EmuDeck vs RetroDeck

A detailed comparison to help you choose the right solution.

Overview

EmuDeck and RetroDeck are the two most popular ways to set up emulation on Steam Deck. Both give you a complete emulation setup with minimal effort, but they approach the problem differently.

Think of it this way:

• EmuDeck is like a chef who comes to your kitchen, installs professional appliances, and organizes everything. You can still rearrange things or swap out equipment however you want.
• RetroDeck is like getting a complete pre-built kitchen in a box. Everything is self-contained and designed to work together. Less flexibility, but also less can go wrong.

What They Actually Are

EmuDeck

EmuDeck is a configuration script. When you run it, it:

1. Downloads standalone emulators and RetroArch from Discover or the web
2. Installs them as separate applications on your system
3. Creates a folder structure for your ROMs
4. Configures each emulator with optimized settings
5. Sets up Steam ROM Manager to add games to your library
6. Configures controller mappings

After EmuDeck runs, each emulator is a normal, independent application. You could uninstall EmuDeck and the emulators would keep working. You can also manually update emulators, change settings, or install additional ones yourself.

RetroDeck

RetroDeck is a Flatpak application. It is a single self-contained package that includes:

• RetroArch and its cores
• Standalone emulators (pre-integrated)
• ES-DE (EmulationStation Desktop Edition) as the frontend
• All configuration and file management

Everything runs inside the Flatpak sandbox. When you update RetroDeck, all the emulators update together. The versions are curated by the RetroDeck team to work well together.

Feature Comparison

Feature	EmuDeck	RetroDeck
Installation Method	Script (downloads apps separately)	Single Flatpak
Emulator Updates	Individual (through Discover or manual)	All together (RetroDeck update)
Default Frontend	Steam (via Steam ROM Manager)	ES-DE (EmulationStation)
Steam Integration	Yes (built-in)	Yes (manual via ES-DE)
Customization	Very High	Moderate
Uses System Resources	Yes (installs to system)	No (sandboxed)
Disk Space	Higher (duplicates some files)	Lower (shared libraries)
Portability	Harder to move	Easier (single folder)
BIOS Checker	Yes	Yes
Cloud Sync	Yes (multiple services)	Yes (built-in)
Gyro Support	Yes	Yes
Difficulty	Easy setup, moderate maintenance	Very easy setup and maintenance
Community Size	Larger	Growing

EmuDeck In Detail

How It Works

EmuDeck is fundamentally a shell script (with a graphical interface) that automates what you could do manually. It downloads emulators, puts them in the right places, and writes configuration files.

Advantages

• Latest emulator versions. Since each emulator is installed separately, you can update them individually to get the newest features or bug fixes without waiting for EmuDeck.
• Steam-first experience. EmuDeck heavily emphasizes Steam integration. Your games appear in your Steam library with artwork, play time tracking, and all the features you expect.
• Full customization. You can change any emulator setting, install additional emulators, or modify the configuration however you want. Nothing is locked down.
• Mix and match. Use RetroArch for some systems, standalone emulators for others. Use the frontends you prefer. The choice is yours.
• More emulators supported. EmuDeck includes configurations for a wider variety of standalone emulators.

Disadvantages

• More things can break. With many separate pieces, updates to one emulator can sometimes cause issues. Different emulators update at different times.
• Uses more system space. Each emulator is a full installation with its own files.
• SteamOS updates can cause issues. Since EmuDeck installs to the system, major SteamOS updates occasionally break things (though EmuDeck usually fixes this quickly).
• Harder to back up completely. Your setup is spread across multiple locations.

Best Emulators Included

System	Emulator	Type
PS1	DuckStation	Standalone
PS2	PCSX2	Standalone
PS3	RPCS3	Standalone
PSP	PPSSPP	Standalone
GameCube/Wii	Dolphin	Standalone
Wii U	Cemu	Standalone
Switch	Ryujinx	Standalone
Retro Systems	RetroArch	Multi-system

RetroDeck In Detail

How It Works

RetroDeck is a Flatpak application. Flatpaks are a Linux packaging format where the application and all its dependencies are bundled together in an isolated container. The RetroDeck team compiles and packages all the emulators together, ensuring they work well as a unit.

