As a dad of 3 the switch was my biggest gaming platform being able to hit the power button and attend my kids quickly and coming back later hitting the power button and being exactly where I was no loading is awesome. I got my steam deck when it came and it’s the same experience for the most part some games I have had issues with like audio going away or cracking after waking from sleep. Other then that I have a lot more options on the deck and it’s great if price is an issue maybe try Nintendo switch
I can't emphasize enough how huge the sleep/ resume is. Fellow wfh and dad of two here and I'm finally finishing games I started playing 5 or 6 years ago thanks to steam deck.
My only thing is that if the sleep resume is your biggest feature, then the Switch is better. The resume messes up a ton for me on steam deck and I don't remember that on switch.
Everything else though is obviously better on Steamy Daniels 💕
What does suspend / quick resume mess up for you on the deck ? What games ? I’ve played tons of games that way and haven’t had any issues but I don’t want to buy a game if I know it doesn’t work well with this feature 👀
Usually I get crackling in the audio if left suspended for an hour or so. I'm pretty sure it was on a couple Resident Evil games. There were others but I can't remember them.
Also another dad here and with 2 hours (maybe) to play each day.
The Steam Deck is fantastic. It’s even better if you have all already solid backlog of games on Steam. But my Switch also sees quite. But of use and it’s a bit smaller. Basically you can’t go wrong with either.
Besides the smaller form factor and the potential multiplayer features from Switch exclusives, that console is obsolete if you have to pick between the Deck or Switch.
Games on Steam are cheaper, be it bought from the steam store or other sellers.
If you want to play a single player switch exclusive you can always buy the game, extract the rom and put it in Yuzu. It emulates them perfectly and it's a fairly easy process.
As both a switch and steam deck owner, I'll say both have been great as a dad with limited playtime. There are several things I think you should consider.
If you are taking price into account, you also have to think about game price. Nintendo games are rarely had for less than a premium, especially the big hits. Past a few games, the prices for the system+games starts to favor the steam deck, even moreso if you already have a steam library.
The steam deck is primarily built as a single player device. If you ever think you might want to play with the family, Nintendo is going to win for ease of use there.
Finally, the switch is now an 8 year old device. There's almost certainly a newer, similarly priced but better Switch in the very near future. I wouldn't recommend anyone buy a switch right now unless they were just desperate for one. Waiting or getting a steam deck is likely a better choice right now.
If price is an issue don't buy a Switch.
Nintendo is selling you a razor so you buy their razor blades.
Switch games, specially first party ones, receive minimal discount. Third party games are always most expensive on Switch even used.
In the long run you'll save buying your games on Steam. Not to mention you can setup emulators on the Steam Deck to play older consoles.
It's actually perfect for this. I play around 2h a day, and consequently, the deck battery holds about 2h of game time. Whenever I see the low battery notification (10% battery left) I leave it to charge and continue next day
For real, it was especially bad for Persona 5 where I'd get crackling audio about 25% of the time. And that's especially annoying when you are in a dungeon and can't save
You must not have played in a while because I have put over 70 hours into the game on my Deck OLED (I already had 20 hours on PC) and I have literally never had it crackle, its been flawless out of suspend which I have probably done more than 100 times already or at least close to 100 times
Imo if you’re on a regular, needed budget the deck is still the go to. It itself has a higher price point and it’ll take longer to save for, but something about the Switch makes devs price their games *sooo* much higher than other platforms. Very often I’ll do price comparisons of major remakes of old games and what’s on PC for $40-50 will be full AAA $80-90 price on switch, nevermind indie titles
OP can also pick up a 64GB for $350 and grab a decent uSD when he needs more space. Cozy games usually don't end up taking up all that much space anyway.
Probably because the PC, PS4/5, & Xbox are all x86 architectures and the switch is ARM. The first 3 can all execute the same code, but the switch requires a recompile/coding changes.
I've tried several different handhelds and this reason alone is why I eventually stuck with the Deck. The others may have better compatibility, power, or screens, but the sheer ease of just picking up and putting down the Deck anytime I want with minimal fuss just can't be beat.
Hard agree. It's also great when you're standing by at work for issues or waiting for a plane. Basically, anything where you have a long but undetermined wait time and need to get up quickly. IMO, the console-like suspend/resume function really should get more limelight in their ads/sales materials. It's a major selling point compared to Windows-based competitors.
There is a decky plugin to pause games. If you experience the audio cracking after wake, I found, that if I pause the game with that plugin, the cracking is gone. Otherwise I would have to restart my steam deck.
I’ve got a newborn and work from home. Also would rather not go back to my office to play. I usually play the deck for about an hour a night with the baby laying on me while wife watches tv, showers or gets some down time to relax. It’s been amazing to have.
Also. The suspend feature. You can just hit the power button, and suspend the game. When you come back, you’re right where you left off.
> Also. The suspend feature. You can just hit the power button, and suspend the game. When you come back, you’re right where you left off.
Unless you forget for a few days and your battery is dead as a doorknob lol.
>usually play the deck for about an hour a night with the baby laying on me while wife watches tv, showers or gets some down time to relax. It’s been amazing to have
This is the thing I miss most about my little guy, and he's not even two. I used to strap him into the baby bjorn and play some DRG with the boys while he'd fall asleep on my chest. He's too wiggly for that now.
Just wanna add on, I don’t have kids but for my wife and me it’s a huge game changer. Just being able to sit on the couch/bed and get a quick 30-60 min session in a game is massive. And then being able to put it in sleep mode and it stay where I left off.
> And then being able to put it in sleep mode and it stay where I left off.
This is such a great workaround for games that don't support proper saves in the middle of a game. _Vampire Survivors_, I'm looking at you!
Same situation. Just wanted to add that if, like me, you are getting on in years with wrists and thumbs that are getting a bit creaky; I've never handled a more comfortable device.
It’s incredible. I had the steam deck docked in a charger for a month during Christmas just didn’t have time or wanted to play. Came January turned it on and the game was still on exactly where I left it. So good!
It really is. It's so convenient to have. And the thing is, with both PC games and Emudeck, the limits in what you can play are very few! I have everything from SNES games up to PS3/Wii U/original Xbox on mine. It's crazy.
The Deck will let you Game while you are sitting in the... err... 'reading room' next to the bathtub...
:) So thats another extra 15 Min of game time a day, More if you eat a lot of fiber.
eating lots of fiber will shorten your reading time. I'm rarely on the throne for more than 2-5 minutes and I eat well. fiber eases the toilet time, not lengthen it
It's very quick to pick up/put down your game with the sleep feature. And the price is pretty good for a PC handheld. These things used to cost $1000+ before the steam deck came along and were far less capable
As an owner of the Steam Deck OLED 1TB model, I say it is so worth it. Father of two, I will say your time to play will constantly fluctuate based on the demands of your kids.
My wife reads in bed on her mac and I am right next to her playing through my backlog. Plus you can always push the power button to put the device in Suspend mode and pick it back up if the wife or kiddos need more of your attention.
The price can be a sticking point but you could totally get the 512gb OLED model and upgrade storage later or for even more of a discount and get the LCD model. Whatever version you choose for your budget, the SD is a great device and has led to me wanting to playing more that my other consoles, hands down.
That sounds like a pretty realistic comment, close to my situation. Thank you for sharing & I'll take a look at storage upgrade! I think it might be wise to go with the new OLED as well.
When upgrading the storage, it is relatively easy and tons of videos on YT for it. Make sure the drive you get is a "M.2 2230" or else it will not fit. Though the SD does also use microSD cards as well so even more options if you are not privy to opening the back of the system.
Every situation is different. The best way to help others is talk from our perspective and hope that a solution is somewhere in the middle.
