If you’ve recently switched to Linux or are just looking for some new native Linux games to play, you may find yourself at a loss. Luckily, there are some excellent sources for native Linux game reviews. Websites such as linuxgamecast.com or thelinuxgamer’s Tumblr are excellent sources of great reviews for Linux games which you might not know exist and some that you do, but didn’t know you could play on Linux.
A fairly obscure game which is probably worth a try is Lugaru from the Software Center in Linux. This adventure game focuses largely on close combat and stealth and immerses the player in the world of rabbits on the island of Lugaru. The protagonist, Turner, has to find out about the deep network of underground critters and save his island from the evil powers of the wolves.
The original version of the game is available for free from the Linux Software Center, but you can also purchase the HD version of the game for $9.99 on the Wolfire website.
A more well known game that you might not have known was a native Linux game is Limbo. Delve deep into the world of Limbo as you explore this 2D sidescrolling world of puzzles and danger. The objective of the game is to find the nameless boy’s sister in the dark and foreboding forest at “the edge of hell”.
The game is a typical sidescroller built around fighting giant spiders and solving complex 2D puzzles which gradually draw the player into the world as seen through the eyes of the boy. You can play the game via the Software Center for $8.00 and can get it on more platforms than just Linux.
Recently, the online game giant, Steam was ported to Linux and Mac in order to open the world of online gaming up to a greater audience. Games are still being ported over, but some of the smaller games and any games produced by Valve have been ported and can be bought and played just like they have been on Windows platforms for years. In the past, Linux users had to use a third-party program such as Wine, but no more!
If Steam is not your thing, you can use Windows emulation software such as playonlinux or Wine in order to install your games in a Windows environment. This offers a way to play games which may not have native Linux support on your Linux install.
So if you’ve recently begun to look for games for Linux and are slowly becoming frustrated at the lack thereof, fret not! There are many games which will work natively on your Linux distro and even more which have been ported or can be used with programs such as Wine or PlayOnLinux. Get back to gaming the Windows way on your Linux box the way you had always hoped!