Pop!_OS – Open-Source Linux Distribution
Posted on 09/29/2025 3:17:29 PM PDT by ShadowAce
Want to play Windows games on your Linux system but not sure where to begin? Heard that some Linux distros are better optimized for gaming but don’t know which ones to pick? Don’t worry, here’s a guide to the five best Linux distros that make running Windows games smooth and hassle-free.
The good news is that gaming on Linux has improved dramatically in recent years. Besides the many native Linux titles already available, you can also play a huge selection of Windows-only games using compatibility tools like Proton (built into Steam) and Wine. In fact, nearly 80% of the most popular Windows games now run on Linux with little to no extra effort.
Now, technically, you can install almost any Linux distro and get gaming to work with a few tweaks. But let’s be honest, if you’re just starting out or you simply want something that “just works”, you don’t want to spend hours configuring drivers, gaming tools, and compatibility settings. That’s where specialized Linux gaming distros come in!
These distros are built with gaming in mind, meaning they ship with the right drivers, pre-installed tools, and optimizations so you can install them and jump straight into gaming and in this article, we’ll look at the best Linux distros for gaming, especially for playing Windows games.
If you want a Linux distro that’s perfect for beginners but still powerful enough for advanced gamers, Pop!_OS by System76 should be your first choice.
Why It’s Great for Gaming:
Pop!_OS is best for beginners who don’t want to deal with manual configurations but still want a polished desktop that works for gaming, productivity, and daily use.
Pop!_OS – Open-Source Linux Distribution
No Linux gaming list would be complete without Ubuntu, which is the most popular distro for beginners, and even though it isn’t marketed as a “gaming distro”, but it’s a solid foundation for building a gaming setup.
Why It’s Great for Gaming:
For the best experience, install the latest GPU drivers from the official Ubuntu repositories and enable the Steam Proton compatibility layer. Once done, you’ll be able to play most Windows games with ease.
Ubuntu Linux Distribution
If you’ve heard about Arch Linux but found it too intimidating, Manjaro is your best bet, as it is based on Arch but is far easier to install and use, plus, it’s excellent for gaming.
Why It’s Great for Gaming:
Manjaro is for gamers who want cutting-edge software and don’t mind occasional tweaks. If you like staying up to date with the newest Linux tech, this distro will serve you well.
Manjaro Linux
Fedora is known for being a bleeding-edge yet stable distro, and the Games Spin edition makes it super beginner-friendly for gamers.
Why It’s Great for Gaming:
Fedora Games Spin is for those who want to explore Linux-native games first but also want the flexibility to install Proton, Wine, or Lutris to run Windows games.
Fedora Games Spin
Garuda Linux is a relatively new distro, but it has quickly gained a reputation for being one of the most gaming-focused Linux distros out there.
Why It’s Great for Gaming:
Garuda is perfect for gamers who want a flashy, optimized, ready-to-go gaming distro without having to configure much. If you want something built purely for gaming, Garuda is the one.
Garuda Linux
CachyOS is an Arch-based Linux distribution that’s quickly gaining traction among gamers. It’s designed with performance and user-friendliness in mind, making it an excellent choice for those looking to game on Linux without the usual setup headaches.
Why It’s Great for Gaming:
For the best experience, enable the Proton-CachyOS layer in Steam and use Lutris or Wine for any Windows-only games. With these optimizations, most popular Windows games run seamlessly on Linux.
CachyOS – Blazingly Fast OS based on Arch Linux
If you want a Linux distro that feels modern, lightweight, and ready for gaming right out of the box, PikaOS is worth checking out. It’s a newer distribution, but it’s quickly becoming a favorite among gamers who want a no-fuss setup.
Why It’s Great for Gaming:
PikaOS is best for gamers who want a distro that’s fresh, fast, and already optimized for Windows games on Linux. It’s a rising star in the gaming scene, and if you’re curious about trying something new that “just works,” this might be the one for you.
PikaOS Linux Distro
At the end of the day, all of these distros can play Windows games on Linux using tools like Steam Proton, Wine, and Lutris. The difference is how much work you want to put into setting things up.
If you’re a complete beginner, go with Pop!_OS or Ubuntu. If you want something cutting-edge, try Manjaro or Garuda, and if you want to test a ton of games right away, Fedora Games Spin is a fun option.
Whichever one you pick, you’ll be amazed at how far Linux gaming has come. You no longer need Windows just to enjoy games; Linux has become a serious gaming platform, and the best part is, it’s only going to get better!
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BKMK
Thank you Ace.. A couple of these I didn’t even know about...
SteamOS is the only one that is worth it as it is seamless (if you only play steam games). Otherwise, it’s a headache.
