Video games and Linux#2001–2002

{{See also|Open-source video game#History}}

File:Nethack releasing a djinni.png, a primordial Unix game]]

Linux gaming started largely as an extension of the already present Unix gaming scene,{{cite journal|journal=ICGA Journal|volume=24|issue=2|date=June 2001|url=https://www.bell-labs.com/usr/dmr/www/ken-games.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211021/https://www.bell-labs.com/usr/dmr/www/ken-games.html| archive-date=2021-10-21|title=Ken, Unix and Games|first=Dennis|last=Ritchie|pages=67–70 |doi=10.3233/ICG-2001-24202 |author-link=Dennis Ritchie|access-date=2023-03-19|url-access=subscription}} which dates back to that system's conception in 1969 with the game Space Travel{{cite web|url=https://www.silicon.co.uk/cloud/server/tales-tech-history-unix-213133/2|title=Tales In Tech History: Unix|first=Tom|last=Jowitt|website=Silicon UK|date=2017-05-26|access-date=2023-03-05|quote=The developers wanted to play the game on a PDP-7, a minicomputer built by Digital Equipment Corp found in the corner of their building. But the game couldn’t be run run on more modern (and hence costly) equipment, as computing resource was a precious commodity back then. By the summer of 1969 they had developed the new Unix OS that could run the computer game and in 1971 the first ever edition of Unix was released. A second edition of Unix arrived in December 1972 and was rewritten in the higher-level language C.}}{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@joseph.crick/lessons-from-the-development-of-unix-8a324caaf1b4|title=Lessons from the Development of Unix|first=Joseph|last=Crick|date=2017-12-12|website=Medium|access-date=2023-03-18}}{{Self-published inline|date=May 2023}} and the first edition in 1971,{{cite web|url=http://www.cse.yorku.ca/~utn/2031/Notes/unix_hist.pdf|title=The Strange Birth and Long Life of Unix|publisher=IEEE Spectrum|first=Warren|last=Toomey|date=December 2011|quote=Apart from the text-processing and general system applications, the first edition of Unix included games such as blackjack, chess, and tic-tac-toe.}} with both systems sharing many similar titles.{{cite web|url=http://ligurio.github.io/awesome-ttygames/|title=Unix ASCII games|first=Sergey|last=Bronnikov|website=GitHub|access-date=2023-03-18}}{{Self-published inline|date=May 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxfocus.org/English/November1999/article118.html|title=Tux's secret obsession - Gaming under Linux|website=LinuxFocus|first=Harald|last=Radke|date=5 November 1999|access-date=26 May 2025}} These games were mostly either arcade and parlour type games or text adventures using libraries like curses.{{cite web|last=Allen Holm |first=Joshua |date=2017-06-21|title=Revisit Colossal Cave with Open Adventure |url=https://opensource.com/article/17/6/revisit-colossal-cave-adventure-open-adventure |website=Opensource.com |access-date=2023-02-05}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ubuntupit.com/best-ascii-games-on-linux/|website=Ubuntu Pit|title=Top 20 Best ASCII Games on Linux System|first=Mehedi|last=Hasan|date=2022-11-24|access-date=2023-03-18}} A notable example of this are the "BSD Games", a collection of interactive fiction and other text-mode amusements.{{cite magazine|last=Gagné|first=Marcel |date=1 September 2000|title=The Ghost of Fun Times Past|url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/4169 |magazine=Linux Journal|access-date=2022-07-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607182135/http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/4169 |archive-date=2011-06-07}}{{cite web|first=Lawrence|last=Woodman|date=2009-08-11|title=My Top 10 Classic Text Mode BSD Games|url=https://techtinkering.com/2009/08/11/my-top-10-classic-text-mode-bsd-games/ |website=TechTinkering|access-date=2023-02-18}} The free software philosophy and open-source methodology which drove the development of the operating system in general also spawned the creation of various early free games.{{cite web|last=Stallman|first=Richard |author-link=Richard Stallman|title=Linux and the GNU System|url=https://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html |publisher=GNU Project|access-date=2022-07-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319145123/http://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html |archive-date=2017-03-19 |quote=Some of our system components, the programming tools, became popular on their own among programmers, but we wrote many components that are not tools. We even developed a chess game, GNU Chess, because a complete system needs games too.}}{{cite web|last=Wen|first=Howard |date=21 November 2001|title=Building Freeciv: An Open Source Strategy Game|url=http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2001/11/21/freeciv.html |website=LinuxDevCenter.com|access-date=2009-04-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229073619/http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2001/11/21/freeciv.html |archive-date=2008-12-29|url-status=dead}}

Popular early titles included Netrek and the various XAsteroids, XBattle, XBill, XBoing, X-Bomber, XConq, XDigger, XEmeraldia, XEvil, XGalaga, XGammon, XLander, XLife, XMahjong, XMine, XSoldier, XPilot, XRobots, XRubiks, XShogi, XScavenger, XTris, XTron, XTic and XTux games using the X Window System.{{cite web|first=Ryan|last=Armstrong|url=https://zerker.ca/home/old-x-games.html|title=Old X Games|website=Zerk Zone|date=2020-11-18|access-date=2023-02-14}}{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Hamish | date=2022-01-10 | title=Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 8: Shovelware with a Penguin | url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/01/building-a-retro-linux-gaming-computer-part-8-shovelware-with-a-penguin/| website=GamingOnLinux | access-date=2023-02-09}} Other games targeted or also supported the SVGAlib library allowing them to run without a windowing system,{{cite web|url=https://www.developer.com/guides/easy-graphics-a-beginners-guide-to-svgalib/|website=Developer.com|title=Easy graphics: A beginner's guide to SVGAlib|first=Jay|last=Link|date=1999-09-30|access-date=2023-09-29}} such as LinCity, Maelstrom, Sasteroids,{{cite web|url=https://groups.google.com/g/comp.os.linux.announce/c/os3OUbGEbRk/m/G1Nz3lV0AiQJ|title=Sasteroids v1.0 release (vga arcade game)|first=Brad|last=Pitzel|date=1994-02-12|access-date=2023-10-01}} and SABRE.{{cite web|url=https://linuxgazette.net/issue30/ayers3.html|website=Linux Gazette|title=Sabre: An Svgalib Flight Sim|first=Larry|last=Ayers|date=1998-07-01|access-date=2023-09-29}} The General Graphics Interface was also utilized{{cite web|url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/article/160|title=Linux-GGI Project|first=Andreas|last=Beck|date=1996-11-01|access-date=2023-12-20|website=Linux Journal}} for games like U.R.B.A.N The Cyborg Project{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Hamish | date=2024-03-12 | title=Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer Part 40: The Cyborg Project | url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2024/03/building-a-retro-linux-gaming-computer-part-40-the-cyborg-project/ | website=GamingOnLinux | access-date=2024-03-13}} and Dave Gnukem{{cite web|url=https://lwn.net/2000/0106/bigpage.php3|title=Software Announcements|date=2000-01-06|access-date=2024-01-21|website=Linux Weekly News}} ported from MS-DOS. As the operating system itself grew and expanded, the amount of free and open-source games also increased in scale and complexity, with both clones of historically popular releases beginning with BZFlag, LinCity, and FreeCiv,{{cite web|last=Fox|first=Alexander |date=2018-01-05|title=The Best Open Source Clones of Great Old Games|url=https://www.maketecheasier.com/best-open-source-clones-of-great-old-games/ |website=Make Tech Easier|access-date=2023-02-04}} as well as original creations such as Rocks'n'Diamonds, Cube, The Battle for Wesnoth, and Tux Racer.{{cite web|first=Swati|last=Maskara|url=https://www.technorms.com/71807/best-open-source-games|title=33 Best Open Source Games That Are Forever Free To Play|publisher=TechNorms|date=2021-03-03|access-date=2023-02-04}}

File:Doom ingame 2.png was one of the first major commercial games to be released for Linux.]]

The beginning of Linux as a gaming platform for commercial video games is widely credited to have begun in 1994 when Dave D. Taylor ported the game Doom to Linux, as well as many other systems, during his spare time.{{cite web | url = http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/1 | title = DOOM | first = Michael K. | last = Johnson | date=1994-12-01 | access-date=2023-04-23 | publisher = Linux Journal }}{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/3180|title=Getting Started with Quake|publisher=Linux Journal|date=January 1, 1999|last=Zimbinski|first=Bob}} Shareware copies of the game were included on various Linux discs,{{cite web|url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/article/3248|title=Red Hat LINUX Secrets, Second Edition|first=Duane|last=Hellums|date=1999-03-01|access-date=2023-07-02|website=Linux Journal|quote=It would be nice to see some extra CD goodies included, such as Doom and Quake which are freely available elsewhere.}} including those packed in with reference books.{{cite book |last=Tackett |first=Jack |author-link= |date=1997 |title=Special Edition. Using Linux |url=https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31119018510&searchurl=an%3Djack%2Btackett%26sortby%3D17%26tn%3Dusing%2Blinux%2Bspecial%2Bedition&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title2 |location=United States |publisher=Que Corporation |page=287 |isbn=9780470485460 |quote=The X Windows version supplied on the accompanying Slackware CD-ROM in the /contrib directory is a complete hareware version. (The Red Hat distribution automatically installs the game during installation.) Although this version runs on 386 computers, it was built to run on high-end 486 systems. If you run DOOM on a 386 with a small amount of physical RAM, be prepared to be disappointed; the game will be too slow to be enjoyable. You need lots of horse-power to play DOOM under Linux. }}{{cite book |last=Barkakati |first=Naba |author-link= |date=1996 |title=Linux Secrets |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HnqBQgAACAAJ |location=United States |publisher=IDG Books Worldwide |page=96 |isbn=9781568847986 |quote=This disk set contains a collection of well-known UNIX games (X is not required), such as Hangman, Dungeon, and Snake. The set also includes id Software's DOOM. (This game comes in two versions, one runs under X, and the other runs without X.) You may want to install this disk set just so you can try out DOOM. }}{{cite book |last=Parker |first=Tim |author-link= |date=1996 |title=Linux Unleashed |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IZ5kQgAACAAJ|location=United States |publisher=Macmillan Computer Publishing |page=981 |isbn=0672313723 |quote=DOOM - This exciting, though controversially gory, game is now ported to Linux as well. Complete with sound support and exquisite graphics, this Linux port does its DOS counterpart justice. }}

Ancient Domains of Mystery was also released for Linux in 1994 by Thomas Biskup, building on the roguelike legacy of games such as Moria and its descendent Angband, but more specifically Hack and NetHack.

From there Taylor would also help found the development studio Crack dot Com, which released the video game Abuse,{{cite web|url=http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.10/guest/|title=So Long, Crack.com|publisher=loonygames|access-date=2011-08-04|archive-date=October 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021165111/http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.10/guest/|url-status=dead}} with the game's Linux port even being distributed by Linux vendors Red Hat{{cite press release |title=Partnership with Crack dot Com Brings Games to Linux |url=http://www.redhat.com/about/news/press-archive/1997/10/press-crackdotcom |publisher=Red Hat |date=1997-10-07 |access-date=2014-07-31}} and Caldera.{{cite book |author=Anonymous |date=2000 |title=Maximum Linux Security: A Hacker's Guide to Protecting Your Linux Server and Workstation, Volume 1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WCfjE_TzmIAC |location=United States |publisher=Sams Publishing |page=121 |isbn=9780672316708 |quote=A classic, and very easy-to-follow SUID attack is the on the file /usr/lib/games/abuse/ abuse.console—part of a game that was distributed with Open Linux 1.1 and Red Hat 2.1. Yes, you read that right: Even a game can be a security risk to the system. }} The studio's never finished Golgotha was also slated to be released by Red Hat in box.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/okay-dave-taylor-why-linux/1100-2467851/|title=Okay, Dave Taylor: Why Linux?|website=GameSpot|first=Harley|last=Jebens|date=2000-04-26|access-date=2023-03-17}}

In 1991 DUX Software contracted Don Hopkins to port SimCity to Unix,{{cite web|url=https://virtuallyfun.com/2022/12/30/simcity-for-unix-liberated/|website=Virtually Fun|title=SimCity for Unix Liberated|first=Antoni|last=Sawicki|date=2022-12-30|access-date=2023-03-04}} which he ported to Linux in 1995 and eventually released as open source for the OLPC XO Laptop.{{cite web|url=http://www.donhopkins.com/drupal/|title=History and Future of OLPC SimCity / Micropolis|access-date=July 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113113239/http://www.donhopkins.com/drupal/|archive-date=January 13, 2016|url-status=dead}}

A website called The Linux Game Tome, also known as HappyPenguin after its URL, was begun by Tessa Lau in 1995 to catalogue games created for or ported to Linux from the SunSITE game directories as well as other classic X11 games for a collection of just over 100 titles.{{Cite web |title=[ANNC] The Linux Game Tome on the Web |url=https://groups.google.com/g/comp.os.linux.misc/c/NzXFbdSJ1rY |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=groups.google.com}}

id Software, the original developers of Doom, also continued to release their products for Linux. Their game Quake was ported to Linux via X11 in 1996, once again by Dave D. Taylor working in his free time.{{cite web | url=http://www.blankmaninc.com/david-taylor-interview | title='Dave Taylor Interview - game developer' | publisher=blankmaninc.com | date=2012-10-27 | access-date=August 4, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723204846/http://www.blankmaninc.com/david-taylor-interview/ | archive-date=July 23, 2014 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://linux.omnipotent.net/article.php?article_id=11261|title=How To Install Quake 1|publisher=Linux.com|date=November 15, 2000|last=Mrochuk|first=Jeff|access-date=March 16, 2011|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401073212/http://linux.omnipotent.net/article.php?article_id=11261|url-status=dead}} An SVGALib version was also later produced by Greg Alexander in 1997 using recently leaked source code, but was later mainlined by id.{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Hamish | date=2023-02-27 | title=Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 27: Lost Souls | url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/02/building-a-retro-linux-gaming-computer-part-27-lost-souls/ | website=GamingOnLinux | access-date=2023-02-27}} Later id products continued to be ported by Zoid Kirsch{{cite web|title=An interview with Dave "Zoid" Kirsch of linux quake fame|url=http://linuxpower.org/display_item.phtml?id=105|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990910231358/http://linuxpower.org/display_item.phtml?id=105|website=Linux Power|first1=Barath|last1=Raghavan|first2=Jeremy|last2=Katz|first3=Jack|last3=Moffitt|archive-date=1999-09-10|date=1999-02-19|access-date=2023-02-27}} and Timothee Besset,{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxgames.com/?dataloc=articles/ttimo/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040924113843/http://www.linuxgames.com/?dataloc=articles/ttimo/|title= Interview with id Software's Timothee Besset|first=Dustin|last=Reyes|website=LinuxGames|date=2004-08-22|archive-date=2004-09-24|access-date=2023-02-27}} a practice that continued until the studio's acquisition by ZeniMax Media in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/121945-John-Carmack-Argues-Against-Native-Linux-Games |title=John Carmack Argues Against Native Linux Games |first=Andy |last=Chalk |date=2013-02-06 |access-date=2013-09-29 |publisher=The Escapist |archive-date=January 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121193621/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/121945-John-Carmack-Argues-Against-Native-Linux-Games |url-status=dead }} Initially, Zoid Kirsch was responsible for maintaining the Linux version of Quake and porting QuakeWorld to Linux.

