Gaming in Linux has evolved a lot in the past few years. Now, you have dozens of distros pre-optimized for gaming and gamers. We tested all of them and hand-picked the best. There are a few other articles and lists of this type out there, but they don’t really go into detail and they are pretty outdated. This is an up-to-date list with any info you’d need.
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How to choose the best Linux distro for gaming
Before we start listing out the best distros, you’d still need to choose one of them. Here are a few guidelines you can use to help you choose the right one for you:
- Any Linux distro can be used for gaming. You can install Linux games on any distro or you can use tools like PlayOnLinux, Wine, Steam and a bunch of other emulators. At the end of the day, it all boils down to which one you personally prefer. Try them out. Use a live CD (flash drive) image and test it out without even installing it. Watch some videos, check some screenshots, read some reviews…
- The main feature that matters when choosing a distro for gaming is support for drivers. Most distros support the latest (and even oldest) hardware out of the box. Even if they don’t, you can still manually find and install the driver yourself on any distro. If you’re really unsure, you can just google some info for your hardware and see if the distro supports it out of the box.
- Second most important feature is update frequency. Is it a rolling release distro like Manjaro (very frequent updates without a schedule, always the latest software)? Or is it a point release distro like Ubuntu (scheduled updates, not always the latest software). If you prefer to always use the latest versions of any software and apps, go with a rolling release distro. That way, you’ll always get the latest driver updates and you’ll most likely already have the latest drivers for your new GPU/CPU. If you’d like to stick with what you know and use a more stable OS, go with a point release distro.
- Previous Linux experience should also be a deciding factor. Have you used a Linux VPS before? Which distro did you use for your server? If it was Ubuntu, then you should choose the desktop version of Ubuntu since you’ll be more familiar with it. If you’ve used CentOS for your server, go with a Fedora-based distro for gaming. Did you use an LXDE distro? Go with a gaming distro that uses LXDE.
Now, let’s move on to the main part.
Best Linux Distro for Gaming
Here’s a 8 examples to help you choose the best Linux distro for you:
1. SteamOS
There’s a reason why SteamOS is always the first on every Linux gaming distro list. It’s designed with gaming in mind. It comes pre-installed with Steam and it’s based on Debian. SteamOS is built, designed and maintained by Valve. By default, SteamOS only has Steam installed, but you can activate the “desktop mode” and you’ll get a fully-featured desktop OS where you can run other applications besides Steam and games. It has everything set up out of the box, so you don’t need to install or configure anything to play on Steam, which is why this is the most recommended distro for beginners and Linux gamers.
SteamOS hardware requirements
However, if you have an older machine, SteamOS is not recommended, as it has quite a lot of hardware requirements:
- Intel or AMD 64-bit capable processor
- 4GB or more RAM
- 250GB or larger disk
- NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD graphics card
SteamOS facts and features
Linux and Steam for gamers.
- Steam is preinstalled out of the box
- Ready to play games without needing to install any additional software
- Free and open source (apart from Steam itself, which is proprietary)
- Support for many graphic cards, controllers and other gaming-related hardware
Visit their official website for download/installation instructions and FAQ:
Download SteamOS
Let’s move on to the next distro on our list:
2. Ubuntu GamePack
It’s not the default Ubuntu, but it’s a distro based on Ubuntu. You can still use the default Ubuntu and install Play on Linux, Wine and Steam or any other game you’d want to, but it would not be as optimized for gaming as Ubuntu GamePack is.
Ubuntu GamePack hardware requirements
Quite similar to the default Ubuntu, this distro requires:
- 2 GHz or more processor (64-bit recommended)
- 1GB RAM or more
- 9GB disk (the more the better)
- VGA capable of 1024×768 screen resolution. Intel HD graphics/AMD Radeon 8500 for Steam games and any other GPU for other games.
Ubuntu GamePack facts and features
Ubuntu for gamers.
- Pre-installed with Lutris, PlayOnLinux, Wine, and Steam
- Great hardware drivers support
- Low(er) hardware requirements
- Free and open source OS
- Supports Flash and Java (great for online, browser-based games)
If you’re already familiar with Ubuntu, go with this distro.
Visit their official website for download/installation instructions and FAQ:
Download Ubuntu GamePack
The second most popular Linux distro used for desktop computers is Fedora. Luckily, Fedora also has a gaming flavor (spin):
3. Fedora – Games Spin
Fedora – Games Spin has thousands of games already pre-installed and ready to play. It doesn’t support as much hardware as some other distros, and it doesn’t come with Wine/Steam pre-installed, which is why this is not recommended for anyone. However, if you’re already familiar with Fedora or if you like the XFCE desktop environment, this distro would be perfect for you.
