Gaming on Windows is so ‘Old School.’ How about…

Gaming on Linux: Everything you need to know and learn.

The in-depth, definitive guide to starting or making your Linux gaming journey from ‘Okay’ to ‘Oh Yeah!!’

You can expect this from the following article, so read it till the end.

SPOILER ALERT: The following article requires patience and attention. So please read it with ease and explore the wonders within.

There’s no doubt that Windows is the undisputed king of all, your ideal go-to solution when it comes to PC gaming. But let’s face it, the experience with Windows has never been smooth, has it? Windows may support all major software and hardware. Still, all that show comes with a go for significant issues like malware, bloatware, unnecessary background services, system and application crashes, hardware optimization issues, and those substantial, time-consuming updates. Never a day goes by when we, as users, don’t get annoyed by these issues every once in a while. So many problems prove to be a turn-off not just for the casual user but for the hardcore user as well.

So, you’re annoyed by these issues and want to get rid of these shenanigans as soon as possible, but how would you do that? You definitely can’t look towards Macintosh as the solution; besides, who uses a Mac for gaming anyway?! (Sorry, Apple, no hard feelings.) There were days when Linux was thought of as ‘The Operating System for Nerds and Geeks.’

But if you consider today's scenarios, that won’t be the case now because Linux has created an empire so vast that everybody’s working on Linux, whether they’re aware of it or not. Today, organizations from all sectors are working on Linux. And if you think that all Linux provides is that old command line terminal that gives you the vibes of a hacker in those Hollywood movies, how about you give Linux a shot at gaming?

Yes, you heard it right! Linux has the potential to fulfill your gaming desires. And today, I’m going to teach you exactly how you can make Linux your next choice of Operating System for gaming.

1. Brief history & introduction

So, gaming on Linux may sound a bit confusing, but Linux has been around in the gaming space for quite a long time. Just for a quick fact, Google’s cloud gaming service called ‘Stadia’ runs on Linux with ‘Vulkan,’ which is the alternative to ‘DirectX’ on Windows. And this fact helps many games native to Windows transition to Linux without hassle.

Even the most popular handheld gaming device, I’m not talking of any android smartphone or the Sony PSP here; I’m talking about the Steam Deck, which runs the Steam OS, and here’s another surprise for you, Steam OS is also a Linux distribution.

Steam Deck: The next-gen handheld gaming console by Valve is powered by a Debian Linux-based distro called ‘Steam OS.’

2. Gear of choice

Speaking of distributions, let’s first begin with the choice of distribution for gaming. Now there are more than 300 Linux distros, and one more joins the family every once in a while. But for our purpose, I’d like to introduce you to our options: Pop!_ OS and Manjaro Linux.

Pop!_ OS by System76.

Now, Pop!_ OS is an Ubuntu-based Linux distro owned by the developers at System76. The company already specializes in desktops and laptops for personal and professional uses, so they also seem to know their way around the gaming culture.

If you check their official website, you get two options: one for Nvidia drivers and one for AMD and Intel. On Pop!_ OS, you have to install Steam, which is as easy as installing it on Windows. This makes Pop!_ OS the most preferred option for aspiring Linux gamers.

Manjaro Linux

Manjaro, on the other hand, is owned by a group of independent community developers and is based on a distro called Arch Linux, which is known to be geared toward advanced users. But both distros come with graphics drivers support pre-installed, and Manjaro even has Steam pre-installed.

Since Manjaro is known to be based on Arch Linux, it provides software based on a rolling release, which might cause stability issues. To play on the safe side, we’ll be going with Pop!_ OS since it is based on Ubuntu and has the same level of active community support. So, we go to the website of Pop!_ OS and download the ISO file with Nvidia driver support.

After downloading the ISO, create a bootable flash drive using Rufus or Balena Etcher and follow the installation wizard, which guides you through the process. The installation is quite simple; even a kid can do it, so Pop!_ OS will be up and running within two minutes.

3. The setup

Here’s where the real stuff begins. Now we set up Pop!_ OS for gaming. To start with, you can go to the app store, a.k.a. the Pop!_ shop, where you can download Steam. Now, Steam does help you run the majority of games on Linux via a Proton service. Proton creates a fake Windows installation for that game and allows the game instructions to be translated into Linux instructions.

Working of Proton. (information source: The Linux Experiment)

So now, most games that run on Windows using DirectX will execute on Linux via Vulkan graphics. Now, to play some games, we have to configure Steam to run Proton, which can be done by going to the settings and checking the box for enabling ‘Steam Play. To know the list of games you can run natively on Linux, go to the website of ProtonDB and type in your game. Here you must consider the type of stamp applied to your gaming title. Here’s a quick guide:

• Platinum means the game is native to Windows and Linux, and you can play them without hassle.
• Gold means that the game is executable, but you have to go to Steam to select a specific version of Proton to play it and possibly even write a particular argument of launch to ensure it runs smoothly.
• Silver means that some components and game aspects won’t work well. Issues like graphical glitches, multiplayer features, and missing cutscenes will be your most prominent issues. Rest assured, the game will run just fine.
• Bronze is the same as Silver but with more issues.
• Borked means that the game is not native to Linux.

