The primary reason MapleStory doesn't work out-of-the-box on Steam Deck or Linux distributions (like Ubuntu or Fedora) is the anti-cheat software. Unlike games that have enabled Proton support for Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC), Nexon has not yet updated MapleStory to be "Linux-friendly."

If you are a returning player wanting to grind on a Linux laptop or Steam Deck, the via Steam is your best bet. If you are a hardcore player with a high-level funded account, the risk of a false-positive ban due to emulation might outweigh the benefits of playing on Linux.

Many Linux users gravitate toward MapleStory private servers. Some servers are designed to be more compatible with Wine, although this is unofficial.

Note that Nexon frequently updates its security, which may flag VMs as "unauthorized environments." MapleStory M If you just want the MapleStory experience, MapleStory M

Native mapping available through Steam Input.

You do endgame bossing, rely on trading, or cannot tolerate random disconnects.