I recently built my first PC, but I've been having a lot of trouble with Windows 11. I'd like to try using Linux for the first time and I'm looking for recommendations on which Linux distro would be ideal for gaming and running Windows apps, such as Steam and Epic Games. I'm hoping to use it like a standard PC without needing to do a lot of configurations. My setup includes 8GB of RAM, an i5 11400, an RX 570 8GB, and a 512GB SSD. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
Steam runs natively on Linux, which is great! Unfortunately, Epic Games doesn't support Linux directly but you can use a third-party app like Heroic Game Launcher to get access to your Epic library. That's a good workaround!
When it comes to distros, they don’t really offer varying levels of compatibility for Windows programs. All distros face similar issues with software compatibility. However, there are some gaming-focused distros like Bazzite or EndeavourOS that come with certain launchers pre-installed to help get you started more easily!
Most modern Linux distros come with Steam pre-installed. For Epic, remember to try Heroic Game Launcher. Personally, I'd recommend Linux Mint. It's user-friendly and has been the most stable for gaming in my experience. If you're looking for something a bit more up-to-date, you might also consider Fedora or Nobara—they’re stable and configure non-free repositories easily. Also, don’t forget to check compatibility for your games on ProtonDB or Are We Anti-Cheat Yet!
Just a heads up, EndeavourOS is based on Arch, so you might need to tweak things post-installation. If you're after something user-friendly right out of the gate, I'd suggest looking into Nobara, as it’s more plug-and-play for beginners!