In a few previous years (#1, #2), I decided to do a fresh take each time on what the best Linux distribution was for gaming - so I'm back for a 2025 edition of the article that will cause you to tell me how wrong and terrible I am.
What's changed? Well, quite a lot actually. Both previous times I firmly suggested going with plain Ubuntu. However, time moves on, and the software world evolves rather quickly. So I have a new recommendation for you! Why am I even writing this? Sadly, there's still articles out there pushing for tiny completely random fringe distributions and plenty with stupidly outdated and republished information to get to the top of Google.
My current home for a while now, and what I'll recommend you pick up, is Kubuntu. It has all the goodies and support of plain Ubuntu, but with the KDE Plasma desktop environment, which is the same one used on the Steam Deck's Desktop Mode. It has an interface that will be much more familiar to people coming over from Windows, it's more customizable (if you want it) but with a sane default setup that just gets you going quickly.
The latest Long Term Support (LTS) version of Kubuntu, Kubuntu 24.04.1, is supported with security and maintenance updates until April 2027. So you can install it and basically forget about it and keep it running and secure for years to come. However, you're likely better off with Kubuntu 24.10 which is more up to date, if you're okay upgrading again when the next version of Kubuntu comes out (Kubuntu 25.04) which is around April 17, 2025. Either way, both work well.
I've been through Fedora, Manjaro, Linux Mint, plain Ubuntu, Arch and many others over the years. No Linux distributions is perfect and they all come with their own set of quirks and problems, just as Windows has its own set of unique issues. To me, Kubuntu just offers the best all around middle-ground of everything you need to get going.
People will argue about Snaps, but for the majority of normal users — it just doesn't matter in the slightest. I use the Spotify, Thunderbird, Telegram and other Snaps and they work great and are kept nicely up to date without me even needing to do anything.
I will suggest though, that you enable Flatpaks from Flathub, so you get the best of all worlds and access to even more easily installable packages. It's incredibly easy to do as well.
You can download Kubuntu from their website.
If you need help and support for Linux and Steam Deck gaming, you can try asking in our Forum and Discord. Don't forget to follow me on Bluesky and Mastodon too while you're at it.
Don't agree with me? That's fine! The benefit of Linux is that there's truly no one-size-fits-all. Leave a comment to tell me how wrong I am. You're still wrong if you disagree though.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Linux_Rocks a day ago
Quoting: dpanterNever Manjaro for any reason, ever, at all. Do not. Ever.The distaste for Manjaro on this site knows no bounds. I'm indifferent towards it, but I can appreciate the passion against it. 🔥
hardpenguin a day ago
Mohandevir a day ago
But "to each their own", they say...
Last edited by Mohandevir on 3 December 2024 at 1:22 pm UTC
Quoting: sudoerSnaps and flatpaks on the same system? What kind of suggestion is this, to make the ultimate bloat system and to confuse the normal user? Just stick with what the distro offers you by default, in this case snaps.It's transparent to the end user once the system is installed. You add extra apps all the same way via Discover. This "bloat" is not something normies care about, only pedantic people who like to watch a few extra MBs get used up. The reality is: only a few people really care.
Quoting: gabberI dont't get the recommendation. Sure Kubuntu is nice and stable but for gamers it's lagging behind fast. Gamers which more often then not spend good money on their HW.
Quoting: legluondunetTo my point of view Debian, Ubuntu and all Debian-like distributions could not be adviced for gaming.To you both - again, same as above, to normal users it simply doesn't matter. Unless you have brand new day-1 hardware (which is often problematic even on rolling distros) it will all work about the same.
For gaming on Linux in good conditions, you need recent libraries and apps.
Keep in mind I game every day, and run GamingOnLinux from Kubuntu. It's absolutely fine for the average user this type of article is aimed it.
I of course fully expected lots of differing opinions, it's why comments are open! But too many of you think like a tech-head and not like a normie :)
I recently tried Garuda Linux and stuck with it for gaming. It has a very stylized and modern environment based on KDE Plasma. It's almost like playing while using your computer itself, very focused on the visual appearence which is pretty cool. And it's been amazing with Steam, it's still surprising how well some games run on Linux with Proton. I also managed to get some Epic Store games running like natively with Heroic.
Whatever works best for you, that's the best distro.
I used Kubuntu years ago, before moving on to Mint KDE. Of all of the Debian and Ubuntu-based distros, a Plasma Mint one is probably the only one I would bother with, shame it doesn't officially exist.
Will have a play with Nobara too, just out of curiosity. Anyone running that, or Solus, as their main distro?
Last edited by vgnmnky on 3 December 2024 at 1:55 pm UTC
Edgarins29 a day ago
I use it because I'm used to it since before they dropped support. I don't mind fixing issues if they arise, but they are quite rare anyways.
Additionally I continue to test out other distros, but there is always something that's not how I like.
Next in line would be Arch Linux for me.
For begginers Kubuntu would be to go although I have installed on many family computers same setup as me - LM+KDE.
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me