Better than EmuDeck? RetroDECK plans a major retro gaming update for Steam Deck

Anyone looking to play older console games on the Steam Deck will probably come across EmuDeck sooner or later – a tool that installs and manages individual emulators. RetroDECK, on the other hand, bundles emulators into a single software package, an approach that comes with both advantages and disadvantages. However, an upcoming update could make the platform a more attractive option.

RetroDECK is expected to expand significantly with version 0.11.0. According to an interview with the developers, which is currently also being discussed on Reddit, at least 23 additional components are planned. These include Xbox 360 emulation through Xenia Edge and Amiberry for Amiga games. Support for more obscure computer systems, additional game engines and Mudlet is also planned. The latter provides access to text-based online worlds, which are considered precursors to modern MMOs and, in some cases, are still actively maintained today. For retro gaming enthusiasts, these additions could be compelling reasons to give RetroDECK a try.

Does that make RetroDECK better than EmuDeck?

For users who want to spend as little time as possible setting up and managing their retro games, RetroDECK could indeed become the better choice. Since all emulators are included in a single Flatpak package, they can be installed, updated and removed together. Whether RetroDECK will be able to match EmuDeck in terms of functionality after the update remains to be seen, but neither platform is likely to leave users short of options.

However, RetroDECK also has drawbacks that make it a less appealing choice for some Reddit users. Because everything is bundled into one application, the included emulators are updated together. Users therefore cannot update individual emulators and instead have to wait for the next RetroDECK patch. With EmuDeck, emulators can be updated independently. Anyone who only uses a handful of emulators may therefore be better off with EmuDeck. After all, a small selection is easy enough to manage manually – and users can update individual emulators whenever they want.