Steam Deck Archives

AppWizard

August 30, 2026

New Steam Game Beats Resident Evil Requiem as Best Horror Game of 2026

Desktop Explorer has emerged as the top-rated horror game of 2026, surpassing Resident Evil Requiem, both scoring 89 on Metacritic. Desktop Explorer is ranked 7th among the highest-rated games of the year, while Resident Evil Requiem is 8th. Released on July 17, Desktop Explorer was developed by Recurring Dream and published by Outersloth and Indienova. It has a 96% approval rating from 1,669 user reviews on Steam, earning the “Overwhelmingly Positive” designation. The game involves a narrative where players investigate a missing person using an old PC inherited from an uncle, which includes a mysterious puzzle game also titled Desktop Explorer. It is available on PC and marked as “Playable” on Steam Deck.

Winsage

August 29, 2026

Install Windows 11 on Steam Deck OLED: 12 Steps [2026]

The Steam Deck OLED has limitations in running certain Windows applications and games, particularly those with kernel-level anti-cheat systems. Valve has provided an official Windows driver bundle for the OLED model since 2024, and by 2026, a community-developed process for dual-booting Windows 11 alongside SteamOS has emerged. Running Windows 11 may be necessary for games that do not perform well on SteamOS, especially competitive titles. The Steam Deck OLED requires specific prerequisites for dual-booting, including a fully charged device, updated SteamOS, sufficient free storage, a Windows 11 license, and a USB flash drive for installation. Users must follow a detailed installation process that includes updating SteamOS, creating a recovery drive, downloading Windows 11, and configuring the system for dual-booting. Common pitfalls include skipping the recovery drive and under-allocating storage for Windows. Battery life on Windows is shorter than on SteamOS, and users should be aware of this when deciding to dual-boot. The dual-boot setup does not void the warranty, and it is possible to revert to a SteamOS-only setup later.

Winsage

August 29, 2026

I test Windows laptops for a living, and these are the 7 features I can’t pass up

The author has spent five years testing laptops and has identified seven essential features for selecting a Windows laptop based on their experience and travel needs: 1. An OLED display for better contrast and deeper blacks. 2. A 14-inch chassis that is lightweight, ideal for travel. 3. At least 512GB of storage to accommodate large files. 4. At least one USB-A port for compatibility with older hardware. 5. All-day battery life, enhanced by Intel's "Lunar Lake" processors. 6. A backlit keyboard for usability in low-light environments. 7. No proprietary chargers, favoring USB-C for flexibility and convenience. The author notes that while many brands offer these features, pricing has been affected by the ongoing memory crisis, pushing preferred models into a higher price range.

AppWizard

August 28, 2026

Gaming Has Never Been Better. So Why Does It Feel Like the Worst Time to Be a Gamer?

The gaming industry is experiencing a surge in high-profile releases, including Grand Theft Auto 6, Control Resonant, Ace Combat 8, and Modern Warfare 4. However, the cost of entry has increased significantly, with flagship consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X now priced at least 0 above their launch prices. Microsoft is reportedly losing 0 per console sold, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to see a price increase. A shortage of memory and storage, driven by AI demands, has made essential gaming hardware more expensive. Mobile gaming and PC gaming are also affected, with graphics card prices projected to rise by 20% to 30%. The term “RAMageddon” has emerged to describe the doubling of memory prices since late 2025. Major companies like Microsoft and Sony are facing disappointing hardware sales, with projections of an 11% decline in PC shipments by 2026. The traditional model of game ownership is shifting towards a rental-like system, with digital sales tying ownership to accounts and licenses. Concerns about game accessibility have grown, leading to the Stop Killing Games movement. Nintendo's introduction of Game-Key Cards for resale has raised questions about long-term access, while Sony plans to end production of physical game discs by 2028. The average cost of AAA games has risen, with new titles like Mario Kart World for the Switch 2 priced at . Cloud gaming and subscription services further complicate ownership, as game availability is contingent on licensing agreements.