Fedora Games Spin hardware requirements
Similar to the Fedora desktop distro:
- 2 GHz or more processor (64-bit recommended)
- 1GB RAM or more
- 10GB disk (the more the better)
- Intel HD graphics/AMD Radeon 8500 for Steam games and any other GPU for other games.
Fedora Games Spin facts and features
For Fedora users.
- Has thousands of games already pre-installed
- Stable, but not with the latest software and doesn’t have pre-installed drivers for all hardware
- Steam and Wine are not pre-installed
- Free and open source
- Uses the XFCE Desktop Environment
If you’ve used Fedora (or CentOS) before, either for a server or for your desktop computer, try this Fedora spin.
Visit their official website for download/installation instructions and FAQ:
Download Fedora – Games Spin
Moving on to the next one:
4. SparkyLinux – GameOver Edition
SparkyLinux is a Linux distribution created on the “testing” branch of Debian. It uses the LXDE desktop environment and it has everything you’d need already pre-installed.
SparkyLinux – GameOver Edition hardware requirements
A very lightweight distro.
- CPU i586 / amd64
- 256 MB of RAM memory (some games need more than that – 500-1000MB recommended)
- 20 GB of space for installation on a hard drive (30GB recommended)
So just about any old PC/laptop can run it without any issues.
SparkyLinux – GameOver Edition facts and features
Ready out of the box.
- Has everything you’d need pre-installed out of the box. Wine, Play On Linux, Steam etc.
- Many open source Linux games pre-installed
- Emulators and tools for easily installing emulators
- Free and open source
If you’ve used an LXDE Linux distro before and you want everything pre-installed, go with SparkyLinux – GameOver Edition.
Visit their official website for download/installation instructions and FAQ:
Download SparkyLinux – GameOver Edition
Gaming doesn’t have to be all 2022 and bleeding-edge. You may be into retro games, which is where this distro comes to play:
5. Lakka
Although it’s based on Linux (kernel), it doesn’t have any desktop environment and you can’t really use it for anything other than turning a computer into a retro gaming console.
Lakka hardware requirements
You can turn any computer into a console since Lakka doesn’t have a lot of requirements. You can even use a Raspberry Pi to run Lakka. It’s a very lightweight OS that can run on just about anything.
Lakka facts and features
For retro gamers.
- Pre-installed and optimized with various emulators
- Very lightweight with minimum hardware requirements
- Beautiful, easy-to-use UI
- Free and open source with various retro games to choose from
Visit their official website for download/installation instructions and FAQ:
Download Lakka
Game Drift Linux is no longer being maintained. Though you can still use it, we wouldn’t recommend using it. We’ll leave their spot here for archive purposes, but there are other actively maintained alternatives if you’re looking for a gaming distro.
Want to play Windows games on a Linux distro without too many configurations?
6. Game Drift Linux
Based on Ubuntu, this distro would be perfect for beginners that previously used Ubuntu. Easy to install and everything works out of the box.
Game Drift Linux hardware requirements
Although not the most lightweight Linux distro for gaming, it doesn’t require much. At least not as much as SteamOS.
- 1-2 GHz processor (32 or 64 bit)
- 1-2 GB RAM
- 4 GB hard disk drive for Game Drift Linux (excluding games)
- ATI, NVidia or Intel graphics adapter suitable for games
If you can run Ubuntu desktop, you can run Game Drift Linux.
Game Drift Linux facts and features
You can play A LOT of Windows games on Game Drift Linux. It has all the tools you need pre-installed.
- Has a game store with free and premium games – all run perfectly on Game Drift Linux. High-quality games only
- You can play more than 1200 Windows games (due to CrossOver Games technology)
- The distro itself is free, but you need to purchase an activation key for CrossOver Games in order to play more than 1200 Windows games
- Based on Ubuntu
The game store is great – a wide choice of quality games that you can install with a single click.
Visit their official website for download/installation instructions and FAQ:
Need a full-featured Linux distro for gaming, media, browsing and general use?
7. Solus
Recently this year, Solus became a rolling release distro, which means that you’ll get the latest software with all the latest updates. Solus looks great, especially with the Budgie desktop environment. It has all the features you need for an OS for gaming/media playback/browsing/general use. There’s an official Steam integration for Solus which will greatly help you with installing and configuring steam on your Linux system. It’s based on the Linux kernel, but it’s independent of any other distro like Ubuntu or Fedora.
Solus hardware requirements
Although not the most lightweight Linux distro for gaming, it doesn’t require much. At least not as much as SteamOS.
