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Best Linux Distro For Playing On Steam? (self.technology)

submitted 7 months ago by iMastari to c/technology

46 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/14762903

I am switching to Linux for the first time.

I heard Mint is really good but am not sure exactly which distro is best to use with Steam, as well as with newer games, as I primarily use my computer for gaming.

I generally play games like Final Fantasy XIV, Baldur's Gate 3, Elden Ring, Elder Scrolls Online, and Total War: Warhammer 3.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (3 children)

Note that ProtonDB covers Proton, which is Valve's version of WINE, which is a reimplementation of Windows' libraries. It'll deal with Windows binaries running on Linux, but not Linux-native binaries. Some games have both Linux and Windows binaries, and some just Windows binaries. Steam calls running Windows binaries under Proton "Steam Play", if you see that term.

Steam indicates which binaries are shipped for a game on the store page of a game.

Here's Team Fortress 2's Steam store page as an example.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/440/Team_Fortress_2/

You'll note little white icons next to "Play Team Fortress 2".

There's a Windows icon, so they have Windows-native binaries. An Apple icon, so they have MacOS binaries. And a Steam icon, so they have Linux binaries.

By default, if a game has Linux-native binaries, Steam will download and use those.

You can also force Steam to use Windows binaries via Proton by going to the game's properties under "Compatibility" and choosing -- I'm not at my desktop at the moment, but something like this -- "force use of a specific compatibility tool" and choosing a particular Proton version.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 7 months ago

ProtonDB also has a number of entries for Linux native games, and sometimes people will suggest running the Windows version instead if the Linux version is buggy. It's a great resource to check regardless of Linux support.

[–] IonAddis 8 points 7 months ago

Just so anyone reading knows....some games with Linux binaries sometimes run better using proton and the windows binaries.

Crusader Kings 3 is buggy with Linux binaries but fine using proton, while Stellaris is the reverse for me. Ymmv.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

You can also force Steam to use Windows binaries via Proton

To complete that thought, doing this can be useful in cases like these:

A developer released and then abandoned a bad Linux port of their game, but still maintains a Windows build that runs well in Proton.
A developer took platform-dependent shortcuts in their networking code, leading to cross-play problems between their Linux and Windows builds.
Your favorite game mod is a Windows DLL.