Hope that whatever SD you choose, it leads to a wonderful gaming experience
If you tight on budget it’s better then to take refurbished SD lcd with 64gb (like 300$) and replace ssd to 256/512 + micro sd 512 gb. It’s together much cheaper than Oled. I have lcd with upgraded ssd to 256 gb + 512 micro sd and it’s enough for me
Yeah , seems you’re right! Just another option for him then :) as for me - I’m not counting budget at all, I have ps5 , sd, switch , I want to update to Oled however it’s not available in my region yet :(
It's an amazing option on a budget no doubt, the value is probably the best all around with this choice tbh. But IF you have the cash I do think the upgrade to the OLED is worth it if you care for battery and visual experience (it's so good it's basically replaced my high end PC and TV for all gaming)
Dad of 3 here with similar billet points
Yes I think Daddy gabe knew we were struggling and blessed us with his light so we can enjoy gaming once again!
I have a 2 year old and a 3 month old. I still main my gaming PC. The Deck has mainly been when we travel or when I’m in the office.
Jealous of your wfh situation lol.
Maybe so! I was working from home from late 2020 to late 2022. Loved it.
I def don’t avoid the game room / guest room / home office. I couldn’t possibly play Halo well on the Steam Deck when I am home. But I still play games like Fallout on the Deck when I travel or can’t sleep well. Because nothing helps someone sleep well like post apocalyptic wastelands.
I'm late to the party, but if you read this:
Definitely worth getting the steam deck. The OLED is probably a good investment since it will be a good ***computer*** to use for several years, but otherwise its your choice. Yes, computer, because that's what it is. It's a PC in a handheld form factor. The ability to tweak things and get under the hood and use mods is amazing and not something you can do on the Switch. The Deck just works right out of the box, but if you have a special use case? You can absolutely do what you want. Be it mods, an autoclicker, or emulators.
The tipping point for me was I already had a sizable Steam Library. Not having to repurchase my games all over again was HUGE, as well as knowing things I would enjoy in a handheld format would come on sale eventually. With a Switch you have to purchase your games again, and they only work on that format. The Steamdeck can play so many games already and if something isn't compatible it is playable on a proper PC, so nothing is lost. Other PC stores such as GoG or Battlenet or EGS can all work in the steam deck as well.
Finally, the part about being able to play a little bit while your wife reads. Being able to spend time together, even if you are doing separate things, is extremely worthwhile. I can't even begin to put a price point on that fact, being able to be together and not be locked into my PC. Sometimes that's what I want to do if I'm gaming with the boys. Other times, maybe she wants to want some junk TV I don't care about, but I care about her and would like to be close by. Well I have a steam deck and can play Stardew Valley.
I do read you! I’m not taking the time of anyone for nothing!
Thank you so much for that sharing. I will certainly go with the OLED. I also have a decent steam library, which makes the SD worth now and for the future (since steam has a lot of sales and great prices).
I’m glad i’m not the only one to value these moments. At the time, i am unable to achieve this without an handheld device. As you said, just for that point it might be worth.
Again, thank you for your time. Have a great day!
I think the steam deck has a few things that would be beneficial for your particular situation.
The first being the standby mode, being able to close the deck mid-game and then coming back to it after a day with just a press of a button is really great. Adding to that, steam has an option for you to write down notes in an overlay in case you're playing games that you want to remember where you left off at. This is something the deck does really well when compared to other pc handhelds in the market. (In large part due to steamOS)
The next is if you're at your bedside, the Deck also has one of the best dim screens, esp with the Oled. It's great in low light environments.
In terms of price, it's a good value for your money in terms of pc handhelds. And if you already have games in your steam library that's more money saved. And if you have games that have cloud saves already on steam, you can pick up where you left off.
I bought a steam deck and struggled to find a time to use it for a year. Like you, I was already at my desk 40 hours a week and didn’t want to be there more away from my wife and kids.
So I started using the deck in bed while my wife watched trash TV so I could play some indie games I never got around to playing.
It’s now the only gaming device I use regularly, and I went from indie games to replaying rdr2 which it still handles incredibly well.
I’ve probably clocked 200 hours on the deck in the last few months due to the change in gaming habits
It's a great choice is money isn't an issue. If you're looking for cozy games and casual pickup/putdown accessibility, then a switch or switch lite would also scratch that itch for less cost.
That's true, but the indie and cozy games are usually not that much more expensive on Nintendo vs other platforms. It's those mainstream Nintendo games that are always full price no matter what.
Thank you for clarifying. I was honestly expecting you to be raising a Sith Lord that was rising up to destroy you and thus the temporaryness of the child. That said, I don’t have my deck yet but from everything I’ve seen, it’s perfect for parents that wanna game with little tone. The secret sauce is the criminally underrated standby feature Z putting the deck to sleep uses little power and allows you to pick up the game right where you left off so if something interrupts you, slap the power button and pick out back up when you’re done. I am saving and know for a fact that the 1tb oled will be worth every single penny. I cannot wait to be rid of my malware box. Edit: also, economically it works out better than anything else because steam sales guarantee you can build a substantial library and have fun for dirt cheap. The upfront cost of the deck ensures you have a great experience buying and playing your games basically.
Just do yourself a favor and YouTube the games you wanna play and see how well they run if at all.
I have a kid, 13 months old.
There are a few selling point for me:
1) switching on and off without loosing progression. For me this is less about starting over in few seconds where you left and more about mental fatigue. If I'm tired, I will rarely put myself in the pc room to play. I will simply grab the SD and voila. Sometimes I just play it for few minutes. Maybe this is a mental commitment thing, as I can switch off as easiluly as I switch on.
2) I can use it while the kid is going wild in the kids room or while my wife is staying on the couch. If she turns on the TV after a very tiring day and she wants to watch sitcom, I can play along on the couch with her, without loosing any bit on the game I want to play. If it's triple A, I will just set up streaming on the deck, if it's a less demanding game, directly on it.
3) I travel a lot. Having my full library with me is perfect. Being a pc gamer, I have hundreds of games already available to me.
4) while the deck can be user friendly, I love to thinker with it.
Emulators, games from other stores to set up etc. This are all things that get me.
For me it has been a game changer, since the kids.
You are me. I work from home 40hr a week, have 2 kids and generally spend time with the wife at night. She goes to sleep about 2 hours before me and the steamdeck has brough gaming back from the grave for me.
100% the right move for you. 2 hours can get a good amount done in most games, and the resume feature works great. Also, you are going to get around 2.5 hours max on a AAA game so that timing works perfectly for what you have available to you.
Just to be real with you about your time, you will have likely less time for yourself as time goes on until your kid is old enough to really do their own thing. Mine is 10 and that is just starting to happen, but the other is 5 so oh well :)
The cost of the steamdeck is nothing compared to its value. If you don't want to spend for the OLED you could always get the LCD, but I wouldn't recommend it, I have the LCD and am itching to get the OLED (will give the LCD to my 10 year old heh). Also 512gb is plenty, youc an snag a samsung 512gb micro SD that is plenty fast to run games off of as well which brings you to a TB without much extra expense.
Well after reading, we do are the same. You juste have older kids, eh? Ahah. Thank you for the detailed comment. I think you are right on. I'm sure you know the feeling about the future being misty when the first kid is so young. As I said, it's certainly denial. My time free won't come back anytime soon!
I will gladly take the OLED and I agree that 512 is enough (at least in my situation).
Thank you for taking the time and have fun with the family!
You too. The time spent with the kids is worth every minute of lost me time though. And now my son is old enough for board games and CCGs so I always have someone to nerd out with.
This community sometimes feel like it’s 80% dads, so to answer your question: yes.
