Games that support linux

Gaming On Linux: All You Need To Know

Last updated November 9, 2020 By Abhishek Prakash 91 Comments

Can I play games on Linux?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions by users who are thinking about switching to Linux. After all, gaming on Linux is often termed as a distant possibility. At least, by some hardcore gamers using another platform to play games.

In fact, some people even wonder if they can listen to music or watch movies on Linux. Considering that, the question about playing games on Linux seem genuine.

In this article, I am going to answer most of the Linux gaming questions that a beginner may have. Some of the potential questions that I’m going to address here are:

• Is it possible to play games on Linux?
• What are the Linux games available?
• Where can you download Linux games?
• How do you get more information about gaming on Linux?

But before I do that, let me make a confession. I am not a PC gamer or rather I should say, I am not a desktop Linux gamer. I prefer to play games on my PS4 and I haven’t dived into the PC games available or even mobile games (no candy crush request sent to anyone in my friend list). This is the reason you only see a few articles in the Linux games section of It’s FOSS.

So why am I covering this topic then?

Because I have been asked questions about playing games on Linux several times and I wanted to come up with a Linux gaming guide that could answer all those questions. And remember, it’s not just gaming on Ubuntu I am talking about here. I am talking about Linux in general.

Can you play games on Linux?

Yes, you can play games on Linux and no, you cannot play ‘all the games’ in Linux.

Confused? Don’t be. What I meant here is that you can get plenty of popular games on Linux such as Counter Strike, Shadow Of Mordor , etc.

However, you should not expect a native Linux support for the latest and greatest games – which are typically available for Windows.

The reason, in my opinion, is that Linux has less than 2% of desktop market share and the numbers are demotivating enough for most game developers to avoid working on the Linux version of their games.

Not just limited to the userbase, but not all games work perfectly on Linux. But, there are workarounds (ways) to play a huge list of games and I’ll be mentioning how to do that.

If I have to categorize, I’ll divide the games on Linux into four categories:

1. Native Linux Games (games officially available for Linux)
2. Windows games in Linux (Windows games played in Linux with Wine or other software)
3. Browser Games (games that you can play online using your web browse)
4. Terminal Games (games you can play in the Linux terminal)

Let’s start with the most important one, native Linux games, first.

1. Where to find native Linux games?

Native Linux games refer to those games which are officially supported on Linux. You just have to download it and hit it to play it without any potential troubleshooting.

Of course, there are a lot of games that support Linux officially – but where do you find them?

Hence, I am going to list some of the resources which you can utilize to download Linux games.

Steam

Steam is a very popular digital video game store which offers incredible deals on games for Linux (including free games as well). So, it is an obvious source of PC games.

You can explore it to find tons of games ranging from AAA titles to Indie games.

Usually, you can easily find Steam listed in your app center or package manager. But, if you have no clue how to install and use it, refer to my guide below on installing and using Steam on Ubuntu Linux to get an idea.

GOG.com

GOG.com is yet another platform similar to Steam. Like Steam, you can browse and find hundreds of native Linux games on GOG.com, purchase the games and install them. If the games support several platforms, you can download and use them across various operating systems. Your purchased games are available for you all the time in your account. You can download them anytime you wish.

One main difference between the two is that GOG.com offers only DRM free games. Also, GOG.com is entirely web-based. Unlike Steam, you don’t get a native desktop client on Linux for GOG.com.

Portable Linux Games

Portable Linux Games is a website that offers a good collection of Linux games for 32-bit systems. You can’t run the games on a purely 64-bit system by default – however, you can try following a troubleshooting guide to make it happen.

The downloaded files have all the dependencies (at times Wine and Perl installation) and these are also platform-independent. All you need to do is to download the files and double click to install them.

It’s a great source for gamers who aren’t into the games made by big studios but just want to have a good time playing some games on Linux.

Itch.io

Looking for native Linux Indie games? if that’s the case, Itch.io is a fantastic source to find interesting games.

You can find a lot of Indie games for free and can also opt to choose a paid game.

Interestingly, you do not need to create an account to download free games. You can simply head to its page and download the file meant for Linux.

Software Repositories

You can also look into the software repositories of your own Linux distribution. There will always be some games on it.