AppWizard

August 27, 2026

Blue Dragon has been stuck on the Xbox 360 for 20 years, but no longer: a fantastic unofficial PC port unlocks the FPS, goes 4K, and even adds mod support

Hironobu Sakaguchi founded Mistwalker after leaving Square Enix in the early 2000s. Blue Dragon, a title from Mistwalker, is now available on PC due to a fan-made port created by programmer Tom, who used his toolset ReXGlue to recompile the game. This port integrates original game files into a single executable, enhances graphical fidelity, and resolves compatibility issues. Tom's work allows the game to run at 1080p resolution and 60 fps on systems with as little as one gigabyte of VRAM. The port was released on GitHub to coincide with the 19th anniversary of Blue Dragon's U.S. release, and future updates and mods are planned, including the introduction of characters from the Nintendo DS sequel.

AppWizard

August 25, 2026

Iconic Retro Horror Game ‘Sanitarium Enhanced’ Coming to PC and Consoles

Ziggurat Interactive has announced two upcoming titles: Sanitarium Enhanced and Cosmi: Forbidden Forest & Beyond. Sanitarium Enhanced, a psychological horror game, will be available on PC (Steam, GOG), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Nintendo Switch. It is a modernized version of the 1998 cult classic, featuring full controller support, widescreen presentation, and additional bonus content. Cosmi: Forbidden Forest & Beyond will be released for PC (Steam, GOG), Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5. Both announcements were made during the Pixel Arcadia showcase. A specific release date for Sanitarium Enhanced has not yet been provided.

AppWizard

August 25, 2026

A disturbing ’90s point-and-click horror game about waking up in a rundown asylum with no recollection of who you are is getting a glow up in 2026

In 1998, notable PC games included Half-Life, Unreal, StarCraft, Thief, and Baldur's Gate, while console games featured Nintendo 64's Ocarina of Time and Banjo-Kazooie, and PlayStation's Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil 2. Sanitarium, an isometric point-and-click adventure game, was released in April 1998, focusing on the story of Max, an amnesiac in a sanitarium. A new version, Sanitarium Enhanced, is set to be released by Ziggurat, featuring widescreen support, controller support, an extras gallery, a new hint mode, bug fixes, and optimizations for the Steam Deck, with availability on Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles in 2026.

AppWizard

August 24, 2026

You Can Save 23% Off Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 for PC – But the Offer Ends Soon

The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 is set to release on August 27, and Fanatical is offering Steam codes for preorder at .49, which is a 23% discount off the standard retail price of .99. The collection includes Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version), and Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. Preorder bonuses include Cardboard Camouflage for Metal Gear Solid 4 and the LOVE BOX Uniform for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. The collection also features additional content such as digital soundtracks and screenplay books.

AppWizard

August 22, 2026

PC Game With 96/100 Rating Is 100% Free on Steam

A new free PC game on Steam has received a rating of 96 out of 100 based on nearly 1,000 user reviews, earning it an “Overwhelmingly Positive” designation. Out of 986 reviews, 965 are positive. The game's compatibility with the Steam Deck is currently listed as “Unknown.” Developed by Zzangdol Games and published by Jungle Game Lab, the game is titled "No Results Found," which involves players investigating a case related to the Church of the Nine-Tentacled Octopus after a tragic incident where 227 church affiliates drowned. The game has been praised for its immersive storytelling and engaging deduction mechanics, though some reviews mention its complexity and the use of AI in development.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

Minecraft Dungeons II gets a brand new gameplay trailer

Minecraft Dungeons II is set to be released on September 29, 2026, featuring new gameplay elements, weapons, and enemies. It introduces a new dimension called the Sift, where players can customize their loadout and face unique challenges. Pre-ordering the game offers exclusive rewards such as the Twisted cape, a Twisted Chicken pet, and two unique hero skins. The original game has an "Unsupported" rating from Valve for the Steam Deck and Steam Machine, despite reports of compatibility, and there are hopes for a re-evaluation of these ratings for both the original and the upcoming game.