Turn your GNU / Linux into a quality Distro Gamer

When it comes to GNU/Linux, ordinary users, novices, or Windows or Mac OS lovers never take it seriously for its supposed limitations in the gaming area. That is, they consider that GNU/Linux is not worth it as a "Gamer" Operating System, since they think that Linux games do not have good support, or that there are very few good quality games or content available.

Perhaps in the not-so-recent past, this has been a harsh reality. But today, this is not entirely correct, since There are many open source games for GNU/Linux, available via repositories or downloadable from their official websites, and also many Windows-based games that can be installed via emulation with Wine through Q4Wine, Playonlinux or Crossover, or with Flatpak and Winepak.

The only thing that can make it difficult the adoption and continued use of GNU/Linux Operating Systems as Operating Systems for Game Lovers (Gamers) is the quality of the experience when playing. While any distro can be used for games, there are some distros specifically optimized for it.

Distro Gamers

With the aim of offering a better quality experience when playing, some Gamer distros that are outstanding. Among these are:

1. batocera linux: Stand-alone base built using Buildroot and updated to 2023.
2. Bazzite: Based on Fedora and is updated until 2023.
3. Chimera OS: Based on SteamOS and is updated until 2023.
4. Dragger OS: Based on Ubuntu and is updated until 2023.
5. Fedora Games: Based on Fedora and updated to 2023.
6. GroovyArcade: Based on Arch and updated to the year 2023.
7. Lakka: Based on LibreELEC and is updated until 2023.
8. Linux Console: Based on LFS and is updated until 2023, with a version in development.
9. Makululu Linux GameR: Based on Makululu Linux and updated until 2023.
10. Nobara Linux: Based on Fedora and is updated until 2023.
11. PikaOS: Based on Ubuntu and updated to 2023.
12. recalbox: Independent base through LFS and is updated until 2023.
13. OS Regatta: Based on OpenSUSE and updated to 2023.
14. RetroPie: Based on Raspbian and is updated until 2022.
15. Solus: Independent base through LFS and is updated until 2023.
16. SparkyLinux GameOver: Based on Sparky and updated to the year 2023.
17. Voyager Live GS: Based on Ubuntu with support until 2023.
18. Ultimate Edition Linux: Based on Ubuntu and is updated until 2022.

Inactive or abandoned

1. game drift linux
2. Manjaro Gaming Edition
3. SteamOS
4. super gamer
5. Ubuntu Game Pack

This Top Ten GNU/Linux Distributions They are the most popular and used to use as a Free Operating System suitable for the Art of Gaming on Computers and other devices. Each one varies in its benefits and performance, so recommending one will depend a lot on the personal taste of each person. A very good one already discontinued was PlayLinux. Lakka has a special mention because it is a very good Distro to install on Raspberry PI type microcomputers, as mentioned in a previous article in DesdeLinux. In my case, I have made a personal Respin MX optimized for modern computers that is ideal for playing, and it is called Miracles.

Build your own Distro Gamer

If none of the above Distros Gamers suits your needs or the requirements of your teams, there is always the possibility of adapt your own current Distro to run your favorite games. And for this purpose, I recommend the following series of actions on your Distro so that you can optimize it and enjoy your favorite games on your current GNU / Linux Distro:

1.- Installation of necessary applications and libraries plus basic games

sudo apt install arj bzip2 lhasa lzip p7zip p7zip-full p7zip-rar rar unace unrar unrar-free unzip xz-utils zip zoo
# Para gestionar archivos comprimidos en el Sistema Operativo.

sudo apt install autoconf automake build-essential dkms fastjar g++ gawk gcc gcc-multilib gettext gettext-base intltool intltool-debian jarwrapper gtk-recordmydesktop linux-headers-$(uname -r) mawk mesa-common-dev minizip nasm perl perl-base perl-modules-5.26 pkg-config python-apt python-glade2 python-gtk2 python-libxml2 subversion wx-common wx3.0-headers x11proto-record-dev zlib1g zlib1g-dev
# Para Instalar Aplicaciones útiles y necesarias para compilar, soportar y ejecutar Juegos y Emuladores de Juegos.
# Nota 1: El paquete minizip en versiones viejas de Linux puede ser sustituido por el paquete zlib-bin.
# Nota 2: El paquete perl-modules-5.26 en versiones viejas de Linux puede ser sustituido por el paquete perl-modules-5.24.