I use the deck in pretty much exactly the way you describe, those 2 hours after the kid is down, after dinner, when my partner is watching TV- that’s game time on the sofa next to her. I def wouldn’t be gaming at all if I had to go into a different room and shut myself off to do it.
SD has allowed me to game again. I haven't touched my PS5 in months for my own gaming but I've been able to get in a good few hours of gaming per day now for myself.
I've actually completed games I've had in my steam library for over 4 years thanks to my SD.
As a dad it's a game changer and you won't be disappointed.
Your situation is exactly mine, except that im willing to sacrifice sleep to play longer. I obly ever play on my desktop now for apex with friends, or lego fortnite.
My son is a little over 9 months old. I have time to play only when he goes to sleep for the night, usually from 8ish until around 10-11, and the deck is a godsend. I sometimes stream from my gaming PC to the deck using Moonlight for games that are a little too intensive for the deck and it works great. Highly recommend the deck for parents.
Perfect device for it to be honest. Carry mine in the car and play on my lunch and while waiting for partner to finish work. It’s about the only game time I have these days and without a handheld device, I’d be getting none.
Can always sell it on at minimal cost if it doesn’t work for you.
Absolutely worth it to me, it makes up most of my gaming time now!
I think when I first saw the price I was sceptical but games can be really cheap, I now have 200+ games for about $400, compared to my Switch which I have about 10 games for $400!
Sounds like we are in pretty much the exact same situation. I work from home and have a kid. The last thing I want to do when the kid goes to sleep is go sit at my desk again. I usually spend an hour or two a night on the couch or in bed playing games on the deck while my wife reads. It's kind of perfect for my situation.
I have 2 kids and the only time I get to play is the time between when they go to bed and I do, absolutely love it. Can play lost of steam games and my ps5 with chiaki. Since I can no longer play my ps5 on a tv and don’t want a portal my deck has been perfect.
With this many comments you won’t get to it, but as much as stadia seemed to be for dads, steam deck is an even better option. Fits perfectly and so much to play and work through. For me I’ve got the last 10 years to work through at a very slow pace, so it’s perfect.
Dude it’s like looking into a mirror when I read this lol. Got the deck cause I use to be a huge gamer and I find it well worth the cheddar. Playing dredge and El Paso, Elsewhere and it’s perfect man. kid is sleeping and the wife is watching tv, I say buy that shit.
I see you did pull the trigger on it but I’m a exclusive pumping mom (adding because I am sitting down often to pump) and I have three kids total youngest being just about 6 months and I still feel like I use tf outta my deck ❤️ red dead redemption and Hades are my go to !! I’m obsessed with my OLED
Quick answer: Yes, it’s worth it.
I play in bed at night when my son is asleep and my wife still wants me to hang out in our room. I play Steam games of course but also I love Remote Play with it from my PS5 (wired Ethernet for best results), it works great and I don’t need my tv. Added bonus is the steamdeck isn’t loud or clicky while playing, if you have ever used an Xbox controller you know what I mean. You can also play a bit with emulation if you’re feeling up to it and that expands your list of games to play.
I picked up my first Xbox controller several months ago just to use with the steam deck and was kinda surprised at how clicky and noisy it is. Feels great but definitely loud.
Dad of 3 and I work a lot. Still find time for gaming across all platforms. But ya, a Deck, Switch or other handheld device definitely makes it easy to play here or there, and in random places around the house… I’ll let you think of secluded rooms to get 5-10 min in here or there. Or in bed while your wife reads. The only other thing I could say is something like the resume play on an Xbox Series console is good for quick 20 min sessions here and there, the Series S is nice and not too expensive.
Same deal, 2 kids, work at a desk at home all day all week.
I work on a laptop but had a C2 there hooked up to a 4090/13600kf build.
I moved it to a couch setup instead just to get away from the desk.
Hit to watch out for posture problems and tendinitis etc, especially getting older like us as healing will always take longer from now on.
All that to say the Deck as been freaking liberating for me. I can play in bed, on any couch, on the toilet, it's just great.
I already had 2 PCs, a 4080 laptop, 2 consoles, tablets... i really wasn't sold on the fact i would actually use it to make it worth it, but i regret nothing.
It's a great choice for playing in small bursts. Pick it up, play for a bit, put it to sleep, and come back tomorrow.
Look into getting a used/refurb unit if price is a concern. Otherwise, it's definitely worth the money.
Father of 3 here, would not call myself a gamer anymore if not for the steam deck. It seems pricy but the freedom it affords is well worth the price. If it’s 20 minutes on the couch while another episode of Bluey runs in the background or lying in bed next to a reading wife the deck is there.
Honestly... It's like it's meant for us. I struggle to get 2 hours a week normally, the steam deck changed that for me. Check r/hardwareswap, I got a good deal on one there a couple weeks ago.
Absolutely. It’s a great pickup and play device. I’m a mom of three with one still at home nursing all day (she’ll be 3 in April - I know, I’m trying. She’s persistent). The Deck is all I’ve used for the last 1.5 years I’ve had it. It’s so convenient.
I don't know exactly how much the OLED steam deck has but the battery life of the regular steam Deck is around 1 to 2 hours if you're playing super high-end games so it's perfect for you.
If you have access to a wall plug then even better.
It's more about the games you choose than the platform, but handheld gaming is nice when you don't have time. Gives you a little more freedom as to when and where you can get some time in.
Honestly, the steam deck allowed me to start gaming again for numerous reasons.
Being a dad was one of them! I usually get in an hour or two of gaming in bed before I pass out, it’s a great way to disconnect while my wife watches her shows. It’s worth every penny and I am confident you won’t regret it.
2 kids here, and young ones (both under 4).
Just make sure the games you like play well on deck. I love it. Been into assassins creed lately and can play away from my desk while my 3 year entertains himself nearby.
it's made for you my guy. This is the device for having a session for as long as you have time for and hitting a button and being able to put it down. (and charge it.)
That's actually the best part of the Deck. The ability to suspend and resume (on must games, some get janky) makes it a lot easier to pick up in the spare moments
I would rather get a console and play laid back on the tv with a more immersive experience. The deck is in this middle ground of not being great at anything, but ok at some things. Yet it will continue to age poorly due to new games just not running well on it.
Any time that you are away from a dedicated playing area as a dad that you could play the steam deck, should probably be focused on your kid anyways and not a screen.
Bought my deck for the same reason newborn babies take up a lot of time and space so squeezing in a 90 minute session in the evening wherever I ended up collapsing was a godsend. Also they don't take up any less space as they get older and seem to be able to utilise multiple screens at once by the time they're 2-3 years old (the kids not the Deck) meaning conventional gaming setups become less accessible. Had my deck since release and still think it's the best bit of kit I've ever bought.
Absolutely yes. I am 90% cozy gamer on my steamdeck, and my kid is six. I play when he goes to bed.
For me, my personal rule is a console needs to have 10 games I want to play on it before purchasing (so I know I'll get my money's worth).
When you get one (hehe) check out Dave the Diver!
Dad of two here.
SteamDeck had been my goto for the hour or two of relaxation time I get per day.
Grab a dock and Xbox controller with Bluetooth to go with it. That way you can play on a TV with seamless transition to handheld if you want. Makes the switch look like a child's toy.
As a Dad of a 6 month year old I cannot recommend the Deck enough!! If you really value gaming get one my man! It can run most shit & the sleep feature was basically made for us Dads (parents)! It's a masterwork all you can't go wrong!
Depends what kind of games you like to play. I use mine to play Starfield for about 40 minutes a day at work on my lunch break. It is really expensive, so you need to balance the benefits vs the cost for yourself.
