![A photograph of a Steam Link besides its packaging on a wooden table.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OTk4Eny5CdaN6gIR_tDdf0jaouA=/0x0:2040x1360/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71792338/shollister_181119_3097_0001_watermark.0.jpg)
Back in 2018 I managed to nab a physical Steam Link when Valve was flogging them for £2.50 here in the UK ($2.50 in USD). I was actually buying a Steam Controller for my then-partner and spotted the bargain while browsing through the Steam website, so I purchased the gadget on a whim. That little black puck has since left such a good impression on me that every alternative service has paled in comparison.
The Steam Link is fairly straightforward. It’s a wireless box-shaped dongle that plugs into your TV’s HDMI port, allowing you to stream games directly from your PC over your home internet connection. I had great success using it over Wi-fi, seeing barely any detectable lag, but you could also connect the device directly to your network…