Is Linux Mint a good Windows alternative for privacy and gaming with 16GB of RAM?

You don’t necessarily have to download every Steam game again. You can back up the installed game folders, copy them to a Linux filesystem such as ext4 or Btrfs, then point Steam at the library and let it verify the files. Reinstalling is often the least troublesome option, though, especially when moving away from an NTFS drive. Steam Cloud should preserve supported save files, but make a separate backup of important data before changing the operating system.

Linux usually uses less memory at idle, but don’t expect that alone to transform gaming performance. Depending on the game, Linux may perform similarly, somewhat slower, or occasionally better than Windows. Sixteen gigabytes can still be adequate, so compare your actual memory usage first and check your graphics hardware—particularly Nvidia support—before choosing a distribution. Whatever you install, test it from a live USB and back up anything important before replacing Windows. Dual-booting is another way to keep Windows available while you check compatibility.

Linux Mint is a sensible choice for someone coming from Windows. Its interface is familiar and it tends to be straightforward to maintain, though its software packages can be older than those in some other distributions. Fedora KDE, Kubuntu LTS, or a gaming-focused option such as Bazzite are also worth considering depending on whether you prefer newer software, longer support cycles, or a more ready-made gaming setup.

Steam gaming is generally in good shape now. The Linux Steam client uses Proton to run many Windows games, but compatibility still depends on the individual title. Check ProtonDB before switching, and pay special attention to multiplayer games using kernel-level anti-cheat, since those are among the most likely not to work. Launchers such as Heroic can also help with games from other stores.

You should plan to reinstall your applications. Windows programs such as Microsoft Office, Adobe software, and some hardware utilities may not work properly, so check for native Linux versions or alternatives first. Proton is mainly intended for games; it is not a universal solution for regular Windows software.