Inner Worlds was released for and developed on Linux.{{cite web|url=http://sleepless.com/iw/article.html |title=Internet Based Software Development |publisher=Sleepless Software Inc |date=September 19, 2001 |last=Hitchens |first=Joe |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011231003158/http://sleepless.com/iw/article.html |archive-date=December 31, 2001 }} The UNIX Book of Games, a 1996 publication by Janice Winsor, described various games with an accompanying CD-ROM containing executables and source code for Linux and SCO Unix.{{cite web|title=REVIEW - The UNIX Book of Games|url=https://accu.org/bookreviews/1998/dicks_871/|website=ACCU|first=Steve|last=Dicks|date=December 1998|access-date=2023-03-17}}

File:SDL Layers.svg

The Linux Game Tome was taken over by Bob Zimbinski in 1998 eventually growing to over 2000 entries, sponsored by retailer Penguin Computing and later LGP until it went down in 2013, although mirrors still exist.{{cite web|url=https://www.linux.com/news/site-review-linux-game-tome|website=Linux.com|title=Site review: Linux Game Tome|first=Tina|last=Gasperson|date=2004-12-16|access-date=2023-02-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/ODc5OA|title=LGP Has Been Down For A Month And A Half|website=Phoronix|first=Michael|last=Larabel|date=2010-11-18|access-date=2023-02-18}}

The site LinuxGames covered news and commentary from November 1998 until its host Atomicgamer went down in 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-4-websites-free-linux-games/ |title=Top 4 Websites To Discover Free Linux Games |first=Danny |last=Stieben |date=2013-02-06 |access-date=2023-02-02 |publisher=Make Use Of }}{{cite web |url=https://digitalconqurer.com/general/best-web-places-to-find-amazing-free-linux-games/ |title=Best Web Places to Find Amazing Free Linux Games |first=Amol |last=Wagh |date=2011-09-14 |access-date=2023-02-02 |publisher=Digital Conqueror }} It was established by Marvin Malkowski, head of the Telefragged gaming network, alongside Al Koskelin and Dustin Reyes;{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9907/01/linuxgame.idg/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010514234141/http://edition.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9907/01/linuxgame.idg/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 14, 2001|title=You can tell a lot about an OS from its games |first=Joe |last=Barr |date=1999-07-01 |access-date=2023-08-14 |publisher=CNN }} Reyes passed away August 8, 2023.{{cite web |last=Dawe|first=Liam |date=14 August 2023|title=Rest in peace Dustin 'Crusader' Reyes, a pioneer of Linux gaming news |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/08/rest-in-peace-dustin-crusader-reyes-a-pioneer-of-linux-gaming-news/ |website=GamingOnLinux|access-date=2023-08-14}}

Zoid Kirsch from id Software ported Quake II to Linux. Two programmers from Origin ported Ultima Online to Linux and MP Entertainment released an adventure game Hopkins FBI for Linux{{cite web|url=http://reverser.hut.ru/old/linux.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040229150312/http://reverser.hut.ru/old/linux.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2004-02-29|title=Ultima Online for Linux}}{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028191834/http://linux.omnipotent.net/article.php?article_id=6937|url=http://linux.omnipotent.net/article.php?article_id=6937|title=Hopkins FBI|publisher=Linux.com|date=2000-02-09|archive-date=2007-10-28|last=Kuhnash|first=Jeremy}}

On November 9, 1998, a new software firm called Loki Software was founded by Scott Draeker, a former lawyer who became interested in porting games to Linux after being introduced to the system through his work as a software licensing attorney.{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/3521|title=Interview: Scott Draeker and Sam Lantinga, Loki Entertainment|work=Linux Journal|date=August 1, 1999}} Loki, although a commercial failure, is credited with the birth of the modern Linux game industry.{{cite web|url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/3117295/remembering-lokis-linux-games-from-the-90s.html|title=Remembering Loki's Linux games from the '90s|first=Jim|last=Lynch|website=InfoWorld|date=2016-09-07|access-date=2023-02-26}} Loki developed several free software tools, such as the Loki installer (also known as Loki Setup),{{cite web|url=http://www.macologist.org/viewtopic.php?t=607 |title=Interview with Ryan Gordon: Postal2, Unreal & Mac Gaming – Macologist |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309061407/http://www.macologist.org/viewtopic.php?t=607 |archive-date=March 9, 2005 }} and supported the development of the Simple DirectMedia Layer,{{cite web|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20030511174315/http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-making-linux-fun/|url=http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-making-linux-fun/|title=SDL: Making Linux fun|first=Sam|last=Lantinga|author-link=Sam Lantinga|date=1999-09-01|access-date=2023-12-15|archive-date=2003-05-11|website=IBM}} as well as starting the OpenAL audio library project.{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/4400|title=The Story of OpenAL|publisher=Linux Journal|date=January 1, 2001|last=Kreimeier|first=Bernd}}{{cite web|url=http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/articles/loki_a.shtm|title=Loki and the Linux World Expo – GameSpy chats with Linux legend Scott Draeker about the future of Linux gaming|publisher=GameSpy|last=Hills|first=James|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315020137/http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/articles/loki_a.shtm|archive-date=2006-03-15}} These are still often credited as being the cornerstones of Linux game development.{{cite web|url=http://www.itworld.com/article/2785732/open-source-tools/does-ragnarok-for-loki-spell-doom-for-linux-games-.html|title=Does Ragnarok for Loki Spell Doom for Linux Games?|first=Eric|last=Foster-Johnson|access-date=February 9, 2016|archive-date=August 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175620/http://www.itworld.com/article/2785732/open-source-tools/does-ragnarok-for-loki-spell-doom-for-linux-games-.html|url-status=dead}} They were also responsible for bringing nineteen high-profile games to the platform before its closure in 2002.

Loki published Civilization: Call to Power, Eric's Ultimate Solitaire, Heretic II, Heroes of Might and Magic III, Railroad Tycoon II: Gold Edition, Quake III: Arena, and Unreal Tournament for Linux.{{Cite journal |last=Mielewczik |first=Michael |title=Spielspass pur. Kommerzielle Linux-Spiele. |journal=PC Magazin LINUX |volume=2/2007 |pages=80–83}}

Loki's initial success also attracted other firms to invest in the Linux gaming market, such as Tribsoft, Hyperion Entertainment, Macmillan Digital Publishing USA, Titan Computer, Xatrix Entertainment, Philos Laboratories, and Vicarious Visions.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/492/492050p1.html|website=GameSpy|title=Is Linux Gaming here to stay?|first=James|last=Hills|date=2001-03-01|access-date=2023-12-07}}

The ports of Quake and Quake II were released physically by Macmillan Computer Publishing USA,{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Macmillan+Says+'Let+the+Linux+Games+Begin!'%3B+Market+Leader+in+Linux...-a054913355|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305020245/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Macmillan+Says+'Let+the+Linux+Games+Begin!'%3B+Market+Leader+in+Linux...-a054913355|website=Business Wire|title=Macmillan Says 'Let the Linux Games Begin!'; Market Leader in Linux Software & Books Offers 'Quake' & 'Civilization'|access-date=2018-03-03|archive-date=2016-03-05|date=1999-06-17}} while Quake III was released for Linux by Loki Software.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/03/09/quake3.linux.idg/index.html|title=Quake III Arena on Linux|first=Rawn|last=Shah|website=CNN|date=2000-03-09|access-date=2023-02-27}} Red Hat had previously passed on publishing Quake for Linux, since it was not open-source at the time.{{cite web|url=http://www.slashdot.org/articles/98/11/05/105224.shtml|title=Red Hat not Interested in Publishing Id Games|website=Slashdot|author=CmdrTaco|date=1998-11-05|access-date=2023-09-12}}

Philos Laboratories released a Linux version of Theocracy on the retail disk. Ryan "Ridah" Feltrin from Xatrix Entertainment released a Linux version of Kingpin: Life of Crime.

BlackHoleSun Software released Krilo and Futureware 2001 released a trading simulation Würstelstand for Linux. {{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Hamish | date=2023-01-16 | title=Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 21: Fluffy Bunnies | url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/01/building-a-retro-linux-gaming-computer-part-21-fluffy-bunnies/ | website=GamingOnLinux | access-date=2023-02-02}}

The Indrema Entertainment System (also known as the L600) was also in development since 1999 as a Linux based game console and digital media player,{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/article-29793|title=Indrema to bring Linux to the masses?|author=Gestalt|date=2000-11-21|access-date=2023-12-07|website=Eurogamer}}{{cite news |title=Game start-up faces major rivals with Linux console |first=Stephen |last=Shankland |url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/game-start-up-faces-major-rivals-with-linux-console/|access-date=2023-12-07 |work=CNET |date=2002-01-02}}{{cite magazine |title=Game Arrives Only in Dreams |first=Farhad |last=Manjoo |url=https://www.wired.com/2001/03/game-arrives-only-in-dreams/|access-date=2023-12-07 |magazine=Wired |date=2001-03-13}} but production halted in 2001 due to a lack of investment,{{cite news |title=Plans for Linux game console fizzle |first= David |last=Becker |url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/plans-for-linux-game-console-fizzle/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |work=CNET |date=2002-01-02}}{{cite news |title=Linux games console fragged |first=Tony |last=Smith |url=https://www.theregister.com/2001/04/11/linux_games_console_fragged/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |work=The Register |date=2001-04-11}} although the TuxBox project attempted a continuation.{{cite web|url=https://www.linux.com/news/tuxbox-rising-indremas-ashes/|title=TuxBox: Rising from Indrema's ashes|date=2001-04-18|first=Grant|last=Gross|website=Linux.com|access-date=2023-12-07}}

Loki published Descent 3, Heavy Gear II, SimCity 3000, and Soldier of Fortune for Linux. They also released the expansion Descent 3: Mercenary as the downloadable Linux installer.{{Cite journal |last=Mielewczik |first=Michael |title=Spielspass pur. Kommerzielle Linux-Spiele. |journal=PC Magazin LINUX |volume=2/2007 |pages=80–83}}

Hyperion Entertainment ported Sin to Linux published by Titan Computer. Vicarious Visions ported the space-flight game Terminus to Linux. Mountain King Studios released a port of Raptor: Call of the Shadows and CipSoft published the Linux client of Tibia. {{cite web |url=http://happypenguin.org/show?Raptor%20-%20Call%20of%20the%20Shadows|title=The Linux Game Tome: Raptor - Call of the Shadows |author=|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221230935/http://happypenguin.org/show?Raptor%20-%20Call%20of%20the%20Shadows |archive-date=2012-02-21}} on The Linux Game Tome

Boutell.com ported Exile III: Ruined World to Linux, which was a game created by Spiderweb Software.

During this time Michael Simms founded Tux Games, one of the first online Linux game retailers,{{cite web|url=http://blog.linuxgamepublishing.com/2009/05/15/lgp-history-pt-1-how-lgp-came-to-be/ |title=Linux Game Publishing Blog, LGP History pt 1: How LGP came to be |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713212344/http://blog.linuxgamepublishing.com/2009/05/15/lgp-history-pt-1-how-lgp-came-to-be/ |archive-date=2011-07-13 }} later followed by Fun 4 Tux,{{cite web |last=Dawe|first=Liam |date=30 June 2011|title=Gameolith - The Linux Game Download Store |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2011/06/gameolith-the-linuxacircreg-game-download-store/ |website=GamingOnLinux|access-date=2023-02-04}} Wupra,{{cite web |last=Bush|first=Josh |date=11 September 2018|title=Cheese talks to himself (about Proton and the history of modern Linux gaming) |url=http://cheesetalks.net/proton-linux-gaming-history.php |website=CheeseTalks|access-date=2023-02-04}} ixsoft, and LinuxPusher.{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/MTY1MDQ|title=Linux Game Publishing Remains Dormant|website=Phoronix|first=Michael|last=Larabel|date=2014-04-01|access-date=2023-02-18}}

The period also saw a number of commercial compilations released,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/12/building-a-retro-linux-gaming-computer-part-36-entertainment-for-x-windows/|title=Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer Part 36: Entertainment for X Windows|first=Hamish|last=Wilson|website=GamingOnLinux|date=2023-12-12|access-date=2023-12-15|quote=While still being the most elaborate, 100 Great Linux Games was far from the only shovelware set of games released for Linux, with several UNIX CD-ROM vendors such as Walnut Creek CDROM and Omeron Systems also seeking a piece of the action for themselves.}} such as 100 Great Linux Games by Global Star Software,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-jumps-on-linux/1100-2446349/|website=GameSpot|title=Take-Two Jumps on Linux|first=Amer|last=Ajami|date=2000-04-26|access-date=2023-04-02}} Linux Games by Walnut Creek CDROM,{{cite web|url=http://www.cdrom.com/titles/linux/lingame.phtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001028145537/http://www.cdrom.com/titles/linux/lingame.phtml|title=Linux Games|website=Walnut Creek CDROM|archive-date=2000-10-28|access-date=2023-04-07}}{{cite web|url=http://cd.textfiles.com/simtel/simtel0101/catalog.htm|title=Walnut Creek CDROM Catalog|publisher=Walnut Creek CDROM|date=2000-12-17|access-date=2023-04-07|quote=Linux Games (Linux) - Large collection of games, graphics, sound, and video applications, plus related development tools.}} Linux Games++ by Pacific Hitech,{{cite magazine | date=May 1997|title=PC CD-ROM - Shareware & utlity| page=92 |url=https://archive.org/details/Zeta26/page/n91/mode/2up |magazine=Zeta|location=Italy|access-date=2024-04-04}}{{cite web|url=http://pht.com/products/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981206022910/http://pht.com/products/index.html|title=PHT Products | website=Pacific Hitech| archive-date=1998-12-06| access-date=2024-04-04| date=1998| quote=Formerly known as 'Linux Games++', this is a collection of the best entertainment and multimedia programs for the Linux operating system. It also contains multimedia development tools to assist you in creating your own games and multimedia applications for Linux. This is the latest issue, volume 4, and features a new and improved user interface. The CD contains packages for i386, DEC Alpha, and PPC platforms. This product is only available through Walnut Creek CD-ROM.}} Linux Cubed Series 8 LINUX Games by Omeron Systems,{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/linux-cubed-series-8-linux-games/|title=Linux Cubed Series 8 LINUX Games |website=Internet Archive Community Software |date=December 11, 1997 |access-date=2023-12-08}} Best Linux Games by SOT Finnish Software Engineering,{{cite web|url=https://www.linux.com/news/best-linux/|website=Linux.com|title=Best Linux|date=2000-04-02|access-date=2023-04-07|first=Benjamin D.|last=Thomas}}{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/networking/cebit-2000-quotconsumer-quot-linux-from-finland/|website=ZDNet|title=CeBIT 2000: "Consumer" Linux from Finland|first=Will|last=Knight|date=2000-02-05|access-date=2023-04-07}}{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816164923/http://bestlinux.net/en/2000/games.shtml|url=http://bestlinux.net/en/2000/games.shtml|title=Linux is Best|website=SOT Finnish Software Engineering Ltd|archive-date=2000-08-16|access-date=2023-04-07}} LinuxCenter Games Collection,{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Hamish | date=2023-08-08 | title=Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer Part 31: The Fear of Loss | url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/08/building-a-retro-linux-gaming-computer-part-31-the-fear-of-loss/ | website=GamingOnLinux | access-date=2023-08-10 | quote=I did discover that Phobia III was later packaged as part of the Russian made LinuxCenter Games Collection Vol.2 compilation, a selection of Linux gaming files that was sold on either four CD-ROMs or a single DVD, but this too appeared to have been scrubbed from the internet.}} Linux Games & Entertainment for X Windows by Hemming,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/12/building-a-retro-linux-gaming-computer-part-36-entertainment-for-x-windows/|title=Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer Part 36: Entertainment for X Windows|first=Hamish|last=Wilson|website=GamingOnLinux|date=2023-12-12|access-date=2023-12-15}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hemming.de:80/english/Products/Linux/linux.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010116165400/http://www.hemming.de:80/english/Products/Linux/linux.html|archive-date=2001-01-16|title=Linux Products|website=Hemming Ag|access-date=2023-04-02}} Linux Spiele & Games by more software,{{cite magazine | date=May 2000|title=SPIELE-TEST: Linux – Spiele & Games | page=122 |url=https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-2000-05 |magazine=PC Player|location=Germany|access-date=2023-04-02}} Linux Spiele by Franzis Verlag,{{cite web|url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/unixlinux/353404-linux-spiele|title=Linux Spiele|website=GameFAQs|access-date=2023-04-02}} and play it! Linux: Die Spielesammlung by S.A.D. Software.{{cite web|url=https://www.sockscap64.com/games/game/play-it-linux-die-spielesammlung-the-funny-side-of-linux/|title=play it! Linux: Die Spielesammlung …the funny side of Linux!|website=SocksCap64|access-date=2023-04-02}}

Numerous Linux distributions and collections packed in Loki games and demos,{{cite web|url=https://www.halolinux.us/red-hat-7-2/loki-software-games-demos.html|website=Halo Linux Services|title=Loki Software Games Demos|date=June 3, 2022 |access-date=2023-06-30}} including Red Hat Linux,{{cite web|url=https://www.itweb.co.za/content/6GxRKMY8NKY7b3Wj|title=Red Hat brings out Linux 7.1|date=2001-04-19|access-date=2023-06-30|website=ITWeb}} Corel Linux and WordPerfect Office,{{cite web|url=https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/corel-puts-out-the-word-on-office-2000/34230|title=Corel puts out the Word on Office 2000|first=Nikolina|last=Menalo|date=2000-05-18|website=IT World Canada News|access-date=2023-05-30}}{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/networking/corel-linux-deluxe-wont-cross-the-pond/|website=ZDNet|title= Corel Linux Deluxe won't cross the pond|first=Will|last=Knight|date=1999-12-09|access-date=2023-06-30}} and the complete Eric's Ultimate Solitaire bundled with PowerPlant by TheKompany.{{cite web|url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/article/4353|title=PowerPlant Review|first=Jim|last=Gilbert|website=Linux Journal|date=2000-12-01|access-date=2023-06-30}} Easy Linux 2000 similarly bundled in a copy of the Linux version of Hopkins FBI.{{cite web|url=https://www.linux-community.de/ausgaben/linuxuser/2001/06/komplettloesung-hopkins-fbi/|title=Komplettlösung Hopkins FBI|first=Tim|last=Schürmann|website=Linux Community.de|date=1 June 2001|access-date=26 May 2025}}

Loki published Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.², Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns, MindRover: The Europa Project, Myth II: Soulblighter, Postal Plus, Rune, Rune: Halls of Valhalla, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, and Tribes 2 for Linux. {{Cite journal |last=Mielewczik |first=Michael |title=Spielspass pur. Kommerzielle Linux-Spiele. |journal=PC Magazin LINUX |volume=2/2007 |pages=80–83}}

Linux Game Publishing was founded in 2001 in response to the impending demise of Loki. Creature Labs ported Creatures: Internet Edition to Linux, which was published by LGP.

Hyperion Entertainment ported Shogo: Mobile Armor Division to Linux, and Tribsoft created a Linux version of Jagged Alliance 2, both published by Titan Computer.

Illwinter Game Design released Conquest of Elysium II and Dominions: Priests, Prophets & Pretenders for Linux. Introversion Software released Uplink for Linux.

BlackHoleSun Software released Bunnies, and worked on Atlantis: The Underwater City - Interactive Storybook published by Sterling Entertainment.{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Hamish | date=2023-01-16 | title=Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 21: Fluffy Bunnies | url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/01/building-a-retro-linux-gaming-computer-part-21-fluffy-bunnies/ | website=GamingOnLinux | access-date=2023-02-02}}

GLAMUS GmbH released a Linux version of their game Mobility and Oliver Hamann released the driving game Odyssey by Car.{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Hamish | date=2023-06-04 | title=Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer Part 29: The Odyssey | url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/07/building-a-retro-linux-gaming-computer-part-29-the-odyssey/ | website=GamingOnLinux | access-date=2024-01-29}}

Small Rockets published Small Rockets BackGammon, Small Rockets Mah Jongg, and Small Rockets Poker for Linux.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

The company TransGaming marketed as a monthly subscription its own proprietary fork of Wine called WineX in October 2001, later renamed Cedega in 2004 and discontinued in 2011, which aimed for greater compatibility with Microsoft Windows games.

