I recently encountered an issue that many gamers face but might not always find straightforward solutions for: adding non-Steam games to my Steam library. It all began when I wanted to centralize my gaming experience. I love using Steam for its convenience, community features, and overlay options. However, I had several games that weren’t available on Steam, and I wanted a way to integrate them into my Steam library for ease of access and a unified experience.
Initially, I was skeptical. Adding non-Steam games seemed like a feature Steam might not fully support, or at least not in a way that would meet my expectations. But after some research and trial and error, I discovered that Steam does indeed allow you to add these games, and the process was simpler than I had anticipated. Here’s a full tutorial on how I managed to add my non-Steam games to my Steam library.
The first step in this process was to open my Steam client. I went to the top-left corner of the interface and clicked on the “Games” tab. From the drop-down menu, I selected “Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library.” This was where my journey began. Steam then presented me with a list of programs and games that were already installed on my computer.
Next, I browsed through the list to find the non-Steam game I wanted to add. However, not all my games appeared in this list, which was a bit frustrating. So, I had to use the “Browse…” button to manually locate the executable file (.exe) for the game I wanted to add. This usually involved navigating through my “Program Files” or “Program Files (x86)” directory, depending on where the game was installed.
Once I found the executable file, I selected it and clicked “Add Selected Programs.” Steam then added the game to my library, but it wasn’t yet fully integrated. The game’s icon and name appeared in my Steam library, but it lacked the customizations and features of a typical Steam game.
To enhance my experience, I wanted to customize how the game appeared in my library. I right-clicked on the game in my library and selected “Properties.” Here, I could change the game’s name and add a custom shortcut or icon. This allowed me to personalize the appearance of my non-Steam game and make it look more like a native Steam game.
Another crucial aspect was configuring the launch options. Sometimes, non-Steam games require specific launch parameters to work correctly. To set these options, I went back to the “Properties” menu of the game and clicked on “Set Launch Options.” Here, I could input any necessary commands or parameters required for the game to run smoothly.
One of the best features of adding non-Steam games to Steam is the ability to use the Steam Overlay. This feature is particularly useful if you want to take advantage of Steam’s in-game functionalities, like chatting with friends or taking screenshots. To ensure the overlay worked, I went to the Steam settings, selected “In-Game,” and made sure that the “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game” option was checked.
The final step was to ensure the game appeared correctly in my library. I tested launching the game from Steam to confirm that everything was set up properly. If the game did not start as expected, I went back and checked the executable file path and launch options. Sometimes, small adjustments were needed to get everything functioning perfectly.
In conclusion, adding non-Steam games to Steam is a valuable feature that enhances the convenience of managing your game library. By following these steps, I was able to integrate all my games into Steam, creating a seamless gaming experience. This process allowed me to centralize my gaming platform, enjoy the benefits of Steam’s features for all my games, and ultimately, create a more streamlined and enjoyable gaming experience.