The Best Linux Games With Character Creation (From My Actual Play Time)

I love making characters. I can spend an hour on a nose. Then I’ll play the game for ten minutes and go make another face. You know what? I’m not even sorry. I unpack that obsession in more depth in my Desktop Linux Reviews feature on the best Linux games with character creation right here.

I play on Linux. My main box runs Pop!_OS. I have a Ryzen 5 5600, an RTX 3060, and 32 GB RAM. I also use a Steam Deck on the couch. Most of these run through Steam with Proton, and a few I tweak with Proton GE or Heroic. If you want a broader snapshot of the titles that never leave my SSD, I keep a running list of great Linux games I actually play.

If you ever need distro-specific tips or deeper dives on Linux gaming quirks, I usually skim Desktop Linux Reviews for quick, practical pointers.

Quick note: I care about face sliders, hair, scars, voices, and body types. I also care if the game runs smooth on Linux without weird launch hoops. Both matter.

Baldur’s Gate 3 — My “I’ll Just Tweak One Slider” Game

This one gives me race, subrace, voice, background, and a full look editor. The faces are rich. Teeth, ears, freckles—it’s all there. I made a Half-Elf with a scar and a soft voice. It felt real, and that’s rare.

Newer players can dig into the rich lore blurbs and class breakdowns on the Baldur's Gate 3 Official Website before they even hit the launcher.

On Linux: It’s smooth with Proton on my PC and it’s great on Steam Deck. I used Vulkan by default. One tiny quirk: I keep HDR off. It looks fine.
Whenever I’m troubleshooting or just curious about other rigs, I skim the crowd-sourced reports on ProtonDB to see which Proton version is trending.

Why I keep coming back: The creator matches the story tone. Your look fits the world. Then photo mode hits, and bam—screenshots for days.

Skyrim Special Edition — Old, But It Grows With Mods

Vanilla Skyrim is okay for faces. With the RaceMenu mod, it becomes a full art tool. I went from “eh” to “wow” with a few mods and a reshade.

On Linux: I run it with Proton. Mod Organizer 2 works for me through a community build, and it’s stable if I don’t go wild. I did one fresh install after I broke it with too many hair packs. That’s on me.

Why it’s still great: That first face in the cart scene. It sets the whole playthrough. And yes, I’ve restarted like twenty times.

Cyberpunk 2077 — Style, Scars, And Street Glow

The creator gives strong body options, hair, scars, tattoos, and more. I made a V with a sharp jaw, silver buzz cut, and a soft green tint on the eyes. It matched Night City. It felt…loud, in a good way.

On Linux: Proton runs it well. I keep FSR on Balanced at 1440p and it stays steady. Path tracing is too heavy for my card, so I stick to ray tracing off. Deck runs fine on medium-ish presets.

Small thing I like: Eye reflections at night. They sell the face you built.

Elden Ring — Surprise: The Faces Can Look Good

At first I thought, “Souls game faces look like wax.” Not here. With a bit of care, you can make sharp cheek lines and real eyes. My prisoner start had a cool, haunted look.

On Linux: Proton runs it great now. Co-op works. I see Xbox button prompts, which is fine. Just lock your framerate and go.

Why it works: Helmets hide your hard work, yes. But when the mask comes off? Your look has weight.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 — Body Shapes That Feel Human

This creator is sneaky deep. You blend body types and tweak posture and muscle. I made a tall archer with lean arms and a tired face. Then I made a tiny, sturdy pawn who looks like he could carry five barrels. It hit that “real person” feel.

On Linux: Runs through Proton. It’s a bit heavy. I cap it at 60 and lower shadows. Stable after that. Worth the trade.

Thing I loved: Share codes. I copied a face from a friend in ten seconds.

Code Vein — Anime Maker, But With Taste

If you want big eyes and cool coats, this is your jam. The accessory system is wild. I built a pale lancer with a soft bob cut and a single blue streak. The style reads clean on screen.

On Linux: Proton is smooth. No weird launch steps for me. I play with a controller, sitting way too close to the monitor.

Why it’s fun: You can do “cute” or “fierce” fast. It’s playful, not stiff.

Monster Hunter: World — Hunters With Real Personality

The face presets look human, and the sliders help a lot. I made a sunburned hunter with wind-bit cheeks and a sly smile. Palico maker is the cherry on top.

On Linux: Proton runs it well. First launch compiles shaders and takes a bit. After that, it’s smooth hunting. The Deck does fine at lower settings.

Detail that sold me: Mud and rain on faces in fights. Your hunter looks like they’ve worked for it.

The Sims 4 — Fashion Sandbox, Runs Better Than I Expected

Create-a-Sim is still the king for looks and outfits. I built a skater mom with freckles, a shaved side, and a soft hoodie look. Then I lost an hour to hats. Again.

On Linux: I run the Steam version which pulls the EA App through Proton. It works. The app nags sometimes, but it’s fine. Mods in the “Mods” folder also worked for me.

Why it stays fresh: Style boards in my head become a person on screen. It scratches that itch.

Fallout 4 — Strong Faces, Quick Starts

Face sculpting feels tactile. I go for a tired, kind look, since the story fits it. Scars add flavor. Hair is better than I remembered.

On Linux: Proton is stable. I used a light mod list through Mod Organizer 2. I keep godrays low and it’s smooth.

Small bonus: Photo shots in Diamond City at dusk look great with a warm reshade.

Final Fantasy XIV — Fantasy Looks With Heart

The creator is clean and easy. Ears, tails, scales—pick your vibe. I made a Miqo’te with soft brown eyes and a gentle smile. Felt right for a healer.

On Linux: I play through Proton with a custom launcher and it’s fine. Patches work, and it’s solid in raids. Keyboard and mouse are best for me.

Why it clicks: The faces look kind. That matters in a long MMO.

Tiny Picks, Quick Notes

  • Saints Row IV (native on Linux): Big, goofy creator. Runs great on my PC. I turned VSync off to fix one stutter.
  • Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen (Proton): Older, but decent sliders, and it flies on the Deck.
  • Elden Ring mods: Face presets from the community save time if you don’t want to fuss.
  • Slime Rancher (native on Linux): Corralling pink blobs is a cozy palate cleanser between epic RPG grinds—my full hands-on is here.
  • Dokutsu (Cave Story) Linux port: A timeless platformer that still sings on modern distros—see my review here.

What I Look For (And How These Stack Up)

  • Depth: Baldur’s Gate 3 and Dragon’s Dogma 2 lead here. Code Vein is deep in a different, anime way.
  • Style: Cyberpunk 2077 and Code Vein win. The Sims 4 for fashion play.
  • Low hassle on Linux: Baldur’s Gate 3, Elden Ring, and Code Vein have been smooth for me.
  • Mod joy: Skyrim SE and Fallout 4. Tinker heaven, but try not to break it like I did.

Setup Notes That Helped Me

  • Proton versions: If a game acts funny, I try Proton Experimental or Proton GE. It fixes a lot.
  • FPS caps: If a game stutters, I set a frame cap. Smooth beats numbers.
  • Controller vs keyboard: FFXIV is better with mouse for me. Code Vein feels better on a pad.
  • Deck settings: I drop shadows first, then SSAO. Easy wins.

