I'm planning to dual-boot Linux alongside Windows. I'll mainly use Linux for gaming and tasks that need more RAM, especially Marvel Rivals. I'm new to choosing distributions and would like something beginner-friendly, reliable, and suitable for gaming. Which distribution would you recommend, and are there any dual-boot or compatibility issues I should know about?
5 Answers
For dual booting, disable Windows Fast Startup and be careful with Secure Boot, graphics drivers, and game anti-cheat. If you have an NVIDIA card, follow the distribution’s official driver instructions. It is also better to keep Linux games on a Linux-friendly filesystem rather than sharing the same NTFS game library between both operating systems.
There is no single best distribution. Create a Ventoy USB drive and put several installers on it, such as Mint, Fedora KDE, Bazzite, or Nobara. Boot into each live environment for a while and see which desktop, hardware support, and workflow you prefer before installing anything.
Arch-based options such as CachyOS can perform well and offer newer packages, but they require more learning and maintenance. I would start with Bazzite, Fedora KDE, or Mint, then experiment with more advanced distributions later if you become interested in customizing the system.
If you want something more conventional and beginner-friendly, try Linux Mint or Fedora KDE. Mint is simple, stable, and feels familiar to Windows users, while Fedora is more current and still fairly easy to maintain. Zorin is also a comfortable choice for someone moving over from Windows.
For an easy gaming setup, Bazzite is probably the strongest option. It is Fedora-based, has a familiar KDE Plasma desktop available, and is designed with gaming in mind. Nobara is another gaming-focused choice. Before installing, check Marvel Rivals on ProtonDB because compatibility and anti-cheat support can change over time.
Bazzite is especially convenient if most of your games are in Steam, but a more traditional distribution may be easier if you plan to install lots of unrelated software.
Mint is a great starting point, though Fedora may offer newer drivers and software. Either can work well for gaming when Steam and the appropriate graphics drivers are configured.