Installing games from platforms like GOG, Epic Games, and Amazon Prime Gaming on the Steam Deck opens up a vast library beyond Steam itself. Two of the most popular tools for this job are Heroic Games Launcher and Lutris. Both promise to bring your non-Steam games to Valve’s handheld, but they go about it in different ways. Choosing the right one can save you hours of tinkering and get you to what matters most: playing your games.
This guide will walk you through the strengths and weaknesses of Heroic Launcher and Lutris on the Steam Deck. You’ll learn how they differ in installation, user interface, game management, performance, and more. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which launcher fits your needs best.
What Are Heroic Launcher and Lutris?
Heroic Games Launcher is an open source, cross platform game launcher designed primarily for Epic Games, GOG, and Amazon Prime Gaming. It started as a lightweight alternative to the official Epic Games Launcher on Linux and has evolved into a full featured solution with cloud save support, Wine management, and a clean interface. Heroic’s focus is singular: to make playing games from these stores as smooth as possible on Linux devices like the Steam Deck.
Lutris, by contrast, is a much broader game preservation platform. It supports a huge range of sources including GOG, Epic, Humble Bundle, itch.io, emulators, and even standalone Windows executables. Lutris uses community written installer scripts to automate the setup of games, often including dependencies and tweaks. Its flexibility is immense, but it comes with a steeper learning curve and a less polished interface.
Installation and Setup on Steam Deck
Installing Heroic Launcher
Heroic is available directly in the Discover software center on Steam Deck’s desktop mode. One click installs the Flatpak version, which keeps it sandboxed and updated automatically. After installation, you simply log into your Epic, GOG, or Amazon account, and your libraries sync instantly. There is no need to manually configure Wine or Proton prefixes for most games; Heroic handles that out of the box with sensible defaults.
Installing Lutris
Lutris is also in the Discover store, but getting it fully functional often requires extra steps. You may need to install additional Flatpak packages for Wine or Proton runners, or switch to the official Lutris beta Flatpak. Many users prefer the direct .tar.gz release from the Lutris website for better integration, but that demands manual updates and a bit more Linux know how. Once installed, you connect your store accounts similarly, but the initial setup can feel more fragmented.
User Interface and Ease of Use
Heroic’s interface is clean and reminiscent of the Epic Games Launcher. It presents your games with large cover art, an easy to navigate sidebar, and straightforward settings. Even on the Steam Deck’s small screen, it feels right at home. Adding a game to Steam for Game Mode access is just a couple of clicks, and Heroic even includes an “Add to Steam” button right in the menu.
Lutris takes a more utilitarian approach. Its interface is functional but cluttered, with lists and tabs that can feel overwhelming on a handheld. Installation scripts often pop up with configuration options that novice users might not understand. While power users appreciate the control, casual gamers may find Lutris intimidating. However, Lutris does integrate well with Steam after some tweaking, and the community scripts often save time once you learn the system.
Game Library Management
Heroic excels at library synchronization. Your purchased games appear automatically, and you can filter, sort, and search with ease. It also supports automatic updates for GOG games and notifies you of new free games on Epic. The launcher keeps everything tidy and focused on your owned titles.
Lutris, on the other hand, treats games more like individual projects. You can add games manually from any source, and the platform doesn’t automatically sync your entire library. This means more upfront work, but it also means you can manage a much more diverse collection (Windows games from any CD, emulated titles, etc.) all in one place. If you have a large non Steam library spanning many storefronts and physical media, Lutris might be the only tool capable of unifying it.
Performance and Compatibility
Both Heroic and Lutris can achieve near native performance on the Steam Deck, because they both rely on the same underlying technologies: Wine, Proton, and DXVK. Heroic defaults to using system Wine or Proton with preset configurations that work well for most titles. For tricky games, you can tweak per game settings easily. Lutris provides even deeper per game configuration, including custom runner versions, environment variables, and even the ability to use Proton from Steam. This can squeeze extra performance out of demanding titles, but it requires patience and experimentation.