So…Which One Should You Try First?

  • Want deep story and faces that fit the world? Baldur’s Gate 3.
  • Want a fashion sandbox with life sim fun? The Sims 4.
  • Want anime looks with clean lines? Code Vein.
  • Want a classic with endless mods? Skyrim SE.
  • Want a hunt with grit and charm? Monster Hunter: World.

Sometimes the best part of character creation is showing it off—especially if the person next to you understands why you spent forty minutes perfecting

I went cheap on a Linux notebook. Here’s what I learned.

I love Linux. I also love saving money. So I went hunting for a cheap Linux notebook that didn’t feel like a toy. I’ve tried a few. Some were winners. Some made me want to throw the charger out the window. Let me explain.
One site that guided a lot of my early research was Desktop Linux Reviews, whose no-nonsense breakdowns of hardware quirks and driver support saved me from a few duds.

My sleeper hit: a used ThinkPad T480

I grabbed a Lenovo ThinkPad T480 off Facebook Marketplace for $220. It had an Intel i5, 8 GB RAM, a 256 GB NVMe SSD, and a 1080p screen. Not new. Not shiny. But solid.

Shopping local sometimes led me down interesting rabbit holes. While bouncing between marketplace apps and classifieds, I stumbled across SextLocal, a hyper-local bulletin board that connects you with nearby adults and lets you filter listings by city and interest—useful if you’re curious about the social scene in your neighborhood once you’ve wrapped up your tech hunt. Likewise, if your bargain hunt ever points you toward California’s Central Valley, a quick scroll through Backpage Lodi can surface ultra-localized listings and meet-ups—making it easier to spot niche deals, community events, or even off-beat tech swaps without wading through pages of irrelevant ads.

ThinkPads look plain, but that keyboard? It’s like typing on buttered toast. Warm, soft, and steady.
For a deeper dive into its Linux compatibility, the concise ThinkPad T480 Linux guide covers everything from firmware tweaks to power settings.

The ports were perfect for me:

  • Two USB-A ports
  • One USB-C with charging
  • HDMI
  • Ethernet (yes, the clicky port)
  • SD card slot

I like that it can charge by USB-C. One charger in my bag for phone and laptop. Less fuss.

Setup: Linux Mint on day one

I installed Linux Mint 21.3 Cinnamon from a USB stick. It took 15 minutes. Wi-Fi worked right away. Bluetooth worked. Sound worked. Two-finger scroll worked. The fingerprint reader didn’t, which was fine. A PIN is fine.

I did two quick tweaks:

  • Swapped in a 16 GB RAM stick I had. Now I have 20 GB total. Apps feel snappy.
  • Replaced the SSD with a 512 GB WD SN570. Took 10 minutes with a tiny Phillips screwdriver.

If you want the nitty-gritty on compatible RAM sticks, SSD models, and firmware tips, the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 ArchWiki is an invaluable reference.

Mint is friendly. It feels like home. I opened the Software Manager, hit Flatpak support, and grabbed the stuff I use: VS Code, Firefox, Slack, Zoom, and Spotify. Done.

Daily use: writing, coding, calls

I wrote this review on that T480. I code a bit in VS Code. Python and a small Flask app ran fine. I joined a 2-hour Zoom call with a fake beach background and the fan didn’t whine. Battery life sits around 6–8 hours with the screen at 60%. I keep dark mode on. My eyes like it.

The screen is the only part that screams “budget.” It’s 1080p and matte, which is nice, but it tops out around 250 nits. On a bright patio, it looks shy. Indoors, it’s fine.

The cool part? It has two batteries. There’s an internal one and an external one you can swap. I tested it. I pulled the back battery with the laptop on. It didn’t die. That saved me during a long train ride when I forgot my charger.

Little fixes I made

  • Trackpad felt jumpy at first. I set pointer speed to “one notch down” in Settings. Better.
  • Fan curve was a bit eager. I installed TLP from the repo. Quiet now.
  • Hinge was stiff. A tiny drop of lube at the hinge posts helped. Don’t overdo it.

A new budget box that surprised me: Acer Aspire 3

Not everyone wants used. Fair. I tried the Acer Aspire 3 A315 with a Ryzen 3 7320U. It was $299 at Micro Center. I slapped Ubuntu 24.04 on it.

The good stuff:

  • It’s light for the price.
  • Battery hit 7 hours for me with simple work.
  • The keyboard is okay. Not ThinkPad good, but okay.

The “hmm” stuff:

  • Wi-Fi was flaky on kernel 6.5. It used a Realtek chip. Ubuntu 24.04 with kernel 6.8 fixed it for me since it includes the rtw89 driver. If your Wi-Fi drops, update first.
  • The screen was 1080p but washed out. Colors looked tired. Movies felt flat.
  • The trackpad had a loud click. In a quiet room, people look at you.

Still, for email, Docs, and light coding, it worked fine. If you can bump RAM to 16 GB, it feels a lot smoother with Chrome tabs and Slack.

When cheap gets too cheap: my $120 mistake

I tested an old HP Stream 14 I found for $120. 4 GB RAM, 64 GB eMMC. I put Linux Lite on it. It did boot. It did browse. It also made me wait. Apps opened slow. Video stuttered. The eMMC storage felt like wet socks. I wanted it to work. It didn’t. I gave it to a cousin who only checks email.
If you’ve got one of those ancient AMD Turion X2 laptops kicking around, this guide on the best distros can point you in the right direction before you give up on it.

If you see “eMMC” and “4 GB RAM,” just skip it. Your time is worth more.

A short note on Chromebooks and Linux

I used a Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook and ran Linux apps with Crostini. VS Code worked. Git worked. It was fine for web dev and notes. But it’s still ChromeOS at the core. If you want full Linux control, a real Linux install feels better. If you just need a cheap dev pad, a Chromebook can work, though.
In a similar vein, figuring out what actually runs on FydeOS took some tinkering, but this walkthrough saved me a ton of time.

Small quirks you might hit (and quick fixes)

  • Touchpad gestures weird? Try Libinput settings in your desktop’s mouse panel.
  • Battery drains fast? Install TLP and set power-save for Wi-Fi and USB.
  • Webcam looks grainy? It’s not just you. Budget cams are budget cams. I use a desk lamp off to the side. It helps.
  • Fan noise on calls? Limit CPU turbo with a small tool like auto-cpufreq. Keeps temps sane.

What I’d buy again

For me, the T480 wins. It feels tough. It runs cool. It’s easy to fix. Parts are everywhere. I typed a full day and my hands didn’t hurt. That alone matters to me.

If you want new, the Aspire 3 is okay if you keep your apps light and update the kernel. Watch for sales. Back-to-school times are good.

Quick buying tips that saved me cash

  • Aim for 8 GB RAM minimum, 16 GB if you can. Chrome eats.
  • NVMe SSD beats eMMC by a mile. Look for NVMe.
  • Check Wi-Fi chips. Intel or newer Realtek works better on recent kernels.
  • 1080p IPS if possible. TN panels make colors sad.
  • USB-C charging is nice. One cable in your bag. Less mess.
  • Used ThinkPads (T480, T490, X1 Carbon Gen 6) are sweet spots.