If you are using Ubuntu, the Software Center itself has an entire section for games. The same is true for other Linux distributions such as Linux Mint etc.

2. How to play Windows games in Linux?

There’s a bunch of native Linux games out there. However, most of the popular games available aren’t available on Linux directly. In other words, the latest and greatest games do not support Linux (for the most) and are available for Windows only.

In that case, do we have a workaround to play those games on Linux? Yes, we do!

With the help of tools like Wine, Phoenicis (formerly known as PlayOnLinux), Lutris, CrossOver, and GameHub, you can play a number of popular Windows games on Linux.

Steam Play

If you’re fond of using Steam as your only source of games on Linux, you can easily try the Windows-only games using Steam Play.

Steam utilizes a compatibility layer to directly run a Windows-specific game on Linux. We do have a detailed guide on using Steam Play on Linux – I’d recommend you to explore that to get started with it.

Wine is a compatibility layer that is capable of running Windows applications in systems like Linux, BSD and OS X. With the help of Wine, you can install and use a number of Windows applications in Linux.

Installing Wine in Ubuntu or any other Linux is easy as it is available in most Linux distributions’ repository. There is a huge database of applications and games supported by Wine that you can browse.

CrossOver

CrossOver is an improved version of Wine that brings professional and technical support to Wine. But unlike Wine, CrossOver is not free. You’ll have to purchase the yearly license for it.

The good thing about CrossOver is that every purchase contributes to Wine developers and that in fact boosts the development of Wine to support more Windows games and applications. If you can afford about $10 a year, you should buy CrossOver for the support they provide.

GameHub

We already have a separate article on how to use GameHub on Linux.

But, to give you a heads up, GameHub lets you manage and play games from multiple sources that include Steam, GOG, and Humble Bundle.

Lutris Gaming

Lutris is something similar to GameHub but supports a wide range of sources that include Origin, Uplay, Epic Games Launcher, and several others.

It makes it easy for you to play Windows-only games on Linux. And, it is a quite popular tool used by many users. You can also check the official list of games it potentially supports before trying it out.

Phoenicis PlayOnLinux

PlayOnLinux too is based on Wine but implemented differently. It has a different interface and slightly easier to use than Wine. Like Wine, PlayOnLinux too is free to use.

It may not be the best choice among the others mentioned but you can browse the applications and games supported by PlayOnLinux on its database to decide for yourself.

3. Browser Games

Needless to say that there are tons of browser-based games that are available to play in any operating system, be it Windows or Linux or Mac OS X. Most of the addictive mobile games, such as GoodGame Empire, also have their web browser counterparts.

Apart from that, thanks to Google Chrome Web Store, you can play some more games in Linux. These Chrome games are installed like a standalone app and they can be accessed from the application menu of your Linux OS. Some of these Chrome games are playable offline as well.

4. Terminal Games

The added advantage of using Linux is that you can use the command line terminal to play games as well.

I know that it’s not the best way to play games but at times, it’s fun to play games like Snake or 2048 in the terminal.

To help you out, we have two separate lists of top command-line games and best ASCII games which are pretty easy to install.

How to stay updated about Linux games?

Now that you know where to find the games and how to use them on Linux, the next question is – how to stay updated about new games on Linux?

Of course, we will try to cover major game releases for Linux – however, we at It’s FOSS aren’t completely focused on gaming (as of yet).

And for that, I advise you to follow these blogs that provide you with the latest happenings of the Linux gaming world:

• Gaming on Linux: I won’t be wrong if I call it the best Linux gaming news portal. You get all the latest rumblings and news about Linux games. Frequently updated, Gaming on Linux has dedicated fan following which makes it a nice community of Linux game lovers.
• Free Gamer: A blog focusing on free and open source games.
• Linux Game News: A blog that updates on various Linux games.

Wrapping Up

I think that’s pretty much what you need to know to get started with gaming on Linux. There are plenty of free Linux games that you can try at the moment.

There’s also a very useful migration guide by the subreddit r/linux_gaming that can help you kickstart your gaming journey on Linux.

It’s time for you to add your inputs. Do you play games on your Linux desktop? What are your favorites? What blogs do you follow to stay updated on the latest Linux games? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Best Games On Steam You Can Play On Linux and Windows

Last updated August 27, 2021 By Ankush Das 50 Comments

Here’s a curated list of the best steam games in various genres. The games listed here are available on both Windows and Linux.

