I guess as long as the thread is about GoG games on the Steam Deck... anything might help! That beeing said. If I can I install the linux versions of the game as there is not tinkering with GE Proton Versions etc. In general the games just work. I do not know if windows versions might in some cases have a performance bonus - but I doubt it.

All the best to you!

phil

I'm far from a expert but here's my 1/2 cent.

I don't have a problem with most linux version of GOG games I've tried, they seem to install and play fine, but there some issues with some games using older libraries, wich the game expect to be present and is not. I guess the most well known case is Baldur's Gate but there's plenty others. GOG list most games as compatible with Ubuntu 16 or 18, wich is a older version by now and there was the transition to include support only for 64bit programs meanwhile, if you take a look at Shadow Tactics page, they list what kind of libraries need to be present and you need to install those yourself (all 32bit), if the Operating System don't have them (like latest Ubuntu).

It doesn't help the way Valve setup the operating system, wich deviates from most "mainstream" distibutions. The Operating System files (think Windows C:/) are locked on "Read-Only" mode, while very easy to undo, creates some issues by itself, let alone in every major update it locks the OS again and sometimes overwrite some files.
To put this in Windows analogy, GOG games are installed on C:/GOG Games folder, but if the C:/ is locked on Read-Only it cannot install, if you manage to unlock it, later it can erase all the games folder during an update.

In those cases I believe the easiest way to install the game is via Windows version. The Windows to Linux conversion tool does a freaking good job of keeping the games very smooth.
This creates other problems, like having to install the game via Steam (if not using the heroic launcher wich I do not) and each Windows game game installed creates it's own wine prefix, wich means, it create a C:/ folder with some Windows files and this can take 200-1000 MB of space.
The Folder explorer you'll need to use to tell Steam "I want to use that file" is freaking horrendous and very annoying (as debated in the other thread) but last update made some changes and in game mode (soon to be followed in Desktop mode) it features a all new folder explorer, wich actually is usable.

You still need to know your way around the folder tree, though, a search engine will probably be needed.
Steam install Windows games on the following directory: /home/deck/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata (the ".steam" is a hidden folder denoted by the "." before the name) and the install name is a number, sort the folders by "created", or "accesses" to help know wich game it is.

Fight'n Rage as a exemple: /home/deck/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/3829204044/pfx/drive_c/GOG Games/fightnrage/FIGHT_N_RAGE.exe

You can move the folder "######" random number around, just need to tell Steam, please, start the executable on that location.

Sorry for the long writing and it seems complicated but it isn't, just tedious to install lot'sa games.

TLDR is, for me the Windows version it is :)

Indeed!

Their reasoning for doing this is understandable - from a technological point of view, if you've got a specific hardware configuration that you can target, and lots of users who potentially don't understand the underlying operating system, it's much easier just to make an A/B "image" OS so that all users run the same thing, much like Android devices. Thus in the case of something going wrong, it's easier to debug and support the user, since you know how the underlying OS is installed and configured already.

But! What hasn't helped (in my opinion) is that it's not a "true" containerized/image OS like Fedora CoreOS/Silverblue or OpenSUSE MicroOS. The reason is simple, it's based on Arch Linux... which was never built or intended to be used in the way Valve have used it. Valve don't even keep it up to date like they should.

You see, if they had gone with CoreOS or MicroOS - then you'd have a separate image you could select during boot and go straight into it. For example, with Fedora Silverblue (CoreOS) you could "update" to Fedora 38 and if it didn't work or you didn't like it, just reboot and select the previous boot entry that had Fedora 37 and boot it, and there you go, you're back on Fedora 37. Thus providing the same level of "resilience" that an A/B setup could, if not better.

CoreOS / MicroOS is much more fine tuned also, for example if you wanted to install your legacy i686 libraries on CoreOS you could do that with a simple "rpm-ostree install <libraries>" and they would persist across images, along with being kept up to date. Rather than the "Valve way" of offering to "unlock", and wiping changes to the image after updates.

Personally, I wish they had just gone the CoreOS/MicroOS route as it would make it far more easier to tinker with it.. which was one of the key selling points!