Final take

A cheap Linux notebook can be great. Mine is. It didn’t wow me with looks. It won me with feel and grit. The ThinkPad T480 made my work easy. The Acer Aspire 3 did the job, with a few nags. The tiny HP Stream? Lesson learned.
I even turned an aging Debian tablet into a handy sidekick after reading this story; proof that almost any hardware can shine with the right distro.

You know what? Spend where it counts: RAM, SSD, a keyboard you like. Linux will meet you halfway. The rest is just plastic and stickers.

My Linux Build for Gaming on 4GB RAM: What Actually Worked

I kept hearing, “You need 16 gigs to game.” So I tried a weekend test with just 4GB. You know what? It wasn’t fancy, but it worked better than I thought. (The nitty-gritty numbers live in my full build log.)

I’ll walk you through what I used, what I changed, and the real games I played. I’ll share the ugly parts too. Because there were a few.

My little rig (nothing wild)

  • Laptop: ThinkPad T430
  • CPU: i5-3320M
  • Graphics: Intel HD 4000
  • RAM: 4GB DDR3
  • Storage: 240GB SATA SSD

While hunting for this ThinkPad on the cheap, I combed through local classifieds to avoid shipping costs and bidding wars—if you’re near Massachusetts and doing the same kind of bargain hunt, the Backpage Waltham listings are packed with fresh, hyper-local ads for used laptops and spare PC parts, giving you a quick way to snag components without the nationwide clutter.

I ran Linux Mint 21.3 XFCE (64-bit). I didn’t pick it for the color. Mint XFCE just uses less memory than big desktops. With nothing open, it sat around 600–700MB of RAM. That matters when you only have 4GB to play with.
Curious how the other Mint desktops compare? There's a clear rundown of Cinnamon, MATE, and XFCE right here.

Side note: I also tried MX Linux on an old HP with an AMD A8 APU and 4GB. Similar feel. Mint was a touch smoother for me, but both were fine. For a peek at the distro I still daily-drive for games, see the best gaming Linux distro I actually use.
For a deeper dive into how other lightweight distros handle limited hardware, I found some useful write-ups on Desktop Linux Reviews.

How I set it up (the quick, real stuff)

  • I turned off fancy window effects. No blur. No shadows. I want frames, not glitter.
  • I installed Steam, turned on Proton for all titles. Simple switch in Settings.
  • I added GameMode and MangoHud. GameMode gave a small boost. MangoHud showed FPS and RAM. Seeing the numbers helped me tweak.
  • I turned on zRAM and set swap a bit higher. That kept things from crashing when RAM got tight. There were still hiccups, but fewer.

Controller note: My old Xbox 360 wired pad worked right away. No drivers, no tears.

Real game tests (with my actual numbers)

All tests were on 1366×768 or 1280×720, low settings unless I say otherwise. Fans on, tea hot, cat judging me.

  • Stardew Valley (native): 60 FPS locked. RAM use sat around 1.4–1.8GB. Smooth as butter.
  • Terraria (native): 60 FPS. No drama.
  • Portal 2 (native): 45–60 FPS at 720p, low. A few dips when lots of goo fell, but still fun.
  • Team Fortress 2 (native): 35–60 FPS at 720p, low. Busy fights made it stutter, but it was playable.
  • Left 4 Dead 2 (native): 45–60 FPS at 720p, low. Big hordes dropped to the 40s. Still good.
  • Hades (native): 40–55 FPS at 720p. A little hitch when new rooms loaded, but I cleared runs just fine.
  • Celeste (native): 60 FPS. Felt crisp.
  • Among Us (Proton): 60 FPS. My friends laughed when my mic cut, but the game ran great.
  • Minecraft Java (with Sodium, 8-chunk): 40–60 FPS at 720p. I kept RAM for Java at 2GB. Any higher, and the system gasped.

Need a longer wish-list? Here’s a stack of great Linux games I actually play that also behave well on low-RAM rigs. Oh, and yes—Slime Rancher on Linux was surprisingly forgiving once I nudged textures to “low.”

What didn’t work well? Big new shooters. Also, heavy mod packs. I tried a big Skyrim mod list for fun. The launcher opened. The game did not like my life choices.

The feel, not just the frames

Linux felt light. Boot was quick. I could alt-tab without fear, as long as I didn’t stack too many apps. I learned to keep only Steam, the game, and maybe a small chat open. If you’re looking for a super-light, browser-based chat room that won’t swallow your RAM, the LGBTQ-friendly GayChat.io runs right in a tab and keeps voice/text conversation light so you can save those precious megabytes for your game. Discord as a full app ate RAM, so I used the browser version in one tab. Even then, I closed it for boss fights.

The fans got loud in Portal 2. Not “plane takeoff” loud, but hair dryer on low. The palm rest stayed warm. I took breaks. Which, to be fair, is what my wrists wanted anyway.

Little changes that helped a lot

  • Use a light desktop (XFCE or LXQt).
  • Lower resolution to 1280×720. It’s not a sin. It’s smart.
  • Turn off screen effects.
  • Keep browser tabs low. Like, two. Maybe three.
  • Use GameMode.
  • Watch RAM with MangoHud. If it hits 3.6GB or so, close something.

I also moved a few games to the SSD. Load times got much better. That helped cut stutter too.

When 4GB hits the wall

  • Big maps or new zones can hitch as Linux swaps. It’s not a crash, just a pause.
  • Some games work but feel meh with lots of enemies.
  • Background apps steal frames. Music player? Fine. Browser with five tabs? Not fine.
  • NVIDIA on old cards may need care with drivers. My Intel iGPU was easy. AMD open drivers were fine too on that HP APU.

One more test box (quick note)

That HP desktop with an AMD A8-5500 APU and 4GB ran Mint XFCE about the same. Portal 2 got a tiny boost (maybe 5 FPS), and Dota 2 at 720p, low, stayed in the low 40s most games. Big fights dipped. Still playable.

Who this build is for

  • Kids with an old laptop who love indie games.
  • Retro fans.
  • Folks who travel and want a light setup.
  • People on a tight budget who still want fun.
  • If you’re into avatar-tweaking, scoop up something from the best Linux games with character creation—most of them run fine at 720p as well.

Who it’s not for: competitive shooters with huge maps, brand new AAA stuff, or big mod stacks. If you want that, 8GB or 16GB makes life easy.

Pros and cons (plain and simple)

  • Pros

    • Cheap, quick, and light
    • Great for indie and Valve games
    • Fast boot and low fuss
    • Controllers work well

  • Cons

    • RAM runs out fast
    • Heavy games stutter
    • You must close apps a lot
    • Some titles need Proton tweaking or just won’t run well

My take

I went in ready to give up. I didn’t. With a careful setup, Linux on 4GB can game. Not every game. But enough to make it worth it.

