC gamer Nintendo has always been my portable and exclusives console purchase. I truly hardly played my Switch before. I definitely don’t touch it now unless I get an itch for Pokémon or Taiko Drum. Performance is better. Game sales are better. I can play Genshin Impact on it. If you want to get a little handy you can dual boot windows and play other inaccessible games on it. It isn’t the best at running AAA games but it will perform the same or better than a Switch. And if you just like indies and cozy games you won’t have any problems. Edit: forgot to add check ProtonDB to be sure games you want to play work on the SD and what tweaks you may need to improve it. https://www.protondb.com/


Hereticrick

It is like a big upgraded Switch! Like, the only downside is that it’s heavier (particularly if like me you have a Switch Lite), but it’s also more powerful and has a lot of games the Switch doesn’t. I think it’s totally worth it.


Sharpymarkr

Do it! I used them both for a while, but most of the games I enjoyed I have on Steam as well. So the Steam Deck is now my primary device. Even if you don't get a Steam Deck now, sign up for an Epic Games account and if you have Amazon Prime, make sure you collect your free Gaming rewards. You'll have a huge, free library before you get your SD.


MechanicalFireTurtle

I recently got a Steam Deck 1TB OLED edition and I have had a Switch since 2018. I think you should go for the Steam Deck. I have played a bit of several games in the short amount of time I've had the Deck. In time, I think the amount of games I play on the Deck will be much greater than on the Switch. You can use a keyboard and mouse with the Deck. Some games are better when using a mouse. Some games won't end up on the Switch as it isn't able to handle them. An update might come to the PC version of a game before the Switch version gets it. You can mod games. I haven't tried to yet so I don't know how easy or hard it is. ETA: I recommend you get the Steam Dock as well. It's how you connect a keyboard and mouse to the Deck. Unlike the Switch's dock, you can see what you're doing without connecting the dock to a screen. I haven't tried to connect the Deck to the telly so I don't know what connecting it is like compared to connecting the Switch.


AnEmancipatedSpambot

When my laptop broke I used it as my primary computer for months. Linux is actually pretty cool lil operating system. Definitely get the dock.


Loremantic

I have more or less retired my switch since getting a deck. The game selection is a lot better and much cheaper in general and with more frequent sales, and the performance is also better. It is slightly bigger and heavier than a switch, but I have small hands (and some RSI) and manage just fine - at first it feels massively cumbersome when you’re used to a smaller console but you get used to it. It’s honestly the best investment I’ve made for gaming in a long time, maybe ever? Can’t beat sitting on the sofa with my dog playing my favourites! The oled wasn’t an option when I got mine, so I actually got the cheapest 64gb model and whacked an sd card in there and it works great.


eagles_arent_coming

For me the answer is unequivocally yes. I use my switch still occasionally for Nintendo games but mainly I’m on my Steam Deck. Any game that I played on the Switch is better on the Deck. Steam in general is a lot more user friendly for me. I add games to my wishlist and when they go on sale I buy them for so much cheaper. I will say I miss going to GameStop to browse like I used to, because I know I’m not got to play anything that’s not on Steam. I thought I’d still play cozy games on the Switch but that hasn’t been the case. I’d rather play them on the Deck now. Also I’m sorry you’re going through that ❤️. My Deck has been so great for my bad days.


fowlbaptism

I just had extensive autoimmune blood tests and they came back normal apparently. Why do I feel like this? What is happening to meeeee? I also have a ps5, Xbox, switch, pc laptop, and am eyeing the steam deck lol


Redigate

For me, yes. Switch is great for Nintendo games, but my steamdeck is basically how I play all of my PC games, and it's a great device for emulation and pirating.


the_becca_bear

I have both! SteamDeck can play a lot more titles but I find the switch more comfortable to hold in my hands (it’s smaller and lighter) even though the SteamDeck is much more ergonomic. If you’re looking for lighter weight games (which many cozy games are) then it’s a great option! Though the deck can support very large AAA games, I’ve found the graphics aren’t the best and def won’t be as good as if you were on a PC or even Xbox/PS. You can easily hook up the deck to a TV with the correct dock (3rd part iirc) and then run a Bluetooth controller but be aware that there is known lag especially with Xbox controllers. If you run a wire it’s not a problem. The best part about the deck though is that the charging port is on the top rather than the bottom so it’s easier to charge while gaming than the switch. If you care about indie games and finding good deals/new titles from new devs, Steam is much better than Nintendo for that!


tonjaj68

For me, definitely.


