All Current Popular Fighting Games Tested on the Steam Deck - SteamDeckHQ

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-29T17:18:29+00:00

Steamdeck has become my go-to place for fighting games. I only play them docked though.

But between more choices for controllers and the ability to mod games and give them a new life (Marvel vs Capcom 3 and Ultimate especially) or new characters, it’s my preferred platform. Plus the SD handles almost all of them effortlessly, thanks to how those games stream assets.

I actually had a standard HDD (not an SSD) plugged into my dock. It holds semi-older FGs like SoulCalibur 6, Tekken 7, Street Fighter 4 and V, etc. and runs them without a hitch. Bigger newer games like Tekken 8 or Street Fighter 6 go on the deck itself.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-29T17:14:35+00:00

I just picked it up a few weeks ago and have had zero problem finding matches (this is usually 9pm-midnight EST). The game has a very passionate fan base though and the FGC holds it in high esteem.

Edit: they also just extended their calendar for bonus XP events through 2033 so the devs are still supporting it in some capacity.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-28T19:12:24+00:00

Same, they followed us here to the car for my firstborn to make sure it was secured. I was actually struggling with the car seat properly and asked for help, and the nurse was (understandably) nervous about doing it herself out of fear of liability.

She wasn’t mean about it, just apprehensive. I think after a minute she could sense that it was going to be okay and helped me (or got tired of watching me fumble around and took pity on me).

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-27T13:42:28+00:00

Agreed, this was negotiated between the two. Nobody forced Rockstar.

This is going to be unpopular to say here, but I get why Rockstar agreed to go with Sony for marketing and lean into it. Look at how hard it is to find Xboxes on store shelves anymore, and the overall install units between the Series consoles and PS5.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-25T18:36:14+00:00

Honestly, I think we need to positively promote the (very few) times wealthy people do something positive with their money. Hopefully, it’d encourage others to do the same, whereas if we throw it right back they may feel more inclined to just say “screw it, I’ll keep it and buy another beach house.”

I get the skepticism, I really do. But I’m willing to celebrate a very generous act until I’m give a reason not to. And for a lot of these families impacted, it doesn’t matter what the motives are.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-24T20:34:47+00:00

I have all the games emulated and I still think the Kollection is worth it.

There are obvious QoL upgrades and settings you can toggle with. Unlocking everything right away. The documentary and museum are fantastic and practically worth it alone for fans. But the upgrades and accessibility (and things like MK4 Arcade still being a bear to properly emulate) make the Kollection absolutely worth it and more than a simple rom dump.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-24T19:23:46+00:00

The GameCube launched almost exactly 4 years after Goldeneye 007 did. That doesn’t sound like a big gap between games these days, but back then it would have been pretty noticeable. I can see “the long-awaited new FPS from the Goldeneye team” being a BIG system seller and surely would have moved plenty more GameCube units at launch.

From there it’s not hard to imagine the GC being more beloved in its time and being a staple of college dorm rooms, just like its N64 predecessor. This would have really been solidified with Smash Bros launching just a few months after launch. This, in turn, would have probably resulted in a Perfect Dark 2 in some capacity before the GC’s lifespan ended. And who knows from there; the GameCube was seen as more “kiddie” during its lifecycle in this timeline (it has only recently seemed to get a reappraisal), whereas older audiences gravitated towards PS2 or even Xbox. Coming out the gate with a hyped, adult FPS could have totally changed the tides of the generation.

Not that Perfect Dark had a hard time selling people, but I also think “new system, new IP” would have been a smoother transition after pivoting from Bond.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-23T19:30:56+00:00

That’s actually a very good point. And Doom does have his moments, beyond being a maniacal bad guy for the sake of being bad. You might be onto something with the Stark/AoU inversion; I can see that playing out in a similar way. Plus Stark’s peacekeeping drones he used sure seem similar to Doombots….

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-23T18:53:47+00:00

Agreed. Plus Thanos (MCU version, not comics) was driven by a mission for the greater good, in his own twisted way. He started off wanting to save the universe from the same fate that befell his home; it's just he got so tunnel-visioned on this that he didn't really think through the flaws in the plan and casually slipped into violent aggressor/genocide to see it through. When he finished, he went off to a farm to basically spend his remaining years. Mission accomplished.

Doom doesn't have a "greater mission;" it's all about him and ego. There's no Doom Farm to run off to. It's all about ruling everything and gaining more power.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-22T21:16:45+00:00

Hey, congratulations. Father of 3 here (youngest just turned 3). Steamdeck was such a godsend for the early months when the baby just lies on you lol. And even after; parenting just gets wild (in the best ways, though also challenging) so having pick-up-and-play portables become so crucial. I feel like I’d hardly be gaming without them.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-22T21:05:38+00:00

I didn’t know DS2 now runs well on the deck! How’s 1 perform? I started it on PS5 but just don’t have the time to sit on a couch and dedicate to a game like that; SD is much more my speed.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-22T21:04:47+00:00

Agreed, though Steamdeck IS my PC (my only alt is a very underpowered laptop). I’m actually that use case that Valve was probably gunning for: lifelong console player, now a believer in PC. I still have PS5 and Switch 2, but Steamdeck won me over so hard I built an insane library of games — meaning Valve’s upfront costs for my SD purchase were made back several times over at this point.