If you’re building a “linux build for gaming 4gb ram,” start with Mint XFCE, turn on Proton, add GameMode and MangoHud, and keep settings low at 720p. Pick smart games. Portal 2, Hades, Stardew, Celeste, Terraria, Left 4 Dead 2, and Dota 2 (low) all worked for me. If you’re undecided on a platform, my hands-on breakdown of the best Linux for gaming might help.

Will I stick to 4GB forever? No. I’ll bump to 8GB when I can. But this little test showed me something simple: fun doesn’t always need big parts. Sometimes, it just needs a clean setup and a bit of patience.

And maybe a cup of tea.

I Tried a Bunch of Linux Distros for Gaming. Here’s What Actually Worked

I’m Kayla. I game on Linux for real. I’ve spent weekends swapping distros, fixing drivers, and, yes, cursing at my screen. Then playing for hours when it all clicks. You know what? It can be great.

Let me explain what I used, what I saw, and what I’d pick if you just want to play. Want the blow-by-blow of every distro session—victories, crashes, and all the “why won’t this launch?” moments—I documented it in this extended rundown.

My gear (so you can judge me)

  • Desktop A: Ryzen 5 5600X, 32 GB RAM, AMD RX 6700 XT, 1 TB NVMe, 1440p 165 Hz monitor.
  • Desktop B: Intel i5-12400F, 32 GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti, 1 TB NVMe, 1080p 144 Hz monitor.
  • Handheld: Steam Deck OLED, 512 GB.

Games I tested the most: Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur’s Gate 3, Elden Ring, No Man’s Sky, Rocket League, CS2. I also tried Diablo IV (Lutris), GTA V, Hades, and Stardew Valley.

Tools I used: Steam with Proton and Proton GE, Heroic Games Launcher (for Epic), Lutris (Battle.net), GameMode, MangoHud, Gamescope.

Quick note: anti-cheat games are still hit or miss. Fortnite, Valorant, and Destiny 2 didn’t work for me on Linux. I won’t sugarcoat it.

SteamOS on the Deck: easy win

On my Steam Deck, SteamOS 3 just works. Cyberpunk at 800p with medium settings and FSR? A smooth 40–50 fps. Elden Ring hits 40 fps with the 40 Hz cap. Battery life matters on trips, and SteamOS keeps it sane. I played Hades on a flight with zero tinkering. Felt nice.

If you own a Deck, this is your base. I only changed Proton versions here and there. That’s it.

Pop!_OS: the “I just want to play” pick

I used Pop!_OS on both my AMD and NVIDIA builds. It has a clean install, a simple app store, and a special NVIDIA ISO that saved me time.

For a deeper dive into its strengths, a comprehensive review of Pop!_OS's gaming performance — covering its out-of-the-box NVIDIA/AMD support and user-friendly interface — lines up almost exactly with my own impressions.

  • Baldur’s Gate 3 at 1080p High (RTX 3060 Ti): 110–140 fps.
  • Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p High with FSR Balanced (RX 6700 XT): 59–72 fps.
  • CS2 at 1080p Medium (3060 Ti): 220–280 fps.

Steam, Heroic, and Lutris installed fast. GameMode and MangoHud worked with one toggle. The only catch? Pop!_OS can ship older graphics stacks. I had to add a newer Mesa for the RX 6700 XT to fix No Man’s Sky stutter. Not hard, but still a step.

If you’ve got NVIDIA and you don’t want drama, Pop!_OS felt stable and plain. In a good way.

Nobara: my top desktop pick for gaming

Nobara is Fedora with gaming love baked in. It comes from the Proton GE dev (yes, the Glorious Eggroll guy). (I even singled it out as the best gaming Linux distro I actually use in a deeper dive.) Steam, Wine, Proton GE, Vulkan bits, OBS patches—already there. I didn’t need a checklist. It felt like someone did the homework for me.

There’s also an in-depth analysis of Nobara Linux's gaming capabilities that details its pre-configured gaming tools, proprietary drivers, and performance benchmarks, and it backs up what I found in my tests.

My numbers:

  • Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p High + FSR Balanced (RX 6700 XT): 62–78 fps.
  • Baldur’s Gate 3 at 1440p Ultra (RX 6700 XT): 90–110 fps.
  • Elden Ring at 1440p High: locked 60 with vsync.
  • Rocket League at 1440p High: 144 fps cap, rock solid.

On the 3060 Ti box, Nobara handled the NVIDIA driver (555 at the time) without drama. I also tested Gamescope HDR on a newer monitor. It worked in Cyberpunk with Proton GE, though HDR on Linux is still young. Bright, but not perfect.

Nobara felt like the sweet spot: fresh drivers, sane defaults, and fewer “why is this broken?” moments.

Arch and Garuda: fast and fun, but you have to care

I ran plain Arch for two months. Latest kernel, latest Mesa, everything snappy. On AMD, it was the best pure performance I saw.

  • Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p High + FSR Balanced (RX 6700 XT): 65–82 fps.
  • Baldur’s Gate 3 at 1440p Ultra: 95–115 fps.

Garuda’s Gaming edition made setup faster than vanilla Arch. Btrfs snapshots saved me after I messed up a Wine tweak. But—small warning—updates can bite. One update broke my DualSense rumble for a week. I fixed it, but I had to care. If you like tinkering, this path feels great. If not, you’ll get grumpy.

Fedora Workstation: clean and modern, with one extra step

Fedora with RPM Fusion felt neat and quick, especially on the RX 6700 XT. Steam and MangoHud were easy. I did need RPM Fusion for codecs and NVIDIA. After that, games ran well.

I had one odd hiccup: Bluetooth audio lag while streaming with OBS. Wired headset fixed it. Not a deal breaker, but it annoyed me mid-match in Rocket League.

Ubuntu and Mint: comfy, but slower updates

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ran fine. I played Stardew, Hades, and Rocket League for hours. But for big 3D games, I had to add Mesa PPAs to get good performance on AMD. That’s an extra chore.

Linux Mint is super friendly. My little cousin loves it. But for top frame rates with newer GPUs, it lags behind. For indie games? Great. For Cyberpunk? I’d pass.

Real talk: what still hurts

  • Anti-cheat: Fortnite, Valorant, and Destiny 2 did not work for me on Linux. I keep checking. Still no luck.
  • Ubisoft Connect games were moody in Lutris. Siege ran one night, then didn’t the next after an update.
  • HDR is improving. It worked in Cyberpunk on Nobara and Arch with Gamescope, but some games looked washed out.
  • Controller quirks pop up. My DualSense lightbar stopped syncing on Arch after one update. Came back later.

I won’t pretend these don’t matter. They do.

Quick speed notes (plain and simple)

  • For AMD GPUs: Nobara and Arch gave me the best numbers and the smoothest feel.
  • For NVIDIA GPUs: Nobara and Pop!_OS were the least fussy. Fewer driver surprises.
  • For zero-tinker gaming: SteamOS on Deck, and Pop!_OS or Nobara on desktop.

