Steam Deck: How To Run Sega CD Games

Unleash Your Inner '90s Gamer: Playing Sega CD Games on Your Steam Deck

The Sega CD, also known as the Mega CD, expanded the Sega Genesis/Megadrive's capabilities, introducing CD-based gaming with enhanced graphics, FMV sequences, and superior audio. While not a massive commercial success, it offered a compelling glimpse into the future of gaming. Now, thanks to EmuDeck, you can revisit this era on your Steam Deck. This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough.

Updated January 9, 2025: This guide now includes Decky Loader and Power Tools, recommended by EmuDeck developers for optimal performance, along with troubleshooting steps for restoring Decky Loader after Steam Deck updates.

Pre-Installation Steps:

Before installing EmuDeck, enable Developer Mode and CEF Remote Debugging for compatibility.

1. Power on your Steam Deck.
2. Access the Steam Menu (Steam button).
3. Navigate to System > Developer Mode and enable it.
4. Go to the Developer menu and enable CEF Remote Debugging.
5. Access the Power menu (Steam button) and switch to Desktop Mode.

Essential Items:

• A fast A2 microSD card for EmuDeck and games. (Format it on the Steam Deck).
• Legally obtained Sega CD ROMs and BIOS files.
• (Optional but recommended) Keyboard and mouse for easier navigation.

Formatting Your SD Card:

1. Insert your microSD card.
2. Open the Steam menu, go to Storage, and format the SD card.

Installing EmuDeck:

1. Press the Steam button, select Power, and switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Download a browser from the Discovery Store and use it to download EmuDeck. Choose the SteamOS version.
3. Run the installer and select Custom installation.
4. Choose your SD card as the installation location and select Steam Deck as the target device.
5. Select RetroArch, MelonDS, Steam ROM Manager, and Emulation Station (or install all emulators).
6. Complete the installation process.

Transferring Sega CD Files:

BIOS Files:

1. Open the Dolphin File Browser in Desktop Mode.
2. Navigate to your SD card (Primary).
3. Go to the Emulation > BIOS folder and transfer your BIOS files.

Sega CD ROMs:

1. Navigate to your SD card (Primary) > Emulation > ROMs > segaCD (or megaCD).
2. Transfer your ROMs to this folder.

Adding ROMs with Steam ROM Manager:

1. Open EmuDeck and launch Steam ROM Manager.
2. Follow the on-screen prompts, adding your Sega CD games.
3. Click "Parse" to let the manager organize your games and covers.

Handling Missing Covers:

If covers are missing:

1. Select "Fix" in Steam ROM Manager.
2. Search for the game title.
3. Choose a cover and click "Save and Close."

For manually adding covers:

1. Click "Upload" in Steam ROM Manager.
2. Select your downloaded cover image.
3. Click "Save and Close."

Playing Your Sega CD Games:

1. Press the Steam button, go to Library > Collections.
2. Open the Sega CD folder to launch your games.

Using Emulation Station:

Emulation Station provides a user-friendly interface.

1. Press the Steam button, go to Library > Non-Steam.
2. Launch Emulation Station. Use the scraper to download metadata and box art.

Installing Decky Loader:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Download Decky Loader from its GitHub page.
3. Run the installer and choose Recommended Install.
4. Restart your Steam Deck in Gaming Mode.

Installing and Configuring Power Tools:

1. Access Decky Loader via the Quick Access Menu (QAM).
2. Install Power Tools from the Decky Store.
3. Configure Power Tools (disable SMTs, set Threads to 4, adjust GPU clock if needed).

Restoring Decky Loader After a Steam Deck Update:

If Decky Loader is removed after an update:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Re-download Decky Loader from GitHub.
3. Run the installer using "Execute" and provide your sudo password.
4. Restart your Steam Deck.

Enjoy your retro Sega CD gaming experience on your Steam Deck!