In your quest to find a good, native and free game for Linux you might have seen long lists of games mentioned on various sites and forums. These mentioned games range anywhere from simple 2D side-scrollers to impressive 3D shooters. The amount of Linux games is surprising and can be a tid bit overwhelming. So, how do you pick out the games that are actually worth your time? Well, I’ve compiled a small list of some of the most talked about games for Linux on the internet. Have a read and see if any of these catch your eye.

1. Heroes of Newerth

As far as visuals go, this game is a gem within a sea of mediocre looking Linux games. It is based on Defense of the Ancients (DoTA) mod of Warcraft 3. Don’t fret, this is not another mod, it’s a completely stand alone game. The characters are revamped both visually (in a WoW-esque style) and functionally. Players take control of one of the numerous heroes, with unique and powerful abilities, and get pitted against enemy heroes in a Tower of Defense like scenarios. This game is fast paced, with brilliant graphics, team-based gameplay and a huge community. It can be frustrating, but also enjoyable if you can ignore all of the immature players calling you a “noob” most of the time.

Heroes of Newerth Screenshot

2. Regnum Online

Regnum is a MMORPG developed by an Argentinian company. It is your basic MMORPG, where you choose a class, level up, acquire skills and equipment. However, the game really shines in the fact that there are 3 different realms that constantly war for control of several areas on the map. Once a player has leveled enough and acquired some armor and weapons to be of any help, then that player can join the battle and fight for their realm. There is a good amount of Spanish, German and French speaking people that play this game, so make sure to pick a server according to your location.

Regnum Screenshot

3. PlaneShift

PlaneShift is another MMORPG, but it focuses more on the RPG aspect of the game, rather than on team work (like Regnum). In PlaneShift you don’t have to choose a specific class or skill, you can level any one skill at any time, to the maximum level. Graphics in PlaneShift are slightly better than in Regnum and since the game is in constant development new quests are always being added. That said, PlaneShift really depends on the player being into role-playing and acting “in character”. So, if that is your flavor then definitely give PlaneShift a try.

PlaneShift Screenshot

4. Nexuiz

A multi-player FPS with great graphics and fast paced action. Think of Quake but for Linux. Nexuiz offers thirteen weapons, 24 official maps and over 240 community created maps, as well as 15 player models. If encinerating your enemies with crazy-looking guns is your idea of fun, then don’t let Nexuiz slip by.

Nexuiz Screenshot

5. Savage 2

Savage series is developed by the same people that bring us Heroes of Newerth. Savage 2 is a mix of FPS, RTS, and action RPG game styles thrown together. Since this game is meant to be played in multiplayer, players join a game and are split into two teams. There are several units that players can choose to control from a third-person view. One player is assigned as a commander and he plays the game as an RTS, building buildings and directing his team-mates, while everyone else runs around and tries to kill the other team. Graphically the game is just as beautiful as Heroes of Newerth and the concept is really fun and innovative.


Savage 2 Screenshot

6. Dwarf Fortress

This game does not have the best graphics. In fact, it has some of the most basic graphics ever – it uses text based interface. The game obviously doesn’t focus on the visuals, but instead concentrates on the gameplay itself. With complex economy and difficult battles, this game comes with a high learning curve. But once you get the basic grasp of it, you might never be able to stop playing… There has been a buzz about this game spreading over some of the social sites and the game is quickly gaining popularity. In fact, community additions to the game bring more pleasing graphics and tools to help with the gameplay.

Dwarf Fortress UI

Not interested in native Linux games?

You can check out some of the alternatives to playing Windows games. The best known is WINE and it plays a multitude of games that are “windows only”. In fact, this article states that Starcraft 2 has a gold rating on Ubuntu, which means it’s fully playable. WINE does have its share of problems and some games, while playable, have just too many problems (freezing, crashing, unresponsiveness). However, there are some paid solutions as well. Crossover Games and Cedega are such solutions. They focus on supporting certain games really well, like World of Warcraft, EVE Online, Guild Wars and other more popular games. The fees are reasonable and your money goes to a good cause – it brings more games to Linux. So if you decide to go this route, consider your money well spent. But if you are tight financially, you can also give PlayOnLinux a try since it’s free.