This guide details how to install EmuDeck and play Game Boy games on your Steam Deck, maximizing performance with Decky Loader and Power Tools.

Before You Begin:

Ensure you have:

• A fully charged Steam Deck.
• An A2 microSD card for games and emulators.
• Legally obtained Game Boy ROMs.
• A Bluetooth or wired keyboard and mouse (recommended for easier navigation).

Enable Developer Mode:

1. Press the Steam button.
2. Navigate to System > Developer Mode and enable it.
3. Enable CEF Debugging in the Developer menu.
4. Switch to Desktop Mode.

Install EmuDeck:

1. Connect your keyboard and mouse.
2. Download EmuDeck from the official website using a browser like Firefox or DuckDuckGo.
3. Choose SteamOS and select "Download for Free."
4. Opt for "Recommended Settings" then "Custom Install."
5. Select your SD card as the primary installation location.
6. Choose your desired emulators (RetroArch, Emulation Station, Steam ROM Manager are recommended).
7. Enable "Auto Save."
8. Complete the installation.

Quick Settings (EmuDeck):

1. Open EmuDeck and select "Quick Settings."
2. Enable AutoSave, Controller Layout Match, Bezels, Nintendo Classic AR, and LCD Handhelds.

Add Game Boy Games:

1. Use Dolphin File Manager to access your SD card (Primary > Emulation > ROMs > gb).
2. Transfer your Game Boy ROMs (.gb files) into the gb folder. Ensure correct filenames.

Steam ROM Manager Integration:

1. Open EmuDeck and select "Steam ROM Manager."
2. Close the Steam client if prompted.
3. Disable "Toggle Parsers."
4. Add your Game Boy games.
5. Save changes to Steam.

Playing Game Boy Games:

1. Press the Steam button, open your Library, go to Collections, select your Game Boy collection, and launch a game.

Customize Game Colors (RetroArch):

In-game, press Select + Y to open the RetroArch menu. Navigate to Core Options > GB Colorization and adjust settings.

Using Emulation Station:

1. Press the Steam button.
2. Go to Library > Collections > Emulators > Emulation Station.
3. Select Game Boy and launch your games. The RetroArch color options also work here.

Install Decky Loader:

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

Install Power Tools Plugin:

1. Access the Decky Loader store via the QAM.
2. Search for and install the Power Tools plugin.

Power Tools Settings:

1. Launch a Game Boy game.
2. Open Power Tools via the QAM.
3. Turn off SMTs, set Threads to 4.
4. Open the Performance menu, enable Advanced View, Manual GPU Clock Control, set GPU Clock Frequency to 1200, and enable Per Game Profiles.

Restoring Decky Loader After a Steam Deck Update:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Redownload and reinstall Decky Loader from its GitHub page.
3. Restart your Steam Deck.

Enjoy your Game Boy games on the Steam Deck! Remember to always use legally obtained ROMs.