How to Play Windows Games on Linux

By Arkaprabha Chakraborty

| June 08, 2025

Tags: #linux #gaming #wine #proton #lutris #steam

Linux Gaming Setup

Co-authored by ChatGPT

Linux is a phenomenal operating system, and thanks to tools like Wine, Proton, and Lutris, playing your favorite Windows games is now easier than ever.
This guide walks you through everything you need to set up your Linux system for gaming — no Windows required.

Step 1: Install the Critical Component — Your GPU Drivers

Before anything else, you must ensure your graphics drivers are properly installed and updated.
These drivers connect your operating system to your GPU (graphics card), directly affecting frame rate, stability, and compatibility.

Without proper drivers, even simple games can stutter or fail to launch.

For NVIDIA and AMD users

Different vendors have different setup processes, and even across Linux distributions, the steps can vary.

Follow the official Lutris driver guide: Lutris Wiki: Installing Drivers

Step 2: Set Up the Compatibility Layer — Wine

Wine (short for Wine Is Not an Emulator) is what makes Windows applications run on Linux.
Instead of emulating Windows, it translates Windows system calls into Linux-native instructions in real time.

This is why Wine can sometimes run games even faster than Windows itself.

Installation (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install wine

Explanation: Imagine your game speaks only “Windows.” Wine acts as a real-time translator, instantly converting those messages into Linux instructions.

Step 3: Streamline Your Gaming with Lutris

Managing individual Wine settings for each game can be tedious — that’s where Lutris shines. It’s an open-source game manager that organizes your titles and automates installation scripts for thousands of Windows games.

Install Lutris

sudo apt install lutris

Essential Configuration Tips

WINEPREFIX (Game Environment): When adding a game manually, set your WINEPREFIX to ~/.wine. This acts like a mini Windows drive dedicated to that game.
Choosing the Right Wine Version: If a game fails on the default Wine version, try Wine-GE (GloriousEggroll) — a gaming-optimized fork. Lutris lets you switch between Wine versions effortlessly.

Step 4: Install Steam and Enable Proton

For most gamers, Steam + Proton is the simplest path to Linux gaming.

A. Install Steam (Ubuntu/Debian)

Enable the multiverse repository:

sudo add-apt-repository multiverse
sudo apt update

Install Steam:
```
sudo apt install steam
```
Launch Steam and log in.

B. Enable Proton (Steam Play)

Proton is Valve’s custom version of Wine, tailored for gaming and integrated into Steam. It translates DirectX to Vulkan, allowing most Windows games to run natively on Linux.

To enable Proton:

Open Steam → Settings → Compatibility.
Check:
- “Enable Steam Play for supported titles”
- “Enable Steam Play for all other titles”
Select Proton Experimental or the latest numbered version (e.g., Proton 9.0).
Restart Steam.

You can now hit Install on almost any Windows game — and it will work seamlessly.

The Linux Gaming Revolution: Steam Deck and Beyond

The modern Linux gaming era is powered by Valve’s Proton, built on top of:

Wine — for compatibility
DXVK — converts DirectX 9/10/11 to Vulkan
VKD3D-Proton — converts DirectX 12 to Vulkan

Thanks to these technologies, Linux gaming is no longer a niche experiment — it’s mainstream. The Steam Deck, which runs a Linux-based OS, proves that Linux is now a first-class gaming platform.

With Wine, Lutris, and Proton, you can enjoy almost any Windows game on Linux, often with better performance and fewer background processes.

Final Thoughts

Linux gaming has never been this accessible. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a power user, the combination of Wine + Lutris + Proton brings the best of both worlds — freedom and performance.

Now go ahead, launch Elden Ring or Cyberpunk 2077 on Linux — and join the revolution.

Checklist Recap

Task	Tool / Reference	Command / Notes
Install GPU Drivers	System / Lutris Wiki	See: https://github.com/lutris/lutris/wiki/Installing-drivers
Install Wine	Wine	`sudo apt update && sudo apt install wine`
Install Lutris	Lutris	`sudo apt install lutris`
Install Steam + Enable Proton	Steam / Proton	`sudo apt install steam` — then enable Proton in Steam → Settings → Compatibility
Play Games	Steam / Lutris	Click “Install” from the client or run via Lutris

Pro Tip

Bookmark ProtonDB — a community-driven database where Linux gamers share compatibility reports and tweaks for running Windows games through Proton.

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