15 Best Linux Distros For Gaming

15 Best Linux Distros For Gaming from Codingcompiler. Linux is a very good platform when it comes to beginners and most specifically for security purposes.

Most of the games are developed for Linux platforms and these Linux distros make a good interface for people to enjoy their gaming. There are about 100’s of distros available in the market.

Each one of them is unique from one another. More specifically these distros are equipped with emulators, drivers, software and etc in order to make the installation easy.

Here we will discuss the top 15 distros available in the market, their unique features, and the system configuration required for them to support, and the official website where you can actually download them.

The Importance of Linux Distro for Gaming

Linux is a very good platform when it comes to the level of security. When it comes to distros there are few important things that make this Linux distros about for gaming.

  • Many of them are open-source and free
  • It provides a high level of security, so that the chances for software corruption is low
  • When we consider about user experience, it is a great platform
  • You can easily download the gaming software in this and use them
  • The level of convenience it offers comparatively is good

Related Article: 20 Best Linux Distros For Developers

What to Consider When Choosing Linux Distribution for Gaming

Some of the things we have to check before choosing a Linux distro for gaming:

  • Whether it is 100% open-source
  • Withstands longer-time stability
  • Check whether it allows to install the desktop of our choice
  • The level of security it offers
  • System configuration which is the most preferred one before installing a distros
  • Whether it is easy to install or not
  • Whether it offer a level of code and type o compatibility, when we make a migration
  • A wide range of support when there persists an issue

Related Article: 12 Best Linux Distros For Beginners

List of Best Linux Distros for Gaming

  1. Steam OS
  2. Batocera.linux
  3. Play on Linux
  4. Ubuntu GamePack
  5. SparkyLinux GameOver Edition
  6. Lakka OS
  7. Game Drift Linux
  8. Manjaro Gaming Edition
  9. Fedora Games Spin
  10. Super Gamer
  11. mGAMe
  12. Solus
  13. Drauger OS
  14. Linux Console
  15. WINE Game Emulator

Top 15 Best Linux Distros For Gaming

Here we will discuss the top 15 distros available in the market, their unique features, and the system configuration required for them to support, and the official website where you can actually download them.

1) Steam OS

It is developed by Valve Corp and specifically designed for running games from the Steam Store.

Features:

  • Very good User Interface
  • It has the capacity to support various kind of graphics cards
  • High level Compatibility with various joysticks/gamepads
  • Steam game store has huge collection of games 

System Requirements

  • Intel or AMD 64-bit capable processor
  • 4GB or more RAM
  • 200GB or larger disk
  • NVIDIA graphics card / AMD graphics card / Intel graphics
  • USB port for installation, UEFI Firmware (recommended)

Website: https://store.steampowered.com/steamos/

2) Batocera.linux

For retro games this suits the best. You can play games like SEGA, Dreamcast, Super Nintendo, Atari and many more games.

Features:

  • Supports Nvidia graphics cards
  • No need to modify your hard disk
  • It supports Raspberry Pi and Odroid 
  • Integrated with Kodi Media Center 

System Requirements:

  • No need to install the OS by partitioning your hard drive
  • A USB stick is enough 
  • Comes with Kodia Media Center integrateds.

Website: https://batocera.org/

3) Play on Linux

 PlayOnLinux – It is a piece of software which is used to install and use many apps and games in your system.

Features:

  • You don’t have to own a Windows
  • PlayOnLinux is based on Wine
  • Dealing with complex things becomes easy
  • It is free 
  • Supports wide range of games

System Requirements:

As of the other distros this too needs a basic system configuration.

Website: https://www.playonlinux.com/en/

4) Ubuntu GamePack

Ubuntu GamePack is also a gaming distro it made a promise to launch about six thousand Linux & Windows games. The main reason why it is developed is to fill the gap between Linux and Windows in gaming ability.

Pros

  • It consists of pre-installed Lutris
  • Provides a high level of compatibility
  • It supports Linux, Steam, Windows, & console games 
  • It has a dedicated repository

System Requirements:

  • 4GB RAM 
  • 2.0GHz Processor 
  • 20GB HDD Space 
  • 4GB Pen drive or USB Drive 
  • Intel HD graphics/AMD Radeon 8500
  • Intel/Nvidia/AMD Graphics Card

Website: https://ualinux.com/en/ubuntu-gamepack

5) Game Drift Linux

The game store has many open-source games to play, as well as the commercial one too. It offers a very good gaming experience and supports one click installation. It really provides a box of box environment for both linux and windows games.

Pros

  • It has a dedicated Game Store
  • It has the specialty to support the Windows games too

System Requirements

  • 1-2 GHz processor (32 or 64 bit)
  • 1-2 GB memory
  • 4 GB hard disk drive
  • ATI, Nvidia or Intel graphics adapter
  • LAN/Internet

Website: https://gamedrift.org/

6) SparkyLinux GameOver Edition

SparkyLinux is a light-weight Linux distro which is created on the “testing” branch of Debian. It basically has everything pre-installed.

