I’m Kayla, and yes, I ranch pink slimes on Linux. I’ve played the first Slime Rancher for years. I ran the native Linux build on my desktop, on a mini PC, and on my Steam Deck OLED. I also tried Slime Rancher 2 with Proton. It wasn’t perfect, but it was sweet and bouncy and so bright. You know what? It made me smile after long work days.
If you want the full log with even more screenshots and benchmark numbers, I posted it on Slime Rancher on Linux: My Hands-On Story over at Desktop Linux Reviews.
My setups (real gear, real play)
- Desktop: Ubuntu 24.04, Ryzen 5 5600, GTX 1660 Super (driver 550), 16 GB RAM, 1080p monitor
- Mini PC: Fedora 40, Ryzen 7 7840U (780M iGPU), 32 GB RAM, 1080p TV
- Handheld: Steam Deck OLED, 512 GB model
Curious whether your own rig can even boot the game? The official Slime Rancher Help Center lays out the exact minimum system requirements for every supported platform—including Linux—so you can double-check before you dive in.
I installed Slime Rancher on Steam. The first game has a Linux version. No hacks needed. Just click Install and play. For Slime Rancher 2, I used Proton 9.0-3 in Steam.
For anyone still shopping for an OS that’s tuned for play, here’s my candid look at the best gaming Linux distro I actually use and why it keeps landing on my rigs.
The first game: smooth and simple
On Ubuntu with the GTX 1660 Super, the native build ran great:
- 1080p, High settings, VSync off
- 90–120 FPS in the Dry Reef
- 70–90 FPS in the Moss Blanket (lots of grass)
I did see one weird thing once. The colors flashed for a second after alt-tabbing. I toggled Fullscreen off and on, and it stopped. It never came back.
On Fedora with the 780M iGPU, it did fine too:
- 1080p, Medium settings
- 50–70 FPS most of the time
- Small dips when I vacuumed huge slime piles. Funny, but true.
Steam Deck OLED? It’s a cozy match:
- Native build, 800p, Medium, 60 Hz cap
- 50–60 FPS
- 2.5–3.5 hours of battery for me, with brightness at 40%. If I roamed the Indigo Quarry at night, it fell a bit faster.
If you’d like a second opinion on squeezing every last frame out of Valve’s handheld, the detailed Steam Deck HQ review of Slime Rancher 2 benchmarks settings, battery life, and performance tips that pair nicely with my own findings.
I tried both keyboard/mouse and a controller. Steam Input picked up my old DualShock 4 with no drama. Rumble worked. The triggers felt nice for vacuuming. I still like the mouse for quick aim, but lounging on the couch with a pad just fits this game.
Small snags and quick fixes
- Stutter on first launch: shaders had to warm up. It got smooth after a minute.
- Mouse on multi-monitor: once, the cursor slipped to my second screen. Borderless Windowed fixed it.
- Save backups: I like to keep my ranch safe. My save files sit here on Linux:
~/.config/unity3d/Monomi Park/Slime Rancher
I copied that folder to a backup drive. Steam Cloud also synced fine for me.
I didn’t use mods much on Linux. I tried a loader once and got crashes. Not worth it for me. The base game feels full.
Slime Rancher 2 on Linux (Proton)
Yes, I played SR2 through Proton on the same Ubuntu box:
- Proton 9.0-3
- 1080p, Medium settings
- 55–80 FPS, with small hitches when new areas loaded
It looked lovely. The first run had a bit of shader stutter. After that, it settled down. On the 780M iGPU, I set it to Low-Medium and got a steady 45–60 FPS. Steam Deck ran it, but I had to keep it on Low and 40 Hz to feel smooth.
One note: SR2 felt heavier on VRAM. I kept the texture setting one notch down on the 1660 Super, and it stayed happy.
If you’re curious about how other games stack up on the penguin-powered platform, swing by Desktop Linux Reviews for plenty of hands-on reports. Start with this roundup of great Linux games I actually play if you need fresh inspiration for your library.
How it feels to play on Linux
This is the part that hooked me. I’d brew mint tea, pop on soft lofi, and walk through the ranch at sunrise. The way the slimes wiggle? It’s silly and warm. I’d stand on the Overgrowth cliff and just look across the bright pink fields. Then a Tabby slime would boop me off the edge. Rude. But cute.
Sometimes when I shut the ranch gates for the night and still want a bit of feel-good interaction, I grab my phone for some light chat; if you’re up for that too, the open and well-moderated community at gay sexting lets LGBTQ+ folks spark safe, playful conversations that keep the good vibes rolling even after the game is closed.
Last winter I packed my Framework laptop for a snow-week in South Lake Tahoe; after evenings corralling slimes in my lodge room, I wanted a quick way to scope out the local nightlife and social events without losing precious game time. Browsing the regional classifieds at Backpage South Lake Tahoe instantly surfaced lounge listings, late-night eateries, and casual meet-ups in one spot, making it easy to pick a fun plan and then dive right back into gaming.
I played a full in-game month on Ubuntu. I raised pink, rock, tabby, honey, and crystal largos. I set up farms for mint mango and odd onions. I messed up a corral once—too many largos, not enough ports—so I woke to a tar party. I laughed, cleaned it up, and built better air nets the next day.
Tips that helped me
- Turn off VSync if you see input lag.
- Try Borderless Windowed for easy alt-tab.
- On Steam Deck, cap at 40 or 60 Hz to save battery.
- Back up that save folder once in a while.
- Use a controller if you chill on the couch; use mouse if you speed-farm.
What I loved
- The Linux native build of the first game just works.
- Bright, happy vibe. Low stress.
- Runs well on mid-range parts and on the Deck.
- Steam Input makes controllers easy.
What bugged me a bit
- First-run stutter (short, but there).
- SR2 on Proton needs more tuning. It’s good, not perfect.
- The mouse on multi-monitor can slip without Borderless Windowed.
Who should play this on Linux
- You want a soft, bright game after work.
- Your PC is mid-range, or you have a Steam Deck.
- You like building little systems—farms, corrals, plots—and watching them hum.
And if you’re weighing which operating system to plant those slimes on, check out my extended rundown of the best Linux for gaming—real wins and woes included.
If you want heavy modding on Linux, you might bump into walls. If you need rock-solid 120 FPS in every cave, you may need to tweak more than I did.
Bottom line
Slime Rancher on Linux made me happy. The first game runs great natively. Slime Rancher 2 runs fine with Proton once you set it up. I had a few bumps, but nothing that spoiled the charm. I’d play more tonight, but my pink slimes already ate all the hens. Again.