Gaming on Linux: What to Expect
Linux is an open-source operating system that is highly regarded by programmers, but how does it fare for gaming? For those thinking about switching from Windows to Linux, it’s important to manage expectations. Although Linux gaming has become more accessible—Valve’s Steam Deck operates on a version of Linux—it still doesn’t quite measure up to the gaming experience offered by Windows.
Many games on Linux may exhibit minor graphical issues or performance drops, and some might not work at all. Others could require users to search the web for solutions and make command-line adjustments to get them running. However, once the basics are mastered, it can be surprising how many games are playable on Linux.
Best Linux Distributions for Gaming
There isn’t a definitive “best” Linux distribution for gaming, but Ubuntu-based options like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Pop!_OS are often recommended due to their broad support and active communities. These distributions make it easier to find help if any issues arise.
Before diving into gaming, it’s crucial to ensure that the distribution has the necessary graphics drivers. Nvidia users should install the company’s proprietary drivers, while AMD users can rely on open-source Mesa drivers. Since driver installation methods vary, users may need to research the best approach for their particular system. With the right drivers and some additional Vulkan packages, gaming performance can be significantly improved, as demonstrated on Linux Mint.
For users running other Linux environments, additional research may be needed to install the appropriate drivers and packages, but most games can be made functional with some effort.
Finding Linux-Compatible Games
Linux gaming has gained traction, and many games are now natively playable on the platform. Popular platforms like Steam allow users to filter games by Linux compatibility. For instance, in Steam, users can navigate to Categories > SteamOS + Linux to find native Linux games. Alternatively, browsing a specific game’s page and checking for the Steam logo next to the Windows icon indicates compatibility with Linux.
Other digital stores, such as GOG and The Humble Store, offer similar filtering options for Linux-compatible games. Users can search for titles and identify games supported on Linux by looking for a small penguin icon, commonly used to represent the Linux platform.
Playing Windows Games on Linux with Proton
Even if a game lacks native Linux support, it might still be playable, thanks to Valve’s Proton. Proton is a compatibility tool integrated into Steam Play, allowing many Windows-based games to run on Linux. It leverages the Wine compatibility layer, often used to run Windows applications on other platforms.
Steam makes it easy to identify Proton-compatible games by displaying a blue “Install” button for games that are cleared to run under Proton, even if they aren’t officially listed as Linux-compatible. Games like NieR: Automata and Doom are known to work right out of the box with Proton.
For games not officially cleared, users can turn to ProtonDB, a community-driven database that lists games compatible with Proton, offering insights on necessary tweaks and hardware configurations. ProtonDB can also provide solutions for games that require a specific version of Proton or special settings to run optimally. Users can right-click on a game in Steam, select Properties, and force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool to switch Proton versions.
While some games may still remain unplayable, the ProtonDB community offers valuable guidance. Users can filter reports by hardware and distribution to find advice from players with similar setups, making it easier to troubleshoot issues.
In cases where Proton doesn’t work, alternative compatibility tools like PlayOnLinux, which is based on Wine, can be used to get games running.
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