A special Gaming Edition of Mandrake Linux 8.1 was released that featured WineX packed in with The Sims.{{cite web|url=https://www.linux.com/news/review-mandrake-81-gaming-edition-opens-linux-more-games-more-users/|title=Review: Mandrake 8.1 Gaming Edition opens Linux to more games, more users|first=F. Grant|last=Robertson|website=Linux.com|date=2001-12-12|access-date=2023-06-30}} The fact that the fork of Wine did not release source back to the main project was also a point of contention, despite promises to release code after achieving a set number of subscribers.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011225200125/http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=01/10/22/0051250|url=http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=01/10/22/0051250|title=TransGaming, Mandrake team up to bring PC games directly to Linux|website=NewsForge|date=2001-10-22|access-date=2023-05-30|archive-date=2001-12-25|first=Grant|last=Gross}}{{cite web|url=https://www.linux.com/news/finally-its-time-wine/|title=Finally, it's time for Wine|date=2008-06-12|access-date=2024-05-27|first=Steven J.|last=Vaughan-Nichols|website=Linux.com|quote=According to White in a 2006 NewsForge interview, this forking caused Wine’s development to slow down for years. “Historically, the main interest for volunteer Wine developers was games; that was the primary focus for most of Wine’s early years (~1993-2000). When Transgaming started in 2001, they promised that they would release their DirectX improvements back to Wine. That cast a chill over games in Wine — why work on DirectX if all these improvements would ‘soon’ be coming back? Of course, no meaningful improvements have ever come back, which had the effect of creating a huge hole in what had been Wine’s very best facility.” By 2007, White says, “The Wine community had recovered from the hole created by Transgaming.”}}

The release of ScummVM in 2001,{{Cite web | url = https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/01/maniac-tentacle-mindbenders-of-atlantis-how-scummvm-kept-adventure-gaming-alive/ |title= Maniac Tentacle Mindbenders: How ScummVM's unpaid coders kept adventure gaming alive |work= Ars Technica |date= January 16, 2012 |access-date= February 16, 2016 |first= Richard |last= Moss}} Dosbox in 2002,{{cite web|first=Liam |last=Dawe| date=2019-07-15 | title=DOSBox-X and DOSBox Staging both had new releases lately|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/07/dosbox-x-and-dosbox-staging-both-had-new-releases-lately/ |website=GamingOnLinux |access-date=2023-02-05}} as well as video game console emulators like MAME from 1997 and released as open source in 2016, helped make Linux a viable platform for retro gaming (facilitated by the RetroArch frontend since 2010).{{cite news|first=Derrik|last=Diener| date=2018-02-05| title=How To Play Arcade Games Using MAME On Linux|newspaper=Addictivetips |url=https://www.addictivetips.com/ubuntu-linux-tips/play-arcade-games-on-linux-using-mame/ |access-date=2018-02-05}}{{cite web|first=Liam |last=Dawe| date=2019-07-15 | title=RetroArch, the front-end app for emulators and more is heading to Steam|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2019/07/retroarch-the-front-end-app-for-emulators-and-more-is-heading-to-steam/ |website=GamingOnLinux |access-date=2023-02-05}} This is especially the case for the GP2X series of handheld game consoles by GamePark Holdings in addition to the community driven Pandora and DragonBox Pyra. Dedicated emulation setups are also built on single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi released in 2012, which are most often Linux based including with Raspberry Pi OS.{{cite web|first=Liam |last=Dawe| date=2020-04-30 | title=If you have the retro gaming itch RetroPie 4.6 is out with support for the Raspberry Pi 4|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2019/07/retroarch-the-front-end-app-for-emulators-and-more-is-heading-to-steam/ |website=GamingOnLinux |access-date=2023-02-05}} Wine is also useful for running older Windows games,{{cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/play-retro-windows-games-linux/|title=How to Play Retro Windows Games on Linux|first=Moe|last=Long|website=MakeUseOf|date=2016-09-23|access-date=2023-02-16}} including 16-bit and even some 32-bit applications that no longer work on modern 64-bit Windows.{{cite web|url=https://vulcanhammer.info/2020/05/11/is-the-best-place-to-run-old-windows-software-on-linux-or-a-mac/|title=Is the Best Place to Run Old Windows Software... on Linux or a Mac?|website=Vulcan Hammer|first=Don|last=Warrington|date=2020-05-11|access-date=2023-02-16}} The Sharp Zaurus personal data assistants adopted a Linux derived system called OpenZaurus, which attracted its own gaming scene.{{cite web|url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/article/5902|website=Linux Journal|title=Applications for the Sharp Zaurus|first=Guylhem|last=Aznar|date=2002-07-02|access-date=2023-10-28|quote=An excellent way to start using the Zaurus is by playing games. The best way to play games on the Zaurus is to install an emulator.}}{{cite web|url=http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/zaurus/|website=New Breed Software|first=Bill|last=Kendrick|title=Zaurus Software|access-date=2023-10-28}} This was also the case with the Agenda VR3, advertised as the first "pure Linux PDA".{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT4992223978.html |title="Agenda's agenda -- a Linux-based "Open PDA"" |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513071354/http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT4992223978.html |archivedate=2008-05-13 }}, LinuxDevices.com, retrieved July 17, 2008{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017141822/http://www.agendawiki.com/cgi-bin/asr.pl?action=showcat&category=Games|url=http://agendawiki.com:80/cgi-bin/asr.pl?action=showcat&category=Games|archive-date=2006-10-17|access-date=2023-12-08|title=Games|website=Agenda Wiki}}

File:Ryan-Gordon-SELF-2009.png

After Loki's closure, the Linux game market experienced some changes.{{cite web|last=Kepley |first=Travis |date=2010-05-13|title=A brief history of commercial gaming on Linux (and how it's all about to change) |url=https://opensource.com/life/10/5/brief-history-commercial-gaming-linux |website=Opensource.com |access-date=2023-02-05}} Although some new firms, such as Linux Game Publishing and RuneSoft, would largely continue the role of a standard porting house,{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030602025952/http://www.linuxhardware.org/article.pl?sid=03/04/18/169209|url=http://www.linuxhardware.org/article.pl?sid=03/04/18/169209|title=

Gaming and Linux in 2003|first=Dana|last=Olson|website=LinuxHardware.org|date=2003-04-18|archive-date=2003-06-02|access-date=2023-07-01}} the focus began to change with Linux game proponents encouraging game developers to port their game products themselves or through individual contractors.{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=ODkwOA|title=Alternative Games Is All About Linux Gaming|publisher=Phoronix|date=December 14, 2010|last=Larabel|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Larabel}} Influential to this was Ryan C. Gordon, a former Loki employee who would over the next decade port several game titles to multiple platforms, including Linux.{{cite web|url=http://www.hardware.no/artikler/ryan_c_gordon_and_michael_simms/68450/2|title=Porting games to Linux|publisher=hardware.no|date=March 10, 2009|last=Heggelund Hansen|first=Robin}}

Ryan ported America's Army, Candy Cruncher, Serious Sam: The First Encounter, and Unreal Tournament 2003 to Linux.{{Cite web |url=http://linux.sys-con.com/node/32796 |title=A mixed welcome for Unreal Tournament 2003 on Linux - LinuxWorld |access-date=2009-12-07 |archive-date=2012-02-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229163905/http://linux.sys-con.com/node/32796 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewstory&threadid=61558 Mac, Linux America's Army - Blue's News][http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewstory&threadid=29251 Serious Sam 2nd Encounter Q&A & Linux News - Blue's News]

Linux Game Publishing had initially tried to pick up the support rights to many of Loki's titles, but in the end it was only able to acquire the rights to MindRover: The Europa Project. They released the updated version of Mindrover and its downloadable update for owners of the old Loki version.[http://blog.linuxgamepublishing.com/2009/05/15/lgp-history-pt-1-how-lgp-came-to-be/ LGP History pt 1: How LGP came to be] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713212344/http://blog.linuxgamepublishing.com/2009/05/15/lgp-history-pt-1-how-lgp-came-to-be/ |date=2011-07-13 }} Linux Game Publishing Blog, 15 May 2009 (Article by Michael Simms)

Return to Castle Wolfenstein was released for Linux and with the Linux port done in-house by Timothee Besset{{cite web|url=https://www.bluesnews.com/s/30526 |title=On Wolf's Goldness |access-date=March 25, 2017 |author=Furness, James |date=November 15, 2001 |publisher=Blue's News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326054637/https://www.bluesnews.com/s/30526 |archive-date=March 26, 2017}}

Chronic logic released Bridge Construction Set and Triptych for Linux.

Sunspire Studios released in retail commercial expansion of the game titled Tux Racer.{{cite web|url=http://tuxracer.com/|title=Tux Racer website|publisher=Sunspire Studios|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040904142508/http://tuxracer.com/|archive-date=September 4, 2004}}

Ryan ported Devastation, Medal of Honor Allied Assault, and Serious Sam: The Second Encounter to

Linux.[http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewstory&threadid=29251 Serious Sam 2nd Encounter Q&A & Linux News - Blue's News]

LGP took interest in publishing Pyrogon games on physical CDs and they released Candy Cruncher.[http://www.linuxgames.com/archives/5902 Linux Game Publishing and Pyrogon Announcement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004225902/http://www.linuxgames.com/archives/5902 |date=2013-10-04 }} LinuxGames, 10 September 2002 Mathieu Pinard from Tribsoft got LGP in contact with Cyberlore to save the Linux port of Majesty because Titan Computer get out of Linux publishing. This turn of events helped LGP to release a Majesty for Linux after Pinard closed his company in 2002.[http://www.linuxgames.com/archives/5282 Majesty, Tribsoft, and LGP] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614052930/http://www.linuxgames.com/archives/5282 |date=2011-06-14 }} LinuxGames, 3 January 2002

Timothee Bessett from id Software ported Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory to Linux.[https://www.phoronix.com/news/MTA0OTE id Software's Main Linux Game Developer Resigns] Phoronix, January 27, 2012

Around this time many companies, starting with id Software, also began to release legacy source code leading to a proliferation of source ports of older games to Linux and other systems.{{cite web|url=https://www.howtogeek.com/335259/the-best-modern-open-source-ports-of-classic-games/|title=The Best Modern, Open Source Ports of Classic Games|website=How-To Geek|first=Michael|last=Crider|date=2017-12-24|access-date=2023-03-20}} This also helped expand the already existing free and open-source gaming scene, especially with regards to the creation of free first person shooters.{{cite web | url = http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/9867 | title = Quake, Meet GPL; GPL, Meet Quake | date = 2007-12-01 | access-date = 2012-01-12 | publisher = Linux Journal}} In addition, numerous game engine recreations have been produced to varying levels of accuracy using reverse engineering or underlying engine code supporting the original game files including on Linux and other niche systems.{{cite web |last=Bolding|first=Jonathan |date=4 September 2022|title=Y'all know about these huge lists of free, open-source game clones, right? |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/yall-know-about-these-huge-lists-of-free-open-source-game-clones-right/ |website=PC Gamer|access-date=2023-02-04}}{{cite web|url=https://linuxhint.com/open_source_prts_commercial_game_engines/|title=Open Source Ports of Commercial Game Engines|first=Nitesh|last=Kumar|date=2021|website=LinuxHint|access-date=2023-03-20}}

Ryan ported Unreal Tournament 2004 to Linux for Epic Games{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20050309061407/http://www.macologist.org/viewtopic.php?t=607 Interview with Ryan Gordon: Postal2, Unreal & Mac Gaming]}} Macologist, 10 November. 2004 and Timothee Bessett from id Software ported Doom 3 to Linux.[https://www.phoronix.com/news/MTA0OTE id Software's Main Linux Game Developer Resigns] Phoronix, January 27, 2012

David Hedbor, founder and main programmer of Eon Games ported NingPo MahJong and Hyperspace Delivery Boy! to Linux, which later were published by LGP.[http://www.linuxgames.com/archives/5883 Hyperspace Delivery Boy Port] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204130450/http://www.linuxgames.com/archives/5883 |date=2015-02-04 }} LinuxGames, 6 September 2002

Ryan ported Postal²: Share The Pain to Linux published by LGP.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20050309061407/http://www.macologist.org/viewtopic.php?t=607 Interview with Ryan Gordon: Postal2, Unreal & Mac Gaming]}} Macologist, 10 November. 2004

CodeWeavers offered an enhanced version of Wine called CrossOver Games.{{cite web | first=Christopher | last=Rice| url = https://www.anandtech.com/show/2897 | title = Linux Gaming: Are We There Yet? | date = 2009-12-28 | access-date = 2023-02-02 | publisher = AnandTech}}{{cite web | first=Jeff | last=Hoogland | url = https://linuxgazette.net/173/hoogland.html | title = Codeweavers vs. Cedega, Commercial Wine Product Comparison | date = April 2010 | access-date = 2023-02-02 | publisher = Linux Gazette}} The reliance on such compatibility layers remains controversial with concerns that it hinders growth in native development,{{cite web | first=Stefan | last=Vrabie | url = https://www.linux.com/news/cedega-and-linux-let-windows-games-begin/ | title = Cedega and Linux: Let the Windows games begin | date = 2006-07-31 | access-date = 2023-02-02 | publisher = Linux.com}}{{cite web | first=Jennie | last=Lees | url = https://www.engadget.com/2005-12-04-linux-gaming-made-easy.html | title = Linux gaming made easy | date = 2005-12-04 | access-date = 2023-02-02 | publisher = Engadget}} although this approach was defended based on Loki's demise.{{cite web | first=Salvator | last=Dave | url = https://www.extremetech.com/computing/56768-linux-takes-on-windows-gaming | title = Linux Takes on Windows Gaming | date = 2004-07-28 | access-date = 2023-02-02 | publisher = Extreme Tech}}{{cite web | first=Elizabeth | last=Millard | url = https://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/transgaming-updates-winex-for-linux-gaming-34702.html | title = TransGaming Updates WineX for Linux Gaming | date = 2004-06-24 | access-date = 2023-02-02 | publisher = Ecommerce Times}} PlayOnLinux, established in 2007, provides a community alternative,{{cite web|first=Angelo|last=M|title=PlayOnLinux vs Wine: The Differences|url=https://www.imaginelinux.com/playonlinux-vs-wine/|website=ImagineLinux|date=February 2, 2021|access-date=2023-02-05}} with various guides being written on how to get games to run through Wine.{{cite web|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/8245/opinion-regarding-the-linux-gaming/|website=OSNews|title=Opinion: Regarding the Linux Gaming|first=Steve|last=Husted|date=2004-09-13|access-date=2024-04-06}}

{{Pie chart

|value1 = 61.9

|label1 = Windows

|value2 = 21.6

|label2 = Mac

|value3 = 16.5

|label3 = Linux

| caption= Number of sales of the first Humble Indie Bundle across systems{{cite web| url=http://www.wolfire.com/humble/stats | format=TXT | title=Wolfire Stats}}

}}

{{Pie chart

|value1 = 52.1

|label1 = Windows

|value2 = 23.0

|label2 = Mac

|value3 = 24.9

|label3 = Linux

| caption= Proportional values of payments

}}

The Linux gaming market also started to experience some growth towards the end of the decade with the rise of independent video game development,{{cite web | url = http://www.osnews.com/story/25328/The_State_of_Linux_Gaming_2011 | title = The State of Linux Gaming 2011 | date = 2011-11-14 | access-date = 2012-01-12 | publisher = OSNews.com | quote=In short: indie games are thriving on Linux. The Humble Bundles have not only helped publicize the games, but have also helped prove that there is an untapped market for games on Linux, and that Linux users have no problem paying to support the developers who support them.}} with many "indie" developers favouring support for multiple platforms.{{cite web|url=http://blog.wolfire.com/2008/12/why-you-should-support-mac-os-x-and-linux/|first=Jeffrey|last=Rosen|title=Why you should support Mac OS X and Linux|website=Wolfire Games|date=2008-12-28|access-date=2023-04-05}} The Humble Indie Bundle initiatives inaugurated in 2010 helped to formally demonstrate this trend,{{cite web | url = https://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/03/humble-bundle-creator-on-ars-influence-and-why-linux-is-important.ars | title = Humble Bundle creator on Ars' influence and why Linux is important | date = 2011-03-01 | access-date = 2011-03-02 | first = Ben | last = Kuchera | publisher = Ars Technica}} with Linux users representing a sizable population of their purchase base, as well as consistently being the most financially generous in terms of actual money spent.{{cite web|title=GDC 2011: Humble Indie Bundle Creators Talk Inspiration, Execution|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/console/gdc-2011-humble-indie-bundle-creators-talk-inspiration-execution|website=Game Developer|first=Kyle|last=Orland|date=2011-02-28|access-date=2023-04-05|quote=Linux users tended to be the most generous of these, leading Graham to suggest indie developers go after underserved markets. "If you support Mac and Linux as an independent developer you have a good chance of doubling your revenue," Graham said.}}{{cite web | url = http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/12/linux-users-continue-to-most-for-the-humble-indie-bundle/ | title = Linux Users Continue To Pay Most for the @Humble Indie Bundle | first = Joey | last = Sneddon | date = 2011-12-21 | access-date =2012-01-12 | publisher = OMG! Ubuntu! }} The Humble Indie Bundle V in 2012 faced controversy for featuring a Wine-based release of Limbo prepared by CodeWeavers,{{cite web|url=http://www.indiegamemag.com/linux-users-petition-against-humble-bundle-v-due-to-non-native-version-of-limbo/ |title=LINUX USERS PETITION AGAINST 'HUMBLE BUNDLE V' DUE TO NON-NATIVE VERSION OF 'LIMBO' |first=Chris |last=Priestman |date=2012-06-04 |access-date=2012-06-14 |work=Indie Game Magazine |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608074718/http://www.indiegamemag.com/linux-users-petition-against-humble-bundle-v-due-to-non-native-version-of-limbo/ |archive-date=2012-06-08 }} while a native version was later released in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/limbo-dark-platformer-fully-native-linux-version-released-no-more-wine.3922 | title = LIMBO Dark Platformer Fully Native Linux Version Released, No More Wine |date=2014-06-19 |first=Liam |last=Dawe |access-date=2014-07-12 |publisher=GamingOnLinux}} Humble eventually began offering Windows-only games in their bundles and on their store.{{cite web | url = https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/11/humble-thq-bundle-threatens-to-ruin-the-brands-reputation/ | title = Humble THQ Bundle threatens to ruin the brand's reputation (Updated) | publisher = Ars Technica | first = Kyle | last = Orland | date = 2012-11-29 | access-date = 2012-11-29 }}{{cite web | url = https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/01/humble-subscription-service-is-dumping-mac-linux-access-in-18-days/ | title = Humble subscription service is dumping Mac, Linux access in 18 days | first = Sam | last = Machkovich | date = January 14, 2022 | access-date = January 14, 2022 | work = Ars Technica }}