sudo apt install libalien-wxwidgets-perl libbz2-dev libc6 libcdio-cdda-dev libcdio-dev libcdio-paranoia-dev libcurl3-gnutls libgcc1 libgl1-mesa-dev libglade2-0 libglade2-dev libglib2.0-0 libglib2.0-bin libglib2.0-data libglib2.0-dev libglibmm-2.4-1v5 libglibmm-2.4-dev libglu1-mesa-dev libgmp3-dev libgtk-3-dev libgtk2.0-0 libgtk2.0-bin libgtk2.0-common libgtk2.0-dev libguichan-sdl-0.8.1-1v5 libjack-jackd2-dev liblocale-gettext-perl libpcre16-3 libmodule-pluggable-perl libperl5.26 libpng12-0 libsdl-console-dev libsdl-gfx1.2-dev libsdl-image1.2-dev libsdl-mixer1.2-dev libsdl-net1.2-dev libsdl-ocaml-dev libsdl-pango-dev libsdl-perl libsdl-sge-dev libsdl-sound1.2-dev libsdl-ttf2.0-dev libsdl1.2-dev libsdl2-2.0-0 libsdl2-dev libsdl2-image-dev libsdl2-mixer-dev libsdl2-net-dev libsdl2-ttf-dev libsigc++-2.0-dev libsndfile1-dev libstdc++6 libtool libvorbisenc2 libwebkitgtk-1.0-0 libwx-perl libwxbase3.0-dev libxcb-xtest0 libxcb-xv0 libxml2 libxml2-dev libxml2-utils libxtst-dev libxv-dev libxv1 libxvmc1 libxxf86vm-dev
# Para Instalar librerías útiles y necesarias para compilar, soportar y ejecutar Juegos y Emuladores de Juegos.
# Nota 1: El paquete libperl5.26 en versiones viejas de Linux puede ser sustituido por el paquete perl-modules-5.24.
# Nota 2: Los paquetes libwxgtk-media3.0-gtk3-0v5 libwxgtk-media3.0-gtk3-dev libwxgtk3.0-gtk3-dev en otras versiones de Linux puede ser sustituido por libwxgtk-media3.0-0v5 libwxgtk-media3.0-dev libwxgtk3.0-0v5 libwxgtk3.0-dev.

sudo apt install libglew1.10
# Nota: Si el paquete libglew1.10 no se encuentra en los repositorios de su Sistema Operativo quítelo de la orden de comando e instálelo manualmente descargándolo.

sudo apt install gnome-cards-data game-data-packager games-minesweeper games-tetris games-thumbnails
# Para Instalar Juegos Básicos. Use con confianza son alrededor de 100 o más MB.

sudo apt install games-adventure games-arcade games-board games-card games-chess games-console games-education games-emulator games-finest games-finest-light games-fps games-java-dev games-mud games-platform games-programming games-puzzle games-racing games-rogue games-rpg games-shootemup games-simulation games-sport games-strategy games-tasks games-toys games-typing
# Para Instalar Juegos Extras. Use con precaución son alrededor de 10 o más GB.

2.- Installation of advanced applications for multiplatform games

sudo apt install playonlinux q4wine winetricks
# Emuladores y Gestores de Wine. 

sudo apt install libnss-mdns:i386
# Instalación opcional en caso de querer instalar la aplicación Crossover más adelante.
# Descargando el Free Trial de su pagina oficial en el enlace "https://www.codeweavers.com/"

sudo dpkg -i Descargas/crossover*.deb
# Instale el paquete con la orden de comando usando dpkg
# Ejecute y pruebe la aplicación.