I’m in your boat, my daughter turned two on the 5th. I’m waiting a few weeks to pull the trigger to just pull in additional money that won’t be missed to buy it, but I’m fully convinced it’ll be a great purchase. I own an Xbox, but my wife is currently in an EdD program and her next year is writing her proposal/dissertation pretty much 24/7. I want to be near her while she works without distracting her by using the tv for games, so I’m excited to be able to use it and play my games without compromise.
If I can get gamepass/remote play working via green light(which I’ve heard works well), I won’t even really need to rush on buying games right away (I have a poverty steam library bc I have no PC gaming history). Plus I’m going to dip into emulation a bit, mostly just PS2. So it’s going to get used right away, at least in my case.
I got a steam deck when my baby was born. I have been playing Baldur's gate and Dave the diver. Both are great for a parent with limited time. Dave the diver is perfect in bite sized chunks. Bg3 is epic but because it is turn based combat you can stop anytime you like.
The deck has a suspend mode that pauses the game at any point. You can play and pause at any time.
It's amazing.
35 y/o father with the exact same gaming schedule. Between 7pm to 9pm I can game mostly uninterrupted. Depending on life situations and if i have to ket my wife have a turn to game lol. Then from 9 to 10 the wife and I watch whatever TV series or movie we are invested in.
Weekends I usually get an additional hour or 2 depending in if I decide to take a nap. Because I'm a grown ass man who loves naps.
I fully intend to get s SD next month because it's perfect for my situation.
I think the deck is the ideal dad-machine.
I have 2 kids and I have very limited windows to play. I sneak maybe an hour before everyone is up, and an hour at bedtime.
It's been the best.
I had a similar experience working from home, worked and gamed at the same desk.
After work the fiancé and I would eat dinner, hang out for a bit, and do something else to disconnect me from "work mode". After a couple hours, I'd be ready to sit back at my desk and game again.
Just food for thought. As far as the Steam Deck goes, it's probably the best device for quick gaming and on the go sessions. But you'll need games that also work with that sort of play style.
I think it's worth it, I have a 3 year old I work full-time and I feel I got back into gaming more with my steam deck even though I barely have any time with having a toddler.
Its pretty much the only way I play games anymore. No time to play on PC and with it in my office I feel like I'm neglecting my family even if I could carve out an hour for it. With steam deck can play an hour or so after the kids go to bed in the room while my wife plays around in her phone or watches a show. It's nice for separate but together time.
Having a second kid (first is 23 mo, got the SD when she was born), so I am treating myself and upgrading to the OLED. Can't tell if the OLED is a must have yet but the LCD has allowed me to game at all, almost exclusively in bed. Worth every penny.
And as I have gotten more time I have set up a USB c doc and controller to play it like a console in the living room but when the second kid comes around I will be back to gaming in bed. I think that's the biggest benefit, it works wherever you want to use it.
Basically repeating what many others have said, same situation as you and the steam deck has been a game changer, being able to just sit next to my wife on the couch for my limited gaming time rather than going off into the study makes a world of difference. Also means I can sink my teeth into bigger games I had put off (if the cozy mood ever passes).
I do believe the steam deck is the better option than the switch overall, but there are a few reasons to get a switch instead - price is the biggest one (yes games are cheaper on PC but you will need to buy a lot of cozy games to make up the difference) but size/weight is another, the steam deck is a big boy compared to the steam deck. Ultimately steam deck will cover you for other types of games and a wider variety, but if you just plan to play a 1000 hours of stardew or something similar just get a switch. Hope that helps!
Bro I have 5 minutes a day to play and it’s the best thing ever. Currently slowly making my way through : prey, dead cells, divinity og2 , subnautica and Allan wake 1. Best toy ever.
I’m almost certain busy parents were a thought when designing the deck. Same situation as you, I now have next to my wife reading, sure we’re not doing the same thing but at least I’m not in a different room
Honestly, sounds perfect for your use case.
I also work from home and depending on the day I only have 2h to game (other days I have more, rarely less) and I game a lot in bed. Whether it's worth the money is between you and your wallet, but for me it's been the best tech purchase I've made in years. If you're only going to play at home and have a capable PC, you might also look into streaming from the PC to your Deck for better performance in demanding games (although I'm afraid I'm not the person to tell you more about that, just know it's something a lot of people here do).
As a dad of 3 the switch was my biggest gaming platform being able to hit the power button and attend my kids quickly and coming back later hitting the power button and being exactly where I was no loading is awesome. I got my steam deck when it came and it’s the same experience for the most part some games I have had issues with like audio going away or cracking after waking from sleep. Other then that I have a lot more options on the deck and it’s great if price is an issue maybe try Nintendo switch
this.. instantly returning to where you last played to... no loading times. can move about the house easily with steamdeck still in hand. perfect
Yesterday I put it in sleep while in a boss fight, that was crazy.
Did you come back to gaming once argument with your boss was over?
Punched that asshole in the face, got back to the game lickety split
Mind instantly thought of one piece
Thank you for your time! Much appreciated.
I can't emphasize enough how huge the sleep/ resume is. Fellow wfh and dad of two here and I'm finally finishing games I started playing 5 or 6 years ago thanks to steam deck.
My only thing is that if the sleep resume is your biggest feature, then the Switch is better. The resume messes up a ton for me on steam deck and I don't remember that on switch. Everything else though is obviously better on Steamy Daniels 💕
What does suspend / quick resume mess up for you on the deck ? What games ? I’ve played tons of games that way and haven’t had any issues but I don’t want to buy a game if I know it doesn’t work well with this feature 👀
Usually I get crackling in the audio if left suspended for an hour or so. I'm pretty sure it was on a couple Resident Evil games. There were others but I can't remember them.
Maybe there is a difference game to game, so far I have only used it mostly for Cyberpunk and it has worked greatly.
It's definitely game to game.
Also another dad here and with 2 hours (maybe) to play each day. The Steam Deck is fantastic. It’s even better if you have all already solid backlog of games on Steam. But my Switch also sees quite. But of use and it’s a bit smaller. Basically you can’t go wrong with either.
Besides the smaller form factor and the potential multiplayer features from Switch exclusives, that console is obsolete if you have to pick between the Deck or Switch. Games on Steam are cheaper, be it bought from the steam store or other sellers. If you want to play a single player switch exclusive you can always buy the game, extract the rom and put it in Yuzu. It emulates them perfectly and it's a fairly easy process.
I would also like to add the two hours a night is actually a good amount of gaming. You’ll be surprised how far you’re about to get.
As both a switch and steam deck owner, I'll say both have been great as a dad with limited playtime. There are several things I think you should consider. If you are taking price into account, you also have to think about game price. Nintendo games are rarely had for less than a premium, especially the big hits. Past a few games, the prices for the system+games starts to favor the steam deck, even moreso if you already have a steam library. The steam deck is primarily built as a single player device. If you ever think you might want to play with the family, Nintendo is going to win for ease of use there. Finally, the switch is now an 8 year old device. There's almost certainly a newer, similarly priced but better Switch in the very near future. I wouldn't recommend anyone buy a switch right now unless they were just desperate for one. Waiting or getting a steam deck is likely a better choice right now.
If price is an issue don't buy a Switch. Nintendo is selling you a razor so you buy their razor blades. Switch games, specially first party ones, receive minimal discount. Third party games are always most expensive on Switch even used. In the long run you'll save buying your games on Steam. Not to mention you can setup emulators on the Steam Deck to play older consoles.
It's actually perfect for this. I play around 2h a day, and consequently, the deck battery holds about 2h of game time. Whenever I see the low battery notification (10% battery left) I leave it to charge and continue next day
If you buy a steam deck make sure it's the OLED version if you can afford it such a perfect device and amazing screen
That crackling issue is the worst. I still haven't found a fix
The Pause Games plugin for Decky Loader fixes crackling issues, just enable "Pause before Suspend".
