Is Switching to Linux a Good Idea for Gaming?

Keep in mind that many games are made specifically for Windows. It's wise to check if your favorites will run on Linux before making the switch. A good idea is to use an external hard drive for your Linux setup while keeping Windows on the internal drive—this way, you can boot into either OS as you please.

If you're okay with a bit of tinkering, Linux can be a great choice for gaming. I've had a solid experience with Nobara, which I'd definitely recommend trying out!

Ultimately, it really depends on your gaming preferences. I switched to Nobara and it’s been fantastic for gaming—most of the single-player games run smoothly, including titles like Fallout 76, Cyberpunk, and The Witcher 3. The catch is games with kernel-level anti-cheat, like Fortnite, might not work at all. Make sure to check ProtonDB for game compatibility before diving in!

The biggest issue tends to be with kernel-level anti-cheat systems. For context, I don’t really play FPS games, so I can't speak much on that front. There are some Linux distros tailored for gaming, like CachyOS, which worked perfectly for me out of the box, especially since I have a laptop with dynamic graphics. Performance-wise, I actually get better results in most games compared to Windows, and usually, any new game that has issues gets fixed fairly quickly!

Not all games will work on Linux, but most compatibility issues stem from the developers not programming for it. Linux struggles with some kernel-level anti-cheats, which can be a hurdle for certain multiplayer games. To check game compatibility, look at ProtonDB and AreWeAntiCheatYet. For platforms like Epic and GOG, you can use Heroic Launcher, and if you’re into Minecraft, Prism Launcher is the way to go!