Gamer making the swap, which Version?
Posted by Retribution_Resolute@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 42 comments
To make a long story short, Microsoft is missing me off woth their constant bloatware that they keep adding to the OS. So, I've decided to make the leap into Linux, but I'm unsure what version I should really go for?
I use AMD GPU and CPU, if that matters, and I mostly use my PC for gaming
ProposalIcy5845@reddit
My favorite gaming os is windows, but its up to u
Historical_Move6359@reddit
There are 3 great gaming distros. CachyOS, Nobara and Bazzite. Also Pop_OS
hotohoritasu@reddit
Go with Cachy, It's very popular and well maintained which are the most important things on a linux distribution when it comes to newcomers. Where there's a lot of people there's a lot of information about potential problems. Use KDE when choosing a dektop enviroment and you should be very comfortable.
logic-sec@reddit
Pop_OS idk why no one is recommending it
Ramiraz80@reddit
Because it is not stable software at the moment...
See more here: https://youtu.be/MwZq2_J_lSY?is=Que25_S005PW4-0Y
kaddkaka@reddit
Why are you recommending it?
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kubenqpl@reddit
For games Bazzite is the easiest option
laczek_hubert@reddit
Fedora is harder but better and easier bc none of the immutable bs
UltraPoci@reddit
"Fedora is harder but easier" ok
vaynefox@reddit
It is harder for first time users since you do have to do some tinkering to make it work better, but once you get past that, it is easier to use....
Maleficent-One1712@reddit
Arch is even harder and easier
KaosC57@reddit
I am a firm CachyOS Stan for gaming and general desktop use. It’s easy to get into and has a single-click “Give me all the gaming packages” button when you first launch your installed OS.
On top of that, the CachyOS wiki is very easy to understand and even gives good advice on how to manually partition your disk for installing CachyOS, so you can use a separate drive for your /home directory (think of /home as your main place where things go, using a separate drive for it means that your entire root and boot directory could go up in flames, but your /home is safe, so you could just reinstall the OS and make new /boot and / directories and be fine)
I’ve been using CachyOS for fairly close to a year, and it has been a wonderful experience. Especially now that Shelly is the main GUI Package Manager. In Linux, Packages are basically your software. Instead of downloading your software in an EXE format from the Internet, you use a Package Manager. Most Distros use the Terminal for this, and expect you to learn a ton of cryptic commands. CachyOS has Shelly, which is a GUI based Package Manager, which basically means it does everything the Terminal does, but with buttons, and a good search function.
BashfulMelon@reddit
The only popular distribution that this is true for is Arch. Everything else has an app.
Cool_Samoyed@reddit
This might be controversial but I don't recommend Mint. Not because it's a bad os, it's not, but because it currently still runs on an older display server technology, X11, and it make you perceive the OS as a bit clunky, lacking modern gestures etc. I think your best options as a beginner are:
Dramatic_Mastodon_93@reddit
Ubuntu or Bazzite if they want the easiest option
INITMalcanis@reddit
If your PC is purely for gaming and maybe some web browsing/media: Bazzite
If you want control over what's installed, care about that last 1.5% of performance and don't mind doing a little homework: CachyOS
If you just want everything set up for you and don't mind a large installation: Garuda Dragonised.
Dramatic_Mastodon_93@reddit
IMO there are 2 best options for you:
- Ubuntu: This is basically the “default” distro, most popular, most official software support, most tutorials, etc. You can easily install Steam and AMD drivers are already baked into the Linux kernel. You can’t go wrong with Ubuntu.
- Bazzite: This one is different from regular distros in that large parts of the file system are read-only, meaning that you really can’t fuck anything up. These are called immutable distros, SteamOS is also one. But this also means that you mostly can’t install software through the terminal, which is probably good for someone who mostly just plays games. Bazzite aims to recreate the experience of SteamOS, so when you download it you can choose between two versions, one boots into the Steam Big Picture mode by default (like on SteamOS) and the other boots into the desktop mode by default. Both have Steam and some other gaming related tools pre installed.
edparadox@reddit
Your first ally will be learning comprehension ; read rule #1.
They're not versions but "distributions".
Use the Arch Linux wiki first for any question.
As for the distributions, everyone has its favorite even for beginners. Be prepared to distrohop and backup your data.
Now try first Fedora, CachyOS, or maybe Mint.
Safe travels, and do not forget to read the manuals/documentations.
b4k4ni@reddit
I tried and try a lot of distributions out there for fun. Personally I feel more at home in the Debian-like universe.
If you primarily game, I'd say cachy OS - that is one of the few distris I was really impressed with right from the go and even use as a daily driver. Really nice install and options, no issues. Also it's fast AF, optimized for hardware and games and brings a lot of software you can add your games too and emulate. It's really easy to use.
But yeah, basically every distribution that is active would be fine. As a gamer I'd really say go with cashyOS. It is bleeding edge (means all the new stuff that might not work perfectly yet), but the installer is great and the usage too. Same with adding and playing games.
Important - Linux and Windows are not compatible. That means the games in linux need to be emulated, but for most games this shouldn't be an issue. There are even Linux native ones out there. That's why th gaming distri - they already bring launchers with the for gog etc. Or even steam, which will help to get the game running. :)
And before you start, I'd suggest to read up upon how Linux works and what to expect. Or at least watch some YouTube tutorial about the one you might test.
But really, get a few basics down first - Linux IS different from windows, especially internally, and it will make the experience way smoother and less depressing. Do not jump in right away.
just-a-hriday@reddit
For gaming go with either Bazzite or Cachy.
