I'm 19 and have used Windows my entire life, but I'd like to try Linux. My main goals are playing games, including Windows games through compatibility tools, and using everyday applications. I'm not looking for an extremely advanced or experimental setup yet. Which distribution would be the easiest to install, beginner-friendly, and still highly customizable?
3 Answers
For a first installation, Linux Mint or Ubuntu would be straightforward choices. If gaming is the main priority, Nobara or Bazzite are also worth considering. Steam games generally work well through Proton, but Windows programs and games outside Steam may need Wine-based tools such as Bottles or Heroic, and compatibility varies from game to game.
Linux From Scratch gives you an enormous amount of customization, but it’s not ideal as a first system if you mainly want to start gaming. Building everything yourself can take a lot of time and troubleshooting, so a polished beginner distribution would let you get up and running much faster.
Choose a distribution from its official website, download the ISO, and use Rufus or Balena Etcher to create a bootable USB. Restart the computer and boot from the USB, either through the boot menu or by changing the boot order in your UEFI settings. You can test the system from the USB first, then launch the installer on the desktop when you’re ready. Back up important files before replacing Windows or changing partitions.
Exactly. It’s probably the most customizable option, but the setup process could drain your motivation before you even install your games.