Does Stardew Valley work on Steam Deck? Performance & mods

Yes, and very well. As of October 23, 2026, Stardew Valley has Valve’s «Verified» rating for Steam Deck: it passes all four tests (controls, button icons, legible text and performance on default settings). The Deck runs the native Linux version and supports mods with SMAPI 4.5.2, which works on Steam Deck: you install it from Desktop Mode with the Linux installer and copy each mod into ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Stardew Valley/Mods.

Stardew Valley on Steam Deck: the facts

Checked on October 23, 2026. At 500 MB, it’s one of the games that needs the least space, so you can fill up the Mods folder without worrying. It doesn’t need any tweaking: Valve says the default settings already run well.

First: is your game native or Proton?

The official wiki asks you to check this before installing SMAPI. In your Steam library, open Stardew Valley, go to the game info tab and look at Steam Deck compatibility: it will show Steam Linux Runtime (native version) or Proton (Windows version). Native is the usual one. Each needs its own SMAPI.

How to install SMAPI and mods on the Steam Deck (native version)

1. Switch to Desktop Mode: Steam button, Power menu, Switch to Desktop.
2. Launch the game once without mods and close it, so it finishes setting itself up.
3. Download the latest version of SMAPI from its official page and extract the .zip outside the game folder (for example, in Downloads).
4. Open a terminal (Konsole) in the extracted folder and set permissions: chmod +x "./install on Linux.sh" "./internal/linux/SMAPI.Installer".
5. Run ./install\ on\ Linux.sh from the terminal and follow the steps. Don’t open it by double-clicking: the wiki advises against it.
6. Download each mod, extract it outside the game and move its folder (the one with the manifest.json) to ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Stardew Valley/Mods. In Dolphin, Ctrl + H shows hidden folders.
7. Also install their dependencies, such as Content Patcher or SpaceCore, and go back to Gaming Mode.

On Linux, Steam launch options must stay empty with SMAPI, according to the wiki. When you launch the game you’ll see the SMAPI window with the loaded mods; if it stops appearing after a game update, run the installer again.

If your version is the Windows one (Proton)

The wiki describes a different route: download SMAPI for Windows, follow the manual steps in its README.txt (just copying the installer into the game folder isn’t enough), add StardewModdingAPI as a non-Steam game from Games, Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library, set it to use Proton and always play from that entry. An important warning from the wiki: in this mode, Steam Cloud doesn’t save your modded saves. If you want to move your saves, they’re in ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/<id>/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData, where id is the number of each entry.

Errors and limitations on the Deck

• «The library ‘libhostpolicy.so’ required to execute the application was not found». According to the wiki, you have the Linux SMAPI with the game running on Proton. Follow the Proton route.
• The game won’t start. Open a terminal in the game folder and run ./StardewModdingAPI to see the error.
• Battery. The wiki warns that mods can increase power draw.
• Logs. The SMAPI log is in ~/.config/StardewValley/ErrorLogs; upload it to smapi.io/log if you ask for help.
• Big expansions. Stardew Valley Expanded and similar mods work, but they add loading time and require several dependencies.

More Stardew Valley guides: how to install mods, SMAPI errors, mods on Android and consoles and the best mods.

Stardew Valley quick facts: price and whether it’s free · requirements · file size · multiplayer · consoles.

Frequently asked questions

Is Stardew Valley Verified for Steam Deck?

Yes. Valve rates it «Verified» after it passed all four of its tests. Steam data as of October 23, 2026.

Does SMAPI work on Steam Deck?

Yes. SMAPI 4.5.2 is compatible with Steam Deck. With the native version you install it as on Linux; with Proton, by following the manual steps for the Windows version.

Where is the Stardew Valley Mods folder on the Deck?

With the native version, in ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Stardew Valley/Mods. If the game is on the microSD card, inside the card’s steamapps folder.

Are modded saves backed up to the cloud?

With the native version, the wiki doesn’t mention any limitation. With Proton, the wiki warns that Steam Cloud doesn’t save modded saves: back them up by hand.