What Linux setup would be best for a beginner who mainly games on an NVIDIA PC?

For a gaming-focused beginner, Bazzite is worth trying. It has gaming tools and NVIDIA support available during installation, and it works well for browsing, watching videos, and Steam gaming with little setup. The main limitation is compatibility: games using strict kernel-level anti-cheat, such as some competitive shooters, may not work on Linux. Check your most-played games on a compatibility database before committing.

The biggest security difference is that Linux won’t automatically make every decision for you. Keep the firewall enabled, install software from the distribution’s package manager or trusted Flatpak sources, and don’t blindly paste commands or scripts from websites into the terminal. Avoid random downloads, third-party repositories, and unverified community packages. Keep the system updated and maintain backups; those habits matter more than installing a collection of antivirus tools.

Linux Mint Cinnamon is probably the least intimidating place to start. It has a familiar desktop and lots of beginner documentation. You can also test it first in a virtual machine or by booting a live USB, although a virtual machine won’t accurately show gaming performance or NVIDIA driver behavior. If gaming convenience is your top priority, Bazzite or an easy Arch-based gaming distribution may require less manual configuration.

A good progression would be: try a live USB or virtual machine, install Linux alongside Windows only after backing up your files, and use Linux for a few weeks before removing Windows. Make a list of games you cannot do without and check whether they work through Steam compatibility tools. Single-player games and many indie titles are usually straightforward, while multiplayer games with kernel anti-cheat are the most common deal-breaker.

For dual booting, back up anything important before changing partitions. If you have two physical drives, keeping Windows on one and Linux on the other is generally simpler and safer. With one drive, shrink the Windows partition from Windows Disk Management, then install Linux in the unallocated space. Don’t resize the Windows partition from the Linux installer or a partition editor unless you have a reliable backup.

Disable Windows Fast Startup, keep the system in the same UEFI mode for both installations, and expect that a major Windows update can occasionally change the boot order. Linux and Windows can share an EFI partition, but a separate drive avoids many headaches. Give Linux enough space for its own games rather than relying on a Steam library stored on an NTFS Windows partition, since Linux write support there can be troublesome.