Hela Demo on Steam Deck: Setup & Performance Tips
Yes, you can play the Hela demo on Steam Deck, and with the right settings it runs well. This guide covers how to get the demo running, the best performance settings, and how to fix common issues.
What Is the Hela Demo?
Hela is an upcoming action-adventure game with a strong focus on melee combat and exploration, inspired by Norse mythology. The demo gives players a taste of the opening hours, featuring a few combat encounters, a small open area, and a boss fight. It’s a single-player experience, so there’s no online requirement beyond downloading the demo itself.
Can You Play It on Steam Deck?
Yes. The Hela demo is available on Steam, and it runs on Steam Deck through Proton. While it isn’t officially verified by Valve, the demo works out of the box for most users. The game uses Unreal Engine, which has good compatibility with Proton. You may need to force a specific Proton version if you encounter crashes.
How to Install and Launch the Demo
- Switch your Steam Deck to Desktop Mode (hold the power button, then select “Switch to Desktop”).
- Open Steam and log in.
- Search for “Hela Demo” in the store and click “Add to Library.”
- Click “Install” and wait for the download to finish (about 4 GB).
- Return to Gaming Mode. The demo should appear in your library.
- If it doesn’t launch, go to the game’s Properties → Compatibility and check “Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool.” Select Proton Experimental.
Performance Settings for Steam Deck
The demo can run at 30 FPS on medium settings with a few tweaks. Here are the recommended settings in the game’s options menu:
- Resolution: 1280×800 (native)
- Graphics Quality: Medium
- Anti-Aliasing: TAA (or off for a slight boost)
- Shadows: Low
- Textures: High (the Deck has 16 GB of RAM, so this is usually fine)
- Effects: Medium
- View Distance: Medium
For a smoother 40 FPS experience, you can set the Steam Deck’s refresh rate to 40 Hz and enable the 40 FPS cap in the Quick Access Menu (… button → Performance). This gives a good balance between smoothness and battery life.
Common Issues and Fixes
Some players report the demo crashing on launch or during the first cutscene. Here are the most common fixes:
- Crash on launch: Force Proton Experimental (as described above). If that doesn’t work, try Proton 9.0.
- Black screen after intro: Disable the in-game overlay (Steam → Settings → In-Game → uncheck “Enable Steam Overlay while in-game”).
- Low FPS: Lower the resolution to 1024×600 and set all settings to Low. The game still looks decent at that res on the small screen.
- Controller not working: The demo should recognize the Deck’s controller automatically. If not, go to the game’s Properties → Controller → Disable Steam Input, then re-enable it.
Battery Life and Thermals
At medium settings, the demo draws about 18-20 W from the battery, giving roughly 1.5 to 2 hours of playtime on a full charge. The Deck’s fan will spin up, but it stays within normal temperatures (around 70-80°C for the CPU). If you want longer battery life, cap the TDP to 10 W and set a 30 FPS limit. This reduces power draw to about 12 W, extending playtime to around 3 hours.
Comparing to Desktop Performance
On a mid-range desktop PC (e.g., GTX 1660), the demo runs at 60 FPS on high settings at 1080p. The Steam Deck’s performance is roughly equivalent to a GTX 1050 Ti, so you’ll need to lower settings to get a stable framerate. The Deck’s 800p screen helps, as the lower resolution requires less GPU power.
Is It Worth Playing on Deck?
If you’re a fan of action games like God of War or Darksiders, the Hela demo is a great way to see if the full game is for you. The combat feels responsive, and the demo’s length (about 1-2 hours) is generous. The Steam Deck handles it well enough that you won’t feel like you’re missing out on the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Hela demo require an internet connection?
No, once downloaded, the demo runs entirely offline. You only need an internet connection to download it initially.
Can I transfer my demo save to the full game?
Yes, the demo supports save transfer. When you purchase the full game, it will detect your demo save and let you continue from where you left off.
Will the full game be optimized for Steam Deck?
The developer hasn’t announced official Steam Deck support yet, but given that the demo runs well, the full game will likely work too. Expect a few patches after launch if issues arise.
How do I enable the 40 FPS mode?
Press the … button on your Deck, go to Performance, set the Refresh Rate to 40 Hz, and then enable the frame rate limiter to 40 FPS. This gives a smooth 40 FPS with lower input lag than 30 FPS.
What if the demo doesn’t show up in my library after installing?
Restart Steam in Gaming Mode, or switch to Desktop Mode and launch Steam there. Sometimes the library needs a refresh.
Can I play the demo with a mouse and keyboard on the Deck?
Yes, you can connect a Bluetooth or USB-C keyboard and mouse to the Deck. The demo supports both input types, and you can switch between them seamlessly.
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