What Linux distribution would be a good first choice for gaming and everyday use?

Gaming on Linux has improved a lot, but compatibility still depends on each game. Steam games often work through Proton, while multiplayer titles with unsupported anti-cheat or games from other launchers may be more difficult. Check your specific library before committing. A gaming-focused immutable system such as Bazzite can offer convenient setup and rollback options, but it has a different workflow and is less flexible for people who want to tinker with the underlying system.

Linux Mint is probably the smoothest starting point. Its desktop feels familiar to Windows users, it’s easy to install and maintain, and there’s a huge amount of beginner-friendly documentation. Zorin OS is another good option if you want an even more Windows-like interface. Before switching completely, boot a live USB and test your hardware, Wi-Fi, audio, graphics, Discord, Zoom, and the games you actually play.

You generally don’t need a traditional antivirus on a well-maintained Linux desktop. Install software from the distribution’s repositories or trusted sources, keep the system updated, use a separate standard user account, and be cautious with downloaded scripts and unofficial packages. Most distributions include a firewall; it may simply need to be enabled and configured. Antivirus tools such as ClamAV exist, but they’re mainly useful for scanning files shared with Windows systems rather than providing the same role people expect from Windows antivirus.

I’d avoid Arch-based rolling distributions as a first step if your priority is stability and low maintenance. They can be excellent, but frequent updates and occasional troubleshooting are part of the experience. Keep your Windows installation or make a full backup while testing Linux, and try the live environments for Mint and Fedora KDE before choosing.

Fedora KDE is a strong choice if you want something modern without going to a rolling-release distribution. KDE provides a familiar desktop, Fedora has good defaults and security features such as SELinux enabled, and it works well for general use and gaming. Fedora-based gaming variants can make driver, codec, and Steam setup easier, but standard Fedora KDE is less specialized and may be simpler to learn.