Which Linux distro should I choose for dual-boot gaming?

Nobara has been a convenient gaming-focused option for me, with Steam and many gaming-related components working with little setup. Bazzite is another good choice if you want a polished, console-like gaming experience, while Fedora is better if you prefer a more traditional desktop distribution.

Before changing partitions, make a complete backup that you can use to restore your Windows installation. Check how much free space you have, confirm that both systems use UEFI, and be careful with the bootloader and existing Windows partitions. Installing both systems on one drive can work, but having a separate drive for Linux generally makes recovery and troubleshooting easier.

Fedora is a solid general-purpose choice for modern hardware, while Bazzite is especially beginner-friendly if gaming is the priority. Bazzite uses Fedora’s atomic design, which makes it harder to accidentally break while you’re learning, and the KDE edition feels familiar to Windows users. It also includes gaming tools and Steam-friendly setup options out of the box.

With a Radeon card like the RX 9070 XT, Linux support should be in a good place, but newer hardware benefits from a recent kernel and graphics stack. Whichever distro you choose, use an up-to-date release and test it from a live USB first to confirm that networking, audio, display output, and your preferred desktop all work properly.

Mint is easy to install and use, but its older software base may not be the best match for very new hardware. Fedora, Nobara, Bazzite, CachyOS, or Kubuntu would all be worth looking at. You don’t strictly need a gaming-specific distribution, though—Fedora or Kubuntu can run games well with the right drivers and Steam configuration.