How to Play PS1 Games on Steam Deck Easily & Quickly

Playing PS1 games on the Steam Deck is a seamless experience, thanks to the power of emulation and user-friendly tools like EmuDeck and DuckStation. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started quickly and easily.

Installing EmuDeck

To begin, you need to install EmuDeck, a comprehensive tool that simplifies the process of setting up various emulators on your Steam Deck. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode: Press the Steam button, go to Power, and select "Switch to Desktop" to enter desktop mode. Wait a few seconds for the mouse to kick in properly.
2. Download EmuDeck: Open your web browser (like Firefox) and navigate to the EmuDeck official website. Download the EmuDeck installation file.
3. Install EmuDeck: Once the file is downloaded, copy it to your desktop and double-click to run the installer. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Setting Up the PS1 Emulator

After installing EmuDeck, you need to set up the PS1 emulator. Here’s how:

1. Open EmuDeck: Run the EmuDeck program from your desktop.
2. Select Steam ROM Manager: In EmuDeck, select "Steam ROM Manager" to manage your emulated games.
3. Enable PS1 Emulator: On the Parsers screen, toggle on "Sony PlayStation – DuckStation" and any other relevant PS1 emulators. This will give you more options to run your games.
4. Add Games: Click on "Add Games" and then "Refresh" to add your PS1 games to the library. Ensure the artwork for the game covers is correct before saving to Steam.

Preparing Your PS1 Games

To play your PS1 games, you need to prepare them in the correct format:

1. Rip Your PS1 Discs: Use a tool like ImgBurn to rip your PS1 discs into bin and CUE files. Ensure the disc is ripped as a bin and CUE file rather than a single ISO file.
2. Transfer Files: Transfer the bin and CUE files to your Steam Deck, either directly or via an external hard drive.

Adding Games to the Steam Deck Library

To make your PS1 games accessible from the Steam Deck library, follow these steps:

1. Run Steam ROM Manager: Open Steam ROM Manager within EmuDeck.
2. Toggle Parsers: Switch off unnecessary parsers and enable only the PS1 emulators you need.
3. Add and Refresh Games: Click "Add Games" and then "Refresh" to add your PS1 games to the library. Ensure the artwork is correct before saving to Steam.
4. Generate App List: Click "Preview," then "Generate App List," and finally "Save App List" to add the games to your Steam Deck library.

Accessing and Customizing Emulator Settings

To access and customize the emulator settings, follow these steps:

1. Launch a PS1 Game: Boot up a PS1 game from your Steam Deck library.
2. Access Settings: Double-tap the Steam Deck screen to open the menu. Here, you can save the game, take screenshots, change the disk for multi-disk games, and access the settings menu.
3. Adjust Settings: Under the "Settings" drop-down menu, you can change display settings, upscale the resolution, force PAL games to run at 60Hz, and apply other enhancements like chroma smoothing for FMV cutscenes.

Playing Multi-Disk Games

For games that come on multiple disks, follow these steps:

1. Copy Multi-Disk Files: Copy the bin and CUE files for each disk into the correct folder on your Steam Deck.
2. Access Multi-Disk Games: In Gaming Mode, press the Steam button, select "Library," then "Collections," and navigate to the "Emulation" tab. Here, you can select the game and switch between disks as needed.

Optimizing Performance and Display

To get the best performance and display quality, consider the following:

1. Resolution Settings: Ensure the resolution is set to 720p, which is the maximum native resolution output for the Steam Deck. You can adjust this setting in RetroArch or DuckStation.
2. Controller Settings: Apply the DuckStation controller input to access hotkeys and shortcuts. Locate the DuckStation app, select the controller icon, and apply the "EmuDeck – DuckStation" template.
3. Advanced Settings: For more advanced settings, such as applying texture filters, geometry correction, and post-processing shaders, refer to detailed guides available online.

By following these steps, you can enjoy your favorite PS1 games on the Steam Deck with ease and optimal performance.