If you've just landed in the world of penguins and are wondering how Enjoy your games to the fullest on Linux Without getting lost among Proton, Wine, launchers, and distros, you're in the right place. Many users come from Windows fearing they'll lose their library or struggle with the console, but today the landscape has changed dramatically.
Thanks to modern tools such as Proton, Wine, Lutris, Heroic and the kernel improvementsGaming on Linux is no longer a geeky experiment, but a perfectly viable option even for beginners. However, information is scattered, guides contradict each other, and it's difficult to separate what worked in 2016 from what's actually useful now. Here you'll find a unified and up-to-date guide, explained in clear and straightforward Spanish (from Spain).
Is it possible to play games well on Linux today?
Today, Linux is a totally serious gaming platformAs long as you're clear on a couple of limits: there are titles, especially competitive ones with aggressive anti-cheat, that still don't work; but the bulk of single-player games and many cooperative or casual multiplayer games work surprisingly well.
The leap in quality is due to the fact that The community and companies like Valve have made a strong commitment because of the ecosystem. Proton, based on Wine and using DXVK/VKD3D to translate DirectX to Vulkan, allows you to run thousands of Windows games with a single click from Steam. In addition, there are projects like Heroic Games Launcher and Lutris for other game stores.
It is also important to understand that The raw performance between Windows and Linux is now very similar.In some games, Windows delivers a few extra FPS; in others, Linux performs the same or even slightly better depending on the driver and engine. The significant difference that existed years ago has practically disappeared for most modern games.
All this movement is reflected in devices such as Steam Deck, which is essentially a PC running Linux Well-tuned. There's no exclusive magic: almost everything SteamOS does can be replicated, and even improved, on a desktop or laptop PC with a well-configured distribution.
Recommended hardware for gaming on Linux
Just like on any PC, The hardware determines how far you can go.: what you can play, at what graphics quality and with what stability, and what storage capacity (SSD NVMeLinux is no more demanding than Windows in this respect, but it is more sensitive to the choice of GPU and drivers.
There's no problem with the CPU.Both Intel and AMD are very well supported in the modern kernel. Any relatively recent processor will work for gaming, and the choice will depend more on your budget than the operating system. If you also want to stream or use cloud services like GeForce NowAn Intel CPU with integrated graphics can be useful for offloading coding tasks.
The serious issue is in the graphics card and its driversCurrently, for gaming on Linux, the most recommended options are... AMD Radeon GPUIts open-source drivers integrate with the Mesa graphics stack, using RADV for Vulkan, and offer a polished experience with active community support. Nvidia also works, but its proprietary driver can be more problematic, and if your card is very old, you might only have legacy drivers that are quite unpleasant to install and maintain.
Intel, although it has open drivers that are well integrated into Mesa, It still falls short in Vulkan for serious gaming. It's compatible with Linux, so it's not the ideal choice if your top priority is demanding PC games. It's fine for light use and less demanding games, but it's not the dream GPU for a gaming PC.
With peripherals, it's normal that Mice, keyboards, and controllers work without too much fussXbox controllers, DualShock/DualSense controllers, and many generic models usually work fine. In the worst-case scenario, a few extra adjustments or a profile in Steam Input and you're good to go.
Choose a gaming layout and desktop setup
In theory, almost any distro can be used for gaming, but practice shows that Some make life much easier than othersFor example, player-oriented distributions such as Bazzite 44 They're taking a significant leap. Here, it's important to consider stability, kernel and driver versions, and which desktop environment best suits your needs in terms of performance and features.
To start off on the right foot, Ubuntu and Linux Mint remain very solid choicesThey are stable systems, with extensive community support and documentation everywhere. Mint, in particular, is often liked by those coming from Windows because of its user-friendly environment and practical approach.
If you want something fresher, Fedora offers very up-to-date components It typically integrates the latest graphics and kernel improvements quickly, ideal if you have recent hardware. And if you're an advanced user, distributions like Arch or its derivatives give you immediate access to the latest drivers, patched kernels like Zen, and community tools, in exchange for more manual maintenance.
