Metroid Samus Returns on Steam Deck – 3DS emulation with custom screen on screen layout and emulated touch screen controls on Citra

Metroid Samus Returns is a somewhat forgotten game, although it is one of the best titles officially available only on the Nintendo 3DS. It’s not as good as Metroid Dread, but it provides hours of great fun. Metroid: Samus Returns works great on Steam Deck – in my tutorial you will find out how to install this game, prepare custom screen on screen layout, and emulate touch screen controls using Citra.

I. How to install Citra Emulator on Steam Deck

First, go to Desktop Mode. Now you have a lot of options, but I personally recommend the EmuDeck script – it’s a collection of emulators along with pre-defined settings. How to install EmuDeck: https://greatondeck.net/emulation-on-steam-deck-with-emudeck-complete-guide/

You can also download Citra directly from Discovery, but this is an option for advanced users.

I have installed EmuDeck on a memory card, so in my case Citra launcher can be found here: /run/media/mmcblk0p1/Emulation/tools/launchers/Citra.sh

In the case of the Citra emulator, you do not need bios files, etc. Games work right off the bat.

II. Install Metroid Samus Returns on Steam Deck

Dump your Metroid Samus Returns and put file in (your emudeck location)//Emulation/Roms/3ds folder.

Run Steam Rom Manager to create shortcut to the game and Citra Emulator in your Steam Library.

When you are ready, go back to Gaming Mode and launch the game – you will find it in the Library in the Non-Steam category. If everything is OK close the game and go back to Desktop Mode.

III. Citra configuration – graphic settings

Run Citra launcher (…)/run/media/mmcblk0p1/Emulation/tools/launchers/Citra.sh
Metroid Samus Returns works perfectly on the default settings. If you want you can raise the resolution up to 3x or enable additional filters. When you start the game, there will be a slight stutter caused by building the shader cache – it will lighter and lighter after some time of play.

UPDATE

I just found 60FPS cheat code for Metroid Samus Returns! I’m testing it right now.

In Desktop mode – run Citra launcher (…)/run/media/mmcblk0p1/Emulation/tools/launchers/Citra.sh

Turn off “Fullscreen” in View tab.

Start Metroid Samus Returns from game list, click on Emulation > Cheats. Add Cheat, name it Metroid Samus Returns (etc.), in Notes menu write [60FPS].

Copy the text below to your Code table:

D3000000 00000000
00156484 E3500010
0015648C E2606010
D2000000 00000000

Make sure the cheat code is marked on the “Available Cheats” table. Now close the window and turn on “Fullscreen” again in View tab.

Now you can go back to Steam gaming mode and play this game. Performance isn’t perfect, but I’m checking how to improve it. At this moment I recommend to play at 1x Resolution Scale for 60FPS mode.

IV. Citra configuration – touch screen emulation with Steam Deck back grips

Metroid Samus Returns uses the touch screen to change weapons in the game. You can assign this to unused Steam Deck buttons.

Run the game in Steam Deck Gaming mode, click “STEAM” button and go to controller settings. I recommend to map Steam Deck back grips to something like 1, 2, 3, 4 from Keyboard.

I will share my custom Citra config with all changes so If you want use it skip this and go to next paragraph. But make sure to use 1,2,3,4 back grips config to make it work.

Stay in Gaming mode and run Citra from “non-Steam” library category. Go to Emulation > Configure > Controls > Motion / Touch…

Tick “Use button mapping” and go to Configure. Create new profile and map 1 / 2 / 3 back buttons like on my screenshoot:

With this settings you will be able to switch weapons with back buttons on your Steam Deck.

PS. You can create as many profiles as you want for other games in similar way. Unfortunately, to change them you have to go to Citra settings every time.

V. Citra configuration – screen on screen custom layout

Switch Steam Deck to Desktop Mode and with Dolphin file manager go to /home/deck/.var/app/org.citra_emu.citra/config/citra-emu/.

To be safe, create a backup of the qt-config.ini file. Edit the original file and go to the [Layout] section.
If you want to use my layout, change default settings like this:

[Layout]
custom_bottom_bottom=220
custom_bottom_bottom\default=false
custom_bottom_left=980
custom_bottom_left\default=false
custom_bottom_right=1280
custom_bottom_right\default=false
custom_bottom_top=0
custom_bottom_top\default=false
custom_layout=true
custom_layout\default=false
custom_top_bottom=800
custom_top_bottom\default=false
custom_top_left=0
custom_top_left\default=true
custom_top_right=1228
custom_top_right\default=false
custom_top_top=52
custom_top_top\default=false
factor_3d=0
factor_3d\default=true
filter_mode=true
filter_mode\default=true
layout_option=0
pp_shader_name=none (builtin)
pp_shader_name\default=true
render_3d=0
render_3d\default=true
swap_screen=true
swap_screen\default=true
upright_screen=false
upright_screen\default=true

You can also download qt-config.ini with all the changes I’ve made:
– Screen on Screen Layout
– Touch-screen emulation with back grips
– 3x Resolution Scale

Download: GOOGLE DRIVE

Put this file in: /home/deck/.var/app/org.citra_emu.citra/config/citra-emu/