Thanks a lot Dark_art_ for the explanation, very complete, :)

I will keep your post as info.

DREDGE
1.) installed via Heroic Launcher, added to Steam library
2.) GE-Proton7-50
3.) High Settings
4.) 60 hz / 60 FPS (stable)

Unsouled
1.) Installed via Heroic, Also installed via GOG Galaxy through Steam.
2.) GE-Proton7-51
3.) Default Settings
4.) Performance is 60FPS stable.

My 1st attempt trying to install linux files result a fail, also trying to install linking .exe to S. But installing games on Windows and passing the whole folder to a SD card and then adding the .exe to S yes;)

So, here´s the first game i try:

Return to Monkey Island
1.) Installed on Windows, then copied to a memory card and then added to Steam. Runs fine on memory card.
2.) Proton 7.0-6
3.) default
4.) 60fps

Yes, i will continue buying games on gog if they are drm-free.

Urtuk: The Desolation

1.) Offline installer add to Steam, no launcher was used. Runs fine on memory card.
2.) Proton 7.0-6
3.) 1280x800
4.) 60fps

Extra info: Both the Windows and Linux version run fine as expected. So far, the Keyboard and Mouse emulation seem to work the best. Setting the governor as powersaving and donwnclock memory on powertools helps saving ~20% battery.

BTW, the Linux installer executed on the terminal, skipping a lot or readme pages took more time than the game installing.

To make the Linux version install you have to make the .sh file executable (the file downloaded from GOG), Right click on the file -> Properties -> Permissions -> Is Executable, the alternative way is to chmod -x the file on terminal.
If the game installer opens on terminal (like my post above about Urtuk), just open the virtual keyboard with the Steam Button + X and say yes to everything. After the installation, the game can be added to Steam as a apllication.

Kingdom Come Deliverance
1.) Installed on Windows, copied to Steam Deck (memory card) and added to Steam.
2.) GE Proton 7.50
3.) Medium
4.) Capped at 50 FPS (stable -> not in Rattay Market of course ;-)

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No Man`s Sky
1.) Installed on Windows, copied to Steam Deck (memory card) and added to Steam.
2.) GE Proton 7.50
3.) Standard
4.) Capped at 50 FPS (stable)

Painkiller -black edition and overdose

Heroic

Proton experimental and 7.06 were the only ones that would run them

Turning shadows on charescters on destroys performance. Max settings otherwise at 720x480 60fps

Turning resolution above 720x480 made the image smaller and would move it to the left and up when attempting to increase any further. It got worse as the resolution went up

Spirit of the Islands
1.) installed via Heroic Launcher, added to Steam library
2.) Steam Proton 8.02
3.) Best settings
4.) 50 hz / 50 FPS (stable, even 60fps should be possible)

Extra Info: GE-Proton7-50 left me with crashes

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Pillars of Eternity
1.) installed via offline installer -> added to Steam library
2.) Steam Proton 8.02
3.) Best settings
4.) 50 hz / 50 FPS (stable, even 60fps should be possible)

Extra Info: GE-Proton7-50 left me with the character icon bug (this might be at first start only)

Evil West
1.) installed via offline installer
2.) GE-Proton8-03
3.) Install vcredist 2015-2022 via Protontricks
4.) ~50 FPS / 50 hz (with occasional hickups)

Extra info: If I force 1024x640 resolution via steam options FSR helps to improve performance even more
There is in-game FSR as well ;-)

Batora: Lost Haven
1.) installed via offline installer
2.) GE-Proton8-03
3.) high settings / vcredist 2015-2019 was auto installed during installation
4.) 50 hz / 50 FPS (perfectly stable 60FPS should not be a problem)

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Darksiders Genesis
1.) installed via offline installer
2.) GE-Proton8-03
3.) Medium Settings, with high textures and low FX
4.) 50 hz / 50 FPS

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Midnight Fight Express
1.) installed via offline installer
2.) GE-Proton8-03
3.) ---
4.) 50 hz / 50 FPS (rock stable)