No less important is the choice of desktop environment. The future passes through WaylandThe modern graphics protocol that already works very well in GNOME and KDE Plasma. These desktops are somewhat heavier than XFCE or MATE, but still consume fewer resources than a typical Windows 10/11. On older hardware, you might prefer a lightweight desktop, even if you lose some Wayland integration.
If you use Nvidia, it's advisable that the distro facilitate the installation of the proprietary 5xx series driver And that the desktop environment is reasonably optimized for that combination. With AMD and Intel, everything is simpler: Mesa and the modern kernel are usually sufficient, and you won't have to struggle as much.
Where to get games and which launchers to use
The good news is that You don't have to give up your usual storesMost PC games you already own on Windows can be played on Linux without buying anything new. However, it's important to note the differences between platforms.
Steam is the central piece of gaming on Linux.It's the only major store that maintains an official Linux client and also integrates Proton as a compatibility layer for Windows games. From Steam itself, you can install and run native or Windows games almost exactly as you would on Windows, with just a couple of compatibility adjustments.
Things are different on GOG and Epic Games Store: They don't have an official Linux client.But the community has solved the problem with dedicated tools. That's where Heroic Games Launcher comes in, an open-source project that lets you access your GOG, Epic, and Amazon Games (via Prime Gaming) libraries in a single interface.
Heroic not only downloads and installs games, but also It manages Wine and ProtonGE versions so you can choose the combination that best suits each title. It even integrates a UMU mode, a kind of Steam-style runtime to simplify the installation of Windows components without you having to wrestle with Winetricks manually.
If you want to go even further, lutris It allows you to integrate games from virtually any source: official launchers like Ubisoft Connect, EA App, or Rockstar, standalone installers, backups of your games, etc. There are also projects like Non-Steam Launchers, which integrate additional services within Steam, although they tend to be more cumbersome and less user-friendly than using Heroic or Lutris directly.
Native games, Proton, Wine, Lutris, Heroic and CrossOver
On Linux you can enjoy both native games for Linux as well as titles originally designed for Windows. Understanding the tools in between helps you decide which path to take based on your technical skill level and your library.
The native games for Linux These are games for which the developer has released a specific version for this system. They are usually indie and cross-platform projects with very decent support. They are typically installed from Steam or GOG and run without any intermediate layers, offering very good performance and lower resource consumption.
For everything else there is ProtonProton is the compatibility layer developed by Valve based on Wine. It handles the translation of Windows calls to Linux using DXVK and VKD3D, which map DirectX to Vulkan. From the user's perspective, the experience is usually "install and play" if the game is compatible.
Wine It's the foundational project upon which Proton is built. It allows you to run Windows programs and games on Linux without traditional emulation, but offers much greater granularity and complexity when modifying registry entries, DLLs, and fine-tuning configurations. It remains useful for older or highly specialized software, and it's the technology behind commercial solutions like CrossOver.
CrossOver It's a commercial version of Wine with its own patches and professional support. It can be useful in environments where direct support is needed or for some corporate programs, although for home gaming, Proton and pure Wine are usually sufficient for most users.
As for the Lutris and HeroicThey function as managers that rely on Wine/Proton to set up game-specific runtime environments, automating the installation of dependencies, tweaks, and launchers. Heroic, in particular, is heavily focused on making your Epic, GOG, and Amazon game libraries work almost as easily as Steam libraries.
How to activate Proton on Steam and choose a version
To unlock a large part of the Steam catalog you need Activate Steam Play with ProtonThe process is quite simple and can be done globally or per game.
Globally, you enter the Steam settings in the Compatibility section Then you select the option to enable Steam Play for all titles. Next, you choose the default Proton version, which is usually Proton Experimental or the latest stable version. This will allow the store to show Windows games as installable on Linux.
If you prefer to go case by case, you can force Proton individually in each gameRight-click on your library title, select Properties, go to the Compatibility tab, check the box, and choose the Proton version you want to try. This way, you can leave native games in their Linux versions and use Proton only when needed.
