Linux playing games with

How to Play PC Games on Linux

If you’re fed up with Windows but don’t want to give up your PC games, don’t worry. These days, gaming on Linux is a lot easier than it used to be thanks to Steam Play and compatibility layers like Proton and WINE.

Linux is an open-source operating system that’s great for programmers, but it also offers enough options to keep gamers happy too. If you’re new to the OS, it might be best to read our guide for switching from Windows before reading further, as it will help to know the basics.

There’s no one distro that’s “best” for gaming, but Ubuntu-based distros like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Pop!_OS are good options for their widespread support and helpful communities. If you have a different Linux environment on your system, you may have to research the best way to install the right packages and drivers, but you can almost certainly get games working.

Before trying anything, you should make sure your distro comes with the requisite graphics drivers. If not, Nvidia users should grab the company’s official proprietary drivers, and AMD users should install the open-source Mesa drivers. The procedure for installing drivers may vary from system to system, so we won’t get into it too deeply here, but I used these instructions for Linux Mint for the drivers and these instructions for some extra Vulkan packages, which produced good results.

Now, before we continue, temper your expectations just a tad. While Linux gaming is easier than ever, it still isn’t on par with Windows. Some games won’t run at all, and others may have small graphical quirks, or decreased performance. Others may require some web searches and command-line tweaking to get playable. The experience isn’t exactly smooth as butter yet—it’s still very Linux-y—but once you have the basics down, you might be surprised at how many games you’re able to run. Here are your options.

Find Linux-Compatible Games

Linux has gained a bit of ground in the gaming world, and a number of worthwhile titles are natively playable on the platform. As you shop for games, try filtering your digital store by Linux-friendly titles. In Steam, for example, head to the Store tab, click the Games drop-down, and choose SteamOS + Linux to see all of Steam’s Linux-native games.

You can also search for a title you want, then look at the compatible platforms. If you see a little Steam logo next to the Windows logo, that means it’s compatible with SteamOS and Linux. You’ll find a lot of indie games alongside some big-name titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Civilization VI, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

Other stores have similar filters. On GOG.com. Head to Store > Browse All Games > All Games for Linux. Any game with a little penguin icon should be compatible. The same goes for The Humble Store, where you can go to Browse > All and then filter the Platform to Linux—look for that penguin icon. You might be surprised how many games are developed specifically for your favorite open-source OS. But don’t stop there—it gets better.

Play Windows Games With Proton/Steam Play

Thanks to a tool from Valve called Proton, which leverages the WINE compatibility layer, many Windows-based games are completely playable on Linux through Steam Play. The jargon here is a little confusing—Proton, WINE, Steam Play—but don’t worry, using it is dead simple.

When you open Steam on Linux, look through your library. Some games have a blue Install button even if they aren’t listed as Linux-compatible in the store. Those games are cleared to run under Proton, and playing them should be as easy as clicking Install. In my case, both NieR: Automata and Doom were Proton-ready out of the box.

If you’re shopping for Proton-compatible games, you’ll have a hard time because the Steam Store doesn’t show which games are compatible. Instead, you will have to look at your existing game library to see which titles are installable. What makes things even less clear is that many games will work with Proton, even if Steam hasn’t officially cleared them for duty yet.

This is where ProtonDB comes in handy. It’s a community-curated list of games that work under Steam Play with Proton, along with details on what hardware, which version of Proton, and any tweaks are required for optimal performance. For example, Dishonored doesn’t have that blue Install button, but is reported as “Gold” by ProtonDB users, which means it should be playable.

To install unsupported games, open Steam’s settings, head to the Steam Play tab, and check the Enable Steam Play for All Other Titles box. You’ll then be able to install and play any game in your library. Keep in mind that many won’t work, but ProtonDB can tell you which titles will get the best results. If you have trouble, try sorting ProtonDB reports by your CPU or GPU to see notes from people with similar hardware.