I love these!
meh, i use linix mint cinnamon os and just installed the steam app and can play loads of windows games with steam’s built in proton and other experimental programs that help windows games play on linux- haven’t tun into any yet that can’t run on linux- but i need soemthign to run windows programs- with full gpu power-
Do you have to manually choose the proton version?
Or does it pick the right one for the game?
how do these distros compare performance wise to windows when considering graphics resolution/clarity and fps?
how well are graphics cards supported?
I play one old game that I download from GoG, using a DOSbox to play it.
Is a Wine compatibility needed to play a DOSbox?
Thx.
It's hard enough to write a good program that runs on multiple modern platforms within limited budgets and time constraints, so doubling the workload by testing your creation with every old code is out of the question unless you're a hobbyist without a deadline.
Linux, on the other hand, has a proactive community that strives to keep it streamlined and user-friendly. I was running Mint 2.0 on a 12-year-old Dell laptop because it's Windows 10 OS became hopelessly corrupted for no known reason (I always use anti-virus, anti-malware and never hit untrusted sites). It just crapped out, refusing to boot or access back-ups, so I installed Linux with Rufus from a small USB stick and gave that computer a new lease on life.
Except for gaming. The old girl was showing her age with comparatively low memory, drive space and processor power so I bought a refurbished new one from Amazon ($280 for a computer originally priced at $1,200!). Great, cool...but it has Windows 10 preinstalled and I've been loathe to ditch it.
With the impending demise of Win10 support Microsoft made the decision for me. When the time comes it's back to Linux for good. Thanks for this article showing that our options are ever expanding and the day may come soon where we get to see Redmond devolve into the Dearborn of computer technology.
So far its picking the right versions, but i have had to try a few 9n 9ne game, but got it working- i thi k it was dues ex the original game whicb was pretty old, but then i reformatted drive and when i reinstalled the game, it played without having to choose wh8ch version again. Not sure why. As i hzd to rebuy the game cuz my orig8nal disk wouldnt work on steam anymore. The game was only like $2 or $4 dollars, cznt remember now- so i jusy rebought it.
If so, how do you like it?
If so, how do you like it?
As mentioned, you can’t beat the deals Amazon has on refurbished computers - which are like scratch and dent sales except you get it in far better condition than the original buyer did for less than half retail price...and with a one year warranty.
System 76 looks very reputable, in business over 20 years now, but I’d never pay $1,600 for a laptop from anyone. I’d also avoid Beta anything in operating systems. Let the nerds suffer the bugs and wait for the alpha release. JMO. Good luck!
System76 is a great laptopz a little expensive, but if you are into maintaining yourmown computer, being able tk work on it, its onemof the mkst highly modifiabke ones out there, and easily,done.
Ive read really good reports on th3m.
Personal,y though, i would go with a used laptop from ebay for onky a few hu dred dollars you czn get a rwally powerful laptop. Dell laptops are pretty decent for ability to upgrade yourself. Dell lattitudes are pretty inexpensive-
If however you can afford a system76, its a great laptop accordingmto reviews. And i especially like how customizable,it is. Id own one if money werent an issue.
Also, if you dont like pop os, you can always install another os fairly easily. I love l8nux mint cinnamon pe4sonally- pop os seemed to be tooo different for me to like. Cznt remember exactly whzt i didnt like now though. But give it a try, you might like,it fine.
Another route you could go is get a cheap used computer, put pop os on it, see if you like before committing to laptop from pop os. You might be able to sell the cheaper one for same amount or even more, or could,give it to fsmily or whwtaeverz maybe keep for,backup comouter. Lots of choices.
Read reviews on system76. There are some complaints, though every product has folks who dont like something. The reviews ive seen are mostly all very positive.
One tip, wait if you czn till blzck friday sale, or christmas ,sale... they jight offer discount. Use the time to research reviews on them.
Good things and bad, like most things out there.
Good--Pop!_OS comes preinstalled, and it has dual graphics--Intel and NVidia (Mine is a RTX 4070). I'm running a Dell 38" monitor off the built-in DisplayPort in addition to the 17" laptop screen. Storage is 100% SSD, and it's faster than anything I've had previously. Power-off to working is less than 18 secs. Quiet as a mouse, too. Has bluetooth, multiple USB ports, backlit keyboard. Lots of fun stuff.
However, since I had been running Fedora for a couple decades, I thought I'd just install Fedora on it.
Wrong.
Hardware drivers are specialized enough that other distros may or may not work. I'd stick with Pop!_OS as it comes pre-installed, and has all the required drivers set up properly.
Good news--you CAN install another DE. I'm running KDE rather than the default Gnome/COSMIC. Other than package management, I've got it set up like my old Fedora installs, so I'm happy.
But I'd do some research on any distro you're looking at to be sure you can install the correct drivers.
Bash (Linux default terminal--most common) is a lot different than DOS from MS. That's why you need WINE--to convert the DOS commands into something Linux can understand.
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