In 2009, the small indie game company Entourev LLC published Voltley to Linux which is the first commercial exclusive game for this operating system.{{cite web | url = http://www.entourevllc.com/product.php?id=0001 | title=Voltely product page | access-date =2023-02-05 | publisher = Entourev LLC | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222225801/http://www.entourevllc.com/product.php?id=0001 | archive-date=December 22, 2014 }}{{cite web | url = https://www.linuxexperten.com/content/linux-native-games | title=Native Linux Games | access-date =2023-02-05 | publisher = Linuxexperten.com }} In the same year, LGP released Shadowgrounds which was the first commercial game for Linux using the Nvidia PhysX middleware.{{cite web | first= Michael| last=Larabel| url = https://www.phoronix.com/news/NzAyMw | title = LGP Is Now Porting Shadowgrounds: Survivor | date = 2009-01-29 | access-date = 2023-02-04 | publisher = Phoronix }} The GamingOnLinux website was launched on July 4, 2009, and eventually succeeded LinuxGames as the main source of news and commentary.{{cite web | url = https://linuxgamingcentral.com/posts/interview-with-liam-from-gol/ | title = An Interview with Liam Dawe, Owner of GamingOnLinux | date = 2022-04-20 | access-date = 2023-02-03 | publisher = Linux Gaming Central }}

The release of a Linux version of Desura in 2011,{{cite web|url=http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Desura-games-now-also-for-Linux-1381658.html|website=The H Online|title=Desura games now also for Linux|date=2011-11-18|access-date=2024-07-03}} a digital distribution platform with a primary focus on small independent developers, was heralded by several commentators as an important step to greater acknowledgement of Linux as a gaming platform.{{cite web | url = http://www.twolofbees.com/cheesetalks/desura.php | title = cheese talks to himself – Desura Beta | date = 2011-10-11 | access-date = 2011-11-07 | publisher = twolofbees.com }}{{cite web | url = https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/02/the-state-of-linux-gaming-in-the-steamos-era/1/ | title = The state of Linux gaming in the SteamOS era | date = 2015-02-26 | access-date = 2015-02-27 | publisher = Ars Technica}} Shortly before this, Canonical launched the Ubuntu Software Center which also sold digital games.{{cite web | url=http://www.unixmen.com/will-it-be-desuras-linux-client-vs-usc/ | title = Will it be Desura's Linux client Vs USC? | first = M. | last = Zinoune | date = 2011-11-27 | access-date = 2012-07-02 | publisher = Unixmen }} The digital store Gameolith also launched in 2011 focused principally on Linux before expanding in 2012 and closing in 2014.{{cite web |last=Dawe|first=Liam |date=21 August 2011|title=Interview with Jonathan Prior of Gameolith.com |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2011/08/interview-with-jonathan-prior-of-gameolithcom/ |website=GamingOnLinux|access-date=2023-02-04}}{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/OTYyMg|title=A New Linux Game Store Is Launching Next Week|website=Phoronix|first=Michael|last=Larabel|date=2011-07-11|access-date=2023-02-18}}

In July 2012, game developer and content distributor Valve announced a port of their Source engine for Linux as well as stating their intention to release their Steam digital distribution service for Linux.{{cite web|last=Albanesius |first=Chloe |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2407237,00.asp |title=Valve Moves Forward With Steam for Linux | News & Opinion |publisher=PCMag.com |date=2012-07-17 |access-date=2014-03-18}}{{cite web | url = http://blogs.valvesoftware.com/linux/steamd-penguins/ | title = Steam'd Penguins | publisher = Valve | date = 2012-07-16 | access-date = 2012-07-16 }}{{cite web | url = https://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/16/3163717/left-4-dead-2-to-be-first-valve-game-on-linux | title = 'Left 4 Dead 2' to be first Valve game on Linux | first = Tracey | last = Lein | date = 2012-07-16 | access-date= 2012-07-16 | publisher = The Verve }} The potential availability of a Linux Steam client had already attracted other developers to consider porting their titles to Linux,{{cite web | url = http://www.vg247.com/2012/07/25/serious-sam-3-bfe-headed-to-steam-ubuntu/ | title = Serious Sam 3: BFE headed to Steam Ubuntu | first = Brenna | last= Hillier | date = 2012-07-24 | access-date = 2012-07-24 | publisher = VG247 }}{{cite web | url = https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=ODI4NA | title = Valve's Linux Play May Lead More Games To Follow Suit | first = Michael | last= Larbel | date = 2010-05-25 | access-date = 2012-10-29 | publisher = Phoronix }}{{cite web | url = https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTIzMTY | title = Egosoft Wants To Bring Games To Steam On Linux | first = Michael | last= Larbel | date = 2010-11-18 | access-date = 2012-11-25 | publisher = Phoronix }} including previously Mac OS only porting houses such as Aspyr Media and Feral Interactive.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/editorial-linux-gaming-will-be-fine-even-without-steam-machines-succeeding.4992|title=Editorial: Linux Gaming Will Be Fine Even Without Steam Machines Succeeding|publisher=GamingOnLinux|date=2015-02-20|access-date=2015-02-27}}

In November 2012, Unity Technologies ported their Unity engine and game creation system to Linux starting with version 4. All of the games created with the Unity engine can now be ported to Linux easily.{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/unity-40-launches-1726144.htm|title=Unity 4.0 Launches|publisher=Marketwire|date=2012-11-14|access-date=2013-04-03}}

In September 2013 Valve announced that they were releasing a gaming oriented Linux based operating system called SteamOS with Valve saying they had "come to the conclusion that the environment best suited to delivering value to customers is an operating system built around Steam itself."{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/news/valve-reveals-steamos-6414851 |title=Valve reveals SteamOS |date=23 September 2013 |access-date=25 September 2013 |first=Eddie |last=Makuch |work=GameSpot |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926171011/http://uk.gamespot.com/news/valve-reveals-steamos-6414851 |archive-date=26 September 2013 }} This was used for their Steam Machine platform released on November 10, 2015, and discontinued in 2018.{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/2015/6/4/8727269/steam-machine-launch-date | title = The first official Steam Machines hit Oct. 16, on store shelves Nov. 10 | first = Brian | last =Crecente | date = June 4, 2015 | access-date = June 4, 2015 | publisher = Polygon }}

In March 2014 GOG.com announced they would begin to support Linux titles on their DRM free store starting the same year, after previously stating they would not be able due to too many distributions.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/gogcom-are-going-to-support-linux-confirmed.3288|title=GOG.com Are Going To Support Linux, Confirmed!|first=Liam|last=Dawe|publisher=GamingOnLinux|date=2014-03-18|access-date=2014-03-18}} GOG.com began their initial roll out on July 24, 2014, by offering 50 Linux supporting titles, including several new to the platform.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/gog-com-now-officially-support-linux-games.4076|title=GOG Com Now Officially Support Linux Games|first=Liam|last=Dawe|publisher=GamingOnLinux|date=2014-07-24|access-date=2014-07-24}}

Despite previous statements, GOG have confirmed they have no plans to port their Galaxy client to Linux.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/gog-com-now-officially-support-linux-games.4076|title=GOG finally remove the false 'in progress' note about GOG Galaxy for Linux|publisher=GamingOnLinux|date=2022-07-01|access-date=2023-02-04}} The free software Lutris started in 2010,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/12/lutris-v0512-out-now-fixing-origin-epic-store-ubisoft-connect-gog/ |title=Lutris v0.5.12 out now fixing Origin, Epic Store, Ubisoft Connect, GOG|publisher=GamingOnLinux|date=2022-12-05|access-date=2023-02-04}} GameHub from 2019,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2019/03/gamehub-is-another-open-source-game-launcher-giving-lutris-some-competition/|title=GameHub is another open source game launcher, giving Lutris some competition|publisher=GamingOnLinux|date=2019-03-18|access-date=2023-02-05}} MiniGalaxy from 2020,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2020/11/minigalaxy-the-simple-gog-client-for-linux-has-a-big-10-release/|title=Minigalaxy the simple GOG client for Linux has a big 1.0 release|publisher=GamingOnLinux|date=2020-11-30|access-date=2023-02-05}} and the Heroic Games Launcher from 2021,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/01/heroic-games-launcher-is-a-new-unofficial-epic-games-store-for-linux/|title=Heroic Games Launcher is a new unofficial Epic Games Store for Linux|publisher=GamingOnLinux|date=2021-01-05|access-date=2023-02-05}} offer support for GOG as well as the Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect and Origin.

In March and April 2014 two major developers Epic Games and Crytek announced Linux support for their next generation engines Unreal Engine 4 and CryEngine respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.unrealengine.com/blog/41-update-preview|title=Unreal Engine 4.1 Update Preview|date=2014-04-03|access-date=2015-12-18}}{{cite web|url=http://www.crytek.com/news/conference-attendees-can-also-see-a-brand-new-mobile-game-extra-engine-updates-and-much-more-at-crytek-s-booth|title=CRYENGINE adds Linux Support as Crytek Prepare to Offer New Possibilities at GDC|date=2014-03-11|access-date=2015-12-18}}

Towards the end of 2014 the game host itch.io announced that Linux would be supported with their developing open source game client.{{Cite web |last=Dawe |first=Liam |date=2014-12-29 |title=The Itch Games Store Are Working On An Open Source Client |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2014/12/the-itch-games-store-are-working-on-an-open-source-client/ |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=GamingOnLinux |language=en}} This was fully launched simultaneously on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux on December 15, 2015.{{cite web|last=Corcoran|first=Leaf|date=14 December 2015|title=Say hello to the itch.io app: itch|url=http://blog.itch.io/post/135196264464/say-hello-to-the-itchio-app-itch|website=Itch.io|access-date=15 December 2015}} The service had supported Linux since it was first unveiled on March 3, 2013, with creator Leaf Corcoran personally a Linux user.{{cite web|last=Orphanides|first=K.G.|date=8 August 2018|title=Crossing Platforms: a Talk with the Developers Building Games for Linux|url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/crossing-platforms-talk-developers-building-games-linux|website=Linux Journal|access-date=2 February 2023}} The similar Game Jolt service also supports Linux and has an open source client released on January 13, 2016.{{cite web|last=Prakash|first=Abhishek|date=19 January 2023|title=Fantastic Linux Games and Where to Find Them|url=https://itsfoss.com/download-linux-games/|website=It's FOSS|access-date=3 February 2023}}{{cite web |last=Kerr |first=Chris | date=2016-01-13 | title=Indie marketplace Game Jolt releases open source desktop client | url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/console/indie-marketplace-game-jolt-releases-open-source-desktop-client | website=Game Developer | access-date= 2023-02-03}} GamersGate also sells games for Linux.{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Joel|date=30 August 2015|title=Where to Download the Best Linux Games Without Any Hassle|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-digital-distribution-services-linux-gamers/|website=MakeUseOf|access-date=3 February 2023}}{{cite web|last=Sohail|first=Mohd|date=23 December 2016|title=Popular Gaming Platforms For Linux|url=https://www.linuxandubuntu.com/home/some-of-the-popular-gaming-platforms-for-linux|website=LinuxAndUbuntu|access-date=3 February 2023}}

File:Steam Deck (front).png

On August 22, 2018, Valve released their fork of Wine called Proton, aimed at gaming.{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/steam-play-proton-to-improve-game-support-for-linux-users/|title=Steam Play Proton To Improve Game Support For Linux Users|first=Alistair|last=Wong|website=Siliconera|date=2018-08-25|access-date=2023-04-04}} It features some improvements over the vanilla Wine such as Vulkan-based DirectX 11 implementation, Steam integration, better full screen and game controller support and improved performance for multi-threaded games.{{Cite news|url=https://steamcommunity.com/games/221410/announcements/detail/1696055855739350561|title=Steam for Linux :: Introducing a new version of Steam Play|date=2018-08-21|access-date=2018-09-10|language=en}} It has since grown to include support for DirectX 9{{Cite news|url=https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton/wiki/Changelog/664d37be002868c1b6ed27fc2b49adebcd8d1f49|title=Changelog · ValveSoftware/Proton Wiki|date=2018-07-31|access-date=2019-12-08|language=en}} and DirectX 12{{Cite news|url=https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton/wiki/Changelog/403c39180aef0b7a5c7cf8386d5bd3288e0b206d|title=Changelog · ValveSoftware/Proton Wiki|date=2018-11-08|access-date=2019-12-08|language=en}} over Vulkan. The itch.io app added its own Wine integration in June 2020,{{Cite web |last=Dawe |first=Liam |date=2020-09-07 |title=The itch.io app can now use a system installed Wine on Linux for Windows-only games |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2020/09/the-itchio-app-can-now-use-a-system-installed-wine-on-linux-for-windows-only-games |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=GamingOnLinux |language=en}} while Lutris and PlayOnLinux are long-standing independent solutions for compatibility wrappers.{{cite web|last=Kenlon|first=Seth|date=2018-10-25|title=Lutris: Linux game management made easy|url=https://opensource.com/article/18/10/lutris-open-gaming-platform |website=Opensource.com|access-date=2023-02-05}}{{cite web|last=Saive|first=Ravi|date=2022-07-18|title=PlayOnLinux – Run Windows Software and Games in Linux|url=https://www.tecmint.com/playonlinux-install-windows-software-in-linux/ |website=TechMint|access-date=2023-02-05}}

As with Wine and Cedega in the past, concerns have been raised over whether Proton hinders native development more than it encourages use of the platform.{{cite web|url=https://nuclearmonster.com/2021/07/native-linux-games-vs-windows-api-compatibility-layers-on-the-steam-deck/|title=Native Linux Games vs Windows API Compatibility Layers on the Steam Deck|first=Jack|last=Slater|website=Nuclear Monster|date=2021-07-19|access-date=2023-04-04}}{{cite web|url=https://www.publish0x.com/late-to-the-show-and-games/the-linux-gaming-conundrum-proton-vs-native-linux-support-xnxqryr|title=The Linux Gaming Conundrum: Proton vs. Native Linux Support|author=LateToTheParty|date=2021-07-22|website=Publish0x|access-date=2023-04-04}} Prodeus dropped native support in favour of Proton shortly before final release{{cite web |title=Prodeus cancels the Native Linux version, focusing on Proton compatibility (updated) |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/09/prodeus-cancels-the-native-linux-version-focusing-on-proton-compatibility/ |last=Dawe |first=Liam |date=September 6, 2022 |website=GamingOnLinux |language=en}} and Arcen Games cancelled planned native support for Heart of the Machine.{{cite web |title=Heart of the Machine from Arcen Games dropping Native Linux for Proton |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/08/heart-of-the-machine-from-arcen-games-dropping-native-linux-for-proton/ |last=Dawe |first=Liam |date=August 14, 2023 |website=GamingOnLinux |language=en}} Valve has expressed no preference over Proton or native ports among developers.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/11/valve-answers-the-question-should-developers-do-native-linux-support-or-proton/|title=Valve answers the question: should developers do native Linux support or Proton?|first=Liam|last=Dawe|date=2021-11-13|access-date=2023-04-04}}