So, Steam, along with Proton, will make sure that you can play the games you want, should you consider the provided data associated with the game.

But what if you want to run some games not available on Steam but on other game launchers and clients such as Epic Games, Battle.net, and more? This is where apps like Wine, Lutris, and Heroic game launcher come into play.

Lutris game launcher on Linux

Wine is an app that helps provide the Windows compatibility layer on Linux. In contrast, Lutrisand Heroic are game launchers that allow you to download and install the other game launchers and clients native to Windows. You can download them from the app store or go to their official websites and download the installer program.

Heroic Games Launcher on Linux

I like both Lutris and Heroic game launchers because they provide a lean, easy-to-walk-around interface. Here you can get to work with Proton and ProtonDB, and you need to make some more tweaks which could be just a few clicks or even a launch argument. Since the process is almost the same as in Steam, setting up the game clients, launchers, and even the game isn’t a big deal.

4. Results and experiences

Now, with all that in-depth guide to setting up games and services, let’s consider playing and reviewing the results.

Rocket League on Linux.

So we tested some games, starting with Rocket League, a popular esports title, and quickly received 100+ frames per second. I had been a personal user of Pop!_ OS for two years, and within that span, I had heard of this game precisely executing much better on Linux than on Windows. The perks of being a Linux user bring advantages to performance due to better network, hardware, and software management.

And here’s another surprise, to check the grit of the OS and the overall experience regardless of the hardware specs, we tested it on an all-AMD PC to ensure that the same justice is done to AMD graphics, and it worked incredibly well.

Apex Legends on Linux.

Another game that we tested was Apex Legends, a game most famous for its fast-paced action. Here, too, Linux used the hardware to its best potential and delivered up to 150 frames per second. I had constantly been trying to find solutions to make my experience smooth. After setting up my Steam with the correct Proton version and inserting in some launch arguments, the results made all those online searching and tweaking efforts completely worth it.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider on Linux.

The final game we tested was Shadow of the Tomb Raider, one of the best AAA titles. Here, the results were not just unexpected but fascinating. The gameplay was overall smooth, and Linux, once again, used the hardware resources to the best of their abilities and helped to deliver an astounding 100+ frames per second, which you don’t usually get to see on Windows, which generally delivers up to 80 to 90 frames per second, that too only if you get lucky.

One word of advice that I would like to provide is to use FSR. FSR stands for Fidelity Super Resolution, a graphics-based technology made and owned by AMD. The fascinating thing about FSR is that you can use it on AMD and Nvidia GPUs. It aims to provide better graphics, no screen-tearing, and higher frame rates resulting in a smooth gameplay experience.

You can even check out A1RM4X, who plays and streams his Apex Legends gameplay on YouTube. Although he is an Arch Linux supporter (no judgments!), the gameplay and performance he delivers are the same as you would get on Windows. He uses Endeavour OS, an Arch Linux-based distribution that has just joined the family of Linux distros for gaming.

5. Plus and Minus points of gaming on Linux

In my opinion and experience, I’ve witnessed many games that have become native to Windows and Linux. The list keeps growing now and then. It even seems like an undeniable truth that Linux is becoming the next-generation gaming alternative ever since gaming studios started making their games not just Cloud-ready but Linux-ready. Moreover, the constant efforts of companies like AMD and Nvidia make it possible for almost any game to run on Linux.

The plus points that, in my opinion, make Linux great for gaming are:

• Being backed up by some of the major tech companies, there’s no denying that Linux has evolved, and now significant companies like AMD, Nvidia, Google, and Amazon are supporting it. Even Microsoft wants its employees to be well aware of Linux skills because even Microsoft knows that Linux is the future of computation. No wonder why Windows even provides a subsystem for Linux in it.
• Active community support is what made Linux the king it is today. The community is highly dynamic, friendly, and constantly working to create experiences of Linux with other domains even better daily.
• Linux is known to be the operating system that uses every hardware and software to the best of its potential and abilities and provides performance, privacy, optimization, and, most importantly, control that you truly deserve.

The minus points of gaming on Linux can’t be ignored as well. Some issues like:

• Some games are incompatible or are loaded with driver issues and glitches.
• Constant dependence on Proton makes it challenging to play the latest games right on the first day of their release.
• The aspect of making tweaks and customization can be intimidating for absolute beginners making people transition to Windows.

6. Final Verdict

Gaming on Linux is a domain on which the Linux community is constantly working. Eventually, the consistent efforts will indeed help the small yet fascinating community gets the results they desire, and who knows, one day, we will all be running our favorite games on Linux more than on Windows.

A certain amount of tweaks and customization at the core level drives me to constantly check out the gaming aspect on Linux and Windows. We all know that Windows and Linux are destined for greatness and consistently deliver it to us with their unique style.

More gamers should check out Linux and give it at least a chance that it truly deserves, as this will help them discover new prospects and technicalities within a gaming system at the hardware and software level.