System requirements

  • CPU i586 / amd64
  • 500-1000MB  of RAM memory
  • 30 GB of space for installation on a hard drive 

Features

  • Everything is pre-installed in this
  • Consists of many open source Linux games 
  • Easy installation
  • It is also a lightweight distro

Website: https://sparkylinux.org/

7) Lakka OS

Lakka OS is a lightweight one that offers a different environment while compared to other Distros. It has the ability to transform a computer into a full-blown game console.

Features:

  • Light in weight
  • Wonderful user interface
  • All in one console emulator
  • Various kind of hardware’s supported
  • Joy pad recognition was automatic
  • Wireless joy pad connection
  • Supports multiplayer’s
  • Offers rewind options

System Requirements:

A basic gaming system requirement is fine for this, it has the ability to emulate a wide range of consoles. Some games may need few hardware sources.

Website: https://www.lakka.tv/

8. Manjaro Gaming Edition

Manjaro is a rolling-release gaming distro based on Arch Linux. In which everything needs to be pre-installed.

Features

  • Pre-installed & it’s ready to play.
  • Whereas the Steam has to be installed manually
  • XFCE desktop environment
  • Frequent gaming updates are made

System requirements

At the minimum level it needs:

  • 1GHz processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 30GB storage
  • ATI, NVidia or Intel GPU 

Website: https://sourceforge.net/projects/mgame/

9. Fedora Games Spin

Fedora Games Spin has thousands of Linux games in that and a perfect example of Fedora’s ability to run games.

Features:

  • Consist of several Linux games preinstalled
  • Very stable and fast to use
  • Light in weight

System requirements:

  • 2GB Or More RAM
  • 2.0GHz Processor 
  • 20GB HDD Space
  •  8GB Pen drive Or USB Drive
  • Intel/Nvidia/AMD Graphics Card
  •  Internet Connection

Website: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Games_Spin

10. Super Gamer

SuperGamer has a recently released version which no longer includes some open source games pre-installed. But it offers a convenient environment to install it quickly.

SuperGamer hardware requirements

  • Only works with 64bit.
  • Intel/AMD CPU 
  • 1.5GB RAM
  • 2GB+ DVD/Flash Drive
  • ATI, NVidia or Intel GPU 

SuperGamer facts and features

  • Free and open source
  • Easy to install
  • Good level of gaming optimization

Website: https://www.supergamer.x10host.com/

11. mGAMe

mGAMe comes with various kinds of open source software’s, that are often needed for gamers, like video editing, game video recording and streaming and etc.

Pros

  • It has many pre-installed tools for gamers
  • Consist of wide range of console emulators

System requirements

It requires at least:

  • 1GHz processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 30GB storage
  • ATI, NVidia or Intel GPU 

Website: https://mgame.sourceforge.net/

12. Solus

Solus is a rolling release distro, which keeps on updating it software’s and features. 

Solus facts and features

  • Different desktop environments to choose from
  • It has notification features
  • Free & open source
  • It can be used for everything 
  • Rolling release 

System requirements

  • Intel/AMD CPU (64 bit recommended)
  • 2GB RAM Minimum
  • 10GB+ storage
  • ATI, NVidia or Intel GPU

Website: https://solus-project.com/

13. Drauger OS

Drauger OS which is based on the ubuntu and it is also the one and only in a few distros that have its own podcast.

Features:

  • It has low-latency kernel
  • Provides Xbox controller support
  • Steam
  • Xfce
  • Lutris

System Requirements:

  • Quad-Core, 2.2Ghz, 64-bit processor
  • 4 GB RAM
  • 128 GB Storage space
  • NVIDIA GTX 1050, AMD RX 460/equivalent card
  • 1080p at 60Hz screen resolution

Website: https://sourceforge.net/projects/drauger-os/

14. Linux Console

Linux Console – Very lightweight, youth-focused Linux distro model. It supports many of the addictive games, like hedgewars and pinball.

Features

  • Customised for children use
  • It also supports office software/graphics software/emulators and more.

System Requirements:

Not more specific on system requirements, we can use it through a Live USB stick or by VMware/Virtual Box.

Website: https://www.linuxconsole.org/

15. WINE Game Emulator

It is free and open source software which allows users to use applications and games in the Microsoft wings as similar to the linux platform.

Features:

  • Supports android apps
  • Good User-interface
  • Good compatibility
  • Updates are made on a regular basis.

Specifications:

A 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows, the system configuration which is very much similar to other gaming distros is also needed for Wine Game emulator as a basic one.

Website: https://wiki.winehq.org/Download

Bottom Line:

Many distros are available in the market; each one is differ from one another according to the use and nature. Some have an in-built game store with hundreds of games supported there, where some are very easy to install and have a good interface.

Choose a distro that offers a high level of benefits for you and also suits your system configuration particularly. Try using these distros and have a great gaming experience.

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