Is gaming good on linux

Best Distributions for Gaming on Linux

Last updated August 13, 2021 By Ankush Das 99 Comments

If you are a hardcore PC gamer, Linux might not be your first choice. That’s fair because Linux isn’t treated as a first-class citizen when it comes to gaming. You won’t find the most awaited games of the year available on Linux natively. Not to forget that all the essential software tools and drivers needed for your shiny gaming hardware configuration may not be available on Linux desktop.

I am not discouraging you. Gaming on Linux has improved a lot in the last few years. There are more native Linux games, even if they are not in the same league as the mainstream games like Watchdogs.

Companies like Feral Interactive port Windows games to Linux regularly and you can get titles like Tomb Raiders on Linux with a few months of delay.

The biggest improvement to Linux gaming has come from Steam’s Proton project. With this new Wine-based project, you can play many of the Windows-only games on Linux desktop. The best thing is that you can use Steam on any Linux distributions.

Yes, there are hundreds of Linux distributions. And for gaming, you should be okay with any mainstream distribution like Ubuntu or Fedora with Steam Play installed on it.

So, what’s the difference then? Are all distributions equal when it comes to gaming? To an extent, yes but not entirely.

You see, the latest graphics drivers and supporting gaming libraries support is a crucial part of gaming. Some distributions either provide that out of the box or they provide an easier way to install or enable them.

In this article, I’ll share with you the most gaming-friendly Linux distributions. I’ll also share some of the distributions that have been specifically crafted for gaming purpose.

3 things to keep in mind before choosing a Linux distribution for gaming purpose

Primarily, your system resources matter for the game to perform well. So, technically, you may prefer a distribution that is snappy and resource-friendly.

For instance, you may opt for Kubuntu (Ubuntu with KDE desktop environment) instead of Ubuntu with GNOME. Of course, if you dislike the user experience on KDE desktop, you might choose something else.

Overall, you should keep note of these things:

• The distribution should be easy to use.
• The software tools that you need to get started should be readily available and easy to install (check out our Linux gaming guide to explore more about it).
• The distribution should be resource-friendly.

I’m sure many will recommend “Ubuntu” as the easy (or ultimate) choice for gaming on Linux desktop (which is definitely a great pick). But, depending on your hardware, you might have to try something else.

And, that is why, I have compiled a list of Linux distributions suitable for gaming.

Why Are There Different Linux OSs?

If you’re new to the Linux world, you might be wondering why can’t I just install Ubuntu and be done with it?

Yes, you can. But, different Linux distributions offer a variety of choice. If you’re curious to know that, I will recommend you reading our guide on “What is Linux?” to know more about it.

Now let’s see the best Linux distributions suitable for gaming

I am repeating. You can literally play games on most Linux distributions. I’ve filtered down my personal favorites and potentially the ones that are easy to use for first-time Linux users. They also have better support for newer graphics cards and game-related software.

1. Pop!_OS

This is my personal favorite. Pop!_OS by System76 is based on Ubuntu and you only get GNOME as the desktop environment.

It feels more polished than Ubuntu itself and you can get most of the essential tools like Lutris, GameHub, and others right from the Pop!_Store (app store for Pop!_OS). In addition to this, you also get separate ISO files for NVIDIA and AMD systems.

So, depending on the GPU on board, you can decide to install Pop!_OS using the correct ISO file which should make your system ready to go out-of-the-box. Not just limited to that, just because it is an operating system developed by a PC/Laptop manufacturer, you can expect it to be ready for the latest and greatest hardware.

In a nutshell, Pop!_OS is easy to use, perfectly suitable for beginners, and compatible with the latest hardware. Feel free to try out the latest LTS (Long-Term Support) version of Pop!_OS. You can explore more about it in our latest Pop OS 20.04 review.

2. Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a no-brainer. If you’re new to Linux, Ubuntu is definitely the most recommended starting point, no matter whether you want it for work or gaming. Personally, I find Pop!_OS more appealing and there are some differences as well.

You may not find all the features from Pop!_OS in Ubuntu, but you can try out some GNOME extensions available to get a similar feature-set.

Overall, both Pop!_OS and Ubuntu should be a great choice given that you have a decent hardware configuration (and not an ancient rig). Similar to what I mentioned for Pop!_OS, you should prefer using the latest LTS version.

In case you’re not sure what that means, please go through our guide on which Ubuntu version should you be using.

3. Kubuntu

Before publishing this article, I asked around for some suggestions for favorite Linux distributions for gaming.

Not just limited to our forums (itsfoss.community) but also some Reddit threads pointed at Kubuntu as their preferred choice just because they feel KDE desktop environment is easy on their system resources which improves their gaming experience.

Fret not, I’m not the only one saying this, but Jason Evangelho from Forbes also revealed the fact that KDE is probably the best lightweight desktop environment.

Of course, with updates to KDE, this might change in the near-future. But, it is definitely lighter on system resources when compared to GNOME.

So, if you’re worried about your old gaming rig, you should give Kubuntu a try.

4. Linux Mint

If you do not like your experience with Ubuntu, you can try Linux Mint. Technically, it does a few things better than Ubuntu.