Tiny setup tips that helped me

  • Use Proton GE for stubborn games. In Steam, set it per game. It fixed my Elden Ring stutter.
  • Turn on GameMode. It bumps performance a bit. MangoHud shows your fps and frame times. Super handy.
  • For Epic games, Heroic is easier than raw Wine. Diablo IV ran better for me via Lutris scripts, though.
  • Keep one small “test” SSD for trying a new distro. Saves your main drive and your mood.
  • If you stream, OBS on Nobara was smooth with NVENC on the 3060 Ti and VAAPI on the 6700 XT.

So… which Linux distro is best for gaming?

Here’s my honest pick list, from a person who actually played:

  • Easiest win on a desktop: Nobara. It felt tuned for games and cut out busy work.
  • Simple and stable, especially with NVIDIA: Pop!_OS. Click, install, play.
  • For tweakers chasing the newest stuff: Arch or Garuda. Great speed, but you do the fixing.
  • For handheld: SteamOS on the Deck. No contest.

If you asked me what I keep right now: Nobara on my RX 6700 XT, Pop!_OS on the 3060 Ti, and SteamOS on the Deck. I get into even more nitty-gritty details—wins, woes, and surprising setbacks—in this hands-on breakdown. That combo lets me play more and tweak less. And that’s the point, right?

For even more deep-dive breakdowns of these distros (and plenty of others), swing by [Desktop Linux Reviews](https

I Tried “Disable All Devices” on Linux for Faster Boot. Here’s What Actually Worked.

You know what? I wanted a rocket-booting laptop. No splash screen. No wait. Coffee still warm when the desktop shows up.
If you’d like to see the step-by-step diary of this exact experiment, I published the blow-by-blow right here.

So I went a little wild: I tried turning off almost every extra device I don’t use at boot. Some wins were real. Some breaks were funny. Some… not worth it. Let me explain.

My setup (and why I cared)

I run Linux on a few boxes for work and home:

  • ThinkPad T480, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, NVMe SSD
  • Dell XPS 13 (9300), Fedora 40
  • Intel NUC (headless server), Arch Linux
  • Raspberry Pi 4, Raspberry Pi OS (Bookworm)

I boot a lot. I also fix other people’s laptops. So shaving seconds helps. It sounds silly, but when you reboot six times during a kernel change, it adds up.
If you're curious how different distros stack up in day-to-day use (including boot times), drop by Desktop Linux Reviews for some candid benchmarks.

First rule: measure first

I always start with this:

It shows total boot time and which services drag. It’s not fancy. But it tells the truth. If you’d like to see how researchers have modeled and quantified startup latency at a deeper level, take a look at this academic study.

On my ThinkPad, first run looked like this:

  • 3.8s firmware
  • 2.1s loader
  • 7.2s kernel
  • 6.1s userspace
  • Total: 19.4s to a login screen

Not bad. Not great. I wanted under 10.

What I turned off (and what broke)

Here’s the idea: if a device isn't needed at boot, don't load it. Fewer modules. Fewer daemons. Less fuss for udev.
If you’re unsure what actually counts as a “device” in Linux terms, check out my hands-on explainer where I map the jargon to real hardware.

What I disabled on each box, in plain words:

  • Bluetooth (btusb, bluetooth, and bluetooth.service)
  • Thunderbolt (thunderbolt module and bolt.service)
  • Modem stuff I don’t use (ModemManager.service)
  • Printer things (cups.service)
  • Webcam (uvcvideo)
  • Fingerprint reader (depends on hardware; I had goodix on one)
  • Wi-Fi on the wired-only desktop (iwlwifi on the NUC)
  • “Wait online” during boot (NetworkManager-wait-online.service)
  • On the server: graphics stack and graphical target

What broke when I pushed too far:

  • I blacklisted USB once. My keyboard died at the login screen. Funny for one second. Then I had to reboot with a live USB.
  • I killed the audio module (snd_hda_intel). Great for boot time. Bad for Zoom.
  • I masked NetworkManager itself by mistake. No network. Oops.
  • On Fedora, I trimmed initramfs too hard. LUKS unlock got stuck. I had to rebuild with dracut.

That’s the thing. “Disable all devices” sounds bold, but you still need the basics: disk, GPU (if you use a display), keyboard, network (if you need it), and crypto bits.

Real numbers from my machines

These are my actual notes from a week of tinkering.

ThinkPad T480 (Ubuntu 22.04, kernel 6.5, NVMe)

  • Before: 19.4s total
  • After disabling bluetooth, thunderbolt, cups, ModemManager, and masking “wait-online,” plus blacklisting uvcvideo:
    • 3.8s firmware, 1.6s loader, 5.1s kernel, 2.3s userspace
    • Total: 12.8s
  • After trimming initramfs and removing Plymouth:
    • 3.8s firmware, 1.2s loader, 4.2s kernel, 1.9s userspace
    • Total: 11.1s
  • Best run (no BT, no TB, no webcam, no printer, fast initramfs): 10.3s

Dell XPS 13 (9300, Fedora 40, SSD)

  • Before: 14.8s to GDM
  • After cutting bluetooth, thunderbolt, cups, ModemManager, and masking “wait-online”:
    • 8.9s to GDM
  • Any more cuts? Audio and camera made meetings painful, so I rolled those back.

Intel NUC (Arch, headless)

  • Before: 13.2s to multi-user.target
  • After: blacklisted GPU, disabled NetworkManager-wait-online, no graphical target, lean initramfs:
    • 4.8s to multi-user.target
  • This one felt snappy. It just pops up on ping.

Raspberry Pi 4 (Raspberry Pi OS, SD card)

  • Before: 31s
  • After disabling Wi-Fi and BT with overlays, and masking cups and bluetooth:
    • 22–24s
  • SD cards are slow. Still, that was a good cut.

Old HP with a spinning disk (Debian)

  • Before: 42s
  • After all safe trims:
    • 35s
  • The disk is the boss here. You won’t beat physics.

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Quick how-to: what I actually did

Please back up first. Keep a USB stick close. I learned the hard way.

Step 1: Kill slow services

  • Disable what you don’t use:
    • sudo systemctl disable –now bluetooth.service
    • sudo systemctl disable –now cups.service
    • sudo systemctl disable –now ModemManager.service
    • sudo systemctl mask NetworkManager-wait-online.service
  • Check:
    • systemd-analyze blame
    • systemctl –failed

Step 2: Blacklist unused modules

  • Make a file: /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-local.conf
  • Add lines like:
    • blacklist btusb
    • blacklist bluetooth
    • blacklist thunderbolt
    • blacklist uvcvideo
    • blacklist iwlwifi (only if you don’t need Wi-Fi)
    • blacklist snd_hda_intel (only if you don’t need sound)
  • Rebuild initramfs:
    • Ubuntu/Debian: sudo update-initramfs -u
    • Fedora/RHEL: sudo dracut –force
    • Arch: sudo mkinitcpio -P

Step 3: Trim the initramfs

  • Keep only what you need. On Debian/Ubuntu, set MODULES=dep in /etc/initramfs-tools/initramfs.conf, then update-initramfs -u.
  • On Fedora/Arch, set dracut or mkinitcpio hooks to the lean set. Don’t remove crypt or filesystems you need.

