No, long ago, people had to use Wine or run virtual machines like VMware to play Windows Games on their Linux PCs. Not only was this ineffective, but it also spent a lot of extra resources and resulted in a sub-optimal gaming experience. But being in 2020, gaming on Linux is like a long-time dream come true.
As we know, online games have come this far and gained their place immediately in the universe of online streaming. Millions of internet users from globally invest their time in playing games online. Many online gaming competitions and fests are organized now and then, where players can showcase their passion, interest, and awareness towards the game.
There’s an endless number of gaming options for Windows, Android, and macOS; however, this gaming list begins to shrink when it comes to Linux. If you’re passionate about gaming and own Linux-based machines, this post is just for you.
I have gathered all the data for you regarding online games and also their popularity to enjoy playing these top-rated listed games on your Linux system. Besides, all these games are free, so you do not even have to worry about spending any money.
The Top 12 Best Linux Games in 2020
Among the ever-expanding list of great games, now is as good a time as any to get your hands into Linux gaming. But which ones should you try?
Well, to assist you to decide, we have put together a shortlist of the best Linux games to play in 2020. Most of the games here are available on Steam, but some want to be installed from other platforms. But, we ensured that all the games were well-optimized and would run smoothly on the Linux OS. So without further ado, let’s get started:
1. Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2 is the best legendary multiplayer shooter game that can be played on Linux machines. Back in 2007, the game was released, but it still has a top fan following. To keep the game alive, numerous new and unique elements are added from time to time. It houses features such as selecting your weapon, creating your character, and also customize it.
2. Metro Last Light
Metro Last Light, another top Linux compatible game, is a sequel to Metro 2033, this post-apocalyptic first-person shooter game based on the survival game concept. Besides, it delivers an action-packed experience to the players to make sure critical choices to survive. It offers a fantastic story & gameplay.
3. Terraria
Terraria is another action-based adventure game for Linux that will bring the universe to your fingertips. Fight for glory, fortune, & survival to test yourself in the battleground. You can even choose to build your city in the world of terraria to define everything about your character.
4. Portal 2
Well, if you like to challenge your mind with solving puzzles, then the Portal 2 game is for you. This single-player game provides a great way to solve simple & complex puzzles using cubes, portals, and other mechanical resources. Besides, the game probes your mind to complete different levels of challenges.
Furthermore, the game comes with over 60,000 puzzles with varied sizes and quantities such as voice-overs, gaming elements, expansions, etc.
5. Limbo
Limbo is a creative and intuitive puzzle-based game that revolves around Limbo, the game’s main character, who finds himself in the middle of the wild forest where he comes across a giant spider trying to kill him. Released in 2010 & still catching up on the most-liked list, this game works great with PlayStation 3, Xbox, Microsoft Windows, & Linux.
6. Portal
Portal, the latest single-player game, is set amid mysterious science labs, due to which it has been titled as one of the most advanced and original games with distinct gameplay. This game’s basic concept revolves around the players’ ability to tackle, manipulate, and build an approach in a given environmental setup, similar to the idea of Half-Life 2, which involved implementing new strategies to leverage various objects in different situations.
This entertaining game involves players solving different challenges, puzzles, etc.
7. HalfLife2
HalfLife2, a first person shooter game from Valve, comes among significant challenges, puzzles, shooting, storytelling, etc.; it is composed of many exciting features such as vehicles and science labs physics-based gameplay.
Additionally, players are supposed to control Gordon Freeman, who combats against aliens & other allies using weapons and other manipulating objects like gravity guns.
8. Civilization V
Civilization V is an incredible strategy-based game houses attacks, strategies, combat, and gameplay with no wrong turn. The gameplay is a little bit like playing a technology-based chess game; when you make a move, there’s no looking back.
This game’s primary focus is to create the empire from scratch in or stone age era. Use your strategies & tactics to play this game with full focus and attention, as any departure of the same is a disadvantage in the competition.
9. Kerbal Space Program
Kerbal Space Program game indeed sounds interesting, but it needs lots of work to master this game. The Kerbal Space Program calls for discipline & ideas as the game involves building a space rocket that can be launched to fly so far as possible into space.
Moreover, playing this game is not as simple as it seems; it calls for purchasing parts to construct a rocket with just a limited budget and then launch it successfully to go far into space.
10. World Of Goo
World Of Goo, multiple award-winning games, is based on solving physics puzzles. Build structures, giant tongues, bridges, cannonballs, and zeppelins by dragging and dropping glob of goo, talking, living, and squirming.
Furthermore, the games house millions of goo balls that dwell in a fantastic Goo World and are keen to explore, but they’re not even aware that they are part of the game or taste just so good.
11. Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Starting off our list of the best top Linux games, we have the Shadow of the Tomb Raider. It is the latest listing in the rebooted Tomb Raider game series, starting with Tomb Raider 2013. Tomb Raider is one of the most successful franchises in the action-adventure genre. It is a story-based game that reflects Lara Croft’s adventure of uncovering many mysteries and traveling diverse environments like mountain tops, under-water caves, jungles, and much.
The gameplay is a mix from cinematic platforming and massive octane action sequences enough to keep you at the edge of your seats. This is cut off with mesmerizing graphics, making you wish that you were there with Lara in her adventures (well, at least sometimes). Going to the real question – how well does this AAA-title run on Linux PCs?
Well, also on Windows systems, this is a demanding game that needs a beefy system. Linux’s same story, wherever you want to have powerful hardware to run the game.
Just as far as compatibility with the OS is concerned, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is optimized for Steam on Linux and runs quickly on all Linux distros.
12. Counter-Strike: Global Offense
Counter-Strike: Global Offense, also decreased as CS: GO, is one of the most famous multiplayer first-person shooters on the planet. That’s an objective-based game where two teams – the terrorists and the counter-terrorists, strive to complete their goals. Depending upon what game mode you are playing, the maps will vary.
In the classic mode, the terrorist team will try to plant bombs, whereas this counter-terrorist team will try to defuse them.
However, what makes CS: GO an excellent title for your Linux gaming rig is that it has been natively developed to run flawlessly on the Linux OS. That means you will get the same gaming performance on Linux related to a Windows PC running the same hardware configurations.
Summary:
Nowadays, gaming is not seen as it used to be before. It is now full of brainstorming, making gameplan, strategies, and keeping yourself and your team alive & going in the game. There’s an endless number of games for Windows & iOS platforms, but we often think that there’s hardly anything significant out there when it comes to Linux.
Well, there are great games out there for Linux systems, each better and more challenging than others. Apart from that, there are many big titles and mainstream games which are meant just for Linux.
This article has introduced the ten best and significant games for Linux users, giving you that gaming rush and keeping you engaged all day long in making gameplans and strategies to survive and win the game. Have fun!
