5 popular Windows games that work on Linux
Gaming is becoming the norm on Linux thanks to technologies like Wine making it easier to run Windows games. In this list, we’ll cover 5 of the most popular Windows games that work on Linux and that you can play right now.
Please note that though these games are working on Linux, each of these games do not have official support for the platform. If you run into an issue with the game, don’t bother the developers. Instead, search for the game on WineHQ.org, and help fellow Linux users troubleshoot the bugs!
1. League of Legends
League of Legends (aka LoL) is one of the biggest multiplayer online battle arena games in the world. Every day, millions of people log in to duke it out with their favorite characters online.
For the longest time, fans of this strategy game have wanted to play it on their Linux setups. As of 2018, this is now possible thanks to the Lutris game launcher.
Getting LoL Working on Linux
Step 1: Playing Leauge of Legends on Linux requires the Lutris game launcher. Install the program on your Linux PC by following these instructions.
Step 2: Once you’ve got the Lutris app working on your Linux PC, go to the official LoL for Linux script page. Then, locate the install button next to “Latest version” and click on it.
Step 3: As you click on the Install button on the LoL page, Lutris should open and start an installation wizard. Follow the instructions on the screen to get the game running on your Linux PC.
Step 4: When Lutris is done installing League of Legends on your Linux PC, you’ll be able to play it. Find “League of Legends” in the game launcher and click the play icon to start it up!
2. Overwatch
Overwatch is a hugely popular, online competitive multiplayer FPS game developed by Blizzard Entertainment for PC, Ps4 and Xbox One. There are a variety of different characters to choose from, and each one has different abilities that can be taken advantage of to win the match.
Blizzard Entertainment has long ignored Linux, and in the past, Linux gamers that have gotten their games running have been banned from playing. Luckily, times have changed, and Blizzard is actively taking a different approach towards Linux users, and as a result, it’s now possible to play games like Overwatch on the platform.
Getting Overwatch working
Overwatch runs quite well on Linux, but not without tinkering and special instructions. To learn how you can play this game on your Linux distribution of choice, check out our in-depth guide!
3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Developed by Bethesda Softworks, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a favorite for RPG fans. There’s a lot do in this game. You can make your very own character, explore the vast world, fight dragons, gain amazing magical powers, join factions, and even get married! Suffice it to say, it’s one of the best games of its genre out there, and for this reason, many Linux gamers have been clamoring for a Skyrim release on Linux.
Even though fans repeatedly pester Bethesda to release their games on Linux, it never happens. As a result, if you want to play Skyrim on Ubuntu or any other open-source operating system, you’ll have to resort to using Wine.
Getting Skyrim working
Skyrim is so tricky to get working on Linux, so we dedicated an entire post to it. Follow this link and you’ll be slaying Dragons in no-time!
4. Doom (2016)
ID Software and Linux has a complicated relationship. For years, the company stood alone in releasing their titles natively for Linux users. However, things soured for the developers when it turned out they didn’t make any money on Linux, and as a result, they stopped releasing games on the platform.
A few years ago, they released Doom 2016. It’s Windows-only game that completely re-imagines the famed first-person shooter series. It follows “Doom Guy” on his trek to destroy monsters and demons gratuitously with a variety of weapons.
Getting Doom (2016) working
Doom (2016) works surprisingly well on Linux via SteamPlay, and it’s all thanks to Vulkan, the open-source graphics API that many developers are backing over Microsoft DirectX.
Step 1: Install Steam on your Linux PC by searching for “Steam” the way you normally install programs. Alternatively, download it from here.
Step 2: After setting up Steam, log in to your account.
Step 3: Follow our guide and learn how to enable SteamPlay on Linux.
Step 4: Search for “DOOM (2016)” in your library and install it.
Step 5: Click “Play” to start the game up. Then, go into the game settings and change the default rendering options to “VULKAN”.
Step 6: Enjoy the game!
5. Warframe
Warframe is a free, online, co-op/PvP third-person shooter for Windows, Xbox, PS4 and Nintendo Switch. The game is developed by Digital Extremes and centers around a mixture of stealth, parkour, and other action gameplay elements.
As of now, there are currently no plans by Digital Extremes to create a Linux version of the game. Luckily, the people at Lutris have an excellent game installation script that allows it to be playable on a myriad of open source operating systems like Ubuntu, Arch Linux, and others.
Getting Warframe working
Warframe is playable on Linux thanks to a smart Lutris script. It will automatically install and take care of the game for you.
Note: some users that use this script have reported having sound issues, so play at your own risk!
Step 1: go to our guide and learn how to install Lutris on Linux. Then, visit the Warframe installer on Lutris.com.
Step 2: Find the “Install” button and click on it to start the Warframe installation process in Lutris. Keep in mind that downloading the game may take a while.
Step 3: When the installer finishes running, select “Warframe” then click the play button to start it up!
Conclusion
In this list, we went over how to get some great Windows games running on Linux. However, these five games aren’t the only modern games out there that are working on Linux! There are dozens more that are added to the list of playable games every day! For more information, check out WineHQ or Lutris.
