I'm a programmer who's been working primarily with Windows and Mac since 2021, but now I'm diving into the world of Linux for the first time—specifically, I'm using Linux Mint. I'm trying to set up some mods for Borderlands 2, which requires running a .exe file. I recently discovered that Linux Mint doesn't run .exe files natively. I attempted to install Wine, but the version available in the Software Manager is outdated (version 3.9), and I ran into issues following the installation instructions on WineHQ, with some commands timing out. I'm looking for guidance on how to run this .exe. Are there any alternatives to Wine that might work for me?
5 Answers
You can try adding the .exe file as a non-Steam game or use Faugus or Lutris, which are great launchers for handling .exe files on Linux.
You seem surprised that Linux doesn't run .exe files natively given your background. Just like you wouldn't expect Python to run C++ code, Windows executable files need a different system to run on Linux. That's just how it is!
Have you considered using Lutris? I've successfully installed many games and programs through it—it really simplifies things for running .exes.
You definitely can’t run .exe applications directly on Linux; they rely on Windows system calls that are unavailable here. Your best bet is to use Wine or Proton to interpret these files.
For gaming, using Proton is a good idea since it builds on Wine with added support for many Windows games. Just remember that you need to set up a correct WINEPREFIX for the mods to work properly.
I actually installed Borderlands 2 via Steam and it runs fine! The .exe I need to use is just a config tool shared by a friend who's on Windows.
Haha, I know! I never had to deal with .exe files on Mac during my work, it's just funny how I thought it would work. But yeah, I'm definitely learning things the hard way.