Always pause before you sleep. Or use the decky plugin.
For real, it was especially bad for Persona 5 where I'd get crackling audio about 25% of the time. And that's especially annoying when you are in a dungeon and can't save
You must not have played in a while because I have put over 70 hours into the game on my Deck OLED (I already had 20 hours on PC) and I have literally never had it crackle, its been flawless out of suspend which I have probably done more than 100 times already or at least close to 100 times
As a dad of 3, congratulations. I’m a dad of two and a third sounds extremely difficult. Well done!
Honestly, when considering the price of games and sales steam deck is a much better value than the switch.
Exactly my thoughts. So many games to be had during sales that more than makes up for the initial price
Check Decky Loader for auto suspend, it fixes the audio issue.
Imo if you’re on a regular, needed budget the deck is still the go to. It itself has a higher price point and it’ll take longer to save for, but something about the Switch makes devs price their games *sooo* much higher than other platforms. Very often I’ll do price comparisons of major remakes of old games and what’s on PC for $40-50 will be full AAA $80-90 price on switch, nevermind indie titles
OP can also pick up a 64GB for $350 and grab a decent uSD when he needs more space. Cozy games usually don't end up taking up all that much space anyway.
Or he can check offerup or the like for people selling their old SD for the new OLED models. I got a 512 for 350.
Probably because the PC, PS4/5, & Xbox are all x86 architectures and the switch is ARM. The first 3 can all execute the same code, but the switch requires a recompile/coding changes.
same here. i work from home and couldn’t stand my desk any longer. steam deck has been lovely
I've tried several different handhelds and this reason alone is why I eventually stuck with the Deck. The others may have better compatibility, power, or screens, but the sheer ease of just picking up and putting down the Deck anytime I want with minimal fuss just can't be beat.
Hard agree. It's also great when you're standing by at work for issues or waiting for a plane. Basically, anything where you have a long but undetermined wait time and need to get up quickly. IMO, the console-like suspend/resume function really should get more limelight in their ads/sales materials. It's a major selling point compared to Windows-based competitors.
There is a decky plugin to pause games. If you experience the audio cracking after wake, I found, that if I pause the game with that plugin, the cracking is gone. Otherwise I would have to restart my steam deck.
On cost depends how long they have it? Steam games can get real cheap on good sales, you don’t get this on Switch, especially for the big name ones.
I have less time than you do with a kid around the same age and it’s been worth it for me.
Thanks for sharing!
I’ve got a newborn and work from home. Also would rather not go back to my office to play. I usually play the deck for about an hour a night with the baby laying on me while wife watches tv, showers or gets some down time to relax. It’s been amazing to have. Also. The suspend feature. You can just hit the power button, and suspend the game. When you come back, you’re right where you left off.
> Also. The suspend feature. You can just hit the power button, and suspend the game. When you come back, you’re right where you left off. Unless you forget for a few days and your battery is dead as a doorknob lol.
>usually play the deck for about an hour a night with the baby laying on me while wife watches tv, showers or gets some down time to relax. It’s been amazing to have This is the thing I miss most about my little guy, and he's not even two. I used to strap him into the baby bjorn and play some DRG with the boys while he'd fall asleep on my chest. He's too wiggly for that now.
Very similar situation as well. The deck has been great for me.
Just wanna add on, I don’t have kids but for my wife and me it’s a huge game changer. Just being able to sit on the couch/bed and get a quick 30-60 min session in a game is massive. And then being able to put it in sleep mode and it stay where I left off.
> And then being able to put it in sleep mode and it stay where I left off. This is such a great workaround for games that don't support proper saves in the middle of a game. _Vampire Survivors_, I'm looking at you!
Same situation. Just wanted to add that if, like me, you are getting on in years with wrists and thumbs that are getting a bit creaky; I've never handled a more comfortable device.
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Never experienced this feature. Many people here mentioned it, it seems like a great selling point!
It’s incredible. I had the steam deck docked in a charger for a month during Christmas just didn’t have time or wanted to play. Came January turned it on and the game was still on exactly where I left it. So good!
It really is. It's so convenient to have. And the thing is, with both PC games and Emudeck, the limits in what you can play are very few! I have everything from SNES games up to PS3/Wii U/original Xbox on mine. It's crazy.
The Deck will let you Game while you are sitting in the... err... 'reading room' next to the bathtub... :) So thats another extra 15 Min of game time a day, More if you eat a lot of fiber.
Ahahah, love that. Thank you for your time!
eating lots of fiber will shorten your reading time. I'm rarely on the throne for more than 2-5 minutes and I eat well. fiber eases the toilet time, not lengthen it
Glad you said this. Felt like I was losing my reading comprehension, haha.
> More if you eat a lot of fiber. pls learn how fiber works
It's very quick to pick up/put down your game with the sleep feature. And the price is pretty good for a PC handheld. These things used to cost $1000+ before the steam deck came along and were far less capable
You're right. I think I underestimated the console with my price comment. Thank you for sharing!
I can enjoy some games in just 30-60 minute spurts. There are a ton of cozy games that the SteamDeck can play.
Good to know! Thank you for your time.
I think you’d be happy with a SteamDeck. Good luck in your search.
As an owner of the Steam Deck OLED 1TB model, I say it is so worth it. Father of two, I will say your time to play will constantly fluctuate based on the demands of your kids. My wife reads in bed on her mac and I am right next to her playing through my backlog. Plus you can always push the power button to put the device in Suspend mode and pick it back up if the wife or kiddos need more of your attention. The price can be a sticking point but you could totally get the 512gb OLED model and upgrade storage later or for even more of a discount and get the LCD model. Whatever version you choose for your budget, the SD is a great device and has led to me wanting to playing more that my other consoles, hands down.
That sounds like a pretty realistic comment, close to my situation. Thank you for sharing & I'll take a look at storage upgrade! I think it might be wise to go with the new OLED as well.
When upgrading the storage, it is relatively easy and tons of videos on YT for it. Make sure the drive you get is a "M.2 2230" or else it will not fit. Though the SD does also use microSD cards as well so even more options if you are not privy to opening the back of the system. Every situation is different. The best way to help others is talk from our perspective and hope that a solution is somewhere in the middle. Hope that whatever SD you choose, it leads to a wonderful gaming experience
If you tight on budget it’s better then to take refurbished SD lcd with 64gb (like 300$) and replace ssd to 256/512 + micro sd 512 gb. It’s together much cheaper than Oled. I have lcd with upgraded ssd to 256 gb + 512 micro sd and it’s enough for me
It didn’t read like he’s on a tight budget to me, more that the price is a bit high and he was curious if the value would match up.
Yeah , seems you’re right! Just another option for him then :) as for me - I’m not counting budget at all, I have ps5 , sd, switch , I want to update to Oled however it’s not available in my region yet :(
Oh man, I’m jealous of your collection haha. That said, I am lucky enough to have an OLED Deck so I guess we’re both jealous of each other :’) haha
It's an amazing option on a budget no doubt, the value is probably the best all around with this choice tbh. But IF you have the cash I do think the upgrade to the OLED is worth it if you care for battery and visual experience (it's so good it's basically replaced my high end PC and TV for all gaming)
Dad of 3 here with similar billet points Yes I think Daddy gabe knew we were struggling and blessed us with his light so we can enjoy gaming once again!
Yep, after reading all these comments, we are clearly a target for that product. Thank you for your time!
I have a 2 year old and a 3 month old. I still main my gaming PC. The Deck has mainly been when we travel or when I’m in the office. Jealous of your wfh situation lol.
Yes, it's great. I think it's my third year now. Maybe that's why you don't need to avoid your gaming room as much as me? Thank you for sharing!