Bazzite if you're not interested in tinkering. It's pretty much impossible to break, and extremely low maintenance. However, you can't install any app you feel like installing, and the apps you will install will be a little bit out-of-date. Look up how atomic and immutable distros work if you want to learn more.
CachyOS is the opposite. It's very high performance and apps will always be up to date. But it's also very high maintenance. Cachy is great if you want to tinker and you're willing to spend a non-zero percentage of your time using the computer doing maintenance, but otherwise you're going to find it a PITA. Like most arch-based distros, a lot of the people who use it see maintaining their system as a hobby.
ToastySauze@reddit
If you do pick mint, keep in mind all the desktop environments it ships with are fuckin ugly.
I have bad experience with Mint, decent experience with Pop!, and good experience with Fedora KDE.
BashfulMelon@reddit
KDE Plasma is the best desktop for people coming from Windows who play games.
A prominent Plasma developer just wrote this: https://pointieststick.com/2026/05/16/start-with-fedora-kde-or-kubuntu/
Even if you don't start with Fedora KDE or Kubuntu, the list of points is really useful when considering other distributions.
da2Pakaveli@reddit
So like 95% of Linux distros are basically "reskins" (flavors) of the following 3 distros: - Debian
- Fedora
- Arch Linux
And all the lists out there usually get this wrong, imo it only really matters to distinct between those 3: Debian: stable but updates (e.g. for drivers) lag behind
Arch Linux: gets new updates fast (within a week or so) but less stable than Debian
Fedora: middleground between the 2
Now you pick which you want.
For Debian everyone will recommend Linux Mint to you.
For Fedora the "vanilla" distro is fine. If you want gaming specifically Bazzite is good.
Now Arch Linux will be a PITA to install from scratch so the recommendation here is CachyOS to not have to deal with that.
Note that Fedora and Linux Mint are still significantly easier. And you can try these distros first on the live boot and see which you like.
Negative_Settings@reddit
Endeavor is the middle ground between catchy and straight up arch highly underrated and better maintained than catchy
Adorable-Mix2659@reddit
popular gaming distros at the moment are bazzite (set and forget easy to use but generally one purpose only and thats gaming because its immutable) or cachyOS is the opposite of what i said its more hands on and is based on Arch whereas bazzite is based on fedora
tldr: bazzite or cachyos are popular
DreSmart@reddit
CachyOs
pnlrogue1@reddit
Lightweight gamer here (play games with decent graphics but I'm not competitive and don't need super high performance)
Linux Mint is a nice, easy distro to use that can do everything you want. Being based on Ubuntu and Debian, there are plenty of apps built for it and a lot of the information for Ubuntu applies to it with little or no adjustment (Ubuntu has the largest community so has the largest support base). The default user interface (called Cinnamon) is quite Windows-like making the transition easy and Mint adds some sensible defaults on top of Ubuntu.
I don't recommend Ubuntu these days due to some of the decisions made by the people who make Ubuntu. Mint reverses all the bad decisions, IMO.
Negative_Settings@reddit
Bazzite if you don't want to fuck with it flatpaks cover most app needs in the bazaar store plus app images which are basically exes.
Endeavor if you want arch like the steam deck and want to learn to fuck with it.
And lastly it doesn't really matter what you pick if it's debian based except pop is is working on a new desktop manager so it might be less stable than other flavors of Ubuntu if you want debian go with kubuntu.
All 3 of my recommendations are kde plasma based because that's most like windows.
If you want to get a more mac like look go with something gnome based.
wie_witzig@reddit
Long-time gamer here, I switched last year to CachyOS and it's been great
Unearthly_Humanoid@reddit
same, switched from windows to cachyos as my first distro. it's blazing fast and i have had no problems with it!
1knj@reddit
Bazzite if you want to be safe or cachy
EffortChoice3007@reddit
I use Ubuntu
CyberAnpu@reddit
I'd say if you want to just game and basic day-to-day use, go bazzite, otherwise go cachyos (preferably with kde at the start).
flemtone@reddit
Start with Linux Mint to get use to using linux first.
AngrySalmon1@reddit
I found mint tricky for gaming, games from steam failing to launch without messing around. Can't recommend another distro though as I don't game much.
MrKusakabe@reddit
Just another anecdote: All my games are running completely native. Mileage varies a lot, independent of the OS or software. You can probably google the Notepad.exe crashing for some users.
flemtone@reddit
I use Kubuntu 26.04 with the official Steam .deb and Heroic launcher installed, my games work great.
Comprehensive_Map806@reddit
Bazzite
MrKusakabe@reddit
Is Dualboot a thing? I do Dualboot Windows with Mint.
If you can't dualboot, the question is: Do you use the super, most-recent hardware? Then go for a rolling release distro aimed for gaming.
If not, use what you want. I use Mint and I game just completely fine with my RTX4080 SUPER and the 6.17 kernel.
(Mint comes with two kernels, the LTS and the HWE kernel. The LTS is an old but safe and long-term/time support kernel, 6.8, which might have a dent on your performance of gaming due to its age so make you sure you use the 6.17, the HWE kernel instead. It's done in the OS later itself and you can freely change the kernels as your wish).
UltraPoci@reddit
I'm using Bazzite. It works well and honestly it's not hard at all. You push a button, it updates stuff, done.
klnop_@reddit
Linux Mint? It's generally recommended for beginners.
But this isn't really the place for questions like these - this is more about news about Linux. You're better off in r/linux4noobs or r/linux_gaming