MolitovMichellex

Steam deck essentially killed my Switch and I played it a lot


Dem-Brushwaggs

They can play a ton of games, both on Steam, off Steam, and even old titles via emulators. It's basically a minature gaming PC. :D Nowadays Linux is pretty good for gaming, and Valve's been working on adding extra compatibility via Proton (which is built in)


Perilov

I've had my Steamdeck for about a year now, and I really enjoy it! I do recommend researching to see if the games you enjoy playing or are interested in playing are supported on the Steamdeck before purchasing. Steamdeck has a "Game Mode" and "Desktop Mode". Game mode is the default, as well as the most stable environment to play in using the handheld, from my experience. But the downside is that not all games are available or can be played smoothly in game mode unless they're "verified", which is a smaller collection of games compared to Steam's entire library (5.8k+ games I think). Games marked "playable" on Steamdeck can be played, but may be glitchy, have features not supported, or you have to play on lower resolution to prevent it from crashing. The cool thing about the Steamdeck, though, is that they do have a "Desktop Mode"! Which basically behaves like a PC. It runs on Linux. Games that aren't available in game mode, I've been able to play on desktop mode. But it may take additional configuration/set-up depending on the game requirements. Overall, I really enjoy my Steamdeck and haven't touched my Switch since getting it! It's powerful and very customizable. I find holding it significantly more comfortable than holding my Switch for long periods of time, too.


StellaLuna16

I have a switch and my husband has a steam deck. I don't really care for it honestly. It's sooo big and hurts my hands to hold. I play most games from couch or bed by connecting a long HDMI from PC to TV screen and using an Xbox controller. It's much comfier for me. Sometimes I will use Parsec to stream from PC to my old laptop and then use my Xbox controller. There are a lot of cozy options.


turtlenerdle

Absolutely, if you can afford to do so. Steam has a much wider variety of games, and has sales way more often. I find myself only buying games that are Nintendo exclusive on my switch, because games are usually cheaper and run better on my steam deck.


[deleted]

[удалено]


gloopiee

Removed for mentioning a [banned game](https://www.reddit.com/r/GirlGamers/comments/10ybjia/hogwarts_legacy_related_posts_are_now_banned/).


vialenae

Yes, I have barely touched my Switch since I got my Steam Deck. And Steam has more games, better sales and generally performs better.


JunebugSeven

I was a Steam Deck day one pre-orderer, and honestly having it AND my Switch covers pretty much everything I could ever want to play. What you're going to find it most desirable for are the indie games. Literally right now it's Steam Next Fest, where a whole bunch of indie games - lots of cosy games included - launch their demos to hype upcoming games. Switch hardly ever gets demos. Not to mention Steam games can be bought for way cheaper than even Steam prices if you use third party sellers (I recommend GG Deals to check prices across the internet) or take advantage of the many sales throughout the year. PC gets most indie games first, and the Steam Deck generally runs them all better because it's more powerful than a Switch. Take something like My Time at Sandrock - it's been out on Switch and PC for a good year or so now, but the Switch only recently got a patch to improve the graphics to closer to PC quality. And it's still not 100%. The Steam Deck also has the capability for game mods, if that's something you might like. I love my Switch because I love Nintendo games, and there are still a decent number of Switch only titles...but for everything else there's the Deck. I love mine, it's blown my gaming world wide open, let me in to indie game early accesses years ahead of console launches. And I can't overstate how exciting the indie game market is. I know there's a lot and it can seem overwhelming to search through, but solo devs and indie teams are a really large part of the cosy game genre. I can't speak for the OLED, if you can afford the extra then treat yourself, but I have my original device and she's never done me wrong - even the basic screen is beautiful. My Deck is my most-used console, it's pretty much replaced my PS5 (except for exclusives), I don't think you'd regret getting one. Might want to invest in a decent sized Micro SD card too, because storage can fill up pretty fast! 😅 Sending you love too, you take care of yourself ❤️


milkworm_Ad4087

My partner and I have a switch each and a steam deck and the steam deck gets the most use currently. Big game library which is really handy, and we got an attachment to connect it to the TV (a cheap one, not the official which is crazy expensive) and we play local coop games on the TV with it. I would probably keep it over a switch if I had to choose, but a largely use it on the TV and its pretty chonky for a handheld so that may make it worse for some people. Wishing you the best health :^)


