Playing Kenshi on Steam Deck | How good is it?

I attempt to describe what it's like to play Kenshi, one of my favorite games of all time, on the Steam Deck. It's a weird combination, but it works surprisingly well.
0:00 Intro
0:28 Performance
2:29 Button Mapping
4:21 Overall Experience and Final Thoughts

[@dud324]

I've never played kenshi before until i played it on the steam deck and already have 300 hours in it using the community layout it's perfectly playable for a new player :)

[@anecessaryweevil]

Really nice to hear this perspective from someone who plays primarily on Steam Deck. I was thinking it could be overwhelming for brand new players, but very good to hear otherwise.

[@chazbennett7771]

Literally exactly the same. It's amazing to me how much better of a time I had on deck rather than on my pc

[@sporu1]

Best community ever 🎉

[@kayodoubleu3310]

Oh this are amazing news. Can't wait to get a steamdeck

[@YangBalanceYin]

This is actually an amazing video. Clear and organized. To the point and not obnoxious. Very chill and nice voice. Good stuff.

[@anecessaryweevil]

Thanks very much! Comments like yours keep me going.

[@HeelRevan]

Thanks man! No bs just straight to the point you earned a sub

[@John-yi6cz]

Thanks for this! I bought a steam deck from the summer sale and was trying to decide what games to get for it and kenshi was on my wishlist.

[@anecessaryweevil]

Glad I could help!

[@alexmayne7606]

Kenshi is actually one of my favorite games of all time. I will get my Steam OLED soon and can´t wait to try it :)

[@Danefrak]

Great video concept, id definitely be interested in more episodes

[@anecessaryweevil]

Thank you so much! Currently finding a new game for a let’s play series, and I’ll be coming back to Kenshi and Steam Deck again.

[@gloriouskatatsumuri]

Underrated and under-watched video. I love Kenshi and have a Steam Deck, having watched earlier videos of Kenshi on Steam Deck I decided to stay away, but this has made me want to give it a blast as 90% of my gaming is handheld at the mo & nothing scratches that Kenshi itch other than Kenshi itself! Thank you!

[@anecessaryweevil]

Thanks very much! Kenshi is surprisingly good on the deck.

[@Hightower2804TP]

Your video actually made me reconsider installing Kenshi on my Deck. I'm downloading it right now :)

[@anecessaryweevil]

That’s great! Taking Kenshi wherever you want is pretty awesome. Hope you enjoy it.

[@Hightower2804TP]

@@anecessaryweevil Yeah totally, what's also awesome is that Steam automatically downloads all the workshop mods that I have installed on my Desktop save. Valve shows other big companies how its done.

[@davidrocks1774]

Never heard of this game, but your review and how you talk about it is going to have me bing your channels videos on jt

[@anecessaryweevil]

That’s very kind of you to say. I’m afraid I didn’t give a good introduction to the game, just how it performs on handheld. I recommend you check out Ambiguous Amphibian’s videos on Kenshi, he has some amazing stuff. His Torsolo series are really entertaining. Mine are ok, more focused on challenge based play through ideas. Thanks for checking out my videos!

[@grimrevan4660]

This game is one of a kind. I highly recommend looking into videos covering the unique aspects of the game.

[@user-nx4oo6gx2i]

Great video thank you. I've been considering getting this game for a while now, but i rather just play it on my steam deck. Gonna get it now that I see it runs so well.

[@anecessaryweevil]

Just realized I didn’t fully reply to this before, but I hope you’re currently enjoying Kenshi on Steam Deck!

[@sporu1]

I could very well sleep on this review 😂😂 very calm voice, but in the same time kept me awake to find the informations that so on point.

[@anecessaryweevil]

Thanks! I’m happy you found it interesting but also made you sleepy 😂

[@poopscoop2000]

Hey, great video and thanks for sharing. Newish Deck owner and only just stumbled upon this game. Subed.

[@anecessaryweevil]

Many thanks! That’s very kind of you. Hope you enjoy the brutal and unforgiving world of Kenshi!

[@sagames12]

This is probably the first ever kenshi video I've ever seen. Wow...

[@anecessaryweevil]

You might like it, it’s a really fun sandbox squad based survival game. That’s a really oversimplified description, but it’s essentially one of the best games ever made. And it was initially made by one dude over like 10 years.