Step 4: Make the boot loader fast

  • GRUB: shorten timeout in /etc/default/grub (GRUB_TIMEOUT=1), then:
    • Ubuntu/Debian: sudo update-grub
    • Fedora: sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
  • If safe for you, remove the splash theme.

Step 5: Firmware switches (if you can)

  • In BIOS/UEFI, turn off Thunderbolt, modem, and wake features you never use. This shaved a second on my ThinkPad.

Step 6: Test one change at a time

  • Reboot. Run systemd-analyze again. Keep notes.

What felt worth it (most of the time)

  • Mask “wait-online.” For laptops, it’s dead weight.
  • Turn off Bluetooth if you don’t use it. Saves a bit, and cleans logs.
  • Trim initramfs. Small image, faster load.
  • Kill printer stuff. I print once a year. I can start cups later.
  • On servers, skip graphics. Boot to multi-user.target. It’s fast.

For more day-to-day tweaks that don’t involve kernel surgery, skim through my real-world Linux tips and tricks—it’s a grab-bag of the habits I keep and the hacks I avoid.

What I wouldn’t kill again

  • USB core. I lost my keyboard. Don’t laugh.
  • Audio on my daily laptop. Meetings need sound.
  • Wi-Fi on the go. Toggling modules back and forth got old.
  • Anything storage or crypto. If your root is encrypted, keep those hooks.

I checked my Linux kernel three ways (and messed up once)

Honestly, I wish updates nudged harder when a new kernel waits. A gentle “hey, reboot soon” saves bug hunts.

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Checking File Size on Linux: What Actually Helped Me

I’m Kayla. I make videos, run small servers, and break things on my laptop more than I should. I need to know file sizes a lot. Like, “Why is my disk full again?” a lot. Here’s what I used on Linux to check file size, with real stuff from my day. What worked. What bugged me. And what I reach for now without thinking.

If you’d like a step-by-step walk-through of the exact commands I lean on, I wrote up a dedicated piece you can skim in two minutes: my companion guide to checking file size on Linux.

Need an even broader primer? The concise FAQ on file sizes over at Linux-Audit lays out several handy commands in one place.

The fast glance: ls -lh

When I’m in a folder and just need a quick look, I use this:

ls -lh

Real example from my Videos folder:

-rw-r--r-- 1 kayla kayla 1.9G Jun  2 14:10 skatepark_cut.mp4
-rw-r--r-- 1 kayla kayla 824M Jun  2 09:22 broll_take3.mov
-rw-r--r-- 1 kayla kayla  12M May 30 20:01 intro_music.wav

That “-h” flag shows human sizes. Easy on the eyes. It’s enough—until it’s not. It won’t sum folders. And I always have folders.

Whole folder check: du -sh

For folders, this is my go-to:

du -sh ~/Videos

My output last week:

54G    /home/kayla/Videos

Then I wanted details. So I ran:

du -sh ~/Videos/*

Sample:

31G    /home/kayla/Videos/client_A
18G    /home/kayla/Videos/youtube_drafts
2.5G   /home/kayla/Videos/stock
1.6G   /home/kayla/Videos/misc

You know what? That alone saved me a full hour of guesswork. If you want a deeper dive into everyday Linux tricks, I share more over on Desktop Linux Reviews.

What I liked:

  • Simple. Fast enough.
  • Good “big picture” view.

What bugged me:

  • On a huge folder tree, it can take time.
  • It shows disk usage, not always exact bytes.

Exact bytes, no fluff: stat

Sometimes I need the exact byte count. No rounding. No “about.” I use:

stat --printf="%n: %s bytesn" intro_music.wav

My output:

intro_music.wav: 12582912 bytes

That’s 12,582,912 bytes. Clean and crisp. Great when I’m sending files and the client wants a hard number.

When I’m counting bytes in a stream: wc -c

If I’m piping data or I want a no-nonsense count:

wc -c < skatepark_cut.mp4

Output:

2040109465

That’s 2,040,109,465 bytes. I use this with scripts. It’s boring, but it never lies.

Hunting big files fast: find + size

When my disk screams for help, I hunt big files like this:

find ~/ -type f -size +500M -printf "%10s %pn" 2>/dev/null | sort -nr | head

One afternoon, this showed:

2147483648 /home/kayla/Videos/client_A/raw_dump.tar
2040109465 /home/kayla/Videos/skatepark_cut.mp4
1027604480 /home/kayla/.cache/chrome/Cache/data_17
838860800  /home/kayla/VMs/ubuntu_test.qcow2

I didn’t even know Chrome’s cache got that chunky. It did. I cleaned it. Felt great. If you enjoy “day-in-the-life” problem-solving stories, the whole chase is in this first-person tale of hunting down huge files on my Linux box.

Sorting the mess: top 20 biggest things

If I’m poking around one folder tree:

du -ah . | sort -h | tail -n 20

It’s noisy, but helpful. I use it inside a project folder. It shows both files and folders. Then I drill down where it hurts.

Quick truth about disk space: df -h

This one isn’t file size. It shows disk free space. Still, I use it daily:

df -h

My output after a big export:

Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/nvme0n1p3  474G  444G   12G  98% /

98%. Yikes. That’s how I know it’s time to clean house.

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My secret weapon: ncdu (it’s a gem)

I love ncdu. If you’ve never played with it before, the short Wikipedia overview is a nice starting point. It’s a small, nerdy tool. But I swear by it.

Install:

  • Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt install ncdu
  • Fedora: sudo dnf install ncdu
  • Arch: sudo pacman -S ncdu

Run it in a folder:

ncdu ~/Videos

You get a simple screen with sizes. You can arrow around, press d to delete stuff (careful), and q to quit. One time it showed a forgotten folder named “client_A/render_cache” that was 11G. I removed it in seconds. Snack break victory.

What I liked:

  • Fast.
  • Easy to browse.
  • Delete right there.

What bugged me:

  • Terminal only. No pretty graphs. But I don’t mind.

GUI note (yes, I use it too)

On GNOME, I open Files, right-click a folder, and hit Properties. It shows size. But with many tiny files, it takes a while. The Disk Usage Analyzer app is fine too. Handy when I’m tired and don’t want to think.

Little gotchas I learned the hard way

  • Sparse files: Some files, like VM images or databases, look huge but don’t use that much space. Try both:
    • du -sh file.img
    • du -sh –apparent-size file.img
  • Permissions: If du shows “Permission denied,” add sudo. But think before you paste that.
  • Network drives: Over VPN, du can feel slow. I run it inside the mount point, not on my whole home.

Real sparse file example I made for a test:

fallocate -l 2G fake.img
du -sh fake.img
# Output: 0B    fake.img
du -sh --apparent-size fake.img
# Output: 2.0G  fake.img

Wild, right?

If you ever crack open a pile of zipped archives (I do it weekly), you can save some time by skimming my “I unzipped a bunch of files so you don’t have to sweat it” write-up here: no-sweat unzipping on Linux.

