I highly highly recommend the entire Yakuza series if you want something story focused, with some caveats.

You’ll hear a lot about all the mini games in Yakuza but the games’ main focus is really the story. The games can take a while until they have introduced everything and you’re completely free to explore the city. Cutscenes and dialogs can be pretty long but they are all really well animated. It can sometimes be like watching a show.

Where I initially ran into issues is that I didn’t expect it to be this story heavy and just wanted to play. I highly recommend playing the whole series on Steamdeck. Since cutscenes can be long, the steamdeck’s pause and resume is really helpful.

Also, play the 2 Judgment games when you’re done with the Yakuxa series. I haven’t made it through 2 yet, but 1 was great.

I think a lot of the negativity also comes from misunderstanding what the game is.

Just like you, I played the game on release (on PC) and it is for me one of the best games of all time for one specific reason: immersion and story. That’s exactly what I expected from CDPR after Witcher 3 (another story and immersion focused game) and that’s exactly what I got. I didn’t expect a company known for their story focus and relatively weaker gameplay to deliver a game focused on gameplay or sandbox elements.

I think a lot of people wanted something that CDPR was never going to deliver, but it seems like Phantom Liberty is leaning more into the sandbox that people wanted and (unsurprisingly) didn’t get at release.

In general I recommend checking protondb.com if you’re having issues with any game on linux. Lookup the game and scroll past the steam deck entries. Often somebody has posted a solution there.

I your case, switch to Proton experimental and use these launch options:

eval $( echo “%command%” | sed “s/Launcher/LariLauncher.exe’.*/bin/bg3_dx11.exe’/” )

It switches the game to launch the dx11 version. Alternatively, rename bg3_dx11.exe to bg3.exe or change the game from vulkan to dx11 in the launcher (if that can be done in the launcher). Vulkan is known to crash for some on Linux.

I really wonder if a Switch 2 will do as well as the first Switch.

More and more handheld gaming PCs are released by the time the Switch 2 comes around. Yes, a Switch 2 does have the advantage of access to Nintendo games (if we ignore Emulators) and I would imagine lower price, but I haven’t touched my Switch since I got the Steamdeck. I even sold an extra Switch Lite I had.

I rarely, basically never used the Switch plugged into a TV. I only played it in handheld mode with a skin that made it more comfortable to hold than a flat brick. Nintendo games rarely drop in price and sales don’t reduce prices by much VS PC games that often go on sale and older games drop to very low prices on sale.

I’m certain there’s a market for a Switch 2, I’m just wondering if it will do as well as the first Switch in the current market with more options.

Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Being able to pause and resume at any time and from wherever I’m taking my steam deck has been fantastic for the whole Yakuza series. It has kind of become my dedicated Yakuza machine, lol.

Lost judgment will be next!

Was absolutely worth it!

I didn’t have any specific goals besides being able to play games while sitting on the couch or while traveling. And then I played through the entire Arkham and Yakuza series on it (and some other smaller games in between). Currently playing Ishin on it and no signs of dust yet, the opposite. The skin I put on when I got the steam deck now shows quite some signs of use.