Gaming with Linux

Carolyn Denton · 05-15-2019, 06:05 AM

Hi everyone. I'm new to Linux, so sorry if the question is pretty obvious. I have got a pretty common machine, a few years old, but still quite capable with regards to my needs: i7 3770, 8GB RAM, RX460, 2 monitors
I'm planning to switch (dual-boot with Windows for a while) to Linux for everything I do.
The problem is, I do game on my computer.
Is there any option to run games (that don't support linux) while having linux running in the background?

Thanks

Lysander666 · 05-15-2019, 06:16 AM

It really depends how important gaming is to you. If you're a hardcore gamer, it's probably best to stick to Windows.

Having said that, there are now thousands of games on Steam that run natively on Linux. Steam Proton exists, but it's quality is very hit and miss. Some Windows games work on it, some don't.

You could try WINE, but I haven't used it myself so can't vouch for its quality.

Basically my gaming has changed a lot since being on Linux but I don't have as much time as I used it for it anyway. I tend to only play games that have been ported for Linux. I haven't played any newer games on Linux - Portal 2, Trine, Quake 1 [very old school] but nothing newer. I wouldn't recommend buying a game because Proton says it will work, it may not.

Carolyn Denton · 05-15-2019, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lysander666

It really depends how important gaming is to you. If you're a hardcore gamer, it's probably best to stick to Windows.

Having said that, there are now thousands of games on Steam that run natively on Linux. Steam Proton exists, but it's quality is very hit and miss. Some Windows games work on it, some don't.

You could try WINE, but I haven't used it myself so can't vouch for its quality.

Basically, my gaming has changed a lot since being on Linux but I don't have as much time as I used it for it anyway. I tend to only play games that have been ported for Linux. I haven't played any newer games on Linux - Portal 2, Trine, Quake 1 [very old school] but nothing newer. I wouldn't recommend buying a game because Proton says it will work, it may not.

Thanks. I'm not a hardcore gamer myself but I like to play some new games sometimes. Gonna check WINE then. Maybe it could work for me.

BTW, thumbs up for Portal and Trine

sevendogsbsd · 05-15-2019, 08:08 AM

Steam runs natively on Linux so you have access to all Linux games that are available through Steam. Wine is hit or miss: I have found newer games to not work at all and older games to be just fine, mostly. There are some graphical interfaces to wine that can e helpful but for me, they mostly get in the way. For example "PlayOnLinux" is one, and some people have good luck with it, others (me) do not. Wine is a command line app you use to run a windows executable and it is very easy to launch a windows game this way, but the catch is there are wine configurations some of the graphical apps like PlayOnLinux make much easier for you.

Enjoy!

273 · 05-15-2019, 01:40 PM

steam is using a WINE type system to port a lot of games to Linux (I found Left 4 Dead, for example, was ported recently) so things are looking up.
As to running Linux and a Windows game "inside" it a virtual machine can work for older games but won't provide accelerated graphics and will use up some of your fairly low supply of RAM.

Sabexx · 05-16-2019, 03:18 AM

Dual boot for games that won't run. Then install Steam, and only then try Wine as a last resort.

////// · 05-16-2019, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabexx

Dual boot for games that won't run. Then install Steam, and only then try Wine as a last resort.

thats what i do. i recommend this way of doing it.

igadoter · 05-19-2019, 07:54 AM

Better solution is to run Windows in background and Linux in virtual machine. If you really like to play the switching between systems will be soon too tiresome - so you will end with dead Linux on your hard drive. While virtually you can run Linux all the time - just iconify Linux virtual machine window with running inside Linux - and play the game - even you can run both in the same time - say playing online. It is good solution if you have to run Windows often. After a while you will forget completely that is Windows actually not Linux.

sevendogsbsd · 05-19-2019, 09:18 AM

I ditched windows entirely because I literally have no use for it. I game on my PS4 and for the (old) games I play, I run them with wine on FreeBSD.

I am not like most people though - I have hated windows since 1993 and have done everything in my power to rid myself of it.

If your (OP) purpose is to get rid of windows, just commit to gaming on Linux.

Carolyn Denton · 05-21-2019, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabexx

Dual boot for games that won't run. Then install Steam, and only then try Wine as a last resort.

Thanks this looks like a good option for me.

And thanks to everyone in this thread for sharing your ideas

273 · 05-21-2019, 08:56 AM

This is the Steam Windows game support I was aluding to:

https://steamcommunity.com/games/221...55855739350561

joe_2000 · 05-21-2019, 01:40 PM

I don't do gaming at all, which puts me in the luxury position that I could get rid of windows entirely on my private pc.
If I did want to run games I would definitely maintain a dedicated windows install just for that and dual boot.
Last thing I'd want to do is pollute my main system with all the stuff you have to pull in to be able to run some proprietary games. Plus when you are up to gaming you want to do gaming - not troubleshooting wine and friends.

Just my 2cents as a hardcore non-gamer ;-)

dugan · 05-21-2019, 01:46 PM

With Proton, most games on Steam run on Linux. You just install them from the Linux Steam client, and launch them.

As on Windows, you'll get the best results if you have recent drivers (on Linux, that would be Mesa and the kernel) and a recent video card (at least OpenGL 4.5 support).

rizzy · 06-16-2019, 02:08 AM

check the list of games for linux on Steam :

https://store.steampowered.com/linux#p=0&tab=TopSellers

Linux games on GOG.com :

https://www.gog.com/games?sort=popul...,lin_ubuntu_18

dugan · 06-17-2019, 12:30 PM

And for playing Windows games on Linux:

https://www.protondb.com/
https://lutris.net/games/