In general, Heroic’s defaults are more likely to work right away, while Lutris offers a wider compatibility net for obscure or older games thanks to its community scripts.
Cloud Saves and Additional Features
Heroic has built in support for GOG and Epic cloud saves. You can enable automatic sync with a toggle, making it seamless to switch between your Steam Deck and a desktop PC. Lutris relies on external solutions like Ludusavi or manual syncing for cloud saves, which is less convenient. Heroic also includes built in Discord Rich Presence, offline mode, and an easy method to sideload additional games. Lutris counters with its ability to launch emulators, manage multi disc games, and use custom Wine builds, features that Heroic doesn’t focus on.
Community and Support
Both projects have active communities, but they differ in character. Heroic’s community is centered on Discord and GitHub, with a focus on simplicity and steady improvement. Lutris has a larger, more fragmented community spread across forums, Reddit, and its own website. The sheer number of installation scripts means you’ll often find a solution for a specific game, but the quality varies. Heroic’s smaller scope means fewer edge cases to deal with.
Which One Should You Choose?
For most Steam Deck users, Heroic Games Launcher is the better choice. It offers a polished, console like experience with minimal friction. If your game library lives mostly on Epic, GOG, or Amazon, you’ll be up and running in minutes, with cloud saves, seamless Steam integration, and a friendly interface. Heroic respects your time and keeps the focus on gaming.
Lutris is the tool for those who aren’t afraid of tinkering and who need to manage a wide variety of games beyond modern storefronts. If you want to run that old Windows 98 RPG from a disc image, or launch MAME arcade titles alongside your Epic library, Lutris’s flexibility is unmatched. It’s a power user’s platform that rewards effort with nearly unlimited compatibility.
You can, of course, install both. They coexist peacefully on the Steam Deck, and using them in tandem gives you the best of both worlds: Heroic for your main stores and Lutris for everything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Heroic and Lutris at the same time on Steam Deck?
Yes, you can install both launchers side by side without conflicts. Many users keep Heroic for Epic and GOG games and use Lutris for other titles or emulation. Just be mindful of storage space if you have large game libraries on both.
Which launcher is better for Epic Games exclusives?
Heroic offers a more seamless experience for Epic Games. It automatically syncs your library, handles cloud saves, and launches games with minimal configuration. Lutris can also run Epic games but requires more manual setup and often uses the official Epic Launcher as a dependency, which adds overhead.
Does Heroic support Amazon Prime Gaming?
Yes, Heroic Games Launcher added support for Amazon Prime Gaming in recent versions. You can log in with your Amazon account and download the free games you’ve claimed through Prime. Lutris does not directly support Amazon Prime Gaming; you would need to manually add those games.
How do I add Heroic games to Steam for Game Mode on Steam Deck?
In Heroic, select a game, click the three dot menu, and choose “Add to Steam.” The game will appear in your Steam library with artwork. You may need to restart Steam or switch to Game Mode to see it. Heroic also has an “Add to Steam” option in the general settings to automatically add all future games.
Can Lutris use Proton instead of Wine?
Yes, Lutris allows you to select Proton as a runner if you have it installed (for example, by pointing to the Proton build from Steam). This can improve compatibility for some games. However, it requires manual configuration in the runner settings for each game.
Is Heroic’s cloud save feature reliable?
Heroic’s cloud save integration works well for most GOG and Epic games. It automatically syncs saves before and after each session. Some games may have issues if they use non standard save locations, but you can manually specify the save path in Heroic’s settings.
Which launcher offers better performance on Steam Deck?
Both can deliver identical performance because they use the same underlying compatibility layers. However, Heroic’s default configurations often result in a smoother out of the box experience. Lutris can be fine tuned for marginal gains, but the difference is usually negligible for most games.
Do I need to be in desktop mode to use these launchers?
You initially install and configure both launchers in desktop mode. After that, you can add individual games to Steam and launch them directly from Game Mode without ever opening the launcher again. The launcher runs in the background when needed.