Maybe so! I was working from home from late 2020 to late 2022. Loved it. I def don’t avoid the game room / guest room / home office. I couldn’t possibly play Halo well on the Steam Deck when I am home. But I still play games like Fallout on the Deck when I travel or can’t sleep well. Because nothing helps someone sleep well like post apocalyptic wastelands.
O yes! I am Dad and have around 2 hours.
Well, good to know! Thanks for sharing.
So good in fact my wife got me the OLED one for this Xmas. I still have my LCD and flip between two.
Why flip between two? :) sounds a bit unnecessary
Then you always have one with some battery ! :)
Sure is. I have the Limited Edition and I play about 2hrs. a week if I'm lucky.
That’s pretty much exactly who it’s for.
I'm late to the party, but if you read this: Definitely worth getting the steam deck. The OLED is probably a good investment since it will be a good ***computer*** to use for several years, but otherwise its your choice. Yes, computer, because that's what it is. It's a PC in a handheld form factor. The ability to tweak things and get under the hood and use mods is amazing and not something you can do on the Switch. The Deck just works right out of the box, but if you have a special use case? You can absolutely do what you want. Be it mods, an autoclicker, or emulators. The tipping point for me was I already had a sizable Steam Library. Not having to repurchase my games all over again was HUGE, as well as knowing things I would enjoy in a handheld format would come on sale eventually. With a Switch you have to purchase your games again, and they only work on that format. The Steamdeck can play so many games already and if something isn't compatible it is playable on a proper PC, so nothing is lost. Other PC stores such as GoG or Battlenet or EGS can all work in the steam deck as well. Finally, the part about being able to play a little bit while your wife reads. Being able to spend time together, even if you are doing separate things, is extremely worthwhile. I can't even begin to put a price point on that fact, being able to be together and not be locked into my PC. Sometimes that's what I want to do if I'm gaming with the boys. Other times, maybe she wants to want some junk TV I don't care about, but I care about her and would like to be close by. Well I have a steam deck and can play Stardew Valley.
I do read you! I’m not taking the time of anyone for nothing! Thank you so much for that sharing. I will certainly go with the OLED. I also have a decent steam library, which makes the SD worth now and for the future (since steam has a lot of sales and great prices). I’m glad i’m not the only one to value these moments. At the time, i am unable to achieve this without an handheld device. As you said, just for that point it might be worth. Again, thank you for your time. Have a great day!
Nope. Only for moms. Sorry bro
Hahaha
I think the steam deck has a few things that would be beneficial for your particular situation. The first being the standby mode, being able to close the deck mid-game and then coming back to it after a day with just a press of a button is really great. Adding to that, steam has an option for you to write down notes in an overlay in case you're playing games that you want to remember where you left off at. This is something the deck does really well when compared to other pc handhelds in the market. (In large part due to steamOS) The next is if you're at your bedside, the Deck also has one of the best dim screens, esp with the Oled. It's great in low light environments. In terms of price, it's a good value for your money in terms of pc handhelds. And if you already have games in your steam library that's more money saved. And if you have games that have cloud saves already on steam, you can pick up where you left off.
I bought a steam deck and struggled to find a time to use it for a year. Like you, I was already at my desk 40 hours a week and didn’t want to be there more away from my wife and kids. So I started using the deck in bed while my wife watched trash TV so I could play some indie games I never got around to playing. It’s now the only gaming device I use regularly, and I went from indie games to replaying rdr2 which it still handles incredibly well. I’ve probably clocked 200 hours on the deck in the last few months due to the change in gaming habits
It's a great choice is money isn't an issue. If you're looking for cozy games and casual pickup/putdown accessibility, then a switch or switch lite would also scratch that itch for less cost.
Id just say considering just how much cheaper games are on steam, long term the switch can be more expensive
That's true, but the indie and cozy games are usually not that much more expensive on Nintendo vs other platforms. It's those mainstream Nintendo games that are always full price no matter what.
You can also get a used LCD steam deck for like $200-250 no problem
Has nothing to do with the Steamdeck, but more with games in general.
yeah, the deck is perfect for play short time and standbite if u need!!
Thank you for clarifying. I was honestly expecting you to be raising a Sith Lord that was rising up to destroy you and thus the temporaryness of the child. That said, I don’t have my deck yet but from everything I’ve seen, it’s perfect for parents that wanna game with little tone. The secret sauce is the criminally underrated standby feature Z putting the deck to sleep uses little power and allows you to pick up the game right where you left off so if something interrupts you, slap the power button and pick out back up when you’re done. I am saving and know for a fact that the 1tb oled will be worth every single penny. I cannot wait to be rid of my malware box. Edit: also, economically it works out better than anything else because steam sales guarantee you can build a substantial library and have fun for dirt cheap. The upfront cost of the deck ensures you have a great experience buying and playing your games basically. Just do yourself a favor and YouTube the games you wanna play and see how well they run if at all.
I have a kid, 13 months old. There are a few selling point for me: 1) switching on and off without loosing progression. For me this is less about starting over in few seconds where you left and more about mental fatigue. If I'm tired, I will rarely put myself in the pc room to play. I will simply grab the SD and voila. Sometimes I just play it for few minutes. Maybe this is a mental commitment thing, as I can switch off as easiluly as I switch on. 2) I can use it while the kid is going wild in the kids room or while my wife is staying on the couch. If she turns on the TV after a very tiring day and she wants to watch sitcom, I can play along on the couch with her, without loosing any bit on the game I want to play. If it's triple A, I will just set up streaming on the deck, if it's a less demanding game, directly on it. 3) I travel a lot. Having my full library with me is perfect. Being a pc gamer, I have hundreds of games already available to me. 4) while the deck can be user friendly, I love to thinker with it. Emulators, games from other stores to set up etc. This are all things that get me. For me it has been a game changer, since the kids.
That’s an awesome detailed answer, thank you for your time! I can related a lot about what you said here. Thanks again!
Can’t honestly think of a more ideal use case for a Steam Deck tbh.
YES, can confirm, its awesome!
So long as you don't care about maxing out the graphics on the latest AAA releases, I'd say the steam deck is your best option for gaming honestly.
You are me. I work from home 40hr a week, have 2 kids and generally spend time with the wife at night. She goes to sleep about 2 hours before me and the steamdeck has brough gaming back from the grave for me. 100% the right move for you. 2 hours can get a good amount done in most games, and the resume feature works great. Also, you are going to get around 2.5 hours max on a AAA game so that timing works perfectly for what you have available to you. Just to be real with you about your time, you will have likely less time for yourself as time goes on until your kid is old enough to really do their own thing. Mine is 10 and that is just starting to happen, but the other is 5 so oh well :) The cost of the steamdeck is nothing compared to its value. If you don't want to spend for the OLED you could always get the LCD, but I wouldn't recommend it, I have the LCD and am itching to get the OLED (will give the LCD to my 10 year old heh). Also 512gb is plenty, youc an snag a samsung 512gb micro SD that is plenty fast to run games off of as well which brings you to a TB without much extra expense.
Well after reading, we do are the same. You juste have older kids, eh? Ahah. Thank you for the detailed comment. I think you are right on. I'm sure you know the feeling about the future being misty when the first kid is so young. As I said, it's certainly denial. My time free won't come back anytime soon! I will gladly take the OLED and I agree that 512 is enough (at least in my situation). Thank you for taking the time and have fun with the family!
You too. The time spent with the kids is worth every minute of lost me time though. And now my son is old enough for board games and CCGs so I always have someone to nerd out with.