Linux Mint also offers LTS releases similar to Ubuntu. Unlike some Ubuntu flavors (like Kubuntu & Lubuntu), which provides 3 years of system updates, Linux Mint offers 5 years of updates no matter what desktop environment you go for. You get the option to choose Xfce, MATE, or Cinnamon edition.

Overall, Linux Mint is easy to use, compatible with a wide range of hardware, and lets you install/remove software without any hassle using its software manager app.

5. Manjaro Linux

If you like to have the latest and greatest driver support along with a kernel upgrade, a rolling release distribution like Manjaro Linux would be a good pick.

I wouldn’t recommend this to new Linux users, but if you think you can handle troubleshooting your system if something goes wrong, you can give it a try.

I know that a rolling release distribution is not ideally a “reliable” option for Linux gamers. But, if you are someone with AMD graphics card and you need the latest Mesa graphics driver (for instance, to play Cyberpunk on Linux), Manjaro can be an option.

6. Garuda Linux

Garuda Linux is rather less known distribution but could be a good fit for general purpose desktop computing and gaming.

It is based on Arch Linux and provides several GUI applications to easily manage the system. The one thing that you would like here is the Garuda Gamer application.

It’s basically a GUI tool that lets you easily install gaming related tools from one place. You can use it to install Itch, Wine, Play on Linux, Steam Proton, GOG and many more such packages.

Here are Linux distributions specially crafted for gaming

There are so many distributions. Most of them are based on Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch distributions. Some of the niche distributions focus on giving you the out of the box experience in a specific field.

Take this list of Linux distributions for hacking. It’s not like you cannot use Ubuntu or Fedora for penetration testing by installing a bunch of security tools. But distributions like Kali or Parrot give you those tools without addition efforts.

The gaming-specific distributions might not be suitable for general purpose computing. Check their website for details.

7. Drauger OS

Based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Drauger OS aims to provide a platform for gamers and “make it easy for anyone to game, whether they use a keyboard and mouse, or some sort of controller”.

Please keep in mind that Drauger OS is NOT for everyday use. It doesn’t come with other Linux applications essential for day-to-day activities like office suite, video editors, audio tools etc.

8. batocera.linux (for retro gaming with console feel)

batocera.linux is a Linux distro for retro game lovers. You can play retro games from Atari, Super Nintendo, SEGA, Dreamcast, some GameBoy Advance games, and a lot more. However, you need to own the games in order to play them.

You do not need to install the OS by partitioning your hard drive, you just need a USB stick and you can boot directly from it to play the games you own. It also comes with Kodi Media Center integrated, so that you can switch to watching movies when you get bored of games.

9. Lakka OS (convert old computer to retro gaming console)

This is a lightweight Linux distro that transforms a computer into full-blown game console.

Lakka OS is able to emulate a wide variety of consoles. It brings all these console emulators under the gorgeous front end of RetroArch.

All the emulators are compiled with the best optimizations possible and so Lakka OS runs the games more smoothly than the normal emulators. Most games will require very few hardware resource, except for the Playstation or Xbox games.

The key features of Lakka OS are multiplayer, savestates, shaders, netplay, rewind, and support for wireless joypads.

Honorable mention: SteamOS (Possibly outdated)

If you do not prefer any other platform except Steam, SteamOS can be a choice to go with for building a gaming machine with a console like experience.

SteamOS is not your usual desktop operating system. It is tailored for playing games via Steam on your machine. You may choose to run common Linux applications as well – but I’d suggest you to test it out only if you want to use Steam as your preferred platform for gaming.

It is not actively maintained and potentially outdated, but you can experiment with it if you have a spare system. It is a fork of Debian based on 8.x “Jessie” build which reached end of life in June, 2020.

Wrapping Up

Even though you can play games on any Linux distribution, the above-mentioned list should give you some pointers to get a great user experience for your gaming adventure.

What do you prefer to use for gaming on Linux? If you’re new to Linux, what did you try among the ones listed above?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments down below.

Like what you read? Please share it with others.

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Is Linux Good For Gaming? Linux vs Windows

Windows has long been the standard operating system for gaming, but is it okay to use Linux for gaming? Here’s the ultimate comparison.

Yes, Linux is a decent operating system for gaming, especially since the number of Linux-compatible games is increasing due to Valve’s SteamOS being based on Linux.

However, we would still advise anyone who doesn’t need any of the advanced features that Linux has to offer to stick with Windows due to its ease of use and fewer compatibility issues with games.

Three operating systems are widely utilized today: Windows, Linux, and macOS. But once we consider that macOS is limited to Apple’s pre-built machines, a custom PC owner’s choice comes down to only the first two.

Windows and Linux have plenty of differences and some similarities. But without getting too deep into the inner workings of each of these operating systems and their varied strengths and weaknesses, we will instead focus on answering one specific question: is Linux good for gaming?

When deciding which operating system is better in this regard, there is still a multi-layered question that needs an answer.

You won’t be using your PC just for playing, so we’ll go over each OS’s most essential aspects when it comes to both gaming and everyday use, without delving into other potential applications such as programming and other professional applications.

