00:00If you just picked up the new Lenovo Legion Go S running SteamOS, or you're debating
00:04between this and the available Windows 11 version, this guide is for you.
00:08I love SteamOS.
00:09Unlike Windows 11, SteamOS gives you a snappy, distraction-free interface that gets you into
00:14your games fast.
00:15Here's why it's better for gaming handhelds.
00:17Right out of the box, it boots directly into gaming mode, giving you a very console-like
00:22experience.
00:23No desktop, no taskbar, just your game library front and center.
00:27Navigation is fully optimized for the touchscreen and physical controls, so you won't need
00:32a keyboard or mouse, unless you want to jump into some more advanced stuff, which we'll
00:36get into.
00:37When you put this to sleep, it actually goes to sleep, preserving battery life so you can
00:42play longer.
00:43Also got really great resume times.
00:44Unlike Windows 11, this only takes a few seconds to jump into your games.
00:48And another big plus, there's no Windows bloat or background tasks hogging up precious system
00:53resources.
00:54Therefore, we get more performance and battery optimizations that's tailored for gaming.
00:59All together, SteamOS delivers the best console-like experience that I've tried on any handheld,
01:04and it's consistently getting better.
01:06Even though you can access the Steam store on other operating systems, here's why it's
01:10so great on SteamOS.
01:12When you boot up, you're dropped right into your game library.
01:16Games and drivers automatically update in the background.
01:19Steam even has a great on-deck category in its store.
01:23If a game is Steam Deck verified or marked as playable, you know it's going to run well
01:28on the Legion Go OS, which actually has more power than the Steam Deck if you get the more
01:32powerful AMD's Z1 Extreme model.
01:35That being said, sometimes other game stores like Epic have better sales, or if you've got
01:39a backlog on GOG or Ubisoft, unfortunately SteamOS doesn't support installing these directly.
01:44But, you can get them running with a few extra steps.
01:47Here's how.
01:47Start by switching to desktop mode.
01:50Hit the Steam button, power, switch to desktop.
02:00Open Discover.
02:01This is SteamOS's app store where you can find some familiar options like Discord, Spotify,
02:06and VLC.
02:07Next you can quickly access your virtual keyboard by holding the Steam plus X button.
02:12Here, you're going to want to search for and install Lutris, which supports Epic Games,
02:17Amazon, Ubisoft Connect, EA Play, and a few more.
02:22Once that's installed, you can log into your game accounts and download games from your library.
02:34Once you're done, you can leave the desktop mode by clicking on the Return to Gaming Mode
02:38icon.
02:40If you're a Game Pass subscriber and you've been playing on Windows handhelds like the
02:44Asus ROG Ally, you'll miss native support here.
02:47Games like Black Ops 6, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Oblivion can't really be
02:52installed locally through your Game Pass subscription.
02:55You're stuck with Xbox Cloud Gaming, which can be fine if your internet is rock solid, but
03:00it's not the ideal choice for offline play or visual fidelity.
03:04But if you still want to play them, here's a faster way to access these titles.
03:08Start by opening desktop mode.
03:10Install Microsoft Edge via Discover.
03:12Yes, it needs to be Edge as it has controller support.
03:16Add Edge to Steam as a non-Steam game.
03:24Right click Properties and paste this code into Launch Options.
03:27I'll also drop the code in the description for you to copy quickly.
03:30Next, rename Edge to something like Xbox Cloud so you know what it is.
03:35Back in gaming mode, navigate to the non-Steam tab in your gaming library and you'll see
03:39this new shortcut we just created.
03:43Launch it and then sign into your Game Pass account and you'll be able to quickly access
03:47these Xbox Cloud Gaming titles.
03:50You'll now be able to stream games like Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Starfield and a lot
03:55more.
03:56Just remember, no offline play and visual quality heavily depends on your internet connection.
04:01So it might be worth buying these games on another supported store so you can play them
04:05locally.
04:07Now that I've shown you how to get the most out of SteamOS, here are some awesome games
04:11that'll run great on your new Lenovo Legion Go S.
04:14Swinging through NYC never gets old and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 brings even
04:19more action.
04:21It looks stunning on the GOES display with tight controls and dynamic visuals.
04:24You can easily hit 40 to 50 frames per second in performance mode and this is a must play.
04:29For a brutal throwback, there's Doom the Dark Ages.
04:34This is extremely well optimized, delivering high frame rates, fast load times, and when
04:39combined with its iconic metal soundtrack, it's hard to put down.
04:44Still a jaw-dropping showcase for what handhelds can do, Night City glows in Cyberpunk 20.
04:492077.
04:50And with its built-in Steam Deck graphics profile, it balances visual fidelity and performance
04:55better than ever.
04:58Virtua Fighter V is a lightweight brawler that runs buttery smooth.
05:02Fights load fast and the controls feel really great on the GOES, especially with its haptic
05:06feedback.
05:07Finally, you've got dimension shifting in your hands with Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart.
05:12Even at lower resolutions, the game looks incredible as you're jumping between rifts and nothing
05:16misses a beat here.
05:21With SteamOS on the Lenovo Legion Go S, you're getting a better console-like handheld experience
05:26with the flexibility of a full desktop just a click away.
05:29You'll miss on some of the freedoms that Windows 11 offers, but in exchange, you get smoother
05:33performance, better battery life, and a bloat-free game-first interface.
05:37So if you want a Steam Deck-like experience with extra performance, the Lenovo Legion Go S is
05:42absolutely worth checking out.
05:44We've got more handheld reviews and content coming soon, so if there's a device, game, or
05:49setup that you want me to try next, drop a comment or reach out.
05:52You can find us everywhere at Tom's Guide and you can follow me to see what other cool tech
05:55I'm reviewing.
05:55So until the next one, I'll catch you later.
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