I have a really nice gaming PC, but sometimes you just need to be cozy with a handheld. Great for gaming under a fluffy blanket or just taking advantage of downtime during the day. I’ve been playing a lot of PS2 games emulated as well as some older games I missed or want to revisit. And baldurs gate 3 of course :)

I think it works well as a complement to a real gaming PC but if you’re budget limited then it can definitely provide a super satisfying experience as your only/primary gaming device.

If you really want nicer graphics though (esp through a larger display like a tv) I might recommend something different. It handles well enough for it’s small/low-res screen but definitely doesn’t have much spare juice in the tank to drive more pixels vs a PS5 or decent PC can do

With my hands

I am student in a city very far from my hometown and got the steam deck so I can game and do other stuff when I travel and when I’m chilling at my dorm.Love my ps5 at home but I was always a big fan of handhelds,despite not owning a switch(psp ftw lol).

I use my deck regularly in my hands when I’m watching a movie or my kids are using my gaming pc etc. I also spend time at my in-laws and it’s great to fire up Baldurs gate 3 on a couch far from my gaming pc! I do have a dock too and play on that as well

• docked with a controller (no monitor)
• docked with a controller and monitor+sound system
• in hand: on the go, in the couch/bed

On the couch and handheld. Since I became a das I had no time to play on my Computer, so I bought the deck to play whenever my daughter sleeps

I use it primarily in my house. I have like a 5 minute commute to work, when I even have to go into the office, in the first place, so there’s not a lot of opportunity to even play anywhere else. I’ve taken it with me on trips and have used it extensively in airports waiting for flights that are always delayed now, though.

I’ve never once docked it. If I want to play on my TV, I have a PS5 and XSX for that. That said, I only ever use the PS5 out of the two, and then, only when there’s some exclusive I’m interested in playing, like when Spider-Man 2 came out recently.

I also do have a gaming PC, or it’s probably better said as a work PC that just happens to be great for gaming as well. After I’ve worked on it all day, though, the last thing I want to do is continue to sit in front of it to play games. However, I do heavily make use of Steam Remote Play to stream games from my PC to the Deck. That combo is a game changer.

Got my Deck since a year and in that year my PC was on at Like 3 Days.

Purely in handheld mode. If I was gonna use it docked, I would just use my PC

I mostly use it to watch porn and you’d be amazed at how well it works one handed a true game changer for any experts out there.

I usually play it with my hands.

Speaking seriously though, it’s a mix of docked to my tv with a wireless mouse and keyboard, or in handheld mode in my bed or while traveling. The steam deck IS my gaming PC, and I have a PS5 which can play some more demanding titles, and a Macbook that I use for productivity.

I’ve never ever used the Deck docked, the games run better on my normal PC

Also my Deck rarely leaves the house.

Funny I have exactly the same consoles as you. I mostly play on the steam deck now, usually inside the house, but I do bring it to work sometimes to play during my lunch break (depends on the game I’m playing at the time). When I play on the switch, I take it everywhere as I am not as scared to break it or have it stolen and it’s way smaller (I haven’t played on my 2dsxl in a loooong time but I use to take it everywhere).

When I play the deck at home, I play on it unplugged, then plug it when necessary, and keep playing (I usually play sitting on a japanese floor seat with the charger nearby so I can easily plug it in and out).

at home: docked in the living room, sometimes streaming from my PC

travelling: mostly handheld but sometimes setup as a desktop so I can play competitive FPS

Mostly laying in bed