Steam Machine: "Unscientific Testing Guy" gives verdict after testing 60+ games

Reddit user u/arex333, who has published several “unscientific tests” of the Steam Machine and Steam Controller in recent days, has now shared his overall verdict on Valve’s living room PC after nine days of use and more than 60 tested games. The report has been warmly received by the Reddit community. Top comments include “Great post” and “This post was a better review than most YouTube videos I’ve seen so far.”

According to the self-proclaimed “Unscientific Testing Guy,” the Steam Machine provides a convincing living room gaming experience and even exceeded his expectations in terms of performance. However, it is not yet quite as straightforward or seamless as a traditional console.

SteamOS impresses, performance surprises

SteamOS receives the strongest praise. Its interface feels simple and console-like, while the gaming and desktop modes retain the flexibility expected from a PC. According to u/arex333, even his wife, who is not particularly tech-savvy, had no trouble using the system. That could also make SteamOS-based mini PCs an appealing alternative for users who are interested in the concept of the Steam Machine but prefer different hardware.

The Reddit user is also pleased with the system’s performance. Despite running at lower resolutions and graphics settings, the Resident Evil 4 remake did not feel like a noticeably compromised experience. From a normal viewing distance, he found the differences between 1440p, 1620p and 1800p difficult to distinguish and even described 4K as “overrated.” Of the more than 60 games he tested, only Borderlands 4 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor failed to deliver satisfactory performance, even after extensive fine-tuning.

The Steam Machine also impressed with its compact size, virtually silent operation and responsive interface, which reportedly feels noticeably faster than that of the Steam Deck. Games also ran smoothly from a fast SD card, without any clearly perceptible increase in loading times. Game compatibility proved similarly convincing. Apart from a handful of multiplayer games with unsupported anti-cheat systems, including Marathon, Apex Legends and Call of Duty, u/arex333 did not encounter a single title that refused to run altogether. Nearly all of the controllers, headphones, keyboards, mice and storage devices he tested worked without issue. He also had plenty of positive things to say about the Steam Controller.

Useless presets and third-party launchers detract from the console-like experience

Despite his largely positive verdict, the “Unscientific Testing Guy” also points to several weaknesses. The graphics presets are among the biggest issues, as they are often poorly chosen and sometimes require extensive manual adjustment. Some older games launched at unusual resolutions, while more demanding titles occasionally ran at only around 20 FPS with their default settings. As a result, users may need to spend time adjusting resolutions, graphics options and performance targets before achieving a satisfactory experience. Third-party launchers also disrupt the otherwise console-like feel. Games such as Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla require additional software, logins and awkwardly designed windows. These interruptions serve as an unavoidable reminder that, beneath the streamlined SteamOS interface, the Steam Machine is still a PC.

Community largely agrees

Reddit users have praised the post as a useful real-world assessment that goes beyond benchmark figures and largely agree with its conclusions. The main point of disagreement concerns resolution. While u/arex333 considers 4K overrated at a typical viewing distance, many commenters argue that the difference remains clearly visible in modern AAA games. Even so, they generally acknowledge that the Steam Machine is more likely to run graphically demanding titles at 1440p or 1800p than at native 4K.