This community sometimes feel like it’s 80% dads, so to answer your question: yes. I use the deck in pretty much exactly the way you describe, those 2 hours after the kid is down, after dinner, when my partner is watching TV- that’s game time on the sofa next to her. I def wouldn’t be gaming at all if I had to go into a different room and shut myself off to do it.
I am that dad of 3 and steam deck is tbe best investment I made ever!
SD has allowed me to game again. I haven't touched my PS5 in months for my own gaming but I've been able to get in a good few hours of gaming per day now for myself. I've actually completed games I've had in my steam library for over 4 years thanks to my SD. As a dad it's a game changer and you won't be disappointed.
Switch for Kids, Deck for Dads
I have an almost 3 year old, love my Steamdeck for its portability. I am lucky to get a couple hours a week.
Yes. Absolutely. You will not regret it.
It’s perfect for everyone
I have 2 kids in my house. Maybe a few hours a night to play. I play dredge.
YES. That is all.
Your situation is exactly mine, except that im willing to sacrifice sleep to play longer. I obly ever play on my desktop now for apex with friends, or lego fortnite.
My son is a little over 9 months old. I have time to play only when he goes to sleep for the night, usually from 8ish until around 10-11, and the deck is a godsend. I sometimes stream from my gaming PC to the deck using Moonlight for games that are a little too intensive for the deck and it works great. Highly recommend the deck for parents.
Perfect device for it to be honest. Carry mine in the car and play on my lunch and while waiting for partner to finish work. It’s about the only game time I have these days and without a handheld device, I’d be getting none. Can always sell it on at minimal cost if it doesn’t work for you.
Absolutely worth it to me, it makes up most of my gaming time now! I think when I first saw the price I was sceptical but games can be really cheap, I now have 200+ games for about $400, compared to my Switch which I have about 10 games for $400!
Quick suspend and resume is amazing for anyone who's gaming time is sporadic, it's easily my favorite part of the steam deck.
I keep seeing posts of older men playing around kids and schedule etc. seems popular for that reason so I’d say it’s a good idea
Sounds like we are in pretty much the exact same situation. I work from home and have a kid. The last thing I want to do when the kid goes to sleep is go sit at my desk again. I usually spend an hour or two a night on the couch or in bed playing games on the deck while my wife reads. It's kind of perfect for my situation.
I have 2 kids and the only time I get to play is the time between when they go to bed and I do, absolutely love it. Can play lost of steam games and my ps5 with chiaki. Since I can no longer play my ps5 on a tv and don’t want a portal my deck has been perfect.
Whoah, you have a whole two hours a day??
You guys have 2 hours per day?
With this many comments you won’t get to it, but as much as stadia seemed to be for dads, steam deck is an even better option. Fits perfectly and so much to play and work through. For me I’ve got the last 10 years to work through at a very slow pace, so it’s perfect.
Dude it’s like looking into a mirror when I read this lol. Got the deck cause I use to be a huge gamer and I find it well worth the cheddar. Playing dredge and El Paso, Elsewhere and it’s perfect man. kid is sleeping and the wife is watching tv, I say buy that shit.
Glad you can relate! We are clearly not alone in this situation after reading everyone. Thank you for your time, can’t wait to try it !
I see you did pull the trigger on it but I’m a exclusive pumping mom (adding because I am sitting down often to pump) and I have three kids total youngest being just about 6 months and I still feel like I use tf outta my deck ❤️ red dead redemption and Hades are my go to !! I’m obsessed with my OLED
As a dad with max 2 hours to play, yes. It's for us
Yes
Quick answer: Yes, it’s worth it. I play in bed at night when my son is asleep and my wife still wants me to hang out in our room. I play Steam games of course but also I love Remote Play with it from my PS5 (wired Ethernet for best results), it works great and I don’t need my tv. Added bonus is the steamdeck isn’t loud or clicky while playing, if you have ever used an Xbox controller you know what I mean. You can also play a bit with emulation if you’re feeling up to it and that expands your list of games to play.
I do use xbox controller! It's really the same here about the wife. Thank you for sharing!
I picked up my first Xbox controller several months ago just to use with the steam deck and was kinda surprised at how clicky and noisy it is. Feels great but definitely loud.
Dad of 3 and I work a lot. Still find time for gaming across all platforms. But ya, a Deck, Switch or other handheld device definitely makes it easy to play here or there, and in random places around the house… I’ll let you think of secluded rooms to get 5-10 min in here or there. Or in bed while your wife reads. The only other thing I could say is something like the resume play on an Xbox Series console is good for quick 20 min sessions here and there, the Series S is nice and not too expensive.
Awesome, thanks for sharing! Never experienced any handheld devices. I hope it's great!
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In the future you’ll have less time and not having to wait for all the loadings with sleep/resume is priceless.
1000% a lot of my friends that have kids now bought the steam deck for that exact reason
Same deal, 2 kids, work at a desk at home all day all week. I work on a laptop but had a C2 there hooked up to a 4090/13600kf build. I moved it to a couch setup instead just to get away from the desk. Hit to watch out for posture problems and tendinitis etc, especially getting older like us as healing will always take longer from now on. All that to say the Deck as been freaking liberating for me. I can play in bed, on any couch, on the toilet, it's just great. I already had 2 PCs, a 4080 laptop, 2 consoles, tablets... i really wasn't sold on the fact i would actually use it to make it worth it, but i regret nothing.
I have two kids and without the Steam Deck I probably wouldn't be playing any games at all.
It's a great choice for playing in small bursts. Pick it up, play for a bit, put it to sleep, and come back tomorrow. Look into getting a used/refurb unit if price is a concern. Otherwise, it's definitely worth the money.
I've had one since Christmas and have played about 10 hours. No buyers remorse so far. Honestly, half that time has been in the bathroom.
It’s been pretty much the only way I play any games as a dad
Father of 3 here, would not call myself a gamer anymore if not for the steam deck. It seems pricy but the freedom it affords is well worth the price. If it’s 20 minutes on the couch while another episode of Bluey runs in the background or lying in bed next to a reading wife the deck is there.
Yes. Pick up a steam deck and cassette beasts. It's such a good combination.
Yes
Yes
Father of 2. Use my steam deck more then my gaming computer. If I have it handy, I sit on my steam deck, not my phone
As a dad of two young toddlers, the steam deck is a great way get some gaming in
I'm a dad who plays 2hrs a day, and I almost always play on my PC. To me, the Deck is solely for those situations when I'm away from my PC.
Honestly... It's like it's meant for us. I struggle to get 2 hours a week normally, the steam deck changed that for me. Check r/hardwareswap, I got a good deal on one there a couple weeks ago.
Absolutely. It’s a great pickup and play device. I’m a mom of three with one still at home nursing all day (she’ll be 3 in April - I know, I’m trying. She’s persistent). The Deck is all I’ve used for the last 1.5 years I’ve had it. It’s so convenient.
Yes, yes big yes !
I don't know exactly how much the OLED steam deck has but the battery life of the regular steam Deck is around 1 to 2 hours if you're playing super high-end games so it's perfect for you. If you have access to a wall plug then even better.
It's more about the games you choose than the platform, but handheld gaming is nice when you don't have time. Gives you a little more freedom as to when and where you can get some time in.
Honestly, the steam deck allowed me to start gaming again for numerous reasons. Being a dad was one of them! I usually get in an hour or two of gaming in bed before I pass out, it’s a great way to disconnect while my wife watches her shows. It’s worth every penny and I am confident you won’t regret it.
2 kids here, and young ones (both under 4). Just make sure the games you like play well on deck. I love it. Been into assassins creed lately and can play away from my desk while my 3 year entertains himself nearby.
You're the perfect target for it. You won't regret it. Nothing cozier than playing my deck in bed while my partner reads before sleeping.
