Linux has never been as popular is it is today, with more people changing from windows than ever before. With a major influx of people, Linux is now catering to every kind of user imaginable. From production and editing to simple text-based workloads, Linux is able to do it all.
There is one category though where Linux has historically fallen short or just been difficult to make work correctly, that is gaming. To properly game on Linux, especially with games that were not made for Linux, it can be a bit of a nightmare of drivers, compatibility layers and different marketplaces. To try and remedy these issues, Linux distro creators have released several distros which focus on gaming and come set up to best suit the games you may play.
While all of these distros are based on Linux, each have their own strengths, making the decision between them sometimes a difficult one. Any distro can be set up for gaming, however, if you are new to Linux, it’s best to start with a distro tailor-made for your use case.
Ubuntu GamePack
Based on Ubuntu, the GamePack includes pre-installed software like Steam, Wine and PlayOnLinux making it a solid choice for gamers. The Ubuntu standard user interface remains mostly unchanged for a simple and easy user experience. Where the GamePack can fall short is driver support, if you have anything other than the clearly outlined hardware, the drivers may give you trouble.
Pop!_OS
Pop!_OS, or Pop as referred to further, is not a native gaming distribution but more a “do anything” distribution. Pop is a newer addition to the Linux scene. Based on Ubuntu, this OS gets its abilities from being incredibly well maintained with frequent updates and a large support base. For a beginner or to get your drivers working properly, you would be hard-pressed to find a distro more intuitive or user-friendly than Pop.
The Pop shop makes it easy to get all the programs you could want like Steam, Wine and Lutris, to turn your computer into a gaming machine. The advantage with Pop is that it is not a dedicated gaming platform, meaning they have focused on multitasking and work application support as well. If you do a bit of everything on your computer and are new to Linux, Pop is a great option for you.
Drauger OS
Drauger OS is the most hardcore game focused version of Linux available today. Based on Ubuntu, as with the other operating systems on this list, but the changes do run deeper than just cosmetic. Drauger comes pre-installed with steam, wine and Lutris to make the initial setup that much easier.
So far, Drauger may seem to be similar to any other Linux distro built for gaming, but it does have one important party piece up its sleeve. Drauger OS is efficient, an incredibly lightweight build with kernel modification to favour gaming. If sheer performance is what you are looking for, Drauger OS is perfect for you.