After curiosity got the better of me, I decided to have a little fun checking out just how many popular games are available officially on Linux.
We’ve tracked before how many Linux games there are, we often give our opinion on various games in reviews, thoughts posts and so on. However, what about looking at how many Linux games there are as a whole when compared with the most highly rated games on Steam? Interested in the figure myself, I’ve taken a look over it all tonight. Thanks to the efforts of the Steam 250 website which tracks it automatically, we can find this out reasonably easily.
Before getting into it, just a note: I’m only counting games that are officially supported with a Linux icon. There may be some that have a Linux version but they’re not advertised on the Steam store for whatever reason, just to keep it simple.
As it turns out, there’s quite a lot! A lot higher than I was personally expecting it to be, it’s one of those times where I’m happily wrong. Overall, out of the 250 most highly rated titles on Steam as reviewed by users, 132 of them have official Linux support. Compared with Mac which has 156, we’re not far off there at all. Let's just remember how small the Linux gaming platform is compared to Windows, over 50% there really is impressive.
There are a couple titles like Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter and Left 4 Dead where we have the later versions officially. We have all the Serious Sam games on the revamped Fusion version and Left 4 Dead 2, so there’s possibly others like that.
Now, let’s take into account the titles in that top 250 list that do not have official Linux support, what about Steam Play? When comparing titles to their rating on ProtonDB where they have a Platinum rating overall (meaning they should “Just Work”™) that’s an additional 21 titles. These include games like Castle Crashers, Beat Saber, Orcs Must Die! and so on.
To put it all together then—Linux titles that are officially supported plus Steam Play titles with a “Platinum” rating together make 153 out of 250 of the most highly rated Steam games. Overall, that's a pretty decent number of highly rated games available to play on Linux.
There could be even more there, some titles on ProtonDB didn’t have enough reports to have a rating. I’m still surprised DOOM only has a “Gold” rating there, as it’s basically flawless for me outside of one windowing issue that was solved with a simple ALT+Enter to re-do the fullscreen.
The list is subject to change obviously, that’s just the state of things in January 2019. I will probably take another look at the end of the year to see how far things have moved either way if anyone is interested in me doing so.
Ps. By doing this it seems I helped the Top 250 website find a bug too.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Quoting: jarhead_hSo far no one can get Arkham Knight workingIt works fine with Wine Staging.
Quoting: wvstolzingAh. Yeah, my friend's GTX 970 performs essentially the same as my RX 580. There isn't a reason to upgrade this year for 1080p I don't think.Quoting: 14There is a solution to Ubisoft. It's called PS4. IMO, it's worth it if that's the last thing holding you to Windows.
I *did* have a PS4 briefly, so I'm familiar with the advantages (and the disadvantages) of having such a device. When my current graphics card no longer 'cuts it' (gtx970 -- it's keeping up remarkably well at 1080p), I'll have to decide between upgrading it, or getting a playstation.
I really like my PS4 but I play it in waves. I'll be on it a lot for a couple weeks and then I won't start it up for a few weeks. You know, a lot of my PS4 games are Ubisoft because I tend to like them but I gave up on Uplay years ago, even before I left Windows completely. I've never had a problem playing Ubisoft games with my friends on PSN. Very seamless. That said, I would have a REALLY hard time giving up PC gaming and solely using the PS4. If you keep your video card upgrades in the $250 range, then you can stay current enough. I mean, your 970 will run Overwatch on ultra settings over 100 FPS (in WINE even!).
Last edited by 14 on 8 January 2019 at 2:51 am UTC
I mean: common, a list without GTA V is just incomplete.
Quoting: ArdjeI don't know how that list is compiled. I miss GTA V/online, ARK, and a few others.
I mean: common, a list without GTA V is just incomplete.
I didn't look through it, but I expect a list of highly rated games to be mostly niche games. Games drawing many buyers from different directions will get their share of downvotes. Games with a very specific audiance, say text adventures (do play Thaumistry!) draw only those that will enjoy if it is done well.
wvstolzing Jan 8, 2019
Quoting: EikeI didn't look through it, but I expect a list of highly rated games to be mostly niche games. Games drawing many buyers from different directions will get their share of downvotes. Games with a very specific audiance, say text adventures (do play Thaumistry!) draw only those that will enjoy if it is done well.
Perhaps as a case in point: The only Steam review I ever wrote was for TIS-100, and it went something like '... if you're intrigued by this, then BUY NOW!!!'
Quoting: wvstolzingPerhaps as a case in point: The only Steam review I ever wrote was for TIS-100, and it went something like '... if you're intrigued by this, then BUY NOW!!!'
Yes, another game where you see at a glance if you will like it or not (before buying, that is).
Quoting: LinuxwarperAs most of us are all to well aware, Linux isn't a priority because of marketshare. What Liam points out, how small linux gaming is, helps when frustrated about why games are not being supported for the platform.I didn't realize I had actually posted parts of a reply I was writing. So here is the remaining thoughts that completes the quote above:
Everyone prefers games developed properly for the platform they use.
So yeah everyone prefers games developed properly for their platform. For example PC gamers do not like it when a game that was originally made for console is ported to PC in a very lazy manner with no regard to what is expected on PC platform. But compromises have to be made, especially when you have no other option. Linux platform has little to no choice. With some exceptions (e.g Feral, CroTeam etc) the majority of developers don't care (or enough) about linux to make their games available. Because the marketshare is not there. So imho the "no tux no bux" is a lost cause.
Ever since switching to Linux and reading that, it has not made a impression on me. You think devs care about our stubbornness? They don't.
Steam Play/Proton will increase the market share if it's success continues throughout years to come. Increased marketshare will show itself with more content online about Linux. And I like to think it will make Linux desktop even better.
I play games I enjoy, not those who are native. Ideally I would like games I play to be developed properly for Linux but that's a highly unrealistic expectation at this point in time. The fact SteamPlay allows me to play games with reasonable performance hit is amazing. And if developers chose Vulkan and there is no middleware software hindering the game (Doom 2016), we will be able to enjoy playing games on Linux with performance parity to Windows even if the game was made for Windows only.
Hopefully, and this may be a wish dream as I worry what people who dont want Linux desktop to grow will do, SteamPlay will change gaming by increasing linux marketshare, and at one point it will be so significant that developers decide to adopt software that will allow them to effectively and efficiently make software and games for both Windows, Linux and Mac. If that happens EVERYONE wins. Mac, Linux and Windows gamers.
Last edited by Linuxwarper on 15 January 2019 at 2:24 am UTC
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me