3.- Install the Game Managers with native Clients for Linux

• STEAM
• GAME JOLT
• LUTHRIS

4.- Install the Retro Game Console Emulators from the Repositories

sudo apt install atari800 cen64 cen64-qt desmume dgen dolphin-emu dosbox dosemu fceux fs-uae fs-uae-arcade fs-uae-launcher fs-uae-netplay-server games-emulator gbsplay gfceu gngb gnome-nds-thumbnailer hatari higan mame mame-data mame-extra mame-tools mednafen mednaffe mess-desktop-entries mgba-common mgba-qt mgba-sdl mupen64plus-audio-all mupen64plus-data mupen64plus-input-all mupen64plus-rsp-all mupen64plus-rsp-hle mupen64plus-rsp-z64 mupen64plus-ui-console mupen64plus-video-all mupen64plus-video-arachnoid mupen64plus-video-glide64 mupen64plus-video-glide64mk2 mupen64plus-video-rice mupen64plus-video-z64 mythgame nestopia osmose-emulator pcsx2 pcsxr stella vbaexpress vice virtualjaguar visualboyadvance xmms2-plugin-gme yabause yabause-common yabause-gtk yabause-qt yakuake zsnes
# Quite de la lista alguno de los 34 emuladores si no lo desea instalar.

Or download the most modern versions of them from the official pages:

1. Advanced MAME
2. Atari 800
3. dismantle
4. Dolphin
5. dos box
6. TwoEmu
7. ePSXe
8. fceux
9. fs-uae
10. Gnome Video Arcade
11. Hatari
12. higan
13. Kega Fusion
14. Mame
15. mednafen
16. Nemu
17. nestopia
18. pcsxr
19. pcsxr-df
20. playonlinux
21. Project 64
22. PPSSPP
23. RPCS3
24. Star
25. Visual Boy Advance
26. Virtual Jaguar
27. Wine HQ
28. Yabuase
29. zsnes

5.- Install Playdeb, Flatpak and Winepak

• Playdeb

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/various.list
# Edite su archivo sources.list

deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu zesty-getdeb games
# Agregue esta línea de repositorio

sudo wget -q -O- http://archive.getdeb.net/getdeb-archive.key | sudo apt-key add -
# Agregue la llave del repositorio

apt update
# Actualizar la lista de paquetes de los repositorios

• Flatpak

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:alexlarsson/flatpak
# Instalar Repositorio de la Aplicación

sudo apt update
# Actualizar la lista de paquetes de los repositorios

sudo apt install flatpak
# Instalar flatpak

sudo apt install gnome-software-plugin-flatpak
# Instalar complemento de flatpak

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
# Instalar Repositorio de Flatpak

reboot
# Reiniciar el Equipo. Cierre primero todas sus aplicaciones.

flatpak remote-ls flathub
# Listar las aplicaciones disponibles en los Repositorios de Flatpak
# O Descarguelas de la Tienda Web (https://flathub.org/home)

flatpak install flathub mi.aplicacion.listada
# Instalar aplicación desde el repositorio

flatpak install mi.aplicacion.descargada
# Instalar aplicaciones descargadas con flatpak

• wine pack

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists winepak https://dl.winepak.org/repo/winepak.flatpakrepo
# Instalar Repositorio de Flatpak

flatpak remote-ls winepak
# Listar las aplicaciones disponibles en los Repositorios de Flatpak

flatpak install winepak mi.aplicacion.listada
# Instalar Repositorio de Flatpak

Comandos extras de Flatpak:
flatpak enter — Enter an application
flatpak info — Show information about installed application and/or runtime
flatpak install — Install an application or runtime
flatpak list — List installed applications and/or runtimes
flatpak make-current — Make a specific version of an app current
flatpak override — Override application requirements
flatpak remote-add — Add a remote repository
flatpak remote-delete — Delete a remote repository
flatpak remote-info — Show information about an application or runtime in a remote
flatpak remote-ls — Show available runtimes and applications
flatpak remote-modify — Modify a remote repository
flatpak remotes — List remote repositories
flatpak repo — Show information about a local repository
flatpak run — Run an application or open a shell in a runtime
flatpak search — Search for applications and runtimes
flatpak uninstall — Uninstall an application or runtime
flatpak update — Update an application or runtime

Nota: You can also install Snap with the command order "Sudo apt install snapd" but this packaging technology does not yet have relevant games to install.

Up to now, any GNU / Linux Distro should provide a much higher quality of experience at the gaming level than a Distro for normal home or office use.

I hope this post helps you continue using Free Operating Systems and helps others use them more every day! I leave you this video so that you can complement a little more your information on the subject.