If a ProtonDB listing says that a game works with a specific version of Proton, you can right-click the game, head to Properties, and check Force the Use of a Specific Steam Play Compatibility Tool to choose the right one. You can also click the Set Launch Options button to include any extra flags mentioned in the ProtonDB listing. It may take a little trial and error to find what works, but I’ve been able to get quite a few games up and running with a bit of fiddling.

Install Other Games With Lutris

Proton isn’t the only tool bringing Windows-only games to Linux. Lutris is a game management program designed to run games under WINE and other emulators or compatibility layers. It acts as a one-stop shop for all your games, with one-click install scripts that include all the necessary tweaks. That said, it may still require a bit of command line work to get up and running. You’ll be rooting through documentation to put all the pieces together, so it helps to have some Linux experience.

You can install Lutris using these instructions, though your favorite games may need some other packages before they’ll work properly. On first startup, Lutris told me that I needed certain 32-bit drivers, along with WINE and its dependencies, installed before a game would work. Then, on top of that, the game in question may need some extra packages—Overwatch, for example, has a few prerequisites for Battle.net to run properly.

Lutris should point you in the right direction when you go to install a given game, but the instructions aren’t always perfect. As a result, you may run into a few hiccups as you’re installing all the prerequisites, depending on your system and level of experience.

Once you have all those packages installed, though, setting up a game should be fairly simple: search for it in Lutris, click the Install button, and Lutris will prepare the game with the optimal WINE settings. Note that some games may run very slowly until they finish compiling shaders, after which performance should be more playable—you have to wait a bit after opening the game for the first time before it runs smoothly.

Alternatives: PlayOnLinux, Streaming, and Beyond

These are far from the only ways to get a game running on Linux, but most of the modern, big-name titles you can play should be available through one of these means. If you have a specific game you want to run that isn’t available through the above resources, do some searching on that specific game. Some may require a bit more fiddling to get running, though you may be able to skip the legwork with similar WINE-based tools like PlayOnLinux.

If you get the game working through one of the above methods but encounter problems, there may be specific settings you need to tweak, dependency packages to install, or patches to apply to the game—again, ProtonDB is a great resource. Don’t get discouraged, and don’t be afraid to ask for help in communities like /r/linux_gaming (after searching to see if your question has already been asked, of course).

And hey, if all else fails, you can always stream the game from the cloud. Stadia and Luna only need a browser, while GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming have been known to work with Linux. You can also stream directly from a Windows PC in your house with Steam’s Remote Play, AMD Link, or Moonlight—check out our guide to in-house game streaming for more.

Disclosure: Humble Bundle is owned by IGN, which is owned by PCMag parent company Ziff Davis.

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Top 31 Best Linux Games You Can Play for FREE

Last updated January 1, 2020 By Ankush Das 129 Comments

We recently discussed the best Linux games on steam , but the best of all does not necessarily mean that they are all free. Instead, most of those were paid games. So, we thought of putting together a separate list of best free Linux games that you can play without spending a penny.

Top Free Linux Games for everyone

Before we see the list of best free Linux games, let me tell you about Humble Bundle. It’s an awesome website that offers massive deals on games and books. The best part is that part of the sale goes to various open source projects and charities. You can visit their store to check the ongoing offers. If you can spend money, you can also subscribe to their monthly plan to get premium games for free and on additional discounts.

Now that you are aware of the awesome Humble Bundle, let’s have a look at the free Linux games. Just for your information, the games listed below are in no particular order of ranking.

1. Dota 2

Dota 2 is one of the most popular MOBA games available for Linux. Well, I’m not a fan of this game but if you like multiplayer strategy games, this should be the one you should have installed. Dota 2 offers one of the best competitive eSport opportunity for aspiring gamers.

The game is completely free to play – however – it offers a battle pass separately – if you want extra features and rewards, which is optional but it’s still something exciting if you are love to play Dota.

2. Team Fortress 2

Team Fortress 2 is one of the oldest multiplayer shooter game available for Linux. Even though the game was released in 2007, it still has a decent player base which makes it one among the top 10 steam games being played on a daily basis.

