Brutal Legend (2009): runs on Windows 11, Mac, Linux, Steam Deck?

Gamicality score 86 / 100

Playability today ★★★★★ 3.5

Runs today4.5 / 5
Design today2.5 / 5
See the checks

Steam user reviews Very Positive

18,971 reviews93% positive
Steam store page

Released: 2009
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Genre: Action, Adventure, Strategy
Runs on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Steam Deck
Last checked: October 31, 2026

Does Brutal Legend 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	Verified by Valve: it works great on Steam Deck. SourceNo player reports yet

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How to get Brutal Legend running today

If the game starts to a black screen, open screen.dat in the game's configuration folder and set refreshrate, width and height to match the monitor, since the default refresh rate of 150 Hz is unsupported by most screens; see PCGamingWiki.

Synopsis

An open-world action game in which a heavy metal roadie, voiced by Jack Black, is transported to a fantasy world built from metal album art and leads a human resistance against demonic overlords. Players fight with an axe and a guitar, drive a customizable hot rod across the map, and later command armies in real-time strategy stage battles.

What people say

Critics in 2009 loved its humor, voice cast, soundtrack and art direction but were divided over the late shift into real-time strategy. Players today still praise the style, music and writing, and many call it underrated. The most common criticisms are that the stage battles are confusing and tedious, the open world feels empty between missions, and the combat is button-mashy. Some players on modern PCs also report a black screen at launch or heavy frame drops.

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: 2.5 / 5

✗Controls feel natural on a modern controller or mouse and keyboardReviewers find unit commands imprecise in the stage battles and the car handling irritating in driving missions. Source: steamcommunity.com.
✓Menus, text and interface are clear on today's screensMenus and the HUD are clear, though parts of the interface can briefly vanish after viewing landmarks; evidence is thin. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
✓Saving is fair: free saves or frequent checkpoints, little lost progressProgress is saved automatically after missions and no complaints about lost progress turned up; evidence is thin. Source: steamcommunity.com.
✗It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progressPlayers often call the stage battles confusing, with no clear cue for which units a command affects. Source: steamcommunity.com.
✗Pacing holds up: little grind, filler or forced backtrackingReviewers describe long drives across an empty map and a back half dominated by tedious strategy battles that many quit over. Source: steamcommunity.com.
✗Camera and movement never fight the playerThe third-person camera is poorly suited to the strategy battles, forcing players to fly back and forth to see and command units. Source: steamcommunity.com.

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.