Table of Contents Show

Interface

When Windows was first released, one reason why it was popular was precisely its ease of use. It marked a pivotal moment in history when the average user would finally be able to easily use a computer, as opposed to the cluttered and intimidating interface of its predecessor, the MS-DOS, and those of other operating systems used at the time.

Linux may seem just as easy and straightforward to use as Windows 10 is, but there are two key differences:

1. The Linux interface is highly customizable and varies significantly from distribution to distribution.
2. It has a much steeper learning curve since the system is not designed to hold the user’s hand.

With that in mind, we could say that Windows is overall a better fit for those who are not particularly tech-savvy, whereas Linux will require at least a basic understanding of how computer software works.

Convenience

A machine called a “personal computer” implies that it should be able to perform several functions as well as offer a degree of customization for users to personalize their computer. How do these two operating systems compete in that regard?

When it comes to everyday tasks such as browsing the web and playing multimedia content, both Windows and Linux will suit that purpose well. There are many programs to choose from on both platforms, many of which are available on both of them.

However, Linux does tend to have some trouble when it comes to software implementation, and some processes may not be as streamlined as they are in Windows.

While Microsoft’s OS will automatically download drivers, codecs, and sync data between different devices, getting everything set up correctly on Linux may take a while. On top of that, many of the previously automated processes may become manual.

Customization

In the customization department, Linux has the upper hand. As mentioned above, its user interface can differ significantly from distribution to distribution.

There are numerous “distros” out there – Fedora, CentOS, Debian, Ubuntu, along with countless others, and each might look like a completely different operating system.

On the other hand, Windows will always be recognizable as Windows. Windows 10 does allow users a lot of freedom with customization, especially when compared to the older versions of the OS, but that still comes down mostly to themes that act solely as re-skins and change nothing in terms of functionality.

In the end, Linux, like its mobile cousin, Android, owes its high degree of customization to its open-source nature. And if you like having an OS that can look virtually however you envision it, you will appreciate what Linux can offer.

Meanwhile, Windows and its more limited customization options may still be better suited for users who prefer convenience to overall functionality and flexibility.

Security

At first glance, Linux may seem to be especially vulnerable to malware and security breaches due to being a highly malleable open-source OS. But much to the contrary, it has proven to be more secure than Windows time and time again.

To re-state it once more, Linux is open-source. As such, its source code is public and available for any programmer to tweak and improve. And with countless devoted developers around the world, vulnerabilities are quickly discovered and patched up.

But still, how could an open-source operating system be more secure than Windows, an OS developed by one of the leading software companies? It all comes down to Windows’ popularity.

Essentially, Windows is the ideal target for malware due to how many inexperienced users rely on it. Still, it is easy to keep Windows secure with the use of specialized anti-malware programs such as Kaspersky, Norton, or McAfee.

However, using them will inevitably carry an extra expense. Meanwhile, free programs such as Avast are still excellent, although free versions of these programs do not have all the advanced functionality of their paid counterparts.

But all in all, viruses, spyware, Trojans and all other types of malware invade your PC through the Internet. As long as you avoid visiting suspicious sites and have an anti-malware program installed, you have very little to fear.

Selection of Games

And finally, we come to the most crucial question when it comes to choosing your gaming operating system: how many games are available for it?

As of March 2019, there are almost six thousand Linux games available on Steam. This may not sound terrible, and it does exceed the number of titles that were available exactly a year ago by roughly a thousand.

Then again, there are already over thirty thousand games available for Windows on Steam. That may not look so bad, but consider that there are already over twenty thousand games available for Windows.

Granted, this is a significant gap, but keep in mind that the number of Linux games on Steam has been increasing steadily over the past few years, and this trend is not about to stop.

This is great news for Linux gamers, and we have Valve to thank for that, as their SteamOS is based on Linux. We can expect this pace to keep up and, potentially, even rise.

What’s more, there is a way to run Windows games on Linux with the help of Wine, although the games run this way tend to suffer from lower performance and decreased stability.

So, at this point, choosing between Linux and Windows comes down mostly to whether the games in your library are available on Linux, or at least whether the games that you play frequently are available on Linux.

Price

A significant difference that may end up being crucial to your decision is the pricing – or lack thereof. Whereas Windows is a commercial piece of software, Linux is open-source and entirely free.

Windows 10 is currently available in “Home” and “Pro” editions, with the former priced at $120 and the latter at $200. As both of these names imply, “Home” is geared towards casual users, and “Pro” is for those who require more powerful features.

In contrast, there are many different distributions of Linux. The vast majority of them are free, and although paid ones do exist, a gamer is unlikely to need them as they are meant for workstations and servers.

Conclusion

In the end, both operating systems are now very viable choices for gaming. Windows is still mainstream, with the majority of developers prioritizing it. Nevertheless, you can expect more and more games to come to Linux in the future, even though some titles may not be ported immediately.

With that said, we would still advise most people to go with Windows, especially casual users. It has more than enough features and is very user-friendly. And besides, it still has the most extensive game library.

We would only advise going with Linux if you need to make use of its advanced capabilities or have your sights set on a Steam Machine.

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