The game still receives regular content updates – so you shouldn’t get bored. It features a lot of game mods and also lets you customize and create your own character with hundreds of weapons to choose from. In case you were wondering, it isn’t a pay-to-win scheme – it’s just plain cosmetic items which should add a personal touch to your character.

3. War Thunder

War Thunder is a quite impressive World War II simulation game. It is a cross-platform MMO game that deals with aviation, armored vehicles, and naval craft from World War II and the Cold War.

Obviously, it’s an entirely different take on WWII and the Cold War focusing on the variety of combat vehicles used. Yes, it might just be a simple simulation game with multiplayer action – but it still boasts great graphics details in the game.

4. WAKFU

WAKFU is a grid-based MMORPG game which every anime fan would love to have installed. It is really an interesting free to play online strategy RPG game that has humor baked into it as well. The game features 18 different classes to choose from, and whatever role you pick, everything depends on it.

I would definitely want you to try this out – personally, I loved it.

5. Fishing Planet

Fishing Plant (as the name suggests) is an online first-person multiplayer fishing simulator. It’s not for everyone – but if you are an angler or maybe you just want to experience fishing (virtually) – this should be something you should get installed.

It is a very basic simulation game with pleasant graphics details to provide the best first person experience. The base game is free – however, you get several optional DLCs on Steam.

6. Star Conflict

If you want an action-drive space simulation game, this is probably one of the best Linux games for that kind of thing. Star Conflict is a massively multiplayer game which includes both PVP and PVE. You just need to survive in the outer space and decide the best strategy to engage on the enemies.

7. Robocraft

Want to have a fully customizable battle robot? – maybe, the Transformers? Well, Robocraft is something similar. It lets you set up your own robot battle vehicles that can drive, hover, walk or fly – as per your preferences. A bunch of futuristic weapons to choose from – that’ll make the battle even more interesting. It is one of the latest free Linux games that you should try.

8. AdVenture Capitalist

Thought about becoming a capitalist? Well, there’s no better capitalism simulator than this for your Linux machine. Invest, prosper, and attract Angel investors to give your business a boost. Hire a manager and keep your business stable while you’re gone!

9. BRAIN / OUT

Brain / Out is a 2D multiplayer shooter with a post-soviet setting. I don’t really try 2D games but this one was definitely something exciting. You can customize your loadout as well and progress through the game to utilize every type of powerful weaponry to defeat your enemies.

Undoubtedly, one of the best free Linux games available on Steam.

10. Wild West Saga: Idle Tycoon

The game revolves around the Wild West, where you get the chance to become a billion-dollar pioneer by starting several businesses and exploring more business opportunities. The more patent cards you collect, the more it would help your business with new towns and upgrades.

11. No More Room in Hell

If you are a true gamer who loves an action-packed game, you will surely love zombie shooter games. No More Room in Hell is one such first-person co-op zombie shooter game that is completely free to play on Steam.

It is no ordinary FPS game, but also has the touch of a horror game (like the classic Left 4 Dead – which isn’t available for Linux)

12. Awesomenauts

A side-scrolling hero-based 2D MOBA game is damn impressive. It definitely is one of the free Linux games that we would recommend you to try. You can join your friends as an online party or you could enjoy it on a local split screen as well.

I must say, this game is superbly good – if you’re into 2D action-packed games.

13. Dead Maze

Yet another 2D game but with zombies in it. You need to craft life-saving supplies, collect food, monitor health, and scavenge for resources to survive the zombie apocalypse. It is a multiplayer game where you have to cooperate and join other players to survive the apocalypse.

14. The King’s Request: Physiology and Anatomy Revision Game

A dead simple 2D short adventure game which tests your knowledge of the human body, and concepts from science, biology, physiology, anatomy, medicine, Biomed, nursing, pharmacy, health or exercise science.

Each correct answer leads you to the victory and saves the kingdom. And, there are no negative points if you get an answer wrong.

Of course, this isn’t a great game to talk about – but this game is an example of gamifying learning content – so why not give it a try?