[@Danefrak]

@@anecessaryweevil oh

[@dalmatian7565]

​@@Danefrak You're freaking me out with the passive aggressive comment.

[@Shiggy_]

Great vid

[@anecessaryweevil]

Thanks very much!

[@BusinessMan1619]

Liked and subscribed.

[@anecessaryweevil]

Thank you!

[@KeiTech0]

Good video bro, really want to buy the deck to play this jewel. quick question, can you put addons as well?

[@anecessaryweevil]

Thanks bro I appreciate it. Haven’t tested mods on the deck yet. If they work under Steam’s emulation layer (I think it’s called Proton), they might run ok. There’s also the option to run windows on the deck, then everything would work normally as it would on a PC.

[@kevo300]

Thanks for selling me on the game its on sale on steam right now. 1.7k hours also so I know this game has to be good to invest that play time.

[@anecessaryweevil]

Very happy to hear this video convinced you to try Kenshi, especially if it’s on sale. It appeals to my OCD level of attention to detail and high difficulty curve, and it’s survival sandbox :) I’ll probably sink another 1000 hours in it before Kenshi 2 drops.

[@Y_N_K_888]

Thanks guy, it's on sale rn.

[@anecessaryweevil]

So much value for that price, thanks for the heads up.

[@jayyydizzzle]

I found the running kenshi in desktop mode has some performance improvements for some reason. At least the in-game loading times and a bump to fps. Any chance you can test this too?

[@anecessaryweevil]

Just tested this after seeing this comment, and yes I’m getting 38fps in town with shadows on CSM low in desktop mode. I’m getting 30fps in the same exact scene in Steam Deck’s gaming mode, which is surprising. Thanks for posting this, now I’m curious why this is happening. Surely the gaming mode isn’t eating that much performance for some graphical/UI convenience and ease of use. I think that’s about 21 percent performance difference if my math is correct.

[@jayyydizzzle]

@@anecessaryweevil no clue as to why, I've asked some friends who are deeper in the performance than me and they said it's really weird. Haven't tested it on other games, still deep deep into kenshi. Also 26.67% :)

[@SCARaw]

Engine mesh updater mod works on deck

[@fulanoh01]

Does the save files cross between deck and pc? Or I must have a new save if I came from pc to steam deck

[@anecessaryweevil]

I don’t think Steam syncs the Kenshi save files unfortunately. I have to manually transfer mine to play on different devices. There might be a way to sync the save folder via 3rd party like Google Drive or Dropbox, I just haven’t been successful doing it yet.

[@-pressxtostart-]

Omg…. 😮 No way

[@SavageThoughtz1]

Runs perfectly for me but how do i steal if theres no alt button

[@anecessaryweevil]

You should be able to map alt to one of the buttons, I mapped mine to one of the back buttons on the Steam Deck using the button mapper via the Steam menus.

[@SavageThoughtz1]

@@anecessaryweevil just did this. Now im sticky fingers. Thanks!

[@shawnmorgan7834]

My buddy and I started calling kenshi the k-hole, and boy am I stuck in it lol

[@matt25675]

Lol

[@DegradationDomain_stuff]

Can you plug your keyboard and mouse to Steam deck?

[@anecessaryweevil]

Yep, though it’s easier when the Steam Deck is docked with multiple usb ports available. Lots of docks out there, I got mine on Amazon. You can also use a usb hub (usb c for Steam Deck connection).

[@DegradationDomain_stuff]

@@anecessaryweevil I would guess it will be the best way to play Kenshi on Steam deck. But it is nice to have an option to play it on the road, so to speak :)

[@eddx5758]

How do you steal

[@anecessaryweevil]

Lock pick containers and grab the loot! Stealing from containers is difficult at first. You’ll fail a lot if there are guards around the area. The more your character does it, the more successful they’ll be at doing it without getting caught. Stealing items from shelves and tables is easier (or anything not in containers). Edit: Also, make sure your sneak ability is leveled up, and wear clothing that gives bonuses to stealth.

[@SavageThoughtz1]

@@anecessaryweevilwhat is the “alt” button? Cant steal currently

[@aleksandr296]

WTF !?

[@saintrodgersdomino7384]

Being gifted a steam deck shortly wanted to know if I can play this on that steam deck and lo and behold😂 right on man appreciate the playthrough commentary

[@anecessaryweevil]

Right on, you’re going to love it! It plays pretty much everything I’ve thrown at it.