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Welcome to the Linux Gaming wiki!

We seek to make an open, standard type of wiki that gathers all information, tutorials and tweaks to help with gaming on Linux.

We were previously located at the Linux Gaming subreddit wiki.

Feel free to contribute! We need it for this wiki to gain traction.

Overview

Getting started

• Should you switch to Linux gaming? - Things to consider before wiping Windows.
• Getting started with Linux - In depth guide about how to start.
• Getting started (short version) - If you just want something that works.
• How to get answers - Knowing what information are relevant for a search engine or a forum.
• Cheatsheet - terms you might stumble upon while reading this wiki

Running games

• Lutris - The most important launcher. Big library of scripts to help you install many games. Runs basically everything.
• Heroic - Launcher to run games from Epic and GOG.
• Steam - The best way to install games from Steam.
• Bottles - Run games and other programs that don't have a good install script.

Tweaking

• Troubleshooting - What to do if your game just won't work.
• Installing dlls - How to get Windows dependencies.
• Winetricks - Easy tool to do tweaks.
• Environment variables - You might use them to pass options to programs.
• Gamescope - Tool to make games think they run maximized on a single monitor.
• Dual GPU - How to get the game running on the correct GPU.

Performance

• Improving performance - What to do if you get less FPS, more input lag, or more stuttering than on Windows.
• FSR - AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution. A technique to get significantly more performance in GPU limited games.
• Gamemode - Tool to improve performance.
• Compositor - Makes your desktop look nice, but may cost a lot of performance in games.
• CoreCtrl - Tool to control CPU and GPU. Especially interesting if you have an AMD GPU.
• Hardware video acceleration in Web browsers - Information on enabling hardware video acceleration in web browsers.
• Monitoring & Stresstesting - How to test that your tweaked system is still stable

Modding

• Modding - How to make mods work on Linux.
• Visual Enhancement - Enhancing the visuals of a game.
• List of Game specific modding tools

Hardware

• Hardware Recommendations - good hardware that you can buy and that is known to have good support
• Working Hardware - an extensive list of hardware that is known to work

Other

• Terminal - The scary black thing with text. How to use it without messing up your computer.
• Common tweaks - How to disable mouse acceleration (and more - to be done).
• Misc - Various stuff that doesn't (yet) deserve an own article but might be useful.
• Windows Compatibility - How to run Windows programs
• Desktop Environment - The interface of your system. You can change it!
• Window Manager - The thing that you use to move windows around on your screen
• Graphical tools - Programs that no one tells you about, but that you might like if you don't want to use the terminal

Getting Tech Support

Generally, the first port of call for problems that you may encounter is the dedicated support (forums, IRC, knowledgebases etc) provided by the Linux distribution that you're using. You can also ask for help in the Weekly Tech Support Thread that's pinned to the top of /r/linux_gaming. The relevant distro subreddit may also be useful - the popular ones can be found on the /r/linux sidebar. If the problem is a game-specific one, then searching out support from the game's website, subreddit, or Steam community hub may be of help. Otherwise, you may find the following links of use:

• /r/LinuxQuestions - general Linux support subreddit
• /r/Linux4Noobs - subreddit providing Linux support that is "explicitly noob-friendly"
• /r/techsupport - large multi-OS support subreddit
• LinuxQuestions.org - very well established general support site for Linux
• GamersOnLinux - Linux gaming community forum
• GamingOnLinux.com Tech Forum - All Linux gaming related tech help topics accepted
• Official Steam for Linux bug tracker - searching for issues posted on Steam or games on Steam may provide solutions
• ProtonDB - user reports on Proton/Steam Play game compatibility, often with comments regarding necessary tweaks
• Official Proton bug tracker - generally every Proton game is kept track of in its own issue report, so see if your game already has one and only create a new report if one doesn't exist
• Feral Interactive - for support on any games that have been ported/published by Feral Interactive
• Wine Database - holds support information for games that can be run through Wine
• Wine Forums - for support on games run through Wine that may not be covered in the Database

External Links

Lists of sites that may be of interest or help to people interested in Linux gaming. All the of the information held within these sites is the responsibility of their respective owners.