On February 25, 2022, Valve released Steam Deck, a handheld game console running SteamOS 3.0.{{Cite web |last=Dawe |first=Liam |date=2022-02-25 |title=The Steam Deck has released, here's my initial review |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/02/steam-deck-initial-review/ |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=GamingOnLinux |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Larabel |first=Michael |date=2022-02-25 |title=For Linux Enthusiasts Especially, The Steam Deck Is An Incredible & Fun Device |url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=steam-deck-steamos-linux |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=Phoronix |language=en}} The deployment of Proton and other design decisions were based on the limited response to their previous Steam Machines.{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/steam-deck-valve-explains-how-it-learned-from-past-mistakes | title = Valve Explains How The Failure of Steam Machines Helped Build The Steam Deck | first= Tom | last = Marks | date = July 30, 2021 | access-date = July 30, 2021 | work = IGN }} Linux was also used as a base for several nostalgia consoles, including the Neo Geo X,{{cite web|url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2013/09/review_neo_geo_x_gold_and_mega_pack_volume_1|website=Time Extension|title=Neo Geo X Gold & Mega Pack Volume 1 |first=Damien |last=McFerran |date=2013-09-11|access-date=2023-12-07 |quote=It uses a Linux-based emulator running on a 1GHz Jz4770 system-on-chip}} NES Classic Edition,{{cite web|url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/nes-classic-is-a-quad-core-linux-computer|title=NES Classic Is a Quad-Core Linux Computer|first=Matthew |last=Humphries |date=2016-11-07 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=PCMag}} Super NES Classic Edition,{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/hackers-crack-the-snes-classic-to-add-more-games-and-features/|title=Hackers crack SNES Classic to add more games and features|first=Dan |last=Ackerman |date=2017-10-09 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=CNET|quote=Fortunately, the SNES Classic, like its predecessor, is basically a Nintendo emulator built on a Linux foundation, so it's not impossible to hack.}} Sega Genesis Mini,{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/09/sega-genesis-mini-review-genesis-does-what-ninten-did-and-thats-good-enough/|title=Sega Genesis Mini review: $80 delivers a ton of blast-processing fun|first=Sam |last=Machkovech |date=2019-09-12|access-date=2023-12-07|website=Ars Technica|quote=Let this look at the taken-apart Sega Genesis Mini remind you that, like other recent retro consoles, the SGM relies on a Linux-driven SoC.}} Intellivision Amico,{{cite web|last1=Takahashi|first1=Dean|date=June 21, 2019|title=Intellivision Entertainment prepares for its rebirth on 10-10-20|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/06/21/intellivision-entertainment-prepares-for-its-rebirth-on-10-10-20/|access-date=January 7, 2020|publisher=VentureBeat|quote=But our OS is a hybrid, a Linux/Android hybrid that we’ve created in house. It’s very solid, but it’s very flexible, with Linux being the flexible part and Android being the solid part.}} Lichee Pocket 4A,{{cite web|url=https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/risc-v-handheld-gaming-system-announced-linux-as-the-basis-for-a-retro-gaming-platform|title=World's first RISC-V handheld gaming system announced — retro gaming platform uses Linux|first=Anton|last=Shilov|date=2023-12-19|access-date=2023-12-22|website=Tom's Hardware}} and the Atari VCS.{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/atari-vcs-gaming-console-linux-mini-pc-finally-available-to-pre-order/|title=Atari VCS gaming console Linux mini-PC finally available to pre-order|first=Sean|last=Portnoy|website=ZDNET|date=2018-05-31|access-date=2023-12-07}} It also powers the more general Polymega,{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2021/9/3/22653297/polymega-review-retro-game-console-emulation|title=The Polymega is an all-in-one retro console worth your attention|first=Christopher|last=Grant|website=Polygon |date=2021-09-03|access-date=2023-12-07 |quote=The Polymega is a software emulation-based console with a custom, Intel-backed motherboard running on Linux with a custom user interface.}} Anbernic RG351 and 5G552, as well as the Game Gadget,{{cite web|url=https://calmdowntom.com/2012/11/game-gadget-review/|title=Game Gadget Review|first=Thomas|last=Welch|date=2012-11-28|access-date=2023-12-07|website=Calm Down Tom}} Evercade, VS, EXP and Super Pocket retrogaming consoles by Blaze Entertainment.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2020-blaze-evercade-df-retro-hardware-review|title=Evercade review: the cartridge-based retro handheld that works |first=John |last=Linneman |website=Eurogamer |date=2020-04-25|access-date=2023-12-07 |quote=Inside, the Evercade features a 1.2GHz Cortex A7 SoC running a customized Linux setup.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/evercade-exp-review-retro-bliss-reborn/1100-6510138/|website=GameSpot|title=Evercade EXP Review|first=Steven|last=Petite|date=2022-12-16|access-date=2023-12-07|quote=The custom Linux operating system that the EXP runs borrows from the VS home console.}}

As of early 2023, the retro game store Zoom Platform was enhancing Linux support on their available titles.{{Cite web |last=Dawe |first=Liam |date=2023-02-02 |title=Zoom Platform, a store aimed at 'Generation X' adds more Linux support |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/02/zoom-platform-a-store-aimed-at-generation-x-adds-more-linux-support/ |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=GamingOnLinux |language=en}}

File:Alpha-Centauri-Logo.svg was released for numerous architectures.]]

Some companies ported games to Linux running on instruction sets other than x86, such as Alpha, PowerPC, Sparc, MIPS or ARM.

Loki Entertainment Software ported Civilization: Call to Power, Eric's Ultimate Solitaire, Heroes of Might and Magic III, Myth II: Soulblighter, Railroad Tycoon II Gold Edition and Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri with Alien Crossfire expansion pack to Linux PowerPC.{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxgames.com/?s=PPC+loki|title=PPC games made by Loki software – related posts LinuxGames|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019170037/http://www.linuxgames.com/?s=PPC+loki|archive-date=2013-10-19}} They also ported Civilization: Call to Power, Eric's Ultimate Solitaire, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri with Alien Crossfire expansion pack to Linux Alpha and Civilization: Call to Power, Eric's Ultimate Solitaire to Linux SPARC.{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxgames.com/archives/5171|title=Loki Holiday Info and Deals LinuxGames|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020115618/http://www.linuxgames.com/archives/5171|archive-date=2013-10-20}}

Linux Game Publishing published Candy Cruncher, Majesty Gold, NingPo MahJong and Soul Ride to Linux PowerPC. They also ported Candy Cruncher, Soul Ride to Linux SPARC and Soul Ride to Linux Alpha.{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxgamepublishing.com/info.php?id=10& |title=Candy Cruncher Linux Sparc |date=September 9, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050909024159/http://www.linuxgamepublishing.com/info.php?id=10& |archive-date=September 9, 2005 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxgazette.com/node/10249 |title=Linux Game Publishing: Interview with Michael Simms |publisher=Linux Gazette |date=March 6, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050712080821/http://www.linuxgazette.com/node/10249 |archive-date=July 12, 2005 }}

Illwinter Game Design ported Dominions: Priests, Prophets and Pretenders, Dominions II: The Ascension Wars and Dominions 3 to Linux PowerPC, as well as Conquest of Elysium 3, Dominions 4: Thrones of Ascension to Raspberry Pi.{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxgames.com/archives/6674 |title=Dominions II: The Ascension Wars 2.12 |date=June 8, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202235722/http://www.linuxgames.com/archives/6674 |archive-date=December 2, 2013 }}

Hyperion Entertainment ported Sin to Linux PowerPC published by Titan Computer{{cite web|url=https://www.amiga-news.de/en/news/AN-2000-08-00266-EN.html|title=Linux Version of SiN Almost Finished|publisher=amiga-news.de|date=2008-08-28|access-date=2024-01-03}} and Gorky 17 to Linux PowerPC which later was published by LGP.{{cite web|url=https://www.exec.pl/wydarzenie.jsp?nid=2815&Gorky_17_dla_Linuxa_PPC|title=Gorky 17 dla Linuxa PPC|publisher=eXec.pl|date=2006-06-08|access-date=2024-01-03}}

Runesoft hired Gunnar von Boehn which ported Robin Hood – The Legend of Sherwood to Linux PowerPC.{{cite web|url=https://www.amiga-news.de/en/news/AN-2006-07-00103-EN.html|title=Linux: PowerPC port of Robin Hood|publisher=amiga-news.de|date=2006-07-30|access-date=2024-01-03}} Later Runesoft ported Airline Tycoon Deluxe to Raspberry Pi was running Debian GNU/Linux.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

Iain McLeod ported Spheres of Chaos to Linux on the PlayStation 2 consoles and later re-released it as a freeware game.

{{see also|Linux adoption#Desktop Linux adoption}}

The Steam Hardware Survey reports that as of January 2024, 2% of users are using some form of Linux as their platform's primary operating system.{{cite web|url=http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/|title=Steam Hardware & Software survey|date=July 2021}} The Unity game engine used to{{Cite web|url=https://forum.unity.com/threads/wheres-the-unity-stats-page-gone.514106/|title=Where's the Unity stats page gone?|website=Unity Forum|date=January 24, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-14}} make their statistics available and in March 2016 reported that Linux users accounted for 0.4% of players.[http://hwstats.unity3d.com/pc/os.html Platforms Top on 2016-03] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627193942/http://hwstats.unity3d.com/pc/os.html |date=June 27, 2017 }} Windows Players: 97.3%, OS X Players: 2.3%, Linux Players: 0.4% In 2010, in the first Humble Bundle sales, Linux accounted for 18% of purchases.{{cite web |url=http://www.wolfire.com/humble/stats |title=Humble Budle data}}

File:PandoraFront.JPG was a Linux integrated game console from 2010.]]

Linux as a gaming platform can also refer to operating systems based on the Linux kernel and specifically designed for the sole purpose of gaming. Examples are SteamOS, which is an operating system for Steam Machines, Steam Deck and general computers, video game consoles built from components found in the classical home computer, (embedded) operating systems like Tizen and Pandora, and handheld game consoles like GP2X, and Neo Geo X. The Nvidia Shield runs Android as an operating system, which is based on a modified Linux kernel.{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}

The open source design of the Linux software platform allows the operating system to be compatible with various computer instruction sets and many peripherals, such as game controllers and head-mounted displays. As an example, HTC Vive, which is a virtual reality head-mounted display, supports the Linux gaming platform.{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}

In 2013, tests by Phoronix showed real-world performance of games on Linux with proprietary Nvidia and AMD drivers were mostly comparable to results on Windows 8.1.{{cite web |url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=gpus_windows81_ubuntu&num=1 |title=Ubuntu Linux Gaming Performance Mostly On Par With Windows 8.1 |publisher=Phoronix |date=2013-10-27 |access-date=2014-03-04}} Phoronix found similar results in 2015,{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=win10-nv-ubu1504&num=4|title=NVIDIA GeForce: Windows 10 vs. Ubuntu 15.04 Linux OpenGL Benchmarks Review - Phoronix}} though Ars Technica described a 20% performance drop with Linux drivers.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/11/ars-benchmarks-show-significant-performance-hit-for-steamos-gaming/|title=SteamOS gaming performs significantly worse than Windows, Ars analysis shows|date=November 13, 2015 }}

An operating system based on the Linux kernel and customized specifically for gaming, could adopt the vanilla Linux kernel with only little changes, or—like the Android operating system—be based on a relative extensively modified Linux kernel. It could adopt GNU C Library or Bionic or something like it. The entire middleware or parts of it, could very well be closed-source and proprietary software; the same is true for the video games. There are free and open-source video games available for the Linux operating system, as well as proprietary ones.{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}

The subsystems already mainlined and available in the Linux kernel are most probably performant enough so to not impede the gaming experience in any way,{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}} however additional software is available, such as e.g. the Brain Fuck Scheduler (a process scheduler) or the Budget Fair Queueing (BFQ) scheduler (an I/O scheduler).{{cite web |url=http://algo.ing.unimo.it/people/paolo/disk_sched/ |title=Budget Fair Queueing I/O Scheduler |access-date=March 7, 2014 |archive-date=March 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311090210/http://algo.ing.unimo.it/people/paolo/disk_sched/ |url-status=dead }}

Similar to the way the Linux kernel can be, for example, adapted to run better on supercomputers, there are adaptations targeted at improving the performance of games. A project concerning itself with this issue is called Liquorix.{{cite web |url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=liquorix_311_kernel&num=1 |title=Phoronix: Liquorix-benchmarks}}{{cite web |url=http://liquorix.net/ |title=Liquorix homepage}}

Several game creation systems can be run on Linux, such as Game Editor, GDevelop, Construct and Stencyl, as well as beta versions of GameMaker.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/09/gamemaker-studio-2-update-released-to-bring-forth-the-ubuntu-linux-editor-beta/|website=GamingOnLinux|first=Liam|last=Dawe|title=GameMaker Studio 2 update released to bring forth the Ubuntu Linux editor Beta|access-date=2023-09-09|date=2021-09-21}} A Linux version of Clickteam Fusion 3 was mentioned, but has yet to be released.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2016/09/fusion-3-the-next-generation-game-engine-and-editor-from-clickteam-will-support-linux/|website=GamingOnLinux|title=Fusion 3, the next generation game engine and editor from Clickteam will support Linux|first=Liam|last=Dawe|date=2016-09-27|access-date=2023-10-28}} The Godot, Defold, and Solar2D game engines also supports creating games on Linux,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/09/heres-some-alternatives-to-the-unity-game-engine/|title=Here's some alternatives to the Unity game engine|website=GamingOnLinux|first=Liam|last=Dawe|date=2023-09-13|access-date=2023-09-16}} as do the commercial UnrealEd{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/07/unreal-engine-5-editor-quietly-gets-a-proper-linux-version/|title=Unreal Engine 5 editor quietly gets a proper Linux version|website=GamingOnLinux|first=Liam|last=Dawe|date=2022-07-20|access-date=2023-09-09}} and Unity Editor,{{cite web|url=https://blog.unity.com/technology/announcing-the-unity-editor-for-linux|title=Announcing the Unity Editor for Linux|first=Martin|last=Best|date=2019-05-30|access-date=2023-09-09|website=Unity Blog}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2020/11/unity-editor-linux-2021/|title=Unity Technologies committed to supporting the Linux Editor for the Unity game engine|website=GamingOnLinux|first=Liam|last=Dawe|date=2020-11-04|access-date=2023-09-09}} The visual programming environments Snap!, Scratch 1.X{{cite web |title=Scratch - Scratch Offline Editor |url=https://scratch.mit.edu/download}} and Tynker are Linux compatible. Enterbrain's RPG Maker MV was released for Linux.{{cite web|url=https://gamefromscratch.com/rpg-maker-mv-comes-to-linux/|title=RPG Maker MV Comes to Linux|website=GameFromScratch|date=2017-03-24|access-date=2023-09-16}} In addition, open-source, cross-platform clones of the RPG Maker series exist such as Open RPG Maker, MKXP and EasyRPG,{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/MTU2Mzg|title=MKXP: Open-Source, Linux Engine To RPG Maker XP|website=Phoronix|first=Michael|last=Larabel|date=2014-01-08|access-date=2023-09-16}} as well as the similar OHRRPGCE and Solarus.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2020/03/solarus-is-a-free-and-open-source-cross-platform-game-engine-for-2d-action-rpgs/|website=GamingOnLinux|title=Solarus is a free and open source cross-platform game engine for 2D action-RPGs|first=Liam|last=Dawe|date=2020-03-06|access-date=2023-09-17}} The Adventure Game Studio editor is not yet ported to Linux, although games made in it are compatible, and the Wintermute and SLUDGE{{cite web|url=https://cheesetalks.net/sludge.php|website=Cheese Talks|last=Bush|first=Josh|title=Cheese talks to himself (about the SLUDGE engine)|date=2015-07-09|access-date=2023-09-17}} adventure game engines are available. ZGameEditor,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DeKPDAAAQBAJ|title=Learning and Education Games: Volume Two: Bringing Games into Educational Contexts|first=Karen|last=Schrier Shaenfeld|date=2016-04-10|page=265 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-1329703568 }} Novashell,{{cite web|url=https://www.brighthub.com/computing/linux/articles/51816/?expand_article=1|website=Bright Hub|title=Open Source Game Creation Software: Working in 2D|date=October 7, 2009 }} GB Studio,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2020/08/make-retro-game-boy-games-with-the-open-source-gb-studio-now-with-colour-in-the-20-bet/|title=Make retro Game Boy games with the open source GB Studio, now with colour in the 2.0 Beta|website=GamingOnLinux|first=Liam|last=Dawe|date=2020-08-26|access-date=2023-09-17}} and the ZZT inspired MegaZeux{{cite web|url=https://eev.ee/blog/2016/10/06/succeeding-megazeux/|title=Succeeding MegaZeux|first=Evelyn|last=Wood|website=fuzzy notepad|date=2016-10-06|access-date=2023-02-14}} are also options. Versions of Mugen were made available for Linux,{{cite web|url=https://appuals.com/run-mugen-fighter-natively-linux-environment/|title=How to Run Mugen Fighter Natively in a Linux Environment|last=Arrows|first=Kevin|website=Appuals|date=2023-04-28|access-date=2023-09-20}} and open-source re-implementations such as IKEMEN Go are compatible.{{cite web|url=https://dashfight.com/news/ikemen-go-rollback-open-alpha-launches-today-2332|title=IKEMEN Go Rollback Open Alpha Launches Today|first=Arthur|last=Blizen|website=DashFight|date=2023-01-20|access-date=2023-09-20}} The JavaScript based Ct.js{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2019/08/2d-game-editor-ctjs-goes-open-source-and-its-closing-in-on-a-new-major-release/|title=2D game editor ct.js goes open source and it's closing in on a new major release|website=GamingOnLinux|first=Liam|last=Dawe|date=2019-08-21|access-date=2023-09-18}} Pixelbox.js,{{cite web|url=https://gamefromscratch.com/pixelbox-js-game-engine/|title=Pixelbox.js Game Engine|website=GameFromScratch|date=2020-04-14|access-date=2023-09-18}} and Superpowers{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2016/01/superpowers-a-html5-development-environment-for-2d-3d-games-now-open-source/|website=GamingOnLinux|first=Liam|last=Dawe|title=Superpowers, a HTML5 development environment for 2D & 3D games now open source|date=2016-01-17|access-date=2023-10-29}}

are also options.

