What Is The Best Linux For Gaming?
The top Linux distributions for gaming now let you quickly play PC games on your Linux computer or laptop. In recent years, Linux gaming has significantly improved. While gaming on Linux was always an option, finding games that ran perfectly was rare until recently.
Valve’s launch of their own Linux gaming distro marked a big change. This caught the attention of gaming publishers, who started recognizing Linux as a viable platform.
Soon, more game titles became available; even big gaming studios proudly supported Linux. Thanks to tools like Proton, Linux users can enjoy good gameplay on games originally made for Windows.
Before Valve’s involvement, Linux gaming was supported by open-source projects like the WINE compatibility layer, community-driven platforms like Lutris, and quality open-source drivers from companies like AMD.
We’ve reviewed these Linux distros for gaming from various angles. Key factors considered include installation disk space, compatibility with controllers like PlayStation and Xbox, support for different gaming platforms, pre-installed game variety, and additional applications for everyday use.
With open-source ethos in mind, several choices are available to tailor your ideal Linux setup for gaming. Here are some of the options available.
Pop!_OS
Pop!_OS, created by hardware maker System76, is ideal for gamers who prefer customizing their gaming setup. Built on Ubuntu LTS, Pop!_OS features its interface, Pop Shell, on top of Gnome.
It provides extensive flexibility for users to tailor it to their needs, including support for hybrid graphics setup and launching games using the GPU from the context menu.
Unlike other top Linux gaming distros, Pop!_OS doesn’t come pre-loaded with gaming platforms. However, you can effortlessly download apps like Steam, Lutris, and GameHub from its app store. Additionally, it offers two versions: a standard image and one with the Nvidia driver already installed.
Drauger OS
It calls itself a Linux Desktop Gaming OS. It is built on Ubuntu LTS releases but uses the mainline Linux kernel instead of Ubuntu’s kernel. The developers have adjusted the kernel to have low latency and increased the scheduling frequency from 250Hz to 1000Hz. These modifications should lead to higher frame rates, less screen tearing, and better gaming performance.
It installs Steam Client right from the beginning of the Live environment. It features a customized Xfce desktop and includes a helpful tutorial in the welcome app to guide new users through the setup.
Drauger OS supports a variety of Xbox and Xbox360 controllers, along with some PlayStation controllers. It has several pre-installed applications to enhance the gaming experience, such as WINE, PlayOnLinux, Steam, Lutris, and DXVK.
The distro has many apps, making it great for everyday computing tasks. You will need at least 32GB of disk space to install Drauger.
Ubuntu GamePack
Developed by Linux, Ubuntu GamePack resembles Drauger OS. Both are built on Ubuntu, but Ubuntu GamePack uses a customized Gnome desktop. It includes proprietary codecs, drivers, and gaming platforms like Steam, Lutris, and PlayOnLinux.
Additionally, Ubuntu GamePack offers a trial version of CrossOver, a proprietary compatibility tool using WINE, for running Windows games and apps. The distro also features DOSBox for playing DOS games and ScummVM for classic adventure and role-playing games.
One of the main features of this distro is GameMode, which optimizes the setup specifically for gaming. It also comes with a full suite of productivity apps, aiming to be a versatile desktop OS for gamers. It distinguishes itself from Drauger using a customized version of the user-friendly Ubuntu Ubiquity installer.
Fedora Games
The Fedora Games spin aims to highlight the top open-source games found in Fedora’s repositories. This distro is a substantial 4.1GB image packed with various games, including strategy games, first-person shooters, and more. You can try out all these games directly from the Live environment.
Fedora Games features the Xfce desktop environment and gets updated with each major Fedora release. The current edition is based on Fedora Workstation 33. Although Fedora Games is a solid gaming distro, it’s less versatile than others we’ve discussed.
It doesn’t come pre-installed with platforms like Steam or tools like PlayonLinux or WINE, though you can add these yourself.
Lakka
Lakka is a slimmed-down Linux that transforms your computer into a retro gaming console. It runs on the libretro core with RetroArch as its interface. You can use Lakka as a bootable USB image for PCs, and it’s also compatible with ARM-based devices like the Raspberry Pi.
Lakka works with various keyboards and supports wireless PS3 and PS4 controllers and Xbox 360 controllers if you use the specific dongle.
RetroArch includes an auto-config feature that makes most controllers usable immediately without needing manual key mapping. Lakka’s documentation provides helpful guides for setting up less common controller configurations, too.
Due to copyright regulations, Lakka still needs to come with games installed. You’ll need to obtain legal copies of ISO images from game CDs you own or precompiled ROM files for arcade games to play games. You can find some public domain ROMs on websites like the Internet Archive.