The 5 Best Linux Gaming Distros in 2022

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The 5 Best Linux Gaming Distros in 2022

Gaming on Linux is getting better all the time. Here are five Linux gaming distros you should try, for current and retro gaming. When people think of gaming, Linux isn't exactly the first operating system that comes to mind. The vast majority of the consumer market still uses Windows which is where the majority of games are played. But does that mean you can't game on Linux? Definitely not! Here are five Linux gaming distros to try.

Reddit Is Wrong on Linux Gaming Distros

A considerable amount of wisdom can be found on Reddit. But when it comes to highlighting the best Linux gaming distro, Reddit is wrong. The general attitude there is that Linux gaming is best achieved with Ubuntu, or any other standard distro. But this ignores the fact that if you're looking for an operating system for specifically gaming on Linux, you don't want to mess around with configurations and installing Wine. You need all that stuff out of the box. Our list of the best gaming distros for Linux in 2022 is as follows: SteamOS Fedora Games (It is still available through Fedora Labs instead of Spins) Lakka OS SparkyLinux Gameover ChimeraOS Read on to learn more and choose your Linux gaming distro.

1 SteamOS &ndash the Most Popular Linux Gaming Distro

When people think of dedicated Linux gaming distros, SteamOS is usually the first one to try. Developed by Valve, SteamOS is available in two versions: Main option for laptop and PC users, based on Debian 8. New version, specifically for Steam Deck portable gaming consoles, based on Arch Linux. Both builds provide a console gaming experience, with an intuitive user interface that enables you to start a game with a couple of clicks. For laptops and desktops, SteamOS optimizes your system resources towards games you're playing as opposed to background tasks as in a typical desktop OS. It is suitable for systems with an Intel of AMD 64-bit CPU, at least 4GB RAM, and more than 200GB of disk space. The system should also have Intel graphics, an Nvidia graphics card, or AMD (Radeon 8500 or later) GPU. Following installation, the SteamOS Linux gaming distro provides access to any Linux games available on Steam. Third party games can be added to a computer runing SteamOS from desktop mode. This includes Minecraft, or even playing Super Nintendo or Wii U games via an emulator. You can control SteamOS with any game controller, the Steam Controller (if you can find one) or even a keyboard and mouse. SteamOS does have some beefy minimum requirements, but if you're expecting to play some of the more demanding titles, this is necessary. There is also the option for Steam in-home streaming, which allows you to install and play games from another machine on your network that is logged into the same Steam account! Meanwhile, you can if you want to enjoy your Steam library on Linux. Download:

2 Fedora Games Spin

The Fedora Project produces several spins, alternate versions of the distribution that offer tools and components intended for a specific purpose. For example Fedora usually ships with the , but if you prefer KDE or Xfce, there are Fedora spins for each of them. The Fedora Games spin is one of the best Linux gaming distros available and ships with a wide variety of games and genres. That's the reason for the image's massive 3.9GB size. The reasoning behind this is that it is big enough to include many games but small enough to fit onto a DVD. You can use Fedora Games as a Live CD and play your games on other people's computers while retaining your progress and high scores. To install Fedora Games spin, you PC or laptop will need a 2GHz dual-core processor or faster, with 2GB RAM. Your HDD/SSD should have at least 15GB of free disk space. Various games ship with Fedora Games Spin. Many of these are open source homages to popular titles, such as Extreme Tux Racer (similar to Mario Kart), Freeciv (a free version of Civilization), Hedgewars (not dissimilar to Worms) and many others. If you want a gaming distro for Linux but don't use Ubuntu, try Fedora Games. Download:

3 Lakka OS &ndash the Best Linux Retro Gaming Distro

If you're looking for a retro gaming distro for Linux PCs, Lakka is the place to start. This lightweight Linux distribution will transform any computer into a full-blown retro gaming system. It can be installed on a laptop, old netbook, decrepit PC, even a Raspberry Pi. Our guide to will show you how to get started. Lakka emulates a wide variety of consoles, uniting the emulators under the elegant front end of RetroArch. For copyright reasons, Lakka ships without any games preinstalled, so you'll need to obtain legal copies of either ISO images of games you own or precompiled ROM files of arcade games. This retro gaming Linux distro also supports two player and multiplayer via Netplay, as well as "savestates." These are games which previously didn't have save functionality that can now benefit from having saves. There is even a rewind feature which will allow you to go back in time to before you died in-game, and try to land that jump you missed again. Lakka offers a stunning out-of-the-box experience and comes preconfigured with many joypad configurations. Download:

4 SparkyLinux Gameover &ndash the All-in-One Linux Gaming Distro

If you want to mix up modern gaming with open source titles and retro gaming on Linux, SparkyLinux Gameover could be the answer. Weighing in with a 3.51GB download, the Debian-based SparkyLinux comes preinstalled with Steam, Wine, and PlayOnLinux for running current games. SparkyLinux also features APTus Gamer. APTus Gamer features an easy way to install game consoles emulators and other tools helpful for gamers. There are emulators for Atari, PlayStation, and even for running . SparkyLinux distros run on old and new hardware. To install SparkyLinux Gameover on your computer, you should have: A 32-bit or 64-bit CPU, at least 256MB RAM, at least 20GB of HDD or USB flash disk space, 512MB available for a SWAP partition. SparkyLinux also ships with the Lutris gaming platform which helps you install and manage your games in a unified interface. Using this single interface, you can view all your Linux, Windows, Steam, emulated and browser games. Download:

5 ChimeraOS

The final reliable option for playing games on Linux, ChimeraOS (formerly GamerOS) is a version of SteamOS that lets you also play games from GOG, Epic Games Store, and other platforms. In many ways, it is the complete Linux gaming distro. To run ChimeraOS, you will need a computer with at least 4GB RAM, 20GB or more storage, and an NVIDIA GTX 900 or AMD RX 400 or Intel HD Graphics 500 series GPU or later. While older games can be played with ChimeraOS, the best results can be enjoyed with a dual-core, 2 GHz CPU. Zero configuration is required with ChimeraOS. Simply install, boot, sign in to your preferred game services, and download the games. Download:

Gaming on Linux Has Never Been Better

Of course, the experience is nowhere near perfect. That being said, Linux has come a long way as a gaming OS. As adoption continues to grow, more and more developers will begin to cater for Linux. There are some great community resources on , not to mention if you need some direction. It might take a little more effort, but there are certainly possibilities. For both console and desktop experiences, Linux has you covered.