I've been using Windows 10 and 11 for gaming, but I'm considering switching to Linux. I'm not sure which distribution to go for, since I want to ensure I can still access things like the Epic Games Store without issues. I have an AMD Ryzen 5 7600 CPU and an AMD Radeon 7600 GPU. If this isn't the right place to ask, please let me know!
5 Answers
There isn't a 'best' Linux distro, honestly. It really depends on what you like. Many folks transitioning from Windows find Mint quite comfortable and easy to use. If you're up for some experimenting, consider Nobara, PikaOS, or even Fedora. They're all solid options.
If you're looking at switching, I'd suggest trying out Bazzite. When you grab the ISO, go with KDE Plasma for a smoother experience, and skip the game mode option. For checking game compatibility, ProtonDB is your best friend. Oh, and if you want to access the Epic Games Store, download the Heroic Launcher from Discover – it’ll do the trick!
Mint is a great choice to start with since it mimics the Windows environment pretty well. Plus, Steam's compatibility with Proton is getting better every day, so gaming on Linux is definitely feasible. Just make sure to check ProtonDB for specific games you want to play; if they're rated Gold or Platinum, you should be good!
There's no gaming-only distro, but Mint is beginner-friendly and stable. SteamOS might be interesting for gamers as it pushes more developers to support Linux. Just a heads-up: AMD drivers generally work better on Linux than Nvidia's, so you're in a good spot with your hardware!
While gaming on Linux has come a long way, dual booting is still the easiest way to handle it, especially if you're heavy on gaming. If you're mostly casual about it, Debian is robust and plays nicely alongside Windows. And yes, I've heard good things about openSUSE for gamers too!
Yeah, dual booting gives you the best of both worlds! Linux is great, but sometimes you just want that easy Windows experience.
Totally agree! Just do a bit of research on dual-booting if you need to keep Windows around.