Besides the official versions of Proton, there are ProtonGE (Glorious Eggroll)ProtonGE is a community fork with patches for specific titles and improvements that sometimes arrive before Valve's official branch. The easiest way to install it on Steam is using ProtonUp-Qt, available as a Flatpak or AppImage, which lets you add ProtonGE with just a couple of clicks.
Once you have several versions, ProtonDB becomes your best friendIt's a website where the community reports which Proton version, launch parameters, or settings make each game run better. There you'll see ratings like Broken, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum, which give you an idea of ​​the feasibility of playing on Linux.
Check compatibility, anti-cheat, and genres that work best
Before rushing out to buy an expensive game, it's very sensible to Check compatibility and other users' experiences.ProtonDB covers all Steam titles, and for games outside of Steam you can find information on wikis, forums, and Linux gaming-specific communities.
The major obstacle lies in the competitive games with kernel-level anti-cheatGames like Valorant, some shooters with very intrusive systems, or certain esports titles with heavy DRM simply won't launch, or you risk being banned if you try to force them to run under Wine/Proton. Many studios outright block their use on non-Windows systems.
There are, however, quite a few Multiplayer games that have adapted their anti-cheat To enable Linux and Steam Deck, such as some battle royale and cooperative shooters. In these cases, if the studio has explicitly provided support, they usually work without issue and you can play with your friends without them noticing the difference.
Regarding genres that tend to be less troublesome, single-player games with standard engines (Unity, well-supported Unreal, etc.), RPGs, 2D indie games, and management or strategy games run spectacularly well with Proton. Many current open-world games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Elden Ring have been reported as highly playable, with more than respectable performance.
Also worthy of special mention is indie native catalog for LinuxDozens of titles like Stardew Valley, Hollow Knight, and others release Linux binaries from day one, consume few resources, and usually run incredibly fast without needing to worry about intermediate layers.
Performance optimization and advanced settings
Once you have everything working, the next logical step is Squeeze out extra performance and improve fluidityIn Linux, there are several simple settings that make a difference without getting into complicated configurations.
A first point is the desktop composerModern desktop environments use compositing for visual effects and smoothing, but this can interfere with full-screen performance. Some environments (like KDE) allow you to disable or reduce compositing when an app is running in full screen. Cinnamon and XFCE offer options to disable compositing while gaming, while GNOME maintains compositing, albeit with specific workarounds to minimize the impact.
In games that you use non-native resolution of your monitorYou might notice a slightly blurry image. You can take advantage of Wine FSR (AMD upscaling integrated into Wine/Proton) by adding launch parameters in Steam such as WINE_FULLSCREEN_FSR=1 and adjusting WINE_FULLSCREEN_FSR_STRENGTH to balance sharpness and smoothing. Although the technology is from AMD, it also works with Nvidia at the translation layer level.
If you notice performance drops after playing for a while, you can try empty LD_PRELOAD in the launch command (For example, LD_PRELOAD="" before %command%), which prevents certain capture functions or overlays from interfering. Note that this may disable the Steam overlay, so it's best to test it game by game.
Tools like MangoHud allows you to monitor FPS, CPU/GPU usage, temperatures, etc.However, it's best to use them wisely: some features, like the FPS limiter or the Steam counter, can slightly impact performance on certain hardware and driver combinations. Ideally, you should test with and without them to see if it's worth it.
In modern Nvidia systems, with 5xx series drivers, the following have been introduced Significant improvements to the experience under Waylandreducing input lag and improving integration with modern compositors. In older generations (like Pascal) this is already noticeable; in newer ones, the leap is usually even greater.
Installing Steam correctly and first steps
Although many distros offer Steam as a package in its repositories or as Flatpak/SnapOn Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and derivatives, it's usually best to install the official Valve package from their website. It's typically a .deb file that you can open with your software manager and follow the instructions.
The advantage of using the official .deb version versus repository version or Flatpak This is because you tend to get the latest version, with fewer extra bugs added by the packaging. Furthermore, the installer handles the necessary dependencies and keeps the client relatively up-to-date without you having to monitor anything.
If you prefer to install via terminal, in Ubuntu/Mint you can use commands like sudo apt install steam-installer steam-devicesWhile in openSUSE and other distributions you'll use their equivalent managers. And if you're not keen on the terminal, using the graphical application store is perfectly acceptable.
