I’ve been interested in trying out Linux for a while now, but I’ve hesitated mainly because of issues with gaming compatibility. However, I’ve decided to stop focusing on multiplayer games, and if I ever want to play games like Baldur’s Gate 3 or Valheim online, I can always use a Virtual Machine for that, even if it’s a bit of a hassle.
I know Steam has decent support for Linux, but I’m also a GOG user and I’m not entirely sure how well that platform is supported. I appreciate GOG’s commitment to a DRM-free experience, but I’m not the biggest fan of Valve. I have an AMD CPU (7600) and an Nvidia GPU (4070 Super), and I’m curious about how well Nvidia works under Linux.
What’s the best beginner-friendly Linux distro for gaming? I’m open to trying a distro that’s specifically tailored for gaming, just for the fun of it! I’m planning to make the switch this summer once my schedule allows, as I’ve always wanted to become a Linux user.
5 Answers
Thanks to the big update last year, a lot of games are now playable on Linux, except for the ones using heavy anti-cheat systems. For a distro, I’d recommend looking into Bazzite or Nobara—they’re user-friendly and geared towards gamers.
Heroic Launcher is a solid option for running GOG games on Linux. It does a pretty good job of handling compatibility and is user-friendly, so you might want to check that out!
Yeah, Heroic all the way!
Baldur’s Gate 3 and Valheim should work perfectly on Linux, especially with Proton. You can even use Heroic Launcher to access your GOG games. Just be cautious of games with aggressive anti-cheat systems.
If you’re looking for a good beginner’s gaming distro, Linux Mint with Heroic Launcher could work well. It’s beginner-friendly, and the driver installation for Nvidia is a breeze with the built-in manager. Upgrading to the proprietary drivers is recommended for the best performance!
Most multiplayer and co-op games run fine on Linux. The trouble usually arises with kernel-level anti-cheat. Make sure to check out ProtonDB for a list of game compatibility. For a distro, I suggest giving Bazzite a shot—it’s stable and comes preloaded with gaming tools!
What games have been working well for you on those distros?