I use Linux Mint as my main operating system, with Windows installed on a separate internal drive and Linux on an external drive. I mostly prefer Linux and rarely expect to use Windows outside of gaming, but some games—especially The Sims 3 and possibly RimWorld—haven't worked reliably for me on Linux. Should I install most of my library on Linux and keep only incompatible games on Windows, or is it better to put everything on Windows? I also have plenty of storage available. Separately, I'd appreciate suggestions for making Windows boot faster, since I plan to remove unnecessary startup programs and software.
3 Answers
Be careful about sharing one Steam library between both systems. Running Linux games from an NTFS partition can cause intermittent problems with permissions, filenames, compatibility data, and updates. A dedicated Linux partition using a Linux filesystem is generally much more reliable, while Windows games should stay on an NTFS volume managed by Windows.
You can put most of your library on Linux if gaming there is your priority. RimWorld often works well through Proton, but individual mods or configurations can change the experience; The Sims 3 may require more troubleshooting. Keep a Windows installation for games that need specific launchers, anti-cheat, or simply perform better there. For faster Windows boots, disable unnecessary startup apps, uninstall software you don’t use, reduce background services cautiously, and make sure Windows is installed on an SSD.
If Linux is where you spend most of your time, install the games that work well there on a Linux filesystem and keep the problem games in a separate Windows library. There’s no reason to force your entire collection onto Windows just because a few titles have compatibility issues. Test each game with Proton or its native Linux version, then move anything unreliable to Windows.
That sounds like the best approach. I’ll test the games individually and leave the ones that don’t behave properly on Windows.
Some games may appear to work from NTFS, but the results can vary, so separate libraries are safer than trying to make one installation serve both operating systems.