Bastion (2011): runs on Windows 11, Mac, Linux, Steam Deck?

Gamicality score 89 / 100

Playability today ★★★★★ 4.5

Runs today4.5 / 5
Design today4.5 / 5
See the checks

Steam user reviews Overwhelmingly Positive

37,392 reviews95% positive
Steam store page

Released: 2011
Developer: Supergiant Games
Genre: Action, Indie, RPG
Runs on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Steam Deck
Last checked: October 31, 2026

Does Bastion run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11	Yes, with a fix. See the steps below. SourceNo player reports yet
Mac (Apple Silicon)	Steam sells a Mac version. Not yet confirmed on Apple Silicon. SourceNo player reports yet
Linux	Yes, there is a native Linux version. SourceNo player reports yet
Steam Deck	Playable, as rated by Valve: it works, but may need some manual configuration. SourceNo player reports yet

Played it lately? Tell other players whether it works for you. One click, no account. How we check where it runs

How to get Bastion running today

If the game looks blurry or oversized, right-click Bastion.exe, open Properties > Compatibility > Change high DPI settings, and turn on the high DPI scaling override (PCGamingWiki: Bastion).
For resolutions above 1080p, which the in-game menu does not list, add the launch options -x and -y with your width and height.
If it crashes at launch, install Microsoft XNA Framework 4.0, close overlays such as MSI Afterburner, or try the legacy beta branch in Steam.

Synopsis

An isometric action role-playing game from Supergiant Games in which a silent young hero wakes up after a disaster has shattered his world. A gravelly narrator comments on every move as the ground builds itself under the hero's feet, and the player fights through short levels to gather the cores that rebuild a safe haven called the Bastion.

What people say

Critics in 2011 praised the reactive narration, the hand-painted art and the soundtrack, and several outlets named it one of the best games of the year. The flexible weapon combinations and the optional proving grounds were also singled out. A 2023 retrospective found it still holds up but noted that the second half drags a little, that weapons can only be swapped at the hub, and that on-screen narration is hard to read mid-fight. On PC, players mention a stubborn 60 fps cap and blurry output with Windows display scaling.

Playability today

Playability runs from 1 to 5. It is the average of two parts. Each part starts at 1 and climbs to 5 as more of its checks pass. Read the method.

Runs today: 4.5 / 5

✓Sold today from an official store
✗Runs on Windows 11 without fan patches
–Single-player works without an internet connection
–All of its content still works (servers, DLC, unlocks)
–Supports modern resolutions and widescreen
✓Full controller support or remappable controls
✓Steam Deck Verified or Playable
✓No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
✓No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
–No known game-breaking bugs in the current version

Filled in from the Steam store and Valve’s Steam Deck rating. Checks marked – are unknown and do not count until someone checks them.

Design today: 4.5 / 5

✓Controls feel natural on a modern controller or mouse and keyboardCombat is described as smooth and fair, with full controller support and remapping on PC. Source: bossrush.net, pcgamingwiki.com.
✗Menus, text and interface are clear on today's screensNarration subtitles are hard to read during fights, weapons can only be changed at the hub, and resolutions above 1080p are missing from the menu. Source: bossrush.net, pcgamingwiki.com.
✓Saving is fair: free saves or frequent checkpoints, little lost progressLevels are short and suit brief sessions, and Steam Cloud keeps saves, though little was found on how much progress a death costs. Source: bossrush.net, pcgamingwiki.com.
✓It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progressThe narrator and the level layouts guide the player; the main complaint is not knowing which enemies a level holds before picking weapons, which costs time rather than needing a guide. Source: bossrush.net.
✓Pacing holds up: little grind, filler or forced backtrackingThe campaign is short and segmented, though one retrospective found the second half a little boring and trips back to the hub slow. Source: bossrush.net.
✓Camera and movement never fight the playerThe fixed overhead camera follows the hero and draws little criticism in the sources found; some players mention tumbling off level edges, but evidence for that was thin. Source: bossrush.net.

Judged against games made today, from complaints that recur in recent Steam reviews and discussions, forums, PCGamingWiki and community wikis. Each reason links to where it comes from.