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Do you want to play the classic Diablo RPG? Well, not only does GOG have it and the Hellfire expansion but the Native Linux devilutionX game engine can make it even better. Here's how to get it working on Steam Deck (and Linux desktop!).

Why would you want to use devilutionX? Well, it's constantly updated to improve playing Diablo for modern platforms! It just keeps on getting better. Many advanced features like high FPS support, more resolution support, skippable movies, quick casting, better multiplayer, UI improvements, better saved games and the list goes on.

How to:

  • First of all, you're going to want to install the Heroic Games Launcher as that makes managing games from GOG really easy. You can get it easily as a Flatpak from Flathub, and on the Steam Deck from the Discover app.
  • Sign into GOG with Heroic and download Diablo.
  • Next up, download the AppImage from the devilutionX GitHub releases page.
  • Make the AppImage executable. Right click -> Properties -> Permissions -> Tick the "Is executable" box.
  • Move the AppImage into the folder where Diablo is installed.

That's it, now it will run via the AppImage and detect the content properly and work. However you can also add it to Steam, to launch it directly there.

How to add to Steam:

  • In your Steam Library, go to the top menu where it says Games -> Add a Non-Steam game.
  • Find where you installed Diablo and select All Files from the bottom of the file picker.
  • Select the devilutionX AppImage and add it.

Done! Now you can launch it from Steam and it works on Steam Deck in Gaming Mode nicely too.

Now here's all that in video form to give you a walkthrough and a quick bit of gameplay just to show it working:

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As for devilutionX, it's had a few massive upgrades recently that massively improved gamepad support, updated translations, improved game stability, added a new settings menu, improved multiplayer and so much more. It's really coming along nicely.

Remember you need to own Diablo, buy it from GOG.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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9 comments

scaine Jul 29, 2022
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That Tristram village music was an absolutely HUGE part of my early memories of PC gaming. Despite later cheating making the multi-player unplayable, I have to say, Diablo was immense. Looks pretty dated now (at least the movement/animation), but I'll always have happy memories of it. Big thumbs up to DevilutionX and its devs from me!
ShabbyX Jul 29, 2022
I remember I sucked hard at Diablo. I could never finish it. Diablo 2, I also sucked but at least I could get through to the end.

Then I played Diablo 3, which was rather easy, and so boring (500 yellow items to be identified one by one, each taking 4 seconds? What were they thinking?) So I decided to go back and play Diablo. Man, they had it *right*! Blue drops were so rare, it was so exciting to see one. You couldn't wait to get it identified. Same with Yellow items on Diablo 2. Diablo 3 just threw garbage after garbage legendary items at you. No excitement at all for getting them.

Anyway, rant over. I hope divelutionX doesn't force you to click the mouse for every attack :)
elmapul Jul 29, 2022
dam bold time! lets teach blizzard how to properly make an diablo game!
Drakker Jul 30, 2022
Quoting: ShabbyXI remember I sucked hard at Diablo. I could never finish it. Diablo 2, I also sucked but at least I could get through to the end.

Then I played Diablo 3, which was rather easy, and so boring (500 yellow items to be identified one by one, each taking 4 seconds? What were they thinking?) So I decided to go back and play Diablo. Man, they had it *right*! Blue drops were so rare, it was so exciting to see one. You couldn't wait to get it identified. Same with Yellow items on Diablo 2. Diablo 3 just threw garbage after garbage legendary items at you. No excitement at all for getting them.

Anyway, rant over. I hope divelutionX doesn't force you to click the mouse for every attack :)

Yes, there is an option for click and hold.

Diablo 1 is a wholly different beast, the swarms of monsters are actually way stronger than you, so you have to use every terrain advantage you can get, abuse doors, corners, lava lakes, etc. All characters can learn to cast teleport, use that often. The sorcerer and the rogue should do a lot of teleporting. The warrior with a good armor can usually take more punishment, and since he's a really slow caster, chances are he's not going to be able to successfully cast teleport while surrounded anyway, but you should still abuse the hell out of doors and choke points with him.
EWG Jul 31, 2022
This is incredible. Too bad blizzard turned into what a mess they are. The teams definitely knew/know how to make some great games.
slaapliedje Aug 9, 2022
Quoting: ShabbyXI remember I sucked hard at Diablo. I could never finish it. Diablo 2, I also sucked but at least I could get through to the end.

Then I played Diablo 3, which was rather easy, and so boring (500 yellow items to be identified one by one, each taking 4 seconds? What were they thinking?) So I decided to go back and play Diablo. Man, they had it *right*! Blue drops were so rare, it was so exciting to see one. You couldn't wait to get it identified. Same with Yellow items on Diablo 2. Diablo 3 just threw garbage after garbage legendary items at you. No excitement at all for getting them.

Anyway, rant over. I hope divelutionX doesn't force you to click the mouse for every attack :)
Diablo 3 is so boring, to this day I couldn't finish the story line, because it was just too easy. Even continually cranking up the difficulty to the maximum every time we'd level, my brother and I just got bored.
ShabbyX Aug 9, 2022
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: ShabbyXI remember I sucked hard at Diablo. I could never finish it. Diablo 2, I also sucked but at least I could get through to the end.

Then I played Diablo 3, which was rather easy, and so boring (500 yellow items to be identified one by one, each taking 4 seconds? What were they thinking?) So I decided to go back and play Diablo. Man, they had it *right*! Blue drops were so rare, it was so exciting to see one. You couldn't wait to get it identified. Same with Yellow items on Diablo 2. Diablo 3 just threw garbage after garbage legendary items at you. No excitement at all for getting them.

Anyway, rant over. I hope divelutionX doesn't force you to click the mouse for every attack :)
Diablo 3 is so boring, to this day I couldn't finish the story line, because it was just too easy. Even continually cranking up the difficulty to the maximum every time we'd level, my brother and I just got bored.

I finished it, but yes it's so boring. "Diablo is back, let's kill it". Wow, much story.

Worse was that all the lore you'd find are basically from the Diablo books, which I had read (actually very interesting mind you), and which then meant there was 0 new anything for me in the game.
Brorim Aug 11, 2022
Luckily the Torchlight series runs natively on linux .. Much better than Diablo Imo ..
slaapliedje Aug 12, 2022
Quoting: BrorimLuckily the Torchlight series runs natively on linux .. Much better than Diablo Imo ..
Only thing mjssing from them is multiplayer.

I think only 3 has it?
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