Advantages

• Simplicity. One application to install, one application to update, one application to back up. Everything is in one place.
• Stability. The RetroDeck team tests all the emulators together before releasing updates. You are less likely to encounter breaking changes.
• Clean separation. RetroDeck does not touch your system. If you uninstall it, nothing is left behind.
• Portability. Your entire setup is in one folder. Copy it to another device and you are done.
• ES-DE frontend. EmulationStation Desktop Edition is beautiful and controller-friendly. It is designed for the couch/handheld experience.
• Configurator tool. RetroDeck includes a built-in tool to manage settings, check BIOS files, and configure the system.

Disadvantages

• Not always the latest. Emulator updates are bundled into RetroDeck releases. If an emulator gets a great update, you might wait for the next RetroDeck version.
• Less flexibility. You cannot easily swap out individual emulators or install additional ones inside RetroDeck.
• Flatpak overhead. There is a small amount of additional overhead from the Flatpak runtime, though this is negligible on Steam Deck.
• Steam integration requires extra steps. While possible, adding games to Steam is not as seamless as EmuDeck's Steam ROM Manager integration.

Included Emulators

RetroDeck includes most of the same emulators as EmuDeck, just packaged together:

• RetroArch with many cores
• PCSX2 (PS2)
• RPCS3 (PS3)
• PPSSPP (PSP)
• Dolphin (GameCube/Wii)
• Cemu (Wii U)
• melonDS (DS)
• Citra (3DS) - while available
• Xemu (Xbox)
• And more

Installation Methods

EmuDeck Installation

1. Download the installer
   Visit emudeck.com and download the installer script.
2. Switch to Desktop Mode
   Hold the power button and select Switch to Desktop.
3. Run the installer
   Double-click the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
4. Choose your options
   Select Easy Mode or Expert Mode, choose your ROM location, and pick which emulators to install.
5. Wait for downloads
   EmuDeck downloads and configures everything.
6. Add ROMs
   Copy your game files to the created folders.
7. Run Steam ROM Manager
   Generate your Steam library entries with artwork.

RetroDeck Installation

1. Open Discover
   In Desktop Mode, open the Discover app store.
2. Search for RetroDeck
   Find it and click Install.
3. Run RetroDeck
   Launch it from your applications menu.
4. Complete first-time setup
   Choose your storage location and let it configure itself.
5. Add ROMs
   Copy your game files to the roms folder inside your RetroDeck directory.
6. Add BIOS files
   Copy required BIOS files to the bios folder.
7. Launch ES-DE
   Your games appear in the interface automatically.

Updates and Maintenance

Updating EmuDeck

EmuDeck updates are run manually by re-running the EmuDeck application. This re-applies configurations and can update the helper tools. Individual emulators update through the Discover store or their own update mechanisms.

Updating RetroDeck

RetroDeck updates through Discover like any other Flatpak. When an update is available, you click Update and everything updates together. The RetroDeck team handles all the integration.

Handling Issues

Scenario	EmuDeck	RetroDeck
Emulator crashes	Reinstall that specific emulator or roll back	Wait for RetroDeck fix or use beta channel
Settings broken	Run EmuDeck again to reset, or fix manually	Use Configurator to reset settings
Complete reinstall	Run uninstaller, then reinstall	Uninstall from Discover, delete folder, reinstall
Back up saves	Located in various emulator folders	All in one RetroDeck folder

Which Should You Choose?

Choose EmuDeck If:

• You want your games in your Steam library as the primary way to launch them
• You like having the latest emulator versions immediately
• You want full control over every setting and configuration
• You might want to add additional emulators or tools later
• You are comfortable troubleshooting if something breaks
• You prefer using Steam's built-in features for game management

Choose RetroDeck If:

• You want the simplest possible setup and maintenance
• You prefer stability over having the absolute latest versions
• You like the EmulationStation frontend and its console-like interface
• You want everything in one portable folder
• You prefer not to modify your system
• You want a predictable, tested experience

The Bottom Line

Both are excellent. The emulation experience itself is nearly identical. The games run the same. The difference is in how you interact with the system around those games.

If you are brand new to emulation and feel overwhelmed, start with RetroDeck. Its simplicity will let you focus on playing games rather than managing software.

If you already know what emulators you want, have specific configuration needs, or just prefer the Steam library as your game launcher, go with EmuDeck.

And remember: you can always switch later. Your ROM files work with either solution.