Remote servers, quick and simple

I check logs on a small server I run:

ssh kayla@myserver "sudo du -sh /var/log/* 2>/dev/null | sort -h | tail"

One night, this showed:

1.1G /var/log/journal
512M /var/log/nginx

I trimmed logs, restarted, and got my Sunday back.

Real-world mini case: spring clean

I had 12 GB free. Needed 40 GB for a new edit. My steps:

  1. df -h (confirm problem)
  2. du -sh ~/Videos/* (find the hogs)
  3. ncdu ~/Videos (drill down and delete cache)
  4. find ~/ -type f -size +500M -printf "%10s %pn" | sort -nr | head (catch oddballs)

Results:

  • Deleted old proxies: 9.4G
  • Zipped a raw dump and moved it

I Checked My Linux Kernel So Many Ways. Here’s What Actually Works.

I’m Kayla. I break things on my laptops way more than I should. Wi-Fi acts weird, NVIDIA throws a fit, Docker pouts. When that happens, the first thing I check is my kernel. Sounds nerdy, but it’s simple. And kind of fun, in a geeky way. If you’re brand-new, the straightforward guide on checking your kernel version in Linux walks through the basics.

Below are the ways I use, with real outputs from my own machines. I’ll tell you what I like, what bugs me, and when each one shines.
For a deeper dive into how different kernels behave across popular distributions, check out the practical reviews on Desktop Linux Reviews.
I first published an extended walkthrough titled I checked my Linux kernel so many ways—here’s what actually works over on Desktop Linux Reviews, if you want the original reference.

The quick one I use 10 times a day: uname -r

When I’m in a hurry, I run this. It’s short and sweet.

Examples from my gear:

  • My ThinkPad T14 (Ubuntu 22.04, HWE): 6.5.0-41-generic
  • Home server (Debian 12): 6.1.0-25-amd64
  • Raspberry Pi 4 (Raspberry Pi OS 32-bit): 5.15.84-v7l+

What I like:

  • Fast. Clear. No fluff.

What bugs me:

  • It shows the running kernel only. Not the ones installed.

Tip: If you’re in a container, this shows the host kernel. That can trick you.

The chatty one: uname -a

This one tells more. Sometimes too much. But it helps when support asks for “full details.”

On my Fedora 40 laptop:

  • Linux kayla-fedora 6.8.12-300.fc40.x86_64 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC ... x86_64 GNU/Linux

What I like:

  • Good for copy/paste in bug reports.

What bugs me:

  • It’s noisy. I don’t always need the extra bits.

The friendly status screen: hostnamectl

Nice when I want system info in one go. Feels tidy.

On my WSL2 Ubuntu:

  • Kernel: 5.15.153.1-microsoft-standard-WSL2
  • Hostname: shows my WSL name
  • OS: Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS

What I like:

  • Easy to read. Good for screenshots.

What bugs me:

  • On tiny servers, it’s overkill.

Need a refresher that also covers confirming your distro’s version? The concise How-To Geek guide to checking the Linux kernel and OS version pairs nicely with hostnamectl.

The file way: /proc reads

Plain files. No mystery. I use these when uname acts odd, which is rare.

  • cat /proc/sys/kernel/osrelease → same as uname -r
  • cat /proc/version → kernel plus build info

On my CentOS 7 droplet:

  • /proc/sys/kernel/osrelease → 3.10.0-1160.106.1.el7.x86_64

What I like:

  • Works even in weird shells.

What bugs me:

  • Easy to forget the exact path. I still mix it up.

Listing what’s installed (not just running)

Sometimes I update, reboot, and… the old kernel still boots. Grr. So I check what’s installed.

Debian/Ubuntu:

  • dpkg -l | grep linux-image
  • Sample lines on my server:
    • ii linux-image-6.1.0-25-amd64
    • ii linux-image-amd64

Fedora/RHEL/CentOS:

  • rpm -qa kernel
  • My Fedora box shows:
    • kernel-6.8.12-300.fc40.x86_64
    • kernel-6.8.9-300.fc40.x86_64

Arch:

  • pacman -Q | grep ^linux
  • On my Arch test laptop:
    • linux 6.10.7.arch1-1

What I like:

  • I can see old kernels and clean them up.

What bugs me:

  • The package names change a bit per distro.

If you're specifically on Ubuntu and want a quick refresher on checking the OS version alongside the kernel, my concise guide Ubuntu: how I check my version & what I actually use covers that in detail.

Bonus: What’s on disk in /boot

  • ls /boot | grep vmlinuz
  • On Ubuntu I’ve seen: vmlinuz-6.5.0-41-generic and a backup.

A tiny “gotcha” that bit me

Containers lie about the kernel. Well, not on purpose. They just show the host kernel. So on my Docker container running on Ubuntu, uname -r still prints 6.5.0-41-generic, even though the container image is Debian. That’s normal.

Also, WSL2 adds “microsoft” in the string. It looks odd the first time. It’s fine.

When I use each method (real moments)

  • Quick bug check before a meeting: uname -r
  • Support ticket or paste to a friend: uname -a or hostnamectl
  • Headless Pi on the shelf: cat /proc/sys/kernel/osrelease
  • After updates, to see old kernels:
    • Ubuntu/Debian: dpkg -l | grep linux-image
    • Fedora/RHEL/CentOS: rpm -qa kernel
    • Arch: pacman -Q | grep ^linux

You know what? I still mess up and type uname -v when I want -r. Muscle memory is weird. And yes, I once limited myself to just three checks and still managed to break things—see the full story in I checked my Linux kernel three ways and messed up once.

Why I even care (and you might too)

  • Drivers: My ThinkPad touchpad once clicked funny. New kernel fixed it.
  • Wi-Fi: The Pi 4 dropped packets on an older build. Newer kernel, no drama.
  • Features: WireGuard needed a new kernel back when I set up my VPN.
  • Security: If a CVE notes a fixed kernel, I can check fast and plan my update.

I don’t chase the newest kernel on every box. On my server, I like boring and safe. On my laptops, I’m a bit bold.

Off-topic tangent while the package manager churns: I sometimes joke that my constantly-patched laptops are like “sugar babies”—they only behave when I keep showering them with shiny new kernels. If you’re curious about what that term really means, check out this detailed primer on what a sugar baby actually is. It breaks down the concept, expectations, and safety tips around modern sugar dating, giving you a clear, no-judgment overview in just a few minutes of reading.

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My short cheat sheet

  • See the running kernel: uname -r
  • More detail: uname -a
  • Nice summary: hostnamectl
  • Plain files: cat /proc/sys/kernel/osrelease
  • What’s installed:
    • Ubuntu/Debian: dpkg -l | grep linux-image
    • Fedora/RHEL/CentOS: rpm -qa kernel
    • Arch: pacman -Q | grep ^linux
  • What’s on disk: ls /boot | grep vmlinuz

That’s it. Simple tools. Real errors saved. And fewer “why is Wi-Fi sad?” moments. Honestly, that’s a win.