15. Cognizer

A unique puzzle game that challenges your brain with symbols and colors. You can either set a time limit or remove it to make things easier.

16. Faeria

It is an interesting card game where you need to defeat your opponent in epic battles. You can either enjoy the game solo or join a casual/competitive multiplayer match. Faeria is nothing like any other card game and that makes it one of the free Linux games we would recommend you to try.

17. Tank Force

If you were searching for an online tank shooter game, Tank Force is a quite good addition to your Steam library. It features a lot of different tanks which you need to unlock as you level up. Join the players from all over the world to fight for dominance.

Tank Force supports cross-platform PvP battles (10v10) with a variety of battle modes and combat arenas. Do try it out!

18. Toribash

Toribash is a unique online turn-based fighting game. Here, you have the ability to design your own moves. You get complete control over your character’s body with hundreds of potential game mods available.

If you were looking for something original and unique – Toribash is the one.

19. Forge of Gods

Forge of Gods is a multiplayer card strategy game where you need to collect and train as many monsters as you can and then assemble them to attack! You even get the ability to mix different type of creatures to breed legendary warriors. In addition, it also features boss battles!

20. World of Guns: Gun Disassembly

Yet another interesting game which lets you explore a wide range of firearms – that includes disassembling/assembling them. There’s nothing more to talk about it – but it’s enjoyable.

21. The Pirate: Caribbean Hunt

Sail through epic battles and raids to become the undisputed captain! The Caribbean is full of opportunities, you just have to find them!

In other words, be the jack sparrow! (maybe that’s too much to ask for)

22. Xonotic

Xonotic is a fast-paced arena shooter. You will probably like it if you’re missing out games like Quake Champions on Linux. It features a pretty impressive set of weapons – that will decide your fate in the arena.

Indeed one of the best free Linux games that do not require Steam.

23. The Battle for Wesnoth

The Battle for Wesnoth is an open-source free turn-based strategy game. You can opt to play it solo or consider joining the multiplayer sessions. You’ve got to defend your kingdom. In either case, you can even choose to pursue the unseen evil by heading down to an adventurous path.

24. CAYNE

It is a point-n-click horror adventure game and it’s free to download via GOG.com. It offers optional extra content for a certain price – but you won’t really be needing that unless you absolutely love this game.

25. 0 A.D

0 A.D. is a free, open-source real-time strategy game that deals with ancient warfare. A group of independent game developers regularly release newer Alpha versions of the game (currently with the 23rd). You can even download mods from within the game to enhance your gameplay.

26. Urban Terror

Urban Terror is a free multiplayer FPS game with a decent number of active players (it depends on your location). It is somewhat relatable to Counterstrike 1.6 but it’s fun if you have friends to play with.

27. Secret Maryo Chronicles

Want a free Super Mario rip-off that’s unique in its own ways? Well, we’ve got you this.

Maryo Chronicles is one of the most amazing 2D side sidescroller games. It is not being actively maintained, but you could give it a try.

28. Assault Cube

Yet another something like the classic Counterstrike 1.6. Assault Cube is a pretty good multiplayer FPS game if you have enough players in the servers. It’s not entirely the best multiplayer FPS but it still is enjoyable.

29. Super Tux Kart

If you are a fan of Kart racing games like the Beach Buggy Blitz for the mobile platform or Mario Kart for Nintendo – you will definitely like this game. It’s super simple, with optimized controls to handle your kart and enjoy the race!

30. Warsow

Warsow is a well-thought FPS game. It is unique and interesting. They even have a discord server which you join and find other players to play with.

31. Hedgewars

It is a funny turn-based strategy game featuring pink hedgehogs. It’s a package of comedy, action, strategy, and artillery – as a whole. It is one of my favorite free Linux non-steam games available.

What’s your favorite Linux game?

Now that you’ve known most of the popular free Linux games, which one would you prefer to get started with?

Also, did we miss any of your favorite Linux game that is available for free and deserves to be one of the best out there?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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