Linux



Linux (or GNU/Linux if you're nitpicky - and be sure to pronounce it correctly) is a family of free Unix-like operating systems.

Even though its desktop presence is still modest, Linux is immensely popular in pretty much every other field: smartphones and tablets (as Android is derived from it), netbooks (as Chrome OS is also derived from it), portable consoles (as it powers the Steam Deck and many retro handhelds), embedded devices, internet servers, scientific supercomputers, corporate mainframes, graphics renderfarms, and so on. Now that Windows is quite literally spyware, and Apple's machines are as overpriced as ever, you are well advised to look into this.

Now you may ask: "Sure /g/earheads love this thing, but what about the vidya?" True, Linux has far fewer games than Windows. But these days we're seeing many more ports, thanks to multiplatform engines and digital distribution. Other than native games, there is Wine, a compatibility layer to run Windows applications. Indeed, Valve's Steam Play can deliver Windows games to Linux systems, automatically embedded on a customized Wine wrapper, so it appears to you like any native game on Steam. Check the compatibility list. Similarly, the Heroic Games Launcher will use Wine to easily run Windows games from GOG and Epic.

"But is this thing actually usable by non-super-nerds?" Yes, Linux is much friendlier these days, although the sheer amount of options can be intimidating. For instance, first thing to do: choose one out of hundreds of distributions. You could try them all, as most can be run as live media (boot from a DVD or USB stick, and run it without installing anything on your hard disk). But let's make this simple: Mint, Elementary, Solus, Manjaro, Lite. Take a look and pick one, any of them should be fine for newbies... No, not Gentoo!

The games
Note: ''These lists include only games with native Linux ports (or old DOS games sold wrapped in DOSBox). Wine and Steam Play can run a vast number of Windows games, but they won't be included here because testing all of them would be an insane amount of work. Again, check the compatibility list.''

Free games

 * Free games

Commercial games

 * Adventure games (includes survival horror)
 * Beat 'em up games
 * Fighting games
 * FPS games (includes TPS, 6DoF shooters)
 * Platformer games (includes action-adventure, metroidvania, run n gun)
 * Puzzle games (includes puzzle-platformers)
 * Racing games (includes vehicular combat)
 * Role Playing games (includes Action-RPG, roguelike)
 * Shoot 'em up games (includes artillery games, top-down arena shooters, rail / tube shooters, space trading shooters)
 * Simulation games
 * Strategy games
 * Others (includes sports, visual novels, multi-genre compilations, casual games, experimental / art games, retro games)

Videos
jw8K460vx1c XMm0HsmOTFI