The Best Linux Distro for Gaming (From My Own Desk)

Quick outline

  • My test rigs and games
  • What I look for in a “good gaming” distro
  • My picks: Nobara, Pop!_OS, SteamOS, Arch/Garuda, Fedora, Ubuntu/Mint
  • Real game results and small fixes
  • What still hurts on Linux
  • Final picks and who should use what

My setup, my mood, and my mess

I spent three months hopping distros. I played, broke stuff, fixed stuff, then played more. I’m stubborn like that. That whole journey turned into my deeper desk-side review.

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  • Main PC: Ryzen 7 5800X, RTX 3070, 32 GB RAM, NVMe SSD, 1440p/144 Hz monitor.
  • Laptop: Ryzen 9 6900HS, Radeon 6800M, 16 GB RAM.
  • Controller: DualSense. Also a dusty Xbox One pad.
  • Tested in late fall. The room got warm. Fans whooshed like a tiny leaf blower. Fitting, right?

Games I used a lot:

  • Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Cyberpunk 2077
  • The Witcher 3 (next-gen)
  • Hades II
  • Forza Horizon 5
  • No Man’s Sky
  • CS2

Games that gave me the cold shoulder:

  • Destiny 2
  • Apex Legends
  • Valorant
  • Fortnite
  • New Call of Duty

Those use anti-cheat that still blocks Linux. I’ll say it again later because it stings.

What makes a distro “good” for games?

I want three things:

  1. New graphics stacks without weird hacks.
  2. Easy codecs, controllers, and Proton flavors.
  3. Stable updates so game night doesn’t turn into bug night.

I also like one click stuff. I game after work. I don’t want to babysit kernels.

The short version: my winners

  • Best for most people: Nobara
  • Best if you have NVIDIA and want simple: Pop!_OS
  • Best couch box: SteamOS (on a Deck or a living room PC)
  • Best if you like to tweak for fun: Arch or Garuda
  • Best “safe and familiar” pick: Ubuntu 24.04 or Linux Mint with a few add-ons

Now, the stories. If you want a broader perspective on these and other desktop distros—beyond just their gaming chops—check out the thorough write-ups on Desktop Linux Reviews. For the blow-by-blow saga of my distro-hopping spree, see I tried a bunch of Linux distros for gaming—here’s what actually worked.

Nobara: The one that felt tuned from day one

Nobara is Fedora with game stuff baked in. Extra codecs, Proton GE, OBS tweaks, and sane defaults. It saved me time.
With its latest 42 release, Nobara even touts better hardware support and measurable performance gains.

Real notes:

  • Baldur’s Gate 3 at 1440p High + FSR Quality: 90–110 FPS on my RTX 3070. First run had some shader stutter. Second run was smooth.
  • Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p High + DLSS Quality: 65–85 FPS. Looked clean. Night City lights popped.
  • Hades II: locked to 144 FPS on my monitor. Tiny dips during big fights.

Controllers? Plug and go for the DualSense. Vibration worked. Steam picked it up fast.

Recording? OBS was ready with nvenc and vaapi. I recorded a BG3 boss fight and didn’t tank my frames.

Little hiccup: after one update, the Steam overlay got weird. A quick reboot fixed it. Not cute, but fine.

Why I kept it on my desktop: it felt like someone set the table for me. I just played. It even became the best gaming Linux distro I actually use in my follow-up article.

Pop!_OS: My “NVIDIA and chill” pick

Pop!_OS is friendly. The NVIDIA image gave me the right driver on install. No hunting.
Need to hop between integrated and dedicated GPUs? System76 explains how in their graphics-switching guide.

Real notes:

  • Cyberpunk 2077: same 65–80 FPS at 1440p High + DLSS Quality. Once I turned on GameMode, lows evened out.
  • Forza Horizon 5: 90–110 FPS at 1440p High. Races were butter. I grinned like a kid.
  • The Witcher 3 next-gen: 70–95 FPS at 1440p High (no RT). With RT, frames tanked. I turned RT off and moved on.

Pop Shop had Lutris and MangoHud. Easy. Proton GE took two clicks. DualSense rumble worked here too.

Small gripe: Pop can sit on older Mesa for a bit. That hits AMD more than NVIDIA, but still worth noting.

SteamOS: The couch king

On my Steam Deck OLED, SteamOS crushed indie games and handled big ones with care.

  • Hades II: perfect for the sofa. 60 FPS with no sweat.
  • No Man’s Sky: 40–60 FPS on the Deck at medium. Tweak a bit, and it sings.

On a living room PC, Steam Big Picture felt right with a controller. Family-proof. I could hand the pad to my nephew and step back.

Limits? Desktop stuff is there, but not as comfy. It’s a game box first.

Arch and Garuda: The “let me tinker” path

Arch gave me the newest kernels, Mesa, and tools. Garuda adds a slick setup and gaming tools out of the box.

Real notes:

  • CS2 ran better after a quick kernel bump and fresh Mesa. I saw fewer micro stutters.
  • I used Gamescope for a steady 144 Hz feel. It helped with frame pacing in Forza.

But updates need care. I read the notes. I held big updates before a raid night. You break it, you fix it. That’s the bargain.

Fedora and Ubuntu/Mint: The steady ones

  • Fedora 40 was clean and fast. I had to add a few extras (media packs, Steam bits), then it felt close to Nobara without the candy.
  • Ubuntu 24.04 and Linux Mint were calm. Add latest drivers and Proton GE, and games were fine. Great for folks who like a classic feel.

On Ubuntu, my laptop’s AMD GPU wanted newer Mesa for better Forza and No Man’s Sky. I used a fresh Mesa repo, and frames went up.

Real game examples and tiny fixes

What I changed that helped:

  • Steam Proton: I set per-game Proton to Proton GE (GE-Proton 9-something). It fixed launcher bugs in Forza and a sound quirk in BG3.
  • GameMode: I set “gamemoderun %command%” for Cyberpunk and Forza. Fewer dips.
  • MangoHud: quick view of FPS and frame time. It showed me when shader comp was the real issue.
  • DualSense: it worked on all picks. If rumble was off, I toggled Steam Input on, then off. Weird, but it worked.

Numbers that stuck with me (desktop, 1440p):

  • BG3 High + FSR Q: Nobara 90–110 FPS, Pop!_OS 85–100 until shader cache warmed.
  • Cyberpunk 2077 High + DLSS Q: 65–85 FPS on both Nobara and Pop!_OS.
  • Witcher 3 High (no RT): 70–95 FPS. RT was a slideshow on my 3070, so I skipped it.
  • Forza Horizon 5 High: 90–110 FPS. On Arch with Gamescope, frame time lines looked nicer.

Your rig will differ. But these feel fair.

What still hurts

  • Anti-cheat walls: Destiny 2, Apex, Valorant, Fortnite, and new Call of Duty still say no. That’s a hard stop.
  • First-run shader stutter: it’s better now, but you’ll see it. Second run is smooth.
  • NVIDIA moods: it’s better than last year. Still, the driver can feel fussy after big updates. I reboot and move on.
  • Odd bugs: a dangling overlay here, a sound swap there. Nothing major, but it happens.

I unpack a few more of these rough edges in [my hands-on piece about Linux gaming’s real wins and woes](https://desktoplinuxreviews