What's the best Linux alternative to Windows for gaming

I use Windows for my desktop PC but I’m also a fan of Linux for work and programming.

I’m not really liking the direction windows is taking so it would be nice to explore some other alternatives. I mostly use my desktop for gaming, so I’m interested in how people are gaming on Linux

followthewhiterabbit,

Isn’t this Pop-OS’s thing? Being literally for the gamers on Linux?

wet_lettuce,

I dont know that its how they brand themselves, but Pop!_OS is a fantastic linux gaming distro.

Its based on Ubuntu, but they do several very important things: they update/patch the kernel with the latest drivers and goodness and provide the latest nvidia proprietary drivers. So you get the stability and durability of ubuntu + newer kernel support which means things like much more current mesa drivers (for radeon cards).

I’ve been using it full-time for 3 (or 4?) years now. I technically have my PC dual booting with Windows for gaming reasons, but since the steamdeck took off all of the big games I want to play are available on linux. I’ve logged into windows exactly 2 times and that was to run updates.

Pop has been rock solid and turned out to be a great gaming OS.

Lx32,
@Lx32@feddit.it avatar

ATM I use PopOS on my rtx3050m laptop. Once you understand how to setup all the command for using the discrete graphics it runs flawless.

skookumasfrig,

I use PopOS too. With Lutris, most games run out of the box.

Lx32,
@Lx32@feddit.it avatar

The problem are only native linux games runned trought Steam. In hybrid mode they will not use the discrete graphic card. For the rest I have no problem

skookumasfrig,

I run my entire steam library that way. You need to enable steam play for all games.

Lx32,
@Lx32@feddit.it avatar

I know. I try to explain better. My laptop has the intel integrated graphics and the nvidia dedicated. From PopOs I usw the hybrid mode, zo both the card are running. From lutris and heroic I have no problem. I switch the toggle andthe game will run with the nvidia card. From steam all the games that will use proton use the nvidia card as default. While all native linux games not, they will use the intel ones if not specified.

tango_octogono,
@tango_octogono@beehaw.org avatar

It kind of doesn’t matter which distro you use. They should all work similarly with gaming, there’s no distro with some magic formula that makes it more compatible or with better performance than the alternatives. So pick one that strikes your fancy.

If you’re new, it’s probably better to stick with well known distros. I recommend Mint and Pop OS. Both are based on Ubuntu, so every time you run into an issue or have a questions, you can google solutions for Ubuntu which will also work on Mint/Pop OS. But both also have big communities, so you’ll always have help.

Word of advice that Nvidia and Linux don’t really work that well together. Some games will have issues. AMD GPUs work just fine though.

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