Crowdfunding

• GamingOnLinux's list of crowdfunding campaigns - information on all known current crowdfunding campaigns relevant to Linux games.
• Indiegogo - broad range crowdfunding site, often used for Linux game campaigns
• Kickstarter - largest crowdfunding site and frequently used for Linux game campaigns

Linux Game databases

• Lutris - most important source of information about how well non Steam games run. Also contains scripts that install the game. Easiest to use with the Lutris launcher.
• GamingOnLinux Database - tracking all Linux games and more
• PCGamingWiki - multi-OS game database
• PenguSpy - database of Linux games
• Happy Penguin - The Linux Game Tome
• Gaming On Linux - another database
• The Linux Game Book - French and English database
• Serious Tux - Russian database
• Recommended Linux Games - selection of well received games available on Linux, with DRM information.
• Benchmark comparison of Linux/Windows - subreddit where someone uploads videos comparing Linux vs Windows.
• Libregamewiki - wiki of free and open source (libre) games

Linux Game Stores

• The Feral Store
• GOG.com - contains downloadable Linux binaries, but launcher (GOG Galaxy) is not available for Linux
• PCGamingWiki's list of Humble Store Games - lists games available through Humble Store widgets
• itch.io - provides many indie games and game assets via it's Linux native app or website.
• Zoom Platform - DRM-free retro games.
• GameJolt
• Indiegala
• IndieGameStand Store
• Steam - requires Steam client to install / run games

Steam Specific

• ProtonDB - database of crowdsourced reports of Steam game compatibility with Proton
• Official /r/linux_gaming Steam group
• SteamDB - site providing information on real-time changes to Steam games
• Steam for Linux Community Site - Steam's own hub for the Steam for Linux client and games
• Chart of games on Steam - Tracks the amount of Linux games on Steam (maintained by /u/maeries)
• List of DRM free games on Steam

Linux Gaming Sites

• GamingOnLinux
• BoilingSteam
• HOLARSE LinuxGaming (GERMAN)
• Linux Game Cast
• Linux Game News
• Playing Tux
• Linux-Games
• Linux Game Consortium
• Linux Gaming Portal
• Coding Commanders - Linux Game Blog
• Zerk Zone - Retro Linux Games
• Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer

Historical Linux Gaming Sites

• Linux Gaming Central (2022-2024)
• RootGamer (2012-2021)
• Linux Gaming News (2009-2018)
• linux installers for linux gamers (2004-2019; moved to GitHub)
• Ubuntu Games (2012-2016; Portuguese)
• Linux Game Database (2010-2019)
• Linux Gamers' FAQ (last updated 2016)
• Linux Gaming World (2006-2009)
• linuXgamers.net (2003-2013)
• LinuxGames (1998-2015)
• Tux Games (2000-2014)
• The Linux Game Tome (1995-2013)
• LinuxGaming (2002-2004)
• Tux Gamer (2002-2004)
• Linux Game Development Centre (2000-2002)
• X11 Games (1997-1998)

Miscellaneous Sites

• DOSBox - application to enable running old DOS games
• ScummVM - another application which allows running various old games, but unlike DOSBox it natively reimplements their engines.
• Lutris - an open gaming platform for Linux. Manages all your native, WINE, and emulated games in one place.
• PlayOnLinux - application to make installation and running of games through Wine easier
• Flathub - the default repository of Flatpak, a distribution agnostic package manager
• OS Game Clones - open source remakes of classics
• Arch Wiki - a high quality, well maintained source for information on Arch Linux, as well as applications available for it. Most information also applies to other distributions.
• Perfect-Ubuntu-Guide - in depth tutorial on how to configure Ubuntu. Also contains a gaming section, that might also be relevant for other distributions.
• Inde Game Reviewer - Linux

Outdated pages in this wiki (please update them)

The following pages are heavily outdated. You should probably look somewhere else to get information. If you have the knowledge, please feel free to update them.

• Linux_Gaming FAQ
• Graphic drivers on Linux - information about video card drivers on Linux
• Linux ports on Steam Greenlight - status updates and information on Linux ports made available through Steam Greenlight
• List of Linux games missing from Steam - status and updates on Linux games not on Steam
• List of Linux games pulled from the Steam Store - information regarding store entries being removed or unavailable
• List of Source Ports - information about commercial games where the engine source code is open and available for use.

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