{{See also|GtkRadiant}}

Various level editors exists for Linux, such as wxqoole, GtkRadiant, TrenchBroom{{cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/make-quake-with-trenchbroom|website=Rock Paper Shotgun|title=Make Quake With TrenchBroom|first=Craig|last=Pearson|date=2013-03-12|access-date=2023-09-17}}{{cite web|url=https://linuxgamecast.com/2013/03/trenchbroom-modern-cross-platform-map-editor-for-quake-1/|title=TrenchBroom: Modern Cross Platform Map Editor For Quake 1|website=Linux Game Cast|first=Venn|last=Stone|date=2013-03-01|access-date=2024-01-02}} and J.A.C.K.{{cite web|url=https://www.teteos.net/d/149-jack-hammer-editor|title=J.A.C.K. Hammer Editor|website=TeTeOS.Net|first=Hasan|last=Merkit|date=2022-03-22|access-date=2023-09-17}} for the id Tech engines and related, Eureka,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/eureka-offers-a-new-option-for-doom-mappers.1535|website=GamingOnLinux|title=Eureka offers a new option for Doom mappers|first=Hamish|last=Wilson|date=2012-12-16|access-date=2023-09-17}} SLADE{{cite web|url=https://www.linuxmadesimple.info/2021/02/how-to-install-slade-3-on-chromebook.html|website=Linux Made Simple|title=How to install Slade 3 on a Chromebook|date=2021-02-01|access-date=2023-09-17}} and ReDoomEd{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2020/01/redoomed-a-port-of-the-original-doom-level-editor-was-released-on-linux/|title='ReDoomEd', a port of the original Doom level editor, was released on Linux|first=Daniel|last=Palacio|date=2020-01-26|access-date=2023-09-17}} for the Doom engine, and the general purpose tile map editors LDtk,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/03/free-and-open-source-level-designer-ldtk-10-is-out-now/|title=Free and open source level editor LDtk 1.0 is out now|first=Liam|last=Dawe|website=GamingOnLinux|date=2022-03-30|access-date=2023-02-06}} Ogmo,{{cite web|url=https://gamefromscratch.com/ogmo-level-editor/|title=OGMO Level Editor|website=GameFromScratch|date=2019-11-18|access-date=2023-09-17}} and Tiled.{{cite web|first=Theodore|last=McKenzie|title=Tiled: A Flexible and Free-to-Use Level Editor|url=https://80.lv/articles/tiled-a-flexible-and-free-to-use-level-editor|date=2021-06-21|access-date=2023-02-05|website=80LV}}

{{See also|AMD CodeXL}}

Several game development tools have been available for Linux, including GNU Debugger, LLDB, Valgrind, glslang and others. VOGL, a debugger for OpenGL was released on 12 March 2014.

There are multiple interfaces and Software Development Kits available for Linux, and almost all of them are cross-platform. Most are free and open-source software subject to the terms of the zlib License, making it possible to static link against them from fully closed-source proprietary software. One difficulty due to this abundance of interfaces, is the difficulty for programmers to choose the best suitable audio API for their purpose. The main developer of the PulseAudio project, Lennart Poettering, commented on this issue.{{cite web

| url = http://0pointer.de/blog/projects/guide-to-sound-apis.html

| title = A Guide Through The Linux Sound API Jungle

| last = Poettering

| first = Lennart

| publisher = 0pointer.de/blog

| date = 2008-09-24

| access-date = 2014-03-04}}

Physics engines, audio libraries, that are available as modules for game engines, have been available for Linux for a long time.{{Time needed|date=October 2019}}{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}

The book Programming Linux Games covers a couple of the available APIs suited for video game development for Linux, while The Linux Programming Interface covers the Linux kernel interfaces in much greater detail.

Beside majority of the software which acts as an interface to various subsystems of the operating system, there is also software which can be simply described as middleware. A multitude of companies exist worldwide, whose main or only product is software that is meant to be licensed and integrated into a game engine. Their primary target is the video game industry, but the film industry also utilizes such software for special effects. Some very few well known examples are

• classical physics: Havok, Newton Game Dynamics and PhysX
• audio: Audiokinetic Wwise, FMOD
• other: SpeedTree

A significant share of the available middleware already runs natively on Linux, only a very few run exclusively on Linux.

Numerous source code editors and IDEs are available for Linux, among which are Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, Code::Blocks, Qt Creator, Emacs, or Vim.

A multi-monitor setup is supported on Linux at least by AMD Eyefinity & AMD Catalyst, Xinerama and RandR on both X11 and Wayland. Serious Sam 3: BFE is one example of a game that runs natively on Linux and supports very high resolutions and is validated by AMD to support their Eyefinity.{{cite web |url=http://support.amd.com/en-us/recommended/eyefinity-software |title=AMD Eyefinity Validated and Ready Software}} Civilization V is another example, it even runs on a "Kaveri" desktop APU in 3x1 portrait mode.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0BN20BnRbg |url-status=dead |title=Multi-monitor: Civilization V on A10-7850K "Kaveri" |website=YouTube |access-date=July 2, 2014 |archive-date=August 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807161031/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Q0BN20BnRbg }}

The specifications of the Mumble protocol are freely available and there are BSD-licensed implementations for both servers and clients. The positional audio API of Mumble is supported by e.g. Cube 2: Sauerbraten.

File:PlayOnLinux-Screenshot.png helps make Wine gaming accessible.]]

{{Main|Wine (software)}}

Wine is a compatibility layer that provides binary compatibility and makes it possible to run software, that was written and compiled for Microsoft Windows, on Linux. The Wine project hosts a user-submitted application database (known as Wine AppDB) that lists programs and games along with ratings and reviews which detail how well they run with Wine. Wine AppDB also has a commenting system, which often includes instructions on how to modify a system to run a certain game which cannot run on a normal or default configuration. Many games are rated as running flawlessly, and there are also many other games that can be run with varying degrees of success. The use of Wine for gaming has proved controversial in the Linux community as some feel it is preventing, or at least hindering, the further growth of native gaming on the platform.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/may01/wine/ |title=Ports vs. Wine |publisher=GameSpy |last=Hills |first=James |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010511055620/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/may01/wine/ |archive-date=May 11, 2001 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=linux_gaming_frank&num=3|title=An Interview With A Linux Game Porter|publisher=Phoronix|date=July 3, 2009|last=Larabel|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Larabel}}

File:The_ScummVM_GUI_with_the_"modern_remastered"_skin.png has enabled numerous games to be run on Linux both commercially and by hobbyists.]]

There are numerous emulators for Linux. There are also APIs, virtual machines, and machine emulators that provide binary compatibility:

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Anbox and Waydroid for the Android operating system;
• Basilisk II for the 68040 Mac;
• DOSBox and DOSEMU for MS-DOS and compatibles;
• DeSmuME and melonDS for the Nintendo DS;
• Dolphin for the GameCube, Wii, and the Triforce;
• FCEUX, Nestopia and TuxNES for the Nintendo Entertainment System;
• Flashpoint for Adobe Flash;
• Frotz for Z-Machine text adventures;
• Fuse for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum;
• Hatari for the Atari ST, STe, TT and Falcon;
• gnuboy for the Nintendo Game Boy and Game Boy Color;
• MAME for arcade games (and previously MESS for multiple hardware platforms);
• Mednafen and Xe emulating multiple hardware platforms including some of the above;
• Mupen64Plus and the no longer actively developed original Mupen64 for the Nintendo 64;
• PCSX-Reloaded, pSX and the Linux port of ePSXe for the PlayStation;
• Neko Project for the NEC PC-9801;
• PCSX2 for the PlayStation 2;
• PPSSPP for the PlayStation Portable;
• ScummVM for LucasArts and various other adventure games;
• SheepShaver for the PowerPC Macintosh;
• Snes9x, higan and ZSNES for the Super NES;
• Stella for the Atari 2600;
• UAE for the Amiga;
• VICE for the Commodore 64, 128, VIC-20, Plus/4 and PET;
• VisualBoyAdvance, mGBA and Boycott Advance for the Game Boy Advance;
• Mini vMac and the no longer actively developed original vMac for the 680x0 Macintosh;

{{Div col end}}

{{Main|Homebrew (video games)}}

Linux has been ported to several game consoles, including the Xbox, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4,{{cite web|url = https://fail0verflow.com/blog/2015/console-hacking-2015-liner-notes.html|title = Console Hacking 2015: Liner Notes|publisher = fail0verflow.com|date = 30 Dec 2015|access-date = 2016-01-02}} GameCube,{{cite web |url=http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/Main_Page |title=Gamecube Linux Wiki |publisher=Gc-linux.org |access-date=2010-08-18 |archive-date=March 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313040312/http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/Main_Page |url-status=dead }} and Wii which allows game developers without an expensive game development kit to access console hardware. Several gaming peripherals also work with Linux.{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=ODY1Mw|title=A Gaming Mouse Vendor That Has Linux Drivers|publisher=Phoronix|date=October 5, 2010|last=Larabel|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Larabel}}{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=OTg3NA|title=Roccat Linux Support Keeps Coming|publisher=Phoronix|date=September 5, 2011|last=Larabel|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Larabel}}

Linux gaming can be divided into a number of sub-categories.{{cite web|url=https://blog.eldernode.com/is-linux-good-for-gaming/|title=Is Linux Good For Gaming?|website=Eldernode|first=Marilyn|last=Bisson|date=October 19, 2020 |access-date=2023-03-20}}{{cite web|url=https://opensource.com/article/21/2/linux-gaming|website=Opensource.com|title=3 ways to play video games on Linux|first=Seth|last=Kenlon|date=2021-02-07|access-date=2023-03-20}}{{cite web|url=https://www.unixmen.com/options-for-linux-gamers/|title=Options for Linux Gamers|first=M.|last=Zinoune|website=Unixmen|access-date=2023-03-19}}

Libre gaming is a form of Linux gaming that emphasizes libre software, which often includes levels and assets as well as code.{{cite web |last=Marchant|first=Layla |title=The Gaming Trap|url=http://onpon4.github.io/articles/gaming-trap.html|website=The Diligent Circle|via=GitHub Pages|access-date=2021-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191125215630/http://onpon4.github.io/articles/gaming-trap.html|archive-date=2019-11-25|url-status=dead}}{{Self-published inline|date=May 2023}}{{cite web |last=Lunduke |first=Bryan |date=2015-10-30 |title=The Gaming Paradox: There just aren't enough Free and Open Source video games |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2999877/the-gaming-paradox-there-just-arent-enough-free-and-open-source-video-games.html |website=Network World|access-date=2023-02-11}}{{irrelevant citation|date=October 2024|reason=Bryan Lunduke's article gives an overview of free and open source video games but nowhere is the term 'Libre gaming' mentioned.}}

Native gaming is a form of Linux gaming that emphasizes using only native games or ports and not using emulators or compatibility layers.{{cite web|url=https://boilingsteam.com/proton-vs-native-is-there-really-a-difference/|title=Proton vs Native: Is There Really A Difference?|website=Boiling Steam|author=podiki|date=2022-02-09|access-date=2023-04-04}}{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011110102425/http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=01/10/23/013232|url=http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=01/10/23/013232|title=Loki's Draeker: Why run Windows games on Linux?|date=2001-10-24|access-date=2023-05-30|archive-date=2001-11-10|first=Grant|last=Gross|website=NewsForge}}

DRM-free gaming is a form of Linux gaming that emphasizes boycotting DRM technologies. This can include buying games from GOG.com, certain Humble Bundles or itch.io and avoiding Steam and similar services.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2018/08/gog-have-gone-on-the-offensive-with-their-new-fck-drm-initiative/|title=GOG have gone on the offensive with their new 'FCK DRM' initiative|first=Liam|last=Dawe|date=2018-08-22|access-date=2023-02-07|website=GamingOnLinux}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2018/07/the-humble-drm-freedom-sale-is-live-plenty-of-linux-titles-available/|title=The Humble DRM-Freedom Sale is live, plenty of Linux titles available|first=Liam|last=Dawe|date=2018-07-02|access-date=2023-02-07|website=GamingOnLinux}}

Terminal gaming is the playing of text-based games from within a console,{{cite web|url=https://blog.eldernode.com/is-linux-good-for-gaming/|title=Is Linux Good For Gaming?|website=Eldernode|first=Marilyn|last=Bisson|date=October 19, 2020 |quote=You can also play through the terminal; Of course, it depends on your expectations and definition of the game! But if the goal is entertainment, the Linux terminal offers you funny and nostalgic choices.}} often programmed within Bash or using libraries such as ncurses.{{cite web|url=https://www.tecmint.com/best-linux-terminal-console-games/|title=12 Amazing Terminal Based Games for Linux Enthusiasts|first=Aaron|last=Kili|date=2016-08-15|access-date=2023-03-19}}{{cite web|url=https://linuxhint.com/command_line_games_for_linux/|website=Linux Hint|title=Best Command Line Games for Linux|first=Nitesh|last=Kumar|date=2021|access-date=2023-03-19}}

Retrogaming is the playing of older games{{cite web|url=https://www.fossmint.com/play-retro-games-on-linux/|title=4 Best Ways to Play Retro Games on Linux|date=2018-08-27|first=Divine|last=Okoi|website=FOSS Mint|access-date=2023-03-20}} using emulators such as MAME or Dosbox,{{cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-ways-play-old-windows-dos-games-linux/|title=7 Ways to Play Old Windows & DOS Games on Linux|website=MakeUseOf|first=Christian|last=Cawley|date=2016-06-28|access-date=2023-02-16}} compatibility layers such as Wine and Proton,{{cite web|url=https://www.myabandonware.com/howto/wine|title=How to play Windows games under Linux|website=My Abandonware|access-date=2023-02-09}} engine reimplementations and source ports,{{cite web|last=Chakraborty|first=Angsuman |date=20 August 2007|title=How To Play Doom, Heretic, Hexen & Strife in Linux (Free)|url=http://tech.gaeatimes.com/index.php/archive/how-to-play-doom-heretic-hexen-strife-in-linux-free/ |website=The Gaea Times|access-date=2022-07-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415141519/http://tech.gaeatimes.com/index.php/archive/how-to-play-doom-heretic-hexen-strife-in-linux-free/ |archive-date=2012-04-15}} or even older Linux distributions (including live CDs and live USB, or virtual machines),{{cite web|url=https://zerker.ca/home/openlinux13.html|title=Running Caldera OpenLinux 1.3 in QEMU|first=Ryan|last=Armstrong|date=2020-12-27|access-date=2023-02-18|website=Zerk Zone}}{{cite web|url=https://boxofcables.dev/corel-linux-1-2/|website=Box of Cables|title=The one in which I kind of get Corel Linux 1.2 to work 21 years later.|first=Hayden|last=Barnes|date=2019-09-07|access-date=2024-05-27}} original binaries,{{cite web|url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/3117295/remembering-lokis-linux-games-from-the-90s.html|title=Remembering Loki's Linux games from the '90s|first=Jim|last=Lynch|website=InfoWorld|date=2016-09-07|access-date=2023-02-26}}

and period hardware.{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Hamish | date=2021-03-22 | title=Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 4: Installing Red Hat Linux 7.3 | url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/03/building-a-retro-linux-gaming-computer-part-4-installing-red-hat-linux-73/| website=GamingOnLinux | access-date=2023-02-02}}

A number of games can be played from live distributions such as Knoppix, allowing easy access for users unwilling to fully commit to Linux.{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Hamish | date=2023-02-20 | title=Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer - Part 26: Coming to You Live | url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/02/building-a-retro-linux-gaming-computer-part-26-coming-to-you-live/| website=GamingOnLinux | access-date=2023-03-01}} Certain live distros have specially targeted gamers, such as SuperGamer and Linux-Gamers.{{cite web|title= SuperGamer, 8GB of Linux-Only Gameplay|url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/supergamer-8gb-linux-only-gameplay|website=Linux Journal|first=Shawn|last=Powers|date=2010-01-14|access-date=2023-03-01}}{{cite web|title=How-to Become a Linux Gamer|url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/how-become-linux-gamer|website=Linux Journal|first=Miguel|last=Hernandez|date=2010-04-29|access-date=2023-03-01}}

Browser gaming is the act of playing online games through a web browser,{{cite web|url=https://www.fosslinux.com/91687/best-browser-games-playing.htm|title=Top 10 browser games you should be playing in 2022|author=Abraham|website=FOSS Linux|date=December 24, 2022 |access-date=2023-03-19}} which has the advantage of largely being platform independent.{{cite web|url=https://computingforgeeks.com/how-linux-gaming-is-going-to-evolve/|website=Computing for Geeks|title=From Valve to the Cloud: How Linux Gaming is Going to Evolve in 2022|first=Josphat|last=Mutai|date=2023-01-05|access-date=2023-03-19}}{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/10/14/6975919/humble-bundle-browser-gaming|title=Forget Windows, forget OS X, forget Linux: Humble Bundle is going truly multiplatform|website=Polygon|first=Ben|last=Kuchera|date=2014-10-14|access-date=2023-03-19}} The same largely applies to social network games hosted on social media sites.{{cite web|url=https://www.unixmen.com/options-for-linux-gamers/|title=Options for Linux Gamers|first=M.|last=Zinoune|website=Unixmen|access-date=2023-03-19|quote=The ever increasing popularity of social gaming is a definite threat to traditional forms of gaming. Social gaming comes in many forms, but an obvious example would be games that can be played on Facebook and other social networking websites where games and statistics can be viewed and shared online with a player’s friends. This form of gaming is very limited as the games that can be played via social networks are usually targeted towards casual gamers and not the hardcore PC type. I don’t see social gaming becoming an immediate threat to native gaming in the near future and will probably remain a casual space.}} Older games were largely based on Adobe Flash,{{cite web|url=https://www.systranbox.com/how-to-play-flash-games-on-linux/|author=Travis|date=2022-10-09|title=How To Play Flash Games On Linux|website=Systran Box|access-date=2023-03-19}} while modern ones are mostly HTML5.{{cite web|url=https://www.ubuntubuzz.com/2017/07/html5-games-are-improving-perfect-for.html|author=ashar_oz|date=2017-07-26|title=HTML5 Games Are Improving - Perfect For Ubuntu & Linux|website=Ubuntu Buzz}}

