Home News Steam Deck: How To Run Sega Master System Games

Steam Deck: How To Run Sega Master System Games

Author : Mila Feb 23,2025

Unleash Your Inner Retro Gamer: Setting Up Sega Master System Emulation on Steam Deck with EmuDeck

The Sega Master System, a classic 8-bit console, boasts a library of fantastic games, many exclusive or featuring unique versions. Titles like Golden Axe, Double Dragon, and Streets of Rage shone brightly on this platform. Even surprisingly advanced games like Mortal Kombat and Asterix & Obelix pushed the system's limits, delivering near 16-bit experiences.

While playing Master System games on modern hardware can be challenging, the Steam Deck, combined with EmuDeck, makes it remarkably easy. This guide details the process of installing and configuring emulators for Sega Master System games on your Steam Deck.

Last Updated: January 15, 2024

Before You Begin

Before installing EmuDeck, ensure you have:

A fully charged or plugged-in Steam Deck.
A high-speed microSD card (formatted within the Steam Deck) or an external HDD (note: HDD use impacts portability).
A keyboard and mouse (recommended for easier file transfers and installations; alternatively, use the on-screen keyboard (Steam + X) and trackpads).

Enable Developer Mode

Essential for smooth emulator operation:

Access the Steam menu (Steam button).
Navigate to System > System Settings.
Enable Developer Mode.
Access the Developer menu (bottom of the Steam menu).
Under Miscellaneous, enable CEF Remote Debugging.
Restart your Steam Deck.

Important: CEF Remote Debugging might disable after updates, affecting plugins and emulators. Always check after updates.

Installing EmuDeck in Desktop Mode

Access Desktop Mode (Steam button > Power > Desktop Mode).
Download EmuDeck using a browser (Chrome or Firefox). Choose the correct SteamOS version.
Run the installer and select Custom Install.
After installation, select your SD card (now labeled "Primary" for easy identification in Dolphin file manager).
Choose your emulators (at least RetroArch for Sega Master System). Select Steam ROM Manager for Steam library integration. Consider enabling "Configure CRT Shader for Classic 3D Games" for a retro aesthetic.

Transferring Master System ROMs

Open Dolphin File Manager.
Navigate to Removable Devices > Primary (your SD card).
Open Emulation > ROMs > mastersystem.
Transfer your Sega Master System ROMs (.sms files). Ignore the 'media' file.

Adding Games to Your Steam Library

Open EmuDeck in Desktop Mode.
Launch Steam ROM Manager.
Follow the on-screen instructions, disabling Parsers except for Sega Master System.
Add and parse your games.
Save to Steam.

Fixing or Uploading Missing Artwork

Missing artwork?

Fix: Use the "Fix" option in Steam ROM Manager; it usually auto-finds artwork. If not, search manually.
Upload: If Steam ROM Manager fails, manually download artwork, save it to the Steam Deck's Pictures folder, and use the "Upload" option in Steam ROM Manager.

Playing Your Games

In Gaming Mode, access your Steam Library.
Navigate to your new Sega Master System collection.
Select a game and enjoy!

Enhancing Performance

Stuttering?

Open a game and access the Quick Access Menu (QAM, button below the right trackpad).
Go to Performance.
Enable "Use game profile," set Frame Limit to 60 FPS, and enable Half Rate Shading.

Install Decky Loader and Power Tools

EmuDeck recommends Decky Loader and Power Tools for enhanced control.

Switch to Desktop Mode.
Download Decky Loader from GitHub and install using the recommended settings.
Restart in Gaming Mode.
Install Power Tools via the Decky Loader store (QAM > Decky Loader > Store).
Configure Power Tools (QAM > Power Tools): Disable SMTs, set Threads to 4, enable Manual GPU Clock Control, set GPU Clock Frequency to 1200, and save per-game profiles.

Fixing Decky Loader After Updates

Steam Deck updates can disrupt Decky Loader.

Switch to Desktop Mode.
Re-download and run the Decky Loader installer (select "Execute").
Enter your password (or create one).
Restart in Gaming Mode.