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