Cloud gaming is the streaming of games from a central server onto a desktop client.{{cite web|url=https://boilingsteam.com/cloud-gaming-services-explained-and-tested-on-linux/|website=Boiling Steam|title=Cloud Gaming Services: Explained and Tested on Linux|author=markd|date=2020-11-25|access-date=2023-03-19}} This is another way to play games on Linux that are not natively supported,{{cite web|url=https://parsec.app/blog/play-any-pc-game-on-your-linux-machine-with-cloud-gaming-or-game-streaming-a64e9925462f|title=Play Any PC Game On Your Linux Machine With Cloud Gaming Or Game Streaming|website=Parsec|first1=Jamie|last1=Dickson|first2=Benjy|last2=Boxer|access-date=2023-03-19}}{{cite web|url=https://cloud7.news/opinion/why-linux-is-a-more-attractive-gaming-platform/|title=Why Linux is a more attractive gaming platform?|first=Atalay|last=Kelestemur|website=Cloud7 News|date=2023-03-18|access-date=2023-03-19}} although some cloud services, such as the erstwhile Google Stadia,{{cite web|url=https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2019/03/googles-new-game-service-is-based-on-linux-open-source-tech|title=Stadia is Google's New Gaming Service Powered by Linux & Open-Source Tech|website=OMG Ubuntu|first=Joey|last=Sneddon|date=2019-03-19|access-date=2023-03-19}}{{cite web|url=https://wccftech.com/stadia-is-googles-cloud-based-game-platform-powered-by-amd-linux-and-vulkan-due-in-2019/|title=Stadia Is Google's Cloud Based Game Platform; Powered by AMD, Linux and Vulkan, Due in 2019|first=Alessio|last=Palumbo|website=wccftech|date=2019-03-19}} are hosted on Linux{{cite web|url=https://drawcode.eu/blog/cloud-gaming-or-a-good-reason-to-create-linux-version-of-a-game/|title=Cloud Gaming, or a good reason to create Linux version of a game|website=drawcode.eu|date=2012-06-22|author=bapt}}{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/Amazon-Linux-Graphics-Jobs|title=Amazon Is Hiring DXVK, Mesa & Proton Linux Developers For Luna Cloud Gaming in Mesa|first=Michael|last=Larabel|date=2021-12-14|website=Phoronix}} and Android servers.{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/Canonical-Anbox-Cloud|title=Canonical Gets Into Cloud Gaming & More With Anbox Cloud For Cloud-Based Android Apps/Gaming|first=Michael|last=Larabel|website=Phoronix|date=2023-03-19|access-date=2023-03-19}} GamingAnywhere is an open source implementation.{{cite web|url=https://www.helpwire.app/blog/open-source-cloud-gaming/|title=Open source cloud gaming, play remote games for free|website=HelpWire|date=2022-04-26|access-date=2023-03-19}}

Although less exploited than the reverse,{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/how-to-play-windows-games-in-linux/|website=PC Gamer|title=How to play Windows games in Linux|first=Corbin|last=Davenport|date=2019-06-21|access-date=2023-03-18}} as few programs are Linux exclusive,{{cite web|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/hands-on-with-wslg-running-linux-gui-apps-in-windows-10/|title=Hands on with WSLg: Running Linux GUI|website=Bleeping Computer|date=2021-05-29|access-date=2023-03-18|quote=While Hedgewars is not a Linux-only game, I wanted to include it to show that even games can run under WSLg. While WSLg is likely not designed for gaming, the fact that you can play games using it shows the full depth of this new feature.}} support does exist for running Linux binaries from Windows.{{cite web|url=https://www.hpe.com/us/en/insights/articles/3-good-ways-to-run-linux-on-windows-2007.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319033347/https://www.hpe.com/us/en/insights/articles/3-good-ways-to-run-linux-on-windows-2007.html|archive-date=2023-03-19|title=3 good ways to run Linux on Windows|website=Hewlett Packard Enterprise|first=Steven|last=Vaughan-Nichols|date=2020-08-03|access-date=2023-03-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/how-to-run-linux-software-on-windows/|title=How to Run Linux Software on Windows|website=GeeksforGeeks|first=Amruth|last=Kiran|date=2022-11-07|access-date=2022-03-18}} The Windows Subsystem for Linux allows the running of both command line{{cite web|url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/2016/07/22/fun-with-the-windows-subsystem-for-linux/|title=Fun with the Windows Subsystem for Linux|website=Windows Developer|first=Pete|last=Brown|date=2016-07-22|access-date=2023-03-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hanselman.com/blog/building-0verkill-on-windows-10-subsystem-for-linux-2d-ascii-art-deathmatch-game|title=Building 0verkill on Windows 10 Subsystem for Linux - 2D ASCII art deathmatch game|first=Scott|last=Hanselman|date=2018-01-12|access-date=2023-03-18}} and graphical Linux applications{{cite web|url=https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2017/02/08/graphical-programs-on-windows-subsystem-on-linux.aspx|title=Running Graphical Programs on Windows Subsystem on Linux|first=Tom|last=Fenton|website=Virtualization Review|date=2017-02-08|access-date=2023-03-18|quote=Blockout worked flawlessly, which surprised me as it is an extremely graphics-intensive application.}} from Windows 10 and Windows 11.{{cite web|url=https://www.sitepoint.com/wsl2/|title=Windows Subsystem for Linux 2: The Complete Guide for Windows 10 & 11|first=Craig|last=Buckler|website=SitePoint|date=2022-09-01|access-date=2023-03-18}} An earlier implementation is Cygwin,{{cite web|url=https://www.channelfutures.com/open-source/why-microsofts-windows-subsystem-for-linux-is-not-as-novel-as-it-sounds-2|title=Why Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Linux Is Not As Novel As It Sounds|website=Channel Futures|first=Christopher|last=Tozzi|date=2017-09-19|access-date=2023-03-18}} started by Cygnus Solutions and later maintained by Red Hat,{{cite web|url=https://www.redhat.com/sysadmin/hybrid-system-cygwin|title=Creating a Linux-Windows hybrid system with Cygwin|first=Ken|last=Hess|publisher=Red Hat|date=2020-10-29|access-date=2023-03-18}} although it has limited hardware access{{cite web|url=https://www.hamishmb.com/cygwin-review-part-1/|title=Cygwin review part 1: Running Linux programs… on Windows?|first=Hamish|last=McIntyre-Bhatty|date=2018-05-21|access-date=2023-03-18|quote=Can you run games? I have absolutely no idea, but I would guess the answer is no, because of the lack of hardware access. I did have a quick look for games like Neverball and Extreme Tux Racer, but they were nowhere to be found. When I follow this up, I’ll look a bit harder, and maybe try compiling them. Really, it’s kind of pointless, because you could just run the games in Windows.}} and required adaptation.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/03/microsoft-making-linux-apps-run-windows-isnt-crazy/|title=Why Microsoft Making Linux Apps Run on Windows Isn't Crazy|magazine=Wired|first=Klint|last=Finley|date=2016-03-30|access-date=2023-03-18}} The use of Wine can even allow for the running of Windows games on Linux from Windows.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}} The LibTAS library for tool assisted speedruns currently recommends WSL to run on Windows.{{cite web|url=https://clementgallet.github.io/libTAS/faq/|title=LibTAS FAQ|access-date=2023-03-18|quote=If you have Windows 10, the easiest way is to use WSL 2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) to run libTAS. Otherwise, you can install a Linux distribution (e.g. Ubuntu) on a virtual machine (e.g. using VirtualBox).}} Naughty Dog meanwhile have used Cygwin to run old command-line tools for use in their game development,{{cite web|url=https://www.dualshockers.com/naughty-dog-still-uses-old-school-linux-and-cygwin-command-line-tools-tlou-panel-coming-next-week/|title=Naughty Dog Still Uses Old School Linux and Cygwin Command Line Tools; TLOU Panel Coming Next Week|website=DualShockers|first=Giuseppe|last=Nelva|date=2014-06-06|access-date=2023-03-18}} which is a broader use for the platform.{{cite web|url=https://www.noquarterarcade.com/using-cygwin-for-sdl-development/|title=Using Cygwin for SDL Development|website=No Quarter Arcade|access-date=2023-03-18}} As with running Windows applications on Linux, there is controversy over whether running Linux applications on Windows will dilute interest in Linux as distinct platform,{{cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/pros-cons-windows-subsystem-for-linux/|title=The Pros and Cons of Using Windows Subsystem for Linux|website=MakeUseOf|first=David|last=Delony|date=2022-01-21|access-date=2023-03-18}} though it has speciality uses.{{cite web|url=https://www.techrepublic.com/article/linux-on-windows-this-new-upgrade-allows-you-to-run-graphical-apps-simply-and-effectively/|title=Linux on Windows: This new upgrade allows you to run graphical apps simply and effectively|website=Tech Republic|first=Simon|last=Bisson|date=2021-04-23|access-date=2023-03-18|quote=Mesa3D support should help developers using WSL 2 to port games to Linux, as well as allowing complex Unix CAD applications and other design tooling to use WSLg to work on Windows, without needing a full port. If you’re worried about application support, we’ve yet to find anything that didn’t work over WSLg. We’ve been able to run Ubuntu desktop tools, classic Unix games like Nethack’s X11 port, Linux games from Steam, a host of different editors and IDEs, the LibreOffice productivity suite, as well as Microsoft’s own Edge browser (using it to stream video and audio). The experience of using Linux applications on Windows is much like running Windows applications on macOS via Parallels.}}

Originally derived from Linux, the Android mobile operating system has a distinct and popular gaming ecosystem.{{cite web|url=https://www.nextpit.com/how-i-learned-to-love-android-gaming|title=A player's journey: How I learned to love Android gaming|first=Nicholas|last=Montegriffo|website=NextPit|date=2017-10-30|access-date=2023-04-26}} It has also been used as the base for several game consoles, such as the Nvidia Shield Portable and the Ouya.{{cite web|url=https://joyofandroid.com/best-android-game-consoles/|title=The 4 Best Android Game Consoles Out Right Now|author=Kian|website=Joy of Android|date=2022-12-20|access-date=2023-04-26}} Popular games include Pokemon Go, Genshin Impact, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Dead Cells and Call of Duty: Mobile.{{cite web |website=Android Authority|title=15 best Android games available right now|url=https://www.androidauthority.com/best-android-games-316202/|first=Joe|last=Hindy|date=2023-04-01|access-date=2023-04-26}} Certain games, such as Minecraft, Stardew Valley, and Papers Please, are available for both Android and desktop Linux.{{cite web|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/best-android-games/|title=Best Android games in 2023: Top picks across every category|website=Android Police|first=Matthew|last=Sholtz|date=2023-04-19|access-date=2023-04-26}}

ChromeOS is another Linux derived operating system by Google for its Chromebooks,{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/chromebook/are-chromebooks-good-for-gaming/|title=Are Chromebooks Good for Gaming?|website=Google|access-date=2024-02-25}} and it too has a dedicated gaming ecosystem.{{cite web|url=https://www.pocket-lint.com/laptops/news/159848-chromebook-gaming-everything-you-need-to-know/|website=Pocket Lint|title=Chromebook gaming: Everything you need to know|first=Luke|last=Baker|date=2022-01-30|access-date=2024-02-25}}{{cite web|url=https://chromeready.com/8047/chrome-os-great-games/|website=Chrome Ready|title=How Chrome OS is great for gaming Chromebooks can be easily picked up for gaming now|first=Matt|last=Dalton|date=2022-03-30|access-date=2024-02-25}} Partly owing to a lack of high end graphics hardware,{{cite web|url=https://www.laptopmag.com/news/best-chromebooks-for-gaming|title=Best gaming Chromebooks 2024|first=Hilda|last=Scott|date=2023-01-02|access-date=2024-02-25|website=Laptop Mag}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-chromebooks-for-gaming|title=The Best Chromebooks for Gaming in 2024|first=Brian|last=Westover|date=2023-11-22|access-date=2024-02-25|website=PCMag}} it is especially oriented towards cloud gaming{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/games/google-supports-cloud-gaming-chromebook-laptops-for-gamers/|title=Google supports cloud-gaming Chromebook laptops for gamers|first=Dean|last=Takahashi|date=2022-10-11|access-date=2024-02-25|website=Venture Beat}} via services like GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming,{{cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/geforce-now-comes-to-chromeos/|website=The Gamer|title=GeForce NOW Comes To ChromeOS|first=Sean|last=Murray|date=2020-08-18|access-date=2024-02-25}}{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/11/google-introduces-chromebooks-geared-for-cloud-gaming/|website=Tech Crunch|title=Google introduces Chromebooks geared for cloud gaming|first=Ivan|last=Mehta|date=2022-10-11|access-date=2024-02-25}} with models featuring Nvidia GPUs ultimately being cancelled.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/gaming-chromebooks-with-nvidia-gpus-apparently-killed-with-little-fanfare/|title="Gaming Chromebooks" with Nvidia GPUs apparently killed with little fanfare|first=Andrew|last=Cunningham|date=2023-08-18|website=Ars Technica|access-date=2024-02-25}} Numerous games for Android have also been made compatible with ChromeOS,{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/2/23333400/google-chromeos-touch-android-games-keyboard-controls|title=A new ChromeOS gaming overlay puts touch-based Android games on your PC|first=Richard|last=Lawler|website=The Verge|date=2022-09-02|access-date=2024-02-25}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/23786958/chromebook-chrome-gaming-how-to|title=How to run games on a Chromebook|website=The Verge|first=David|last=Nield|date=2023-07-08|access-date=2024-02-25}} as well as a standard Linux games,{{cite web|url=https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2020/07/ubuntu-steam-chromebook-gaming|title=Steam is Coming to Chromebooks with Ubuntu-based "Borealis" Feature|first=Joey|last=Sneddon|date=2020-07-02|access-date=2024-02-25|website=OMG Ubuntu}}{{cite web|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2021/04/15/vulkan-api-support-could-improve-linux-apps-and-games-performance-on-chromebooks/|title=Your Chromebook will be getting a massive gaming performance boost soon|first=Kent|last=Duke|date=2021-04-15|access-date=2024-02-25|website=Android Police}}{{cite web|url=https://chromeunboxed.com/how-to-play-games-in-your-chromebooks-linux-terminal/|title=How to play open-source retro games in your Chromebook's Linux terminal|date=2022-04-22|first=Michael|last=Perrigo|website=Chrome Unboxed|access-date=2024-02-25}} Windows games via Wine or Proton,{{cite web|url=https://chromeos.dev/en/posts/windows-games-on-chromeos|title=Windows games on ChromeOS with Proton|first=Renato|last=Pereyra|date=2023-01-24|access-date=2024-02-25|website=ChromeOS}}{{cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/install-windows-programs-on-chromebooks/|title=How to Install Windows Programs and Games on Chromebooks|first=Mihir|last=Patkar|website=MakeUseOf|date=2018-02-20|access-date=2024-02-25}}{{cite web|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2021/08/06/steam-for-chromebooks-could-be-right-around-the-corner/|title=Steam for Chromebooks could be right around the corner|first=Will|last=Sattelberg|date=2021-08-06|access-date=2024-02-25|website=Android Police}} and with browser games also being popular.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/play-games-on-your-chromebook|website=PCMag|title=How to Play Games on Your Chromebook|first1=Whitson|last1=Gordon|first2=Jason|last2=Cohen|date=2024-02-21|access-date=2024-02-25}} A version of Steam has been in development for ChromeOS,{{cite web|url=https://www.neowin.net/news/steam-enters-beta-on-chromeos-108-following-seven-month-alpha-period/|website=NeoWin|title=Steam enters beta on ChromeOS 108 following seven-month alpha period|first=Paul|last=Hill|date=2022-11-03|access-date=2024-02-25}} with third party launchers also available such as the Heroic Games Launcher for the Epic Games Store.{{cite web|url=https://blog.crosexperts.com/playing-epic-games-on-chromeos-835477e4f3f0|title=Playing Epic Games on ChromeOS - A Heroic Games Launcher Tutorial|first=Ian|last=Williams|website=CrosExperts|date=2022-09-19|access-date=2024-02-25}} Popular titles include Among Us, Genshin Impact, Alto's Odyssey, Roblox, and Fortnite.{{cite web|url=https://www.xda-developers.com/best-games-chrome-os/|title=Best ChromeOS games in 2023|first1=Richard|last1=Devine|first2=Arif|last2=Bacchus|date=2024-01-06|access-date=2024-02-25|website=XDA-Developers}}{{cite web|website=Laptop Mag|url=https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/best-chromebook-games|title=Best Chromebook games 2024|first1=Henry T.|last1=Casey|first2=Shamar|last2=Washington|date=2023-12-26|access-date=2024-02-25}}{{cite web|url=https://techpp.com/2023/08/29/chromebook-games/|website=TechPP|title=Top 10 Games to Play on Chromebook|first=Suman|last=Chakraborty|date=2023-08-29|access-date=2024-02-25}}{{cite web|url=https://chromeready.com/22299/top-10-pc-games-to-dive-into-on-your-chromeos/|title=Top 10 PC games to dive into on your ChromeOS|website=Chrome Ready|first=Matt|last=Dalton|date=2023-09-16|access-date=2024-02-24}} Skepticism remains for using ChromeOS and Chromebooks as gaming machines.{{cite web|url=https://www.laptopmag.com/news/steam-on-chromebooks-is-a-joke-5-reasons-it-hasnt-gotten-an-official-release|title=Steam on Chromebooks is a joke — 5 reasons it hasn't gotten an official release|first=Kimberly|last=Gedeon|date=2023-08-24|access-date=2024-02-25|website=Laptop Mag}}{{cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/features/so-called-gaming-chromebooks-are-a-con-heres-why|title=So-called 'gaming Chromebooks' are a con – here's why|first=Christian|last=Guyton|date=2022-12-10|access-date=2024-02-25|website=Tech Radar}}{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/home-entertainment/lenovo-ideapad-gaming-chromebook-review/|title=Lenovo's IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook proves hardware isn't what's holding back cloud gaming|first=Michael|last=Gariffo|date=2022-12-01|access-date=2024-02-25|website=ZDNET}}

