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what I meant is there a version of linux that can run ANY and ALL windows programs? It sounds like WINE might be closest but not quite there yet?

Ahh--I misunderstood your question.

Linux is an OS. It's different than Windows, and it's different than Apple. One OS typically cannot run applications/games that were written for another OS. They are too fundamentally different, and the code just won't work.

WINE is a compatibility layer that runs on top of Linux, Apple, and BSD. It's a Windows interpreter that converts Windows commands/code to Linux-understandable commands/code. Since Windows is (undertandably) always evolving/changing, WINE must do the same. While it's pretty close, there are some Windows applications that still won't run.

There is an Application Database that gives the status of various applications under WINE, if you want to look up the ones you are interested in.

WINE does run on virtually every Linux distribution as far as I'm aware. Your choice of which Linux to try/run will not be limited by WINE.