Hi everyone! So I just switched to Linux and I am a little unsure of what to play on my laptop.
It’s a presumably decent laptop, 16gb of ram and Iris Xe, but I find that it has battery issues trying to play anything fancy like Skyrim.
I’m looking into things like emulation, finally tackling my Itch.io backlog, and bringing out old classics.
I like RPGs and text-based choose your own adventure games, so if you have any recommendations I’d appreciate it!
I wouldnt limit yourself to native linux. Check out protondb.com. You can even use non-steam games through steam for use with proton (or if you’re feeling more technical you could use other tools that are more hands on).
Absolutely! Currently running Diablo 4 on the SteamDeck using Proton Experimental. Runs perfectly on medium-high settings at 45-50 fps. It’s insane how far we’ve come. When I first started using Linux over ten years ago, running Windows games was nigh-impossible. And Valve finally released their Steam client for Linux, the selection of games was … very limited.
Yeah, that’s part of the reason why I didn’t re-install Linux until recently. I would install it every few years, but it was only recently that I decided to keep it.
I didn’t quite know about ProtonDB and what it could do, but I did know that a lot more games are compatible lately so I thought I’d try it out. Linux is doing great it seems!
How do you get Diablo 4 to install on Linux? Any help appreciated.
I used this guide: https://www.polygon.com/23750107/how-to-play-install-diablo-4-steam-deck
I read that it is apparently also possible to simply install the Blizzard Launcher from Lutris, but I haven’t tried that personally. The above guide worked without problems for me, though.
Oh that’s cool as hell. I think I was aware this existed but never explored it in depth? I’ll look up how to install it right now and see what my options are. I have a decently sized Steam library so this is nice.
FTL
OpenTTD is an open source game based on TTD (Transport Tycoon Deluxe). Basically you just connect cities and industries with each other by different forms of transport like trains, busses, airplanes, etc.
Rimworld is pretty resource light and runs native on Linux. Has the benefit of being one o of the greatest games ever, too. If you’re into to that kind of game (colony resource management and light war crimes)
Rimworld is great, has a massive modding community as well
Cannibalism, etc.
Not too too sure if I’d enjoy it, however I might…used to play games like Virtual Villagers when I was a kid, so it might be similar? I’ll look into it!
It’s similar to dwarf fortress, though with less depth in the system, less literal depth with no y-levels, and an infinitely better UI and visuals. The DLC are optional, comparable to large very well-polished mods so if you are hesitant no need to grab the full bundle.
All Steam Deck verified games should play just fine on that laptop. While Intel Xe graphics are not the greatest, Steam Deck is restricted to 15W and you laptop is not.
Wait, what? Is that why everyone’s recommending steam deck games? I assumed Steam Deck verified games required something like, an okay GPU. Its actually the voltage? That definitely makes my life easier, lmfao.
By the Steam Deck’s site, the verification means that:
- It plays well with the Deck’s inputs
- Can use the Deck’s native resolution or similar (1280x800 or 1280x720) without issues
- It “just works” without having to tinker with the game
- Every component of the game is supported by Proton if running a non-native game
Well, the TDP of the chip is only part of the equation; The main thing is that the Deck is limited in performance in ways that your laptop likely is not, regardless of clock-for-clock differences.
Intel Xe doesn’t seem that bad, specially compared to older Intel GPUs (UHD 630-like). Correct me if I’m wrong, but they’re basically low power versions of Intel Arc. I still don’t think they’re on level with a RDNA 2 GPU like the Deck one.
Stardew Valley is really lightweight and Linux native.
Since you mentioned battery being an issue and that you just switched to Linux, have you looked into using TLP or Powertop to try doing some tweaks to squeeze out a bit more? It’s been years since I’ve used Linux on a laptop, but that’s what I used.
I played Stardew Valley on Switch, but I cannot recommend it enough. One of the best games I’ve every played.
Never actually heard of those software until now. I looked it up and found out something about TLP having default settings—does this mean once I install it, I don’t have to touch it again? Or do I have to do something like go into a terminal and install default settings after I install it?
I installed it, I just don’t know what the next step is.
Pretty much! The Arch Wiki has some decent documentation on it (despite the name, aside from package names, it’s pretty much distro agnostic these days)
Factorio works well (at a smaller scale).
Factorio
Factorio might get a bit rough towards the endgame, but I would recommend it as well.
Slay the Spire is pretty cool.
Man, I sure hope we got something from r/slaythespire here :(
Set it up and I’ll sub.
Same boat! Here are some i picked up;
- Planescape Torment - rpg & adventure,
- Darklands - old skool rpg & adventure,
- Spiritfarer - simulation & adventure,
- Papers Please - simulation & puzzle,
- The Captain - rpg & simulation,
- Shadowrun - rpg & strategy,
- Baldurs Gate II - rpg & strategy,
- Don’t Starve - action & adventure,
- Rimworld - simulation & strategy,
- FTL - strategy & simulation
Edit; formatting
This is what I have from Steam on my Linux laptop, similar HW, a bit older:
Baba Is You, The Binding of Isaac, Celeste, Crypt of the Necrodancer, Darkest Dungeon, Dicey Dungeons, Enter the Gungeon, FTL, Hollow Knight, Into the Breach, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime, Monster Train, Opus Magnum, Slay the Spire, Spelunky.
And traditional roguelikes are always good: Crawl, Brogue, Nethack.Might be a bit off topic here. I really suggest to have a check at https://www.protondb.com/
Many Win-only steam games are performing great on Linux now.
Besides, I’ve played https://vita3k.org/ for a while. There are countless decent old games which can be played via emulators on linux
I’m a fan of card games like Slay the Spire, Dicey Dungeons, and Monster Train run on practically anything. There’s hundreds of hours of fun in there if you’re into these games.
Have you ever played Deep Sky Derelicts or One Step From Eden? I have those two games in my library from somewhere (I presume Humblebundle) so I’m wondering if those two are good?
I haven’t played Deep Sky Derelicts but One Step From Eden is a good time. It’s much more of an action game than a card game though, and very fast paced.
I mean, if you install Steam, you’re not that limited in terms of ports, are you? Just about any game being solidified for the Steam Deck to run through Proton will also have the same effect on other Linux distros.
Of course, if it’s a low-end laptop, you’d aim for relatively simple, 2D or old games, but they don’t explicitly have to be ported to Linux.
Not related to your stated interests, but Minecraft will work better on Linux than Windows due to Java optimizations.
itch.io client works well on Linux from my tests, but I have no specific recommendations for you because it has been some time.
Not related to your stated interests, but Minecraft will work better on Linux than Windows due to Java optimizations.
I’m always wondering if there is any proof behind that claim?
Only first-hand proof I have is with my dual boot machines.