Owing to a common Unix-like heritage and free software ethos, many games for Linux are also ported to BSD variants{{cite web|first=Solène|last=Rapenne|title=Top 12 best opensource games available on OpenBSD|url=https://dataswamp.org/~solene/2021-03-07-openbsd-best-games.html|website=Data Swamp|date=2021-03-07|access-date=2023-02-06}} or can be run using compatibility layers such as Linuxulator.{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Larabel|title=Running Steam's Linux Build On FreeBSD Is Becoming Increasingly Capable For Gaming|url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/Steam-FreeBSD-2021|website=Phoronix|date=2021-03-07|access-date=2023-02-07}} BSDi had partnered with Loki Software to ensure its Linux ports ran on FreeBSD.{{cite web|url=https://www.linux.com/news/loki-and-bsdi-partner-certify-linux-games-bsd/|website=Linux.com|title=Loki and BSDi partner to certify Linux games for BSD|first=JT|last=Smith|date=2000-08-15|access-date=2023-07-01}} The Mizutamari launcher exists to facilitate running Windows games through Wine,{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Larabel|title=Homura Is A Windows Game Launcher For FreeBSD - Supports Steam, Origin, UPlay + More|url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/Homura-FreeBSD-Gaming|website=Phoronix|date=2019-09-22|access-date=2023-02-09}} which can still be used standalone.{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Larabel|title=Steam Gaming On PC-BSD|url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/MTg2MjQ|website=Phoronix|date=2014-12-14|access-date=2023-03-01}} A 2011 benchmark by Phoronix even found certain speed advantages over running games on Linux itself, comparing PC-BSD 8.2 to Ubuntu 11.04.{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Larabel|title=FreeBSD: A Faster Platform For Linux Gaming Than Linux?|url=https://www.phoronix.com/review/linux_games_bsd/2|website=Phoronix|date=2011-09-07|access-date=2023-02-09}} Most BSD systems come with the same pack in desktop games as Linux.{{cite web|url=http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/bsd/2001/03/22/Big_Scary_Daemons.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120071320/http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/bsd/2001/03/22/Big_Scary_Daemons.html|archive-date=2018-01-20|first=Michael|last=Lucas|date=2001-03-22|access-date=2023-07-09|website=ONLamp|title=FreeBSD Gaming|quote=If you're running KDE or Gnome, you already have a few simple games installed. I'm not a fan of either desktop -- both strike me as bloated and obtuse -- but their games packages are a nice way to pick up a dozen simple favorites such as Solitaire, Asteroids, and Tetris.}} The permissive licensing of BSD has also lead to its inclusion in the system software of several game consoles, such as the Sony PlayStation line{{Cite web |date=2011-07-17 |title=Tweak It: PS3 GameOS |url=https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2011/07/17/tweak-it-ps3-gameos/ |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=TheSixthAxis |language=en-US}}{{cite web|last=Anthony|first=Sebastian|title=PS4 runs Orbis OS, a modified version of FreeBSD that's similar to Linux|url=http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/159476-ps4-runs-orbis-os-a-modified-version-of-freebsd-thats-similar-to-linux|publisher=ExtremeTech|date=2013-06-24|access-date=2023-03-20|archive-date=2020-11-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118102620/http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/159476-ps4-runs-orbis-os-a-modified-version-of-freebsd-thats-similar-to-linux|url-status=live}} and the Nintendo Switch.{{Cite web|url=http://wololo.net/2017/03/09/hackers-know-nintendo-switch-far/|title=What hackers know of the Nintendo Switch so far|date=9 March 2017|website=Wololo.net|access-date=13 March 2017}}

HarmonyOS with custom kernel{{cite web |last=Shabir |first=Swaira |date=2021-07-25 |title=Mini World: First Native HarmonyOS Game Now Available On AppGallery |url=https://www.technologytimes.pk/2021/07/25/mini-world-first-native-harmonyos-game-now-available-on-appgallery/ |access-date=2023-04-26}} and OpenHarmony-Oniro based operating systems distros{{cite web |last=Bates |first=Kryzt |date=2023-04-10 |title=Developed based on the Cocos 2dx engine, the game "Happy Match" was successfully ported to OpenHarmony |url=https://www.gamingdeputy.com/developed-based-on-the-cocos-2dx-engine-the-game-happy-match-was-successfully-ported-to-openharmony/ |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Gaming Deputy}} of these newer platforms has a dedicated gaming ecosystem with compatibilities with third-party Linux libraries by developers on Linux kernel subsystem such as musl-libc of C standard library that targets the Linux syscall and POSIX APIs compatibility for native compatible games as well as limited virtual machines such as Android-based sandboxed ones.{{Citation |title=openharmony/third_party_musl |date=2022-01-08 |url=https://github.com/openharmony/third_party_musl |access-date=2024-07-07 |publisher=OpenHarmony}}{{Citation |last=Blonia |title=SleepEatCoding/VirtualAndroidForHMOSNext |date=2024-06-28 |url=https://github.com/SleepEatCoding/VirtualAndroidForHMOSNext |access-date=2024-07-07}}

{{See also|Mac gaming}}

A further niche exists for running games, either through ports or lxrun,{{cite magazine|last=Chalmers|first=Rachel|date=June 1999|title=Sun Releases Tool To Make Linux Apps Run On Solaris|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3I_9M0DRtT4C|magazine=AUUGEN|page=29|location=Australia|publisher=AUUG|access-date=2023-03-05|quote=But the real strength of Linux over Solaris is the availability of games. Kay reveals, "If you've got a developer who's been doing heads-down coding for hours, they might want to take a break to use the latest greatest games," she chuckles. "If games are available on Linux now you can get them and use them on your new Solaris workstation. Managers like making sure that kind of thing is available to their creative end users."}} on Solaris{{cite web|url=http://sungames.com:80/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914144058/http://sungames.com:80/|title=Fun in the Sun|website=Sun Games|archive-date=2018-09-14|access-date=2023-03-01}} and derivatives such as OpenIndiana,{{cite web|url=https://blogs.oracle.com/solaris/post/games|title=Games|website=Oracle Solaris Blog|date=2008-10-30|access-date=2023-02-28}} Darwin distributions such as PureDarwin,{{cite web|url=http://src.gnu-darwin.org/ports/games/|title=Games|website=GNU-Darwin|access-date=2023-03-03}} Coherent,{{cite web|url=https://itsfoss.com/coherent-operating-system/|title=Getting Nostalgic With the Historical Coherent Operating System|website=It's FOSS|first=Bill|last=Dyer|date=2022-12-28|quote=For a small package, it was remarkably complete. Not only was it a standalone operating system, but came with a big box of goodies, such as a Bourne Shell, C compiler, assembler, debugger, DOS disk support, uucp, at least three editors, some games, mail, and around 200 of the most used and useful UNIX commands.}} SerenityOS,{{cite web|url=https://ports.serenityos.net/#a-games|title=SerenityOS Ports - Games|access-date=2023-03-05}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gearrice.com/update/serenityos-the-90s-windows-like-unix-system-built-from-scratch-by-one-man-as-a-therapeutic-project/|website=Gearrice|title=SerenityOS, the 90's Windows-like Unix system built from scratch by one man as a therapeutic project|first=Adam|last=Straker|date=2022-08-26|access-date=2023-03-05|quote=Among the ports already available we can find those of several popular video games such as Quake (I and II), Half-Life (since last January), Doom or VVVVVV, which complement own developments of the project’s collaborators}} Redox OS,{{cite web|url=https://doc.redox-os.org/book/ch02-04-trying-out-redox.html|title=Trying Out Redox|website=Redox OS|access-date=2023-04-25}}{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/Redox-OS-Porting-Plans|website=Phoronix|title=The Current State & Plans For Porting Linux/BSD Software To Redox OS|first=Michael|last=Larabel|date=2024-02-13|access-date=2024-02-24|quote=While not yet having accelerated graphics and their Wayland support is still some ways out, they have ported some games/emulators to Redox OS already like DOSBox, Neverball, OpenTTD, ScummVM, 2048, and others.}} ToaruOS,{{cite web|url=https://codewalr.us/index.php?topic=1700.0|website=codewalr.us|title= ToaruOS - Unix-like "hobby" operating system|author=gameblabla|date=2016-11-08|access-date=2023-04-25|quote=I ported Helicopters, one of my games, just to show you how easy you can port games to it.}} Xv6,{{cite web|url=https://fuel.edby.coffee/posts/how-we-ported-xv6-os-to-a-home-built-cpu-with-a-home-built-c-compiler/|website=Fuelled by Coffee|first=Takaya|last=Saeki|date=2020-10-04|access-date=2023-04-25|title=How we ran a Unix-like OS (Xv6) on our home-built CPU with our home-built C compiler|quote=However, some teams put more energy into doing fun such as running games or playing music by connecting a speaker with their CPU. Group 6, to which I belonged, was a group of such people who loved entertainment, and we decided to run an OS as our team goal.}} Fiwix,{{cite web|url=https://www.fiwix.org/packages.html|title=Packages|website=Fiwix|access-date=2023-04-25|quote=lxdoom-1.4.4}} or on Minix{{cite web|url=https://wiki.minix3.org/doku.php?id=developersguide:portingnetbsduserland|title=Porting NetBSD Userland to MINIX 3|date=2018-10-28|website=MINIX 3 Wiki|access-date=2023-03-03}} and Hurd based systems.{{cite web|url=https://alioth-lists.debian.net/pipermail/pkg-games-devel/2012-July/023651.html|title=Bug#679330: marked as done (ioquake3: Add support for GNU/Hurd)|website=Debian|date=2012-07-05|access-date=2023-03-04}} There has been some cross-pollination with purely proprietary Unix derivatives,{{cite web|url=https://dl.acm.org/doi/fullHtml/10.5555/774727.774728|website=ACM Digital Library|title=Game Programming with the Simple DirectMedia Layer|first=Bob|last=Pendleton|quote=SDL officially supports Linux, Windows, BeOS, Mac OS, Mac OS X, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, BSD/OS, Solaris and IRIX. SDL also works with Windows CE, AmigaOS, Atari, QNX, NetBSD, AIX, Tru64 UNIX and SymbianOS. However, those OSes are not yet officially supported. This means if you write your application using SDL, you can port it with minimal rework to all those OSes. SDL provides a portable way to write games and multimedia applications on every major OS currently in use.}} such as AIX,{{cite web|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/134901/the-nightmare-of-getting-doom-running-on-powerpc-aix/|title=The nightmare of getting DOOM running on PowerPC AIX|website=OSNews|first=Thom|last=Holwerda|date=2022-05-21|access-date=2023-03-05}} QNX,{{cite web|url=https://hackaday.com/2017/05/03/your-next-desktop-qnx/|title=Your Next Desktop… QNX?|website=Hackaday|first=Al|last=Williams|date=2017-05-03|access-date=2023-03-05|quote=The rest of the adventure went fairly well. He managed to build SDL and port over some games.}} Domain/OS,{{cite web|url=https://cyber.dabamos.de/programming/fortran/computer-games/|website=The Cyber Vanguard|title=FORTRAN Computer Games|date=2022-11-18|quote=Remake of Battle Zone (1986) by Justin S. Revenaugh for Apollo Domain/OS, using the GPR graphics library. The game was later ported as XBZONE to X11.}} HP-UX,{{cite web|url=http://hpux.connect.org.uk/hppd/hpux/Games/Arcade/|title=Games/Arcade|website=HP-UX Porting and Archive Centre|access-date=2023-03-04}} IRIX (see here),{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320130133/http://www.sgi.com/fun/freeware/games.html|url=http://www.sgi.com/fun/freeware/games.html|title=SGI - Freeware - Games|archive-date=2007-03-20|access-date=2023-03-04}}{{cite web|url=http://www.supertuxkart.de/stkirix.html|title=SuperTuxKart IRIX Screenshots|website=SupterTuxKart.de|access-date=2023-03-04}} Xenix,{{cite web|url=https://www.linux-magazine.com/index.php/Issues/2021/246/Remembering-XENIX/(offset)/9|title=Exploring Microsoft's forgotten Unix distribution|first=John|last=Knight|website=Linux Magazine|issue=#246|date=May 2021|access-date=2023-03-18|quote=Thankfully XENIX users weren't all business, and there are at least a few games available for the system. Although the IMG file from Archive.org wouldn't work, we found a working disk image from YouTube user MentionedBefore, who provides a link below his XENIX 2.3.1 VirtualBox tutorial. The disk comes with Worms (not the famous DOS game!), Rogue, Hack, and Trek, plus fortune and mathrec. (And there is a terminal-based version of Tetris somewhere out there!) Once installed, the executables for the games/amusements are found under /usr/games}} SCO Unix,{{cite web|url=https://www.sco.com/skunkware/x11/games/|title=Caldera Skunkware X11 Games|website=SCO Skunkware|date=2001-07-06|access-date=2023-03-05}} Unixware,{{cite magazine|first1=James|last1=Armstrong|first2=Les|last2=Kent|title=32-bit desktop operating systems|date=1993-11-22|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ATsEAAAAMBAJ|page=75|magazine=InfoWorld|location=United States|publisher=IDG Communications, Inc.|access-date=2023-03-05|quote=Once a user is logged in, a window displays a number of icons that group some standard applications: Accessories, Applications, Preferences, Disks, Games, Shutdown, System Setup, Utilities, and Folder Maps. User can open any file or folder by double clicking on the appropriate icon.}} Tru64 UNIX,{{cite web|url=https://wiki.classe.cornell.edu/Computing/Tru64Freeware|title=Open Source Software Collection for Tru64 UNIX V5.1A|website=CLASSE|date=2014-12-09|access-date=2023-03-05}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.com/1999/09/06/1_6ghz_alpha/|title=1.6GHz Alpha to be fastest Quake chip on planet|website=The Register|first=Mike|last=Magee|date=1999-09-06|access-date=2023-03-05|quote=The beast is not designed for Windows - its OS preference a version of real time Tru64 using current OpenGL for the platform. Real time versions of Tru64 might be used in a high end arcade game console, with workstations using a more "normal" Tru64 Unix with OpenGL. Quake and Quake 2 are native on Alpha Linux platforms.}} LynxOS (which features inbuilt Linux compatibility{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/lynx-linux-lynux/|website=ZDNET|title=Lynx + Linux = ... Lynux|first=Rick|last=Lehrbaum|date=2000-05-08|access-date=2023-03-05}}), Ultrix,{{cite web|url=http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/ultrix-32/4.0_Jun90/AA-MF05B-TE_Reference_Pages_for_Unsupported_Software_Jun90.pdf|publisher=Digital Equipment Corporation|title=ULTRIX - Reference Pages for Unsupported Software|quote=Section 6: Games - The reference pages in this section describe the games that are available in the unsupported software subset.|date=June 1990|access-date=2023-03-18}} OpenVMS,{{cite web|url=http://decwarch.free.fr/decw.html|title=Thematic Download Pages|website=The DECWindows Archive|first=Patrick|last=Moreau|date=2003-01-02|access-date=2023-04-07}}{{cite web|url=https://www.openvmshobbyist.com/downloads.php?cat_id=3|title=Downloads: Games|website=OpenVMS Hobbyist Program|access-date=2023-04-07}} z/OS UNIX System Services,{{cite web|url=https://ecc.marist.edu/documents/355984/2180584/Kippins%2C+Aaron+Slides+Minecraft+on+Z.pdf/82ddfae0-eea8-4930-9741-4148e6dea6d2|title=Minecraft on Z/OS|first1=Aaron|last1=Kippins|first2=Charlie|last2=Ropes|first3=Brad|last3=Huntington|publisher=IBM Corporation|date=2020-05-21|access-date=2023-03-17}} and even A/UX.{{cite web|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/134966/porting-doom-to-a-ux/|title=Porting Doom to A/UX|website=OSNews|first=Thom|last=Holwerda|date=2022-06-09|access-date=2024-01-28}} The games Doom and Quake were developed by id Software on NeXTStep,{{cite web|url=https://posts.boy.sh/fiddling-with-nextstep|title=Fiddling with NeXTSTEP|website=posts.boy|date=2011-12-29|access-date=2023-03-18|quote=This screenshot shows Facebook, looking rather broken, and DOOM in the front. id Software used NeXT systems to create the famous first person shooter. Relying on the Objective-C based development environment to create most of the tools, like the level editor.}} a forerunner of modern macOS,{{cite web|url=https://www.howtogeek.com/698532/before-mac-os-x-what-was-nextstep-and-why-did-people-love-it/|title=Before Mac OS X: What Was NeXTSTEP, and Why Did People Love It?|first=Benj|last=Edwards|website=How-To-Geek|date=2020-08-24|access-date=2023-03-18}} before being ported to DOS and back to numerous other Unix variants.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wel6DwAAQBAJ|title=Game Engine Black Book: DOOM|first=Fabien|last=Sanglard|date=2018-12-10|page=103 | chapter=Chapter 3: NeXT | isbn=978-1099819773 }} This involved reaching out to numerous Unix vendors to supply machines to use in the build and testing process.{{cite web|url=https://www.talisman.org/~erlkonig/misc/ddt.shtml|website=GA-Source|title=Interviews - Dave Taylor, Transmeta|first=James|last=Hills|date=1999-06-19|access-date=2023-03-21|quote=Anyway, so it felt almost natural to do weird things. Here was a company where hundreds of thousands of dollars changed hands depending on moods and stories, Nextstep was the development environment, and showing up to work and seeing something truly miraculous in John Carmack's office or the art room about once a week was the norm. So when I started calling various workstation vendors like IBM, Sun, SGI, and asking they send workstations in exchange for typing "make", no one was terribly surprised. It was just one more of the weekly miracles, and a lesser one at that. "Oh look. There's our game running in a window on 5 architectures and as many OS's. Huh."}}

{{Portal|Free and open-source software|Video games}}

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{{Reflist|30em}}{{Commons category|Linux video games}}

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