Can You Game on Linux? You’ll Be Surprised

Can You Game on Linux? You’ll Be Surprised

Yes and no. Let me explain in detail.

The truth is, you can game on Linux. It’s not as straightforward, but it’s not impossible either, especially as things have evolved over time.

Now, it’s much easier to game on Linux than it used to be. I remember how challenging it was to get a game running on Linux; you had to install various components, enter numerous commands, and sometimes the game would fail because most games weren’t designed for Linux. But that was a long time ago.

Many years ago, it was difficult. But times have changed, and now thanks to various applications, it’s much simpler.

Have you ever thought about it? How good is gaming on Linux? Is it worth leaving Windows to game on Linux?

To be honest, there’s no better platform for gaming on a computer than Windows. BUT it only serves that purpose. If gaming isn’t a serious habit, if you’re not a professional gamer or a streamer who plays and tests new games, you could switch from Windows to Linux without any issues, as Linux now has very good games, and you can play top Windows games.

Thanks to the community pushing the limits of Linux gaming, significant progress has been made in this field.

The Myth That “You Can’t”

For years, and I dare say even now, many believe that you can’t game on Linux. BUT that’s a total misconception; of course, you can. Linux isn’t allergic to games; it handles them quite well nowadays.

Recently, I wanted to try Skyrim on my laptop. Without having installed it, I thought, “Well, if it doesn’t run, it’s because it’s Linux, and it’s not a big deal.” BUT it did run, and I ate my words as Dovahkiin traversed the landscape without stutters. It worked very well.

Steam and Proton: The Unsung Heroes

The heroes of Linux in the gaming field. Currently, gaming on Linux has advanced significantly thanks to these heroes. It’s not magic, BUT Proton now allows playing almost all Windows games; about 60% of them are now playable on Linux. It’s simple: install the game and play.

Sure, we won’t lie; some titles don’t run, but for the most part, you won’t have problems. According to current data, 70% of Steam games run on Linux.

And the numbers keep growing. Linux wasn’t made for games, BUT over the years, it has improved and been refined in this area, and thanks to that, today, you can play games without issues.

What About Native Games?

Of course, let’s not forget that some games are made for Linux. There aren’t many, but we have some gems: 0 A.D., SuperTuxKart, Dota 2, Minecraft, Stardew Valley, to name a few. I’d even include Valheim and Terraria, which work very well on Mint or Arch, etc.

But we shouldn’t paint everything rosy; sometimes, native performance doesn’t surpass that of Proton. Yes, I know, it sounds odd, but the magic comes from the community, with patches, updates, forums full of experts who make everything run smoothly.

Hardware, Compatibility, and Patience

Depending on the Linux distribution you use, you might need to enter a few commands to install a game or improve compatibility—nothing that ChatGPT or a good forum can’t solve.

But if you’re using a popular distro like Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, or Manjaro, everything might work fine because these distros already come with most gaming compatibility tools pre-installed. And that’s a blessing.

The Community and Its Great Help

Something that surprises me, aside from the friendly Linux community, is that in Telegram groups or forums, there’s always an expert or curious person who shows up saying, “I got GTA V to run on ultra settings.” People who not only share their accomplishments but also help you and explain how they did it.

I remember a Mexican YouTuber who uploaded a tutorial on how to play The Witcher 3 with mods using Lutris.

There’s always someone sharing new achievements.

So, Is It Worth Gaming on Linux?

It depends a lot on how much of a gamer you are, how passionate you are about gaming. If you stream and play new releases the moment they come out, you might have to wait for patches or community fixes to play them on Linux. Sometimes the community is fast, sometimes not so much. If you use your PC strictly for gaming, I’d recommend sticking with Windows.

But if you game casually, for fun, Linux is a great option—not only can you play, but also learn to use Linux, create mods, or even patch games, becoming part of the community.

Linux gaming grows every day. The day will come when gaming on Linux is even better than on Windows.