Here’s the thing. I didn’t switch to Linux for fun. I switched because Windows updates broke my games one too many times—and recent testing from NotebookCheck.net shows I’m hardly alone, with Windows 11 trailing well-tuned Linux installs in several modern titles. I wanted smooth play, less drama, and good frame rates. I tried a bunch of distros. I broke a few, too. Late nights. Cold pizza. You know how it goes. I break down the gory details of that whole journey in The Best Gaming Linux Distro I Actually Use if you’d like the longer version.
So, which one felt best for real gaming? Short answer: Nobara on my desktop, Bazzite or SteamOS in the living room, and Pop!_OS if you use Nvidia and want it simple. That’s my mix.
My Setup and Games (So You Know I’m Not Guessing)
- Desktop 1: Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Radeon RX 7900 XT, 32 GB RAM, 1440p/165 Hz FreeSync monitor
- Desktop 2: Intel i5-12600K, Nvidia RTX 3070, 32 GB RAM, 1440p/144 Hz G-Sync Compatible monitor
- Kernel was 6.8 to 6.10 on most tests. Mesa stayed current on Fedora-based stuff.
- Tools I use: Steam with Proton 9, Proton-GE, Lutris, Heroic Games Launcher, MangoHud, GameMode, OBS.
Games I actually played and measured:
- Baldur’s Gate 3 (Vulkan)
- Elden Ring (Proton-GE for the audio/menu fix)
- Cyberpunk 2077 (FSR 2 set to Quality at 1440p)
- No Man’s Sky
- Hades
- CS2
- Rocket League (works, but online can be odd some days)
Need more ideas? I keep a constantly updated catalog over in Great Linux Games I Actually Play if you want to pad your backlog.
Note on anti-cheat: Valorant, Fortnite, and Destiny 2 still don’t play nice. I won’t pretend they do.
Quick Take: My Winners
- Desktop winner: Nobara
- Easiest with Nvidia: Pop!_OS
- Couch/TV mode: Bazzite or SteamOS
Let me explain. I’ve also stacked these distros against each other in a blow-by-blow comparison—check out The Best Linux for Gaming: My Hands-On Pick with Real Wins and Woes for that full breakdown.
Before we dive in, you can also browse in-depth write-ups at Desktop Linux Reviews if you want even more opinions and benchmark numbers.
Nobara: The One That Just Felt “Set and Play”
Nobara is Fedora-based with gamer bits baked in. It ships Steam, Proton-GE, OBS, and patched stuff I used to add by hand. I installed it, grabbed my AMD GPU updates, and started playing. No weird dance.
Real numbers on my RX 7900 XT at 1440p:
- Cyberpunk 2077, High + FSR 2 (Quality): 90–110 FPS
- Baldur’s Gate 3, Ultra (Vulkan): 140–160 FPS
- No Man’s Sky, High: 120+ FPS
- CS2: my monitor stayed at 165 Hz most of the time
Those results mirror the head-to-head data over at Tom's Hardware, where Nobara actually outpaces Windows 11 in several of the same games.
What I liked:
- Proton-GE was right there. Elden Ring felt smooth after I picked it in Steam’s menu.
- MangoHud overlay worked out of the box. I could see temps and frame times.
- GameMode kicked in when I launched a game. I didn’t have to fiddle.
- OBS with VA-API on AMD was clean for clips.
Where it tripped:
- On my RTX 3070 box, Wayland gave me small stutters in a few older games. X11 fixed it.
- The updater asked me to reboot more than I wanted. Not a big deal, but still.
Still, Nobara gave me the fewest tweaks for the most frames. It felt like Fedora with training wheels, but the good kind.
Pop!_OS: When Nvidia Makes You Nervous
I like Pop!_OS on my RTX 3070. The Nvidia ISO was a relief. It pulled in the right driver and did not throw a fit. Steam, Heroic, Lutris—no sweat.
Real numbers on the RTX 3070 at 1440p:
- Cyberpunk 2077, Medium/High + FSR 2 (Quality): 60–75 FPS
- Baldur’s Gate 3: 110–130 FPS
- No Man’s Sky: 100–120 FPS
What I liked:
- Pop Shop is boring in the best way. Stuff installs and works.
- Hybrid graphics on laptops is decent. I tested a Zephyrus G14 for a week. It was fine after updates.
- Stutter was rare once I set VRR and stuck to X11 for older titles.
Where I sighed:
- OBS NVENC was great, but I had one session with audio desync. A reboot fixed it.
- Wayland with Nvidia still feels flaky for some games. I switch to X11 for safety.
If you want simple with Nvidia, this is the one I suggest to friends.
Bazzite (and SteamOS): Couch Mode That Feels Like a Console
Bazzite is Fedora-based, tuned for Steam Big Picture and couch play. On my LG C2 TV, it felt like a console. I used a DualSense pad. It picked up right away. HDR is still messy on Linux, but Bazzite’s Gamescope build gave me “good enough” HDR in No Man’s Sky and Cyberpunk. Some titles flickered. Most did not.
What made me smile:
- Boots right to Steam. Family thought it was a console.
- GameScope frame pacing felt steady. Micro-stutter dropped.
- Easy per-game Proton picks from the couch.
What made me frown:
- Desktop tasks feel like a side quest here. It’s a game box first.
- HDR is still hit or miss. I kept it off on a few games.
If you want a living room rig, this or SteamOS is great. I kept Bazzite on my mini PC under the TV.
Garuda and EndeavourOS: Fast but Fussy
I used Garuda’s gaming edition for two weeks. It’s fast. It looks wild. It ships the gamer tools. But Arch rolling updates can bite. I had one update that broke my Nvidia box for a day. I fixed it, but I was salty.
EndeavourOS felt calmer than Garuda. Still fast. Still rolling. I’d pick it over Garuda if I wanted Arch with less glitter.
The Anti-Cheat Reality Check
- Works fine for me: Elden Ring, Baldur’s Gate 3, No Man’s Sky, Hades, Witcher 3, Monster Hunter Rise, CS2.
- Still blocked: Valorant, Fortnite, Destiny 2. I test them every few months. Still no go.
- Mixed bag: Some EA and Ubisoft titles run; online parts may not. I test solo first.
I wish this was better. It’s not. I keep a tiny Windows SSD for the stubborn ones. It sits cold most weeks.
Small Tweaks That Helped Me
- Use Proton-GE for Elden Ring and a few older Unity games. It fixed audio/menu bugs for me.
- Toggle X11 if Wayland stutters, mainly on Nvidia.
- Enable VRR/FreeSync in your monitor and system settings.
- Keep Mesa and your kernel current, more so on AMD.
- MangoHud is your friend. Watch frame times, not just FPS.
- In Steam, per-game shader pre-caching helps with hitching.
So… Which One Is “Best”?
- Desktop daily driver: Nobara. It gives me strong frames with little fuss. It feels set-and-play.
- Nvidia and want easy: Pop!_OS. I don’t hold my breath with drivers here.
- Living room: Bazzite or SteamOS. It feels like a console box and keeps the peace.
Could I make Arch or Fedora win with more tweaks? Sure. I did it. But I game more when I tinker less. Nobara simply got me there faster.
One last note. I had a coffee spill while swapping SSDs at 2 a.m. Nobara still booted. My keyboard did not. I guess that’s the real stress test, huh?
If you need help picking between these three, tell me your GPU and the top five games you play. I’ll share what I’d install first and what sliders I’d set.
Taking breaks between marathon sessions is healthy, too. If you ever feel like trading late-night dungeon runs for something a bit more flirtatious, you can hop over to SextLocal—there you’ll find nearby adults looking to chat, connect, and maybe level up your