When it comes to Gaming, a system running on a Windows platform is what anyone would recommend. It still is a great choice for gamers with better graphics driver support, GUI tools, and good hardware compatibility.

However, with SeamPlay and the proton compatibility layer, several Windows-exclusive games now work on Linux with no issues.

The Steam store also has a lot of good games listed for the Linux platform. So, in this article, we’ll be taking a look at the best games on Steam available for Linux and Windows.

Before we do that, let me tell you a money-saving trick.

If you are an avid gamer who spends plenty of time and money on gaming, you should subscribe to Humble Monthly. This monthly subscription program from Humble Bundle (affiliate link, please read our affiliate policy) gives you $100 in games for just $12 each month.

Not all games might be available on Linux, but it is still a good deal because you get an additional 10% discount on any games or books you buy from the Humble Bundle website.

The best thing here is that every purchase you make supports a charity organization. So, you are not just gaming; you are also making a difference in the world.

Best Linux Games on Steam

Note: The list of best games on Steam for Linux is in no particular ranking order.

You can also refer to our Linux gaming guide and steam installation tutorial if you are new to the Linux platform.

The games listed here may not be free. So, you can check out our best free Linux games list if you want to focus on free-to-play games.

Jump Directly to your preferred genre of Games:

Best Action Games for Linux On Steam

Note: With Steam Play, you can try new games available on Steam originally tailored for Windows. So, if you do not see your favorite game listed here—make sure to check ProtonDB to see if it works on Linux using Steam Play.

1. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Multiplayer)

CS GO is one of the best FPS games for Linux on Steam. I don’t think this game needs an introduction, but if you are unaware of it, I must mention that it is one of the most enjoyable FPS multiplayer games.

You’ll also observe CS GO is one of the games contributing a major part to the e-sports scene. To get a rank, you need to play competitive matches. In either case, you can continue playing casual matches.

I prefer Rainbow Six siege instead of Counter-Strike, but we still don’t have it for Linux/Steam OS.

2. Left 4 Dead 2 (Multiplayer/Singleplayer)

One of the most loved first-person zombie shooter multiplayer games.

You may get it for as low as 1.3 USD on a Steam sale. It is an interesting game that gives you the chills and thrills you’d expect from a zombie game.

The game features swamps, cities, cemeteries, and a lot more environments to keep things interesting and horrific. The guns aren’t super techy but provide a realistic experience considering it’s an old game.

3. Borderlands 2 (Singleplayer/Co-op)

Borderlands 2 is an interesting take on FPS games for PC. It is a unique gameplay experience. The graphics may look cartoony, but that does not let you miss the real action you always look for in a first-person shooter game.

If you are looking for one of the best Linux games with tons of DLCs – Borderlands 2 should suffice.

4. Borderlands 3 (Singleplayer/Co-op)

A worthy successor to Borderlands 2 that should work fine using SteamPlay. It has a gold rating on ProtonDB, so you should be good to go.

Borderlands 3 is even more action-packed with new characters and weapons.

The best thing about the Borderlands franchise is that it does not demand the latest and greatest hardware to run. Hence, feel free to try it out.

5. Insurgency (Multiplayer)

Insurgency is yet another impressive FPS game available on Steam for Linux machines. It takes a different approach by eliminating the HUD or the ammo counter.

It should provide a real-like experience while giving a classic Delta Force-like feel to it.

6. Bioshock: Infinite (Singleplayer)

Bioshock Infinite would definitely remain as one of the best single-player FPS games ever developed for PC. You get unrealistic powers to kill your enemies. And so do your enemies who have a lot of tricks up in the sleeves. It is a story-rich FPS game that you should not miss playing on your Linux system!

7. HITMAN – Game of the Year Edition (Singleplayer)

The Hitman series is obviously one of the most loved game series for a PC gamer. The recent iteration of the HITMAN series saw an episodic release which wasn’t appreciated much.

Still, now, with Square Enix gone, the GOTY edition announced with a few more additions is back in the spotlight. Make sure to get creative with your assassinations in the game Agent 47!

8. Portal 2

Portal 2 is the perfect blend of action and adventure. It is a puzzle game that lets you join co-op sessions and create interesting puzzles. The co-op mode features a completely different campaign when compared to the single-player mode.