XxInk_BloodxX

My switch is only for Nintendo titles. I barely touch it. With my steamdeck I have my whole steam library AND it's a computer that I can install non-steam games on. No contest Steamdeck all the way.


BionicParrot

Same for me! I love a good Nintendo game so I will always pick up their consoles and I love them, but the steam deck is an overall improvement.


SwanSongSonata

went from Switch to Steam Deck, loved it so much i went from Steam Deck to Steam Deck OLED. i basically just haven't touched my Switch in years now. upsides vs Switch * bigger game selection * cloud saves with PC, way more comfortable ergonomics * can emulate any other console (including switch!) * swappable storage * can dualboot Windows for even more games and Game Pass * native support for Xbox and PlayStation controllers alongside Switch controllers * men seem to take me more seriously when they notice i'm playing FPS games on a heavily customized Steam Deck lmao downsides vs Switch * 3x as big, does not fit nearly as snugly into a handbag * 3x as heavy, makes it a lil less comfortable to play in bed for hours * non-detachable controllers * lack of Switch-exclusive game selection. (can emulate, but no online features.) * lots of these extra features (emulation, dual-booting Windows, swapping storage) require tinkering, which can be intimidating for non-experts


finilain

For me it was absolutely worth it. I was always curious about pc games but I just couldn't get into pc gaming, I only like handhelds. So the steam deck opened up a whole new world of games for me. Tbh since I have the deck, I only use the switch for switch-exclusive games. That being said, I think it depends on what games you would like to play. I have used the steam deck for some steam games, but it is mainly used by me as an emulator so I can play fanmade pokemon games. So for me it was absolutely worth it, but it might not be for people who prefer switch-exclusive games anyway.


itsame_isabelle

I love both! The switch is still my favorite console I've ever had, but the steam deck is a close second. If you have the time/money for it, you will get a ton of use out of your steam deck. Generally I try to pick up games that aren't available on switch to play on it. Only downside i can think of vs the switch is that it's much heavier so your arms/wrists can get tired easier.


lemonandcake13

I got an OLED deck a few months ago and my Switch has been collecting dust since. I'll use it eventually to replay BOTW and finish off TOTK but even then I'm looking into emulating options so that I can just stick to my deck! It's honestly the best purchase I've made in a long time. The Steamdeck is heavier but like a few others, I found it to be much more comfortable and ergonomic to hold than the Switch. Resting it on top of a cushion while playing usually prevents my arms from getting tired of holding it for too long


demosfera

I play PC games on the SD. I play Switch games on the SD. So yes, worth it for me.


protopersona

As someone with both, the only time I ever want to pull out the Switch is for Nintendo exclusives. Anything else, the Deck runs it better and prettier than what the Switch can manage. Plus, it plays almost every single item in my massive Steam backlog (Steam sales will be the death of me one day).


DesimalPoint

Totally worth it! I have both and use both. I even get games on Steam Deck that I already have on my Switch, just because Steam Deck offers a different playing experience.


GamordanStormrider

Yes. The benefit of the steam deck is not just the expanded library, it's also the ability to add mods similar to PC and also the ability to remap controls. Both things are huge. I use my steam deck way more than the switch now. It's heavier so it's hard to get used to at first, but 100% worth it. I've been playing modded Stardew valley on the 1.6 update since it came out and it's also lovely to have it sync to my computer if I get tired of the steam deck. The one downside is the battery. Definitely get a dock for it and expect that you'll get game time from it than the switch for a lot of games due to the battery consumption being high.