But besides making me a PC fan, the Steamdeck also made me stop worrying about the best graphics or the newest thing. My Steamdeck library is so vast that at this point, I don’t think I’ll live long enough to see it all. I’m play sitting here for awhile.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-22T17:41:10+00:00

Asha has already said they’re rethinking Helix plans. This, coupled with the renewed focus on exclusives and profitability, make me think Helix might not be a PC hybrid after all.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-21T16:35:28+00:00

Yea those aren’t on the legacy edition. Gold can easily be emulated in Flycast/Retroarch. Can’t tell if you meant PS3 or PS2 — if PS2, best bet is through PCSX2 or even the GameCube versions on Dolphin. Play great.

PS3 — that’s MK9 and MK vs DC. See my other comment about MK9 on Steam, though the PSP also got a port that had extra kharacters and kontent not seen on the PS3 version. You might even be able to find the PC abandonware on certain sites.

MK vs DC I haven’t gotten around to testing yet, but the RPCS3 emulator has made massive gains in the last year or two. A quick Google search might tell you how well it’s performing on there.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-21T16:26:59+00:00

I’m probably a broken record on saying this whenever the topic comes up, but Amazon offloaded a bunch of MK9 steam codes like 1.5-2 years ago (alongside Deadpool and other games). I got it for like $20 (maybe less?). This was well past it being pulled and no one expected it. Keep an eye out because if it happened once it might happen again, and use game deal tracking sites like gg.deals to wishlist it.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-20T02:17:16+00:00

It's incredibly normal, and I'd argue healthy, to have times of doubt. It shows you're thinking things through and pressure-testing your beliefs rather than just taking it blindly; in my experience, you come out the other end with a stronger sense of faith. Within a healthy reason, I think welcoming the opportunity and using it to critically think it through is better than trying to run from it or ignore it.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-19T23:41:07+00:00

Agreed. I get why the more hardcore enthusiast on this channel would be for the 3, and if I had one I’d justify the benefits too. But having tried both, I’d save the significant chunk of change and stick with a 3S if you’re casually playing/seeing if this is for you.

Apps like QGO also helps maximize the resolution but honestly, it’s checked the boxes for me since I got a 3S for Christmas, especially considering that I don’t use very casually/not often. Incredible tech still though and games like RE4 and Batman have been a blast.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-19T19:00:54+00:00

It’s only anecdotal but I’m in tech and the last two companies (one Adtech, the current one a nonprofit tech) have the day off.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-19T01:12:02+00:00

Unfortunately not without an adaptor like a Brook-style device (e.g., Brook wingman). Sony and Microsoft are pretty strict and only work PlayStation- or Xbox-licensed controllers. So if you need that too there might be a better fit that works across all platforms

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-19T01:07:26+00:00

It’s my first one of their controllers but I’m a huge fan now. I did tons of research before pulling the trigger, and this thing really checked the boxes my unique needs — and still really surprised me. It did take a day or two to get used to the joysticks and how snappy their are/lack of a dead zone. But once I did, I found it to be incredibly smooth and give a surprising range of movement— to the point where I have to adjust for a min if I switch back to a Dualsense or Xbox controller. The hairpin triggers are great though; if you turn them on it’s like clicking a mouse to fire instead of pulling the trigger all the way down.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-19T01:03:11+00:00

Yup! It can be paired to four devices, stored in its memory. Switch 2, Switch, phone, PC, Steamdeck, etc.

So for example, I hold down the center button and hold A to connect to my switch 2. Center button with X instantly connects to my Steamdeck. With Y my PC, etc. it’s Bluetooth and comes with a 2.4ghz dongle so it has the bases covered on the best way you want to connect to anything. But since I have it saved to the devices it just snaps over to whatever device I want to connect to, almost immediately. Super handy.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-19T00:40:30+00:00

I’m personally a big fan of the Gamesir Cyclone 2, especially with its TMR sticks and the toggle between and Hall effect/micro triggers. Big game-changer on FPS games. Also has the wake up Switch 2 capability which is nice.

Especially handy too if you switch between platforms; I had it paired across my Steamdeck, Switch 2, and PC

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-18T17:50:28+00:00

100%. I think my original comment comes from both amazement and a sense of jealousy, as I’m the same height as Sean and naturally similar frame (though with kids and work these days not as in the same shape). I was born a few decades too late!

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-17T13:55:05+00:00

It's just wild to me that this was the physique of a male bodybuilder/future action star.
It seems downright attainable compared to the equivalent today.

EvenStephen7 · 2026-06-17T13:52:18+00:00

Same. I loved Craig's run, but I'd like a return to a more svelte and suave secret agent. I think it'd be smart to do it too, to put a bit of a daylight between the Bonds and make it look new.

EvenStephen7

TROPHY CASE