9. Deux Ex: Mankind Divided

If you are on the lookout for a shooter game focused on stealth skills – Deux Ex would be the perfect addition to your Steam library. It is indeed a stunning game with some state-of-the-art weapons and crazy fighting mechanics.

10. Metro 2033 Redux / Metro Last Light Redux

Both Metro 2033 Redux and the Last Light are the definitive editions of the classic hit Metro 2033 and Last Light. The game has a post-apocalyptic setting. You need to eliminate all the mutants to ensure the survival of humanity. You should explore the rest when you get to play it!

11. Tannenberg (Multiplayer)

Tannenberg is a brand new game – announced a month before this article was published. The game is based on the Eastern Front (1914-1918) as a part of World War I. It is a multiplayer-only game. So, if you want to experience WWI gameplay experience, look no further!

Best RPG Games for Linux on Steam

12. Shadow of Mordor

Shadow of Mordor is one of the most exciting open-world RPG games you will find listed on Steam for Linux systems. You have to fight as a ranger (Talion) with the bright master (Celebrimbor) to defeat Sauron’s army (and then approach killing him). The fighting mechanics are very impressive. It is a must-try game!

13. Divinity: Original Sin – Enhanced Edition

Divinity: Original is a kick-ass Indie-RPG game that’s unique in itself and very much enjoyable. It is probably one of the highest-rated RPG games with a mixture of Adventure & Strategy. The enhanced edition includes new game modes and a complete revamp of voice-overs, controller support, co-op sessions, and so much more.

14. Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut

Wasteland 2 is an amazing CRPG game. If Fallout 4 was to be ported down as a CRPG as well – this is what we would have expected it to be. The director’s cut edition includes a complete visual overhaul with hundred new characters.

15. Darkwood

A horror-filled top-down view RPG game. You get to explore the world, scavenging materials, and craft weapons to survive.

Best Racing/Sports/Simulation Games

16. Rocket League

While it is no longer officially supported for Linux (natively), you can run it using the proton compatibility layer with Steam.

Rocket League is an action-packed soccer game conceptualized by rocket-powered battle cars. Not just driving the car and heading to the goal – you can even make your opponents go – kaboom!

A fantastic sports-action game every gamer must have installed!

17. Road Redemption

Missing Road Rash? Well, Road Redemption will quench your thirst as a spiritual successor to Road Rash. Of course, it is not officially “Road Rash II,” – but it is equally enjoyable. If you loved Road Rash, you’d like it too.

18. Dirt Rally

Dirt Rally is for gamers who want to experience off-road and on-road racing games. The visuals are breathtaking, and the game is enjoyable with near to perfect driving mechanics.

19. F1 2017

F1 2017 is yet another impressive car racing game from the developers of Dirt Rally (Codemasters & Feral Interactive). It features all of the iconic F1 racing cars that you need to experience.

20. GRID Autosport

GRID is one of the most underrated car racing games available out there. GRID Autosport is the sequel to GRID 2. The gameplay seems stunning to me. With even better cars than GRID 2, the GRID Autosport is a recommended racing game for every PC gamer out there. The game also supports a multiplayer mode where you can play with your friends – representing as a team.

Best Adventure Games

21. ARK: Survival Evolved

ARK Survival Evolved is a quite decent survival game with exciting adventures following in due course. You find yourself in the middle of nowhere (ARK Island) and have no choice except to train the dinosaurs, team up with other players, hunt someone to get the required resources, and craft items to maximize your chances to survive and escape the Island.

22. This War of Mine

A unique game where you aren’t a soldier but a civilian facing the hardships of wartime. You’ve to make your way through highly-skilled enemies and help out other survivors as well.

23. Mad Max

Mad Max is all about survival and brutality. It includes powerful cars, an open-world setting, weapons, and hand-to-hand combat. You need to keep exploring the place and upgrade your vehicle to prepare for the worst. You need to think carefully and have a strategy before you make a decision.

24. Tomb Raider

Want a female protagonist with action and adventure as well? Tomb Raider is the only game I can think of recommending to you on Steam for Linux. It is available for dirt low price during the Steam sales. If you purchase it during the sales, I would ask you to get the GOTY edition.

25. Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition

Including the original Tomb Raider and the Rise of the Tomb Raider – you can also consider the latest Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Definitive Edition), which was made possible to run on Linux by Feral Interactive.

Best Indie Games

26. Terraria

It is a 2D game that has received overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam. Dig, fight, explore, and build to keep your journey going. The environments are automatically generated. So, it isn’t anything static. You might encounter something first, and your friend might encounter the same after a while. You’ll also get to experience creative 2D action-packed sequences.

27. Kingdoms and Castles

With Kingdoms and Castles, you get to build your own kingdom. You have to manage your kingdom by collecting tax (as funds necessary) from the people, taking care of the forests, handling the city design, and making sure no one raids your kingdom by implementing proper defenses.

It is a fairly new game but quite trending among the Indie genre of games.

28. Don’t Starve Together

An overwhelming Indie game where you get the ability to co-op as well. It is a good survival game with multiple players connected online. You can choose to trust them or not – that is your decision. But, don’t starve!

29. LIMBO

One of the mind-blowing Indie games of the decade – for me. It is a dark representation while a boy tries to find his sister. And, on his way, he encounters dangerous yet beautiful things.

This is not a free game – but you can expect to get it at almost a dollar during the Steam sales. Explore away!

Best Strategy Games on Steam For Linux Machines

30. Sid Meier’s Civilization V

Sid Meier’s Civilization V is one of the best-rated strategy game available for PC. You could opt for Civilization VI – if you want. But, the gamers still root for Sid Meier’s Civilization V because of its originality and creative implementation.

31. Total War: Warhammer

Total War: Warhammer is an incredible turn-based strategy game available for PC. Sadly, Warhammer II isn’t available for Linux as of yet. But 2016’s Warhammer is still a great choice if you like real-time battles that involve building/destroying empires with flying creatures and magical powers.

32. Bomber Crew

Wanted a strategy simulation game that’s equally fun to play? Bomber Crew is the answer to it. You need to choose the right crew and maintain it to win it all.

33. Age of Wonders III

A prevalent strategy title with a mixture of empire building, role-playing, and warfare. A polished turn-based strategy game you must try!

34. Cities: Skylines

A pretty straightforward strategy game to build a city from scratch and manage everything in it. You’ll experience the thrills and hardships of building and maintaining a city. I wouldn’t expect every gamer to like this game – it has a concrete user base.

35. XCOM 2

XCOM 2 is one of the best turn-based strategy games available for PC. I wonder how crazy it could have been to have XCOM 2 as a first-person shooter game. However, it’s still a masterpiece with an overwhelming response from almost everyone who bought the game. If you have the budget to spend more on this game, get the – “War of the Chosen” – DLC.

36. Dota 2

Dota 2 is obviously one of the most popular strategy games available on Steam for Linux. If you want a free-to-play MOBA game with a huge player base – this is the one you should go for.

Best Horror Games on Steam

37. Outlast

Outlast is a gem. Outlast is your best classic bet if you want a first-person survival horror experience without spending a lot of money. No matter how old the game is – it still beats the competition.

38. Alien Isolation

Alien Isolation is my favorite. Featuring a female protagonist – similar to what we see in the movie. It is an exciting and challenging game. Of course, the best audio equipment you’ve got, the best experience you will get. The graphics quality is top-notch as well, as opposed to some classic horror games.

39. Dying Light

If you are looking for action and survival horror simultaneously, Dying Light to the rescue! Unlike the other games listed above, it is a mixture of RPG, Action, and Survival. Just keep on slaying the zombies till you are safe!

40. DOOM Franchise

DOOM is a hardcore action-horror game. I listed it in the “horror” category because it’s not just a simple action game. It’s an intense game with a lot of scary elements.

Of course, you will have the best weapons to tackle the demon hordes – but it will be intense. I tried this game with the “Hurt Me Plenty” difficulty level, and it was impressive!

You can easily play it on Steam using Steam Play. You can either try DOOM or DOOM Eternal, both should work with Linux.

Wrapping Up

Among all the games available for Linux, we did include most of the major titles and some of the latest games with an overwhelming response from the gamers.

Do you think we missed any of your favorite Linux games available on Steam? Also, what are the games that you would like to see on Steam for the Linux platform?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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