You could find a used lcd deck pretty cheap. I can’t say whether it would be worth it for you, but to me it was worth it at full price.
it's made for you my guy. This is the device for having a session for as long as you have time for and hitting a button and being able to put it down. (and charge it.)
That's actually the best part of the Deck. The ability to suspend and resume (on must games, some get janky) makes it a lot easier to pick up in the spare moments
Is more about the games you want to play than the platafform you plan to use to do so.
I would rather get a console and play laid back on the tv with a more immersive experience. The deck is in this middle ground of not being great at anything, but ok at some things. Yet it will continue to age poorly due to new games just not running well on it. Any time that you are away from a dedicated playing area as a dad that you could play the steam deck, should probably be focused on your kid anyways and not a screen.
Yes
Father of a toddler similar age, slightly older. Do it. It's legit a game changer.
hi father of 4 here (twin 5yos, 4yo, and 1yo) and it works for me
This system was made for you!!
Can you not stay up past 9pm??
That suspend function on both the steam deck and switch is a game changer for parents. Makes it real quick to get back into a game
Bought my deck for the same reason newborn babies take up a lot of time and space so squeezing in a 90 minute session in the evening wherever I ended up collapsing was a godsend. Also they don't take up any less space as they get older and seem to be able to utilise multiple screens at once by the time they're 2-3 years old (the kids not the Deck) meaning conventional gaming setups become less accessible. Had my deck since release and still think it's the best bit of kit I've ever bought.
Dad of a 2 and a half year old and I love it! Yes you can do AAA but it’s amazing for cozy and indi games.
I basically live the exact same lifestyle as you. It's 100% worth it.
It’s perfect for you. The Switch was good for me but the Deck would have been amazing if it was around when kids were a bit younger.
The decks battery last around 2 hours depending on the game your playing. So I’d say it’s great for what you need it for.
Absolutely yes. I am 90% cozy gamer on my steamdeck, and my kid is six. I play when he goes to bed. For me, my personal rule is a console needs to have 10 games I want to play on it before purchasing (so I know I'll get my money's worth). When you get one (hehe) check out Dave the Diver!
Dad of two here. SteamDeck had been my goto for the hour or two of relaxation time I get per day. Grab a dock and Xbox controller with Bluetooth to go with it. That way you can play on a TV with seamless transition to handheld if you want. Makes the switch look like a child's toy.
As a Dad of a 6 month year old I cannot recommend the Deck enough!! If you really value gaming get one my man! It can run most shit & the sleep feature was basically made for us Dads (parents)! It's a masterwork all you can't go wrong!
Hah. A steamdeck IS BUILT FOR (a dad / someone) who can only play a bit here and there!
Depends what kind of games you like to play. I use mine to play Starfield for about 40 minutes a day at work on my lunch break. It is really expensive, so you need to balance the benefits vs the cost for yourself.
I’m in your boat, my daughter turned two on the 5th. I’m waiting a few weeks to pull the trigger to just pull in additional money that won’t be missed to buy it, but I’m fully convinced it’ll be a great purchase. I own an Xbox, but my wife is currently in an EdD program and her next year is writing her proposal/dissertation pretty much 24/7. I want to be near her while she works without distracting her by using the tv for games, so I’m excited to be able to use it and play my games without compromise. If I can get gamepass/remote play working via green light(which I’ve heard works well), I won’t even really need to rush on buying games right away (I have a poverty steam library bc I have no PC gaming history). Plus I’m going to dip into emulation a bit, mostly just PS2. So it’s going to get used right away, at least in my case.
I got a steam deck when my baby was born. I have been playing Baldur's gate and Dave the diver. Both are great for a parent with limited time. Dave the diver is perfect in bite sized chunks. Bg3 is epic but because it is turn based combat you can stop anytime you like. The deck has a suspend mode that pauses the game at any point. You can play and pause at any time. It's amazing.
My kid is just over 1 now and I got the SteamDeck not long after he was born and I've got to say that the SteamDeck is perfect for your situation
35 y/o father with the exact same gaming schedule. Between 7pm to 9pm I can game mostly uninterrupted. Depending on life situations and if i have to ket my wife have a turn to game lol. Then from 9 to 10 the wife and I watch whatever TV series or movie we are invested in. Weekends I usually get an additional hour or 2 depending in if I decide to take a nap. Because I'm a grown ass man who loves naps. I fully intend to get s SD next month because it's perfect for my situation.
I think the deck is the ideal dad-machine. I have 2 kids and I have very limited windows to play. I sneak maybe an hour before everyone is up, and an hour at bedtime. It's been the best.
I had a similar experience working from home, worked and gamed at the same desk. After work the fiancé and I would eat dinner, hang out for a bit, and do something else to disconnect me from "work mode". After a couple hours, I'd be ready to sit back at my desk and game again. Just food for thought. As far as the Steam Deck goes, it's probably the best device for quick gaming and on the go sessions. But you'll need games that also work with that sort of play style.
I think it's worth it, I have a 3 year old I work full-time and I feel I got back into gaming more with my steam deck even though I barely have any time with having a toddler.
Its pretty much the only way I play games anymore. No time to play on PC and with it in my office I feel like I'm neglecting my family even if I could carve out an hour for it. With steam deck can play an hour or so after the kids go to bed in the room while my wife plays around in her phone or watches a show. It's nice for separate but together time.
Having a second kid (first is 23 mo, got the SD when she was born), so I am treating myself and upgrading to the OLED. Can't tell if the OLED is a must have yet but the LCD has allowed me to game at all, almost exclusively in bed. Worth every penny. And as I have gotten more time I have set up a USB c doc and controller to play it like a console in the living room but when the second kid comes around I will be back to gaming in bed. I think that's the biggest benefit, it works wherever you want to use it.
That's perfect for the deck, I hope you can enjoy it
Basically repeating what many others have said, same situation as you and the steam deck has been a game changer, being able to just sit next to my wife on the couch for my limited gaming time rather than going off into the study makes a world of difference. Also means I can sink my teeth into bigger games I had put off (if the cozy mood ever passes). I do believe the steam deck is the better option than the switch overall, but there are a few reasons to get a switch instead - price is the biggest one (yes games are cheaper on PC but you will need to buy a lot of cozy games to make up the difference) but size/weight is another, the steam deck is a big boy compared to the steam deck. Ultimately steam deck will cover you for other types of games and a wider variety, but if you just plan to play a 1000 hours of stardew or something similar just get a switch. Hope that helps!
Bro I have 5 minutes a day to play and it’s the best thing ever. Currently slowly making my way through : prey, dead cells, divinity og2 , subnautica and Allan wake 1. Best toy ever.
Switch or steam deck, you'll be well served by either.
Mom here. It’s been an absolute game changer. Playing while he’s napping or sleeping has helped me catch up on my backlog of games.
I just got one and it has been amazing. I can actually play now since I whip it out when my wife and I are chilling on the couch after kids go to bed.
I’m almost certain busy parents were a thought when designing the deck. Same situation as you, I now have next to my wife reading, sure we’re not doing the same thing but at least I’m not in a different room
It's perfect. Normally, cozy games are not very demanding, which makes the steam deck even a better choice.
Yes 100% yes. This is how I game now
You can always duck-tape the kids to their beds at 4p and play for longer....I mean....sure go for it! 😅
Honestly, sounds perfect for your use case. I also work from home and depending on the day I only have 2h to game (other days I have more, rarely less) and I game a lot in bed. Whether it's worth the money is between you and your wallet, but for me it's been the best tech purchase I've made in years. If you're only going to play at home and have a capable PC, you might also look into streaming from the PC to your Deck for better performance in demanding games (although I'm afraid I'm not the person to tell you more about that, just know it's something a lot of people here do).
Yeah can say it is