After having Steam installed and Proton enabled, a recommended next step is Install ProtonGE and other additional versions with ProtonUp-QtSimply launch ProtonUp-Qt, select Steam, and add the versions you want. They will then appear in Steam's compatibility dropdown menu for you to choose game by game.
In the section For save games, Proton usually reuses the same directories as the Windows version. When they sync with Steam Cloud, you'll often have your save files without having to do anything if you're coming from Windows. For games with a native Linux version, you might have to manually copy your saves to the new path used by the native port.
If you use Steam Deck or rely on its compatibility markers, remember that The Verified/Playable/Unsupported label is intended for the DeckIt's not for every Linux PC, and it measures quality of life more than pure performance. There are "unsupported" games that run perfectly well on a desktop PC with ProtonGE, and others marked as Verified that actually need lower settings for a stable experience.
Heroic Games Launcher and other external launchers
If in addition to Steam you have a good collection on Epic or GOG or Amazon Prime GamingHeroic Games Launcher is practically essential. It centralizes access to your accounts, displays the game catalog, allows you to download and install games, and launches them with Wine/Proton running in the background.
In the Heroic interface you can Configure accounts, installation paths, and default Wine/ProtonGE version and advanced parameters. In the Wine manager section, you install the versions you want (WineGE, ProtonGE, etc.) and then assign them to each game according to community recommendations or what you want to try.
A very useful function is the Integration with Epic Online Services Overlay (EOS Overlay)It's a good idea to keep this updated to sync achievements, friends lists, and to prevent certain games with online services from experiencing strange errors. Heroic makes keeping all of this up to date quite easy.
For games that you have like loose installers or backupsHeroic allows you to create manual entries: you add the game, leave the main executable unselected for now, point to the installer in "Run installer first," let it install, and then choose the final executable. This way you can integrate launchers like Ubisoft Connect, EA App, or Rockstar Launcher within Heroic, although some, like EA's, break from time to time and depend on quick patches in Proton.
If you feel like getting even more involved and group everything into a single libraryProjects like Lutris offer community-built templates and scripts for installing everything from Battle.net to very old games. However, the learning curve is somewhat steeper than with Heroic, which is designed more for straightforward installations with Epic/GOG/Amazon.
Advantages, disadvantages, and which distro to choose if you're a beginner
Playing games on Linux has a number of interesting advantages beyond performanceSystem resource management is typically lighter, you have greater control over what runs on your machine, and the feeling of "ownership" of your PC increases by not relying so heavily on opaque layers and constant telemetry. Furthermore, gaming-oriented browsers such as Opera GX They have landed on Linux.
Furthermore, The personalization goes much deeper.You can choose exactly which graphical environment, services, and processes to start, fine-tuning the system to your liking. This frees up more memory and CPU for gaming, which is especially noticeable on modest machines.
The least pleasant part is the residual compatibility issuesSome recent games may take a few days or weeks to run smoothly under Proton, especially if their DRM or anti-cheat system changes. In other cases, the community relies on unofficial patches, ProtonGE, or somewhat delicate configurations.
must not forget the initial learning curveIf you're used to installing everything by clicking "next-next-next" on .exe files, you'll initially need to get used to repositories, Flatpaks, permissions, and the occasional terminal. It's not rocket science, and it soon becomes second nature, but it does require a bit of patience and a willingness to research on your own.
If you're just starting out and your priority is play with the least possible painThe simple recommendation is to use Ubuntu, Linux Mint, or a derivative, with the GNOME or KDE desktop environment if your hardware allows it. Enable Steam Play, install Heroic, check ProtonDB when in doubt, and from there, gradually experiment with more advanced configurations as you get the itch to try.
The gaming ecosystem on Linux has gone from being an experimental niche to becoming a perfectly valid alternative for most PC gamersThere are still competitive titles you won't be able to enjoy and specific situations where you'll have more options than on Windows, but if what you want is to play your huge library of single-player, indie, RPG, action, or adventure games without losing control over your computer, Linux is in a very sweet spot to make the switch without fear.
