Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
In recent years, I’ve had a complicated relationship with gaming. Whether you want to call it burnout or mid-thirties malaise, I just couldn’t find the motivation to play to my favorite games.
The solution for me was retro handhelds. Breaking free from the PC I sit on all day is exactly what I need to get back into gaming. But what about all those Steam games I’ve impulsively bought over the years ?
It’s there Steam link between. For years the Android app was a joke, but a huge update last November brought not only new features like HDR and AV1 streaming, but also support for over 500 Android devices. With this in mind I decided to test it out over the holidays, and I can’t believe I didn’t try it sooner.
Steam Link does it
Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
After a very quick and easy setup, Steam Link was prepped and ready to go. I tested it on Google Pixel 9 handheld, REDMAGIC 10 Pro and AYANEO Pocket Evo. I also focused on playing at home over local Wi-Fi, as that’s where Steam Link really shines.
Only controller-focused titles worked well, which meant my usual favorites of strategy and strategy games were off-limits. So, for the first time in the three years since I bought it, I booted up Horizon Zero Dawn and played for a few hours.
Steam Link works great over local Wi-Fi, but only with a controller.
The results were incredible. The visuals were as sharp as my desktop gaming rig could handle, and input lag was minimal. It may struggle with competitive online shooters, but that’s not really what I’m looking for while relaxing on the couch after work.
The best experience by far was the AYANEO Pocket Evo running Android, mainly thanks to the built-in controller. It automatically registered as an Xbox controller when starting Steam Link, so I didn’t have to worry about touchscreen controls. To be fair, the touchscreen controls are fine and highly customizable, but nothing compares to a real controller.
The experience was actually so good that I wondered if I had wasted money buying the ASUS ROG Ally. Wouldn’t it have been better to buy a cheaper handheld and stream from my PC? Well no, and here’s why.
What still requires work
Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
Although Steam Link works great in the game, other elements can be choppy. The mouse controls didn’t always work well for me, and that was only when I was navigating menus. I’d hate to see how they behave in-game. Closing games didn’t always work well either, and sometimes it caused my desktop to freeze until I stopped streaming to the Android app.
The user interface could also use some work. Some menus were cut off and it listed games I had in my library but not installed on my PC. Installing games is not a task I want to do while streaming, so I feel like these games can be safely omitted from the list.
There are more streaming options, but none as simple as Steam Link.
Additionally, streaming performance isn’t perfect. If I moved to my bedroom, which is the room farthest from my router, the quality dropped. Leaving the house made things worse, which made me feel a lot better about investing in dedicated gaming handhelds like the ROG Ally and AYANEO Pocket Evo.
Ultimately, the biggest problem with Steam Link is that it’s not the only solution available. Moonlight offers better streaming performance over local Wi-Fi and the Internet. Cloud gaming platforms like NVIDIA’s GeForce Now also offer desktop-free access to your Steam library (although at a cost, unless you want to endure the horrible free tier). Both also expand beyond just Steam titles to include Game Pass PC games, Epic Game Store, and more.
But if you have a PC, Steam Link is just that simple. Easy is what I’m looking for for a turbulent 2025, so even if it’s not the best, I’ll still use it to reduce my growing backlog.
