1y ago

Recommended linux variant for gaming.

I've been using Ubuntu as my daily driver for a good few years now. Unfortunately I don't like the direction they seem to be heading.

I've also just ordered a new computer, so it seems like the best time to change over. While I'm sure it will start a heated debate, what variant would people recommend?

I'm not after a bleeding edge, do it all yourself OS it will be my daily driver, so don't want to have to get elbow deep in configs every 5 minutes. My default would be to go back to Debian. However, I know the steam deck is arch based. With steam developing proton so hard, is it worth the additional learning curve to change to arch, or something else?

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113 comments

There is no such thing as a "gaming distro" -- all GNU/Linux distros are equally good for gaming and any other task.
- I kinda hate this take flying around constantly. There is such a thing as a gaming distro: one that has sane defaults for gaming, has the important things pre-installed like Feral GameMode, ProtonUp and the Nvidia drivers, etc. Also having an up-to-date package manager for these essentials is vital.
  Yeah, technically all distros are very similar, but most people asking for recommendations specifically want something that just works for their task, not everyone can fiddle with packages and DEs to get what they want.
  
  Distro with preinstalled packages =/= distro with exclusive features. The same packages available on "gaming distros" are available on any other "non-gaming" distro as well.
  
  Aside from the fact that they do have exclusive features (Nobara has a number of kernal patches and general fixes not found on Fedora), a distro is way more than exclusive features. The theming, extensions, patches, tuned package manager, etc. make up a cohesive experience.
  Nobody cares that you can replicate the same thing on Debian or Arch after 20 hours of hammering things together and even more hours of research and choice paralysis. Anyone asking for a distro recommendation want something that works. Not something that needs time and effort.
  
  Nobara has a number of kernal patches and general fixes not found on Fedora
  ...which can be implemented on every other distro as well. Again, it's GNU/Linux and not Windows -- "all you can see/exist in a distro you can do/implement in every other distro."
  
  @GustavoM @simple hmm, interesting. How do I make pacman work on ubuntu? I mean, just because it's technically possible, doesn't mean it's at all easy to do, in any stretch of the imagination
- There absolutely is.
  https://www.techradar.com/news/best-linux-distro-gaming
  You can game on any distro but some come with gaming focussed presets and software.
  
  Opinions =/= facts. And the fact that every GNU/Linux distro is equally good for gaming and everything else stands true.
  Why? Because all GNU/Linux distros are GNU/Linux at heart -- and can be (equally) customized and improved.
  Or, in other words -- "Because it's not Windows lmao".
  
  It is a fact that there are distros optimised for gaming.
  Why are you trying so hard to gatekeep?
- Wrong... Check nobara.
  
  Resorting to (pure) denials won't change facts neither prove me wrong -- all GNU/Linux distros are equally good and can be tweaked/improved equally -- there are nothing that makes em stand out.

113 comments