More gamers are switching to Linux than ever before. According to Valve’s April 2026 Steam Hardware Survey, 4.52% of all Steam users now use Linux. While that might sound like a minuscule percentage, that’s still around double what it was last year.
Much of that growth has been because of the Steam Deck, which runs a Linux-based operating system called SteamOS.
There’s a lot to love about gaming on Linux—but also a lot to keep in mind if you’re thinking of making the switch. Here’s what you need to know.
Choose the Right Distro From the Start
Those unfamiliar with Linux mistakenly think it’s an operating system much like Windows or macOS.
But technically speaking, Linux is a kernel—a program that manages hardware and system resources. What you’ll actually need is a Linux distribution (“distro” for short), which is an operating system built on Linux. Think of the Linux kernel as an engine, and the distro as the full car.
There are many Linux distros to choose from. The most popular distros for gamers are:
- Pop!_OS has solid NVIDIA driver support out of the box.
- Bazzite is a distro purpose-built for gaming.
- Manjaro has access to a massive software library for gaming.
These three are great for gamers and beginners to Linux, as they require far less setup than other distros.
One of the main strengths of Linux distros for gaming is that they’re more lightweight than Windows. So with fewer background processes and bloatware competing for CPU and RAM, you might get better or more stable FPS.
Most (but Not All) Games are Playable Thanks to Proton
Around 90% of Steam games are now available to Linux users. This is thanks to Proton, a compatibility tool developed by Valve that makes Windows games on Steam playable on Linux distros.
However, it’s not a simple click-and-play for all Proton-enabled games. Some games will require you to tweak settings, install runtime libraries, or wait for fixes. So if you plan to play games on launch day, Linux might not be for you.
Make sure to check out the site ProtonDB to see just how compatible a specific game is on Linux.
Some Online Games are Unavailable Due to Anti-cheat
Some of the most popular online games use anti-cheat software (Easy Anti-Cheat, BattlEye, Vanguard) that either doesn’t work on Linux or isn’t officially supported.
While Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye have both added Linux support, it’s up to individual developers to actually enable it.
Most notably, Riot’s games, such as Valorant and League of Legends, that use the Vanguard anti-cheat system don’t work on Linux.
You’ll Need to Think About Drivers
On Windows, driver installation is mostly automatic. On Linux, it depends.
AMD GPU users are in luck, since their open-source drivers are baked into the Linux kernel and generally work great out of the box.
NVIDIA has improved significantly with its proprietary Linux drivers, but there’s still a fair bit of setup involved. And historically speaking, NVIDIA hardware has always been somewhat finicky on Wayland, Linux’s display server protocol.
Online Gaming and Your Privacy
If you play on servers in other regions or through game launchers that connect to external platforms, you may want a VPN in your setup.
Linux has solid VPN client support, so this is one area where you won’t be at a disadvantage compared to Windows. For gaming, you can learn more about gaming-focused VPN options that balance latency with strong privacy.
You’ll Run Into Hiccups
Linux has become a lot more beginner-friendly over the years, but Windows will still give you fewer headaches.
Even with Linux-compatible games, you might need to troubleshoot some things, especially with newer games or after updates. It’s almost inevitable that something will break sooner or later, and you’ll have to go through a learning curve.
The good news is that you can get tips and support from the online Linux community. You can start with Reddit’s r/linux_gaming or the ProtonDB forums.
Conclusion
Gaming on Linux in 2026 is genuinely good—better than it has any right to be in an industry still built around Windows. It’s leaner, more customizable, and arguably even more secure than Windows.
Now, whether that’s worth the tinkering is up to you. Some people just want to play their games with zero headaches, some don’t mind (or even enjoy) messing around with their system.
If you’re one of the latter, then Linux is well worth a try.