- Intel/AMD CPU (64 bit recommended). ARM-based processors won’t work
- 2GB RAM Minimum, 4GB+ recommended
- 10GB+ storage
- ATI, NVidia or Intel GPU suitable for games
Requires a more powerful machine.
Solus facts and features
Everything built into one modern system.
- Has different desktop environments to choose from: Budgie, Mate, and GNOME
- Modern – has notification features
- Free and open source
- Can be used for everything – including gaming, browsing, general home use etc. Everything’s set up out of the box
- Rolling release – you’ll get the latest updates and latest software all the time.
Solus looks great. One of the best looking Linux distros out there today, especially with its flagship desktop environment Budgie.
Visit their official website for download/installation instructions and FAQ:
Want to use the Manjaro (rolling release) distro?
8. Manjaro Gaming Edition (mGAMe)
mGAMe, which is based on Manjaro, which is based on Arch Linux, is a rolling-release gaming distro with everything you need pre-installed. Steam, PlayOnLinux, Lutris, Minecraft, Editing Tools, and a bunch of other emulators are already installed. You can easily enable the “living room mode” in which case you won’t need a mouse – you can do everything with your controller or keyboard.
mGAMe hardware requirements
Although not the most lightweight Linux distro for gaming, it doesn’t require much. At least not as much as SteamOS.
- At least 1GHz processor
- At least 1GB RAM
- At Least 30GB storage
- ATI, NVidia or Intel GPU suitable for games and HD
If you don’t have enough hardware requirements to run Solus, but still need a rolling-release distro, go with mGAMe.
mGAMe facts and features
Everything’s pre-installed and ready to play.
- Pre-installed Software and Emulators list: Audacity, KdenLIVE, Lutris, Minecraft, Minetest, Mumble, OBS Studio, OpenShot, PlayOnLinux, Wine, DeSmuME, Dolphin Emulator (64-Bit only), DOSBox, Fceux, Kega Fusion, PCSXR, PCSX2, PPSSPP, RetroArch, Stella, VBA-M, Yabause, ZSNES…
- Steam is not pre-installed, you’ll have to install it manually.
- XFCE desktop environment
- Rolling release – you’ll get the latest updates and latest software all the time.
A great, more lightweight rolling-release distro for gaming.
Visit their official website for download/installation instructions and FAQ:
Wanna turn any computer into a Linux gaming machine?
9. SuperGamer
The new v4 of SuperGamer was recently released and no longer includes some open source games pre-installed, but you can easily install them, or install an app like Steam. The distro is optimized for gaming and ready to use via a live DVD/USB. It’s a great distro for testing out a machine.
SuperGamer hardware requirements
The distro is based on Ubuntu 16.04 and Linux Lite and only works with 64bit.
- Intel/AMD CPU (64 bit recommended). ARM-based processors won’t work
- 1.5GB RAM Minimum
- 2GB+ DVD/Flash Drive
- ATI, NVidia or Intel GPU suitable for games
Ready to use, no installation needed.
SuperGamer facts and features
A live Linux gaming distro.
- Based on Ubuntu 18.04 and Linux Lite.
- Free and open source.
- Optimized for gaming.
Visit their official website for download/installation instructions and support via their forums:
Feeling nostalgic for the good old games? Play them without installing a distro.
10. batocera.linux
batocera.linux is another live Linux gaming distro similar to Lakka.tv that you can use for retro gaming. Easy to install, easy to set up, and comes pre-installed with everything you need. A great way to go back in time and play the good old retro games.
batocera.linux hardware requirements
A live Linux distro ready for retro gaming with an active community.
- Any supported CPU, at least 2.4GHz for some games.
- 512MB RAM
- 2GB+ DVD/Flash Drive
- ATI, NVidia or Intel GPU supported by Linux
Ready to play retro games, no installation needed.
batocera.linux facts and features
A live Linux gaming distro.
- Can run on a Raspberry Pi or any other nano PC
- Free
- Optimized for retro gaming (more than 50 consoles, including Dreamcast. Wii, PS2)
- Fully controllable from a pad
- You don’t need to stop it and shut it down properly, it behaves like a real console
- You can use an USB flash drive or SD card
- Pre-installed with Kodi
- Has exclusive builds for Odroid devices
Visit their official website for download/installation instructions and support via their forums:
Honorable mentions
Here’s something extra you can explore when it comes to Linux gaming:
- live.linuX-gamers.net – a live Linux gaming distro – hasn’t been updated since 2011
- LinuxConsole – lightweight gaming distro with a few games pre-installed
- RetroArch – a frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players. Great for retro games and nano PCs.
- RetroPie – turns your nano PC into a retro gaming machine
Which distro do you use? What kind of a Linux gaming setup do you have? Did we miss something? Leave a comment below!
