The Stanley Parable (2013): runs on Windows 11, Mac, Linux, Steam Deck?

Gamicality score 90 / 100

Playability today ★★★★★ 5

Runs today5 / 5
Design today4.5 / 5
See the checks

Steam user reviews Very Positive

44,982 reviews92% positive
Steam store page

Released: 2013
Developer: Galactic Cafe
Genre: Adventure, Indie
Best version today: Play The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe (2022), which keeps all of the original content unchanged and adds new areas, endings, modern visuals and accessibility options.
Runs on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Steam Deck
Last checked: October 31, 2026

Does The Stanley Parable run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11	Expected to work. It is sold for Windows today and no problem is on record. 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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Synopsis

A first-person narrative game about Stanley, an office worker who finds his colleagues gone and a narrator describing his every move. You can follow the narrator's directions or ignore them, and each choice leads to a different, often absurd ending before the story loops back to the start. It began as a free mod for Half-Life 2 before this standalone release.

What people say

Critics praised it as a sharp, funny and inventive comment on choice in games, carried by the narrator's performance. Players still love its dry humor and the many endings and secrets hidden in its loops. Common criticism points to repeated walks through the same opening rooms, a few tedious routes to certain endings and confusion for players who stop after one or two runs. Many players now point newcomers to the expanded Ultra Deluxe version instead.

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: 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 keyboardYou only walk, look and press buttons, with full controller support, and controls draw no common complaints; evidence on this point is thin. Source: pcgamingwiki.com, vaporlens.app.
✓Menus, text and interface are clear on today's screensMenus are minimal, and the game supports widescreen, ultrawide and 4K. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
✓Saving is fair: free saves or frequent checkpoints, little lost progressEach run lasts only minutes and restarts at the office, so there is nothing to lose; saving is not raised as a problem. Source: vaporlens.app.
✓It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progressEndings come simply from following or disobeying the narrator, though some players turn to guides to find every secret and some find objectives unclear. Source: vaporlens.app.
✗Pacing holds up: little grind, filler or forced backtrackingPlayers commonly mention replaying the same opening rooms many times and tedious tasks needed for certain endings. Source: vaporlens.app.
✓Camera and movement never fight the playerStandard first-person movement in small office spaces, with no common camera complaints; evidence on this point is thin. Source: vaporlens.app.

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.