24 Extra Hot Free Linux Games

24 Extra Hot Free Linux Games (Part 1 of 3)

If Linux is going to make significant strides in increasing market desktop share, it needs to be able to compete with Windows in all areas. The average computer user typically just wants a single operating system to use for their work, to surf the net, to keep in contact with family and friends, and to have some fun. Having to reboot between operating systems is frankly too inconvenient for many users, as well as being perceived as too difficult. Whilst you can run many Windows software from Linux (e.g. by using virtualisation software, or Wine), again this simply appears to add to the complexity of using the PC. Furthermore, whilst Wine does allow some of the hottest Windows games to run under Linux, it is inevitable there will always be some incompatibility issues.

Even though PCs face increasing competition from dedicated gaming consoles, PC gaming will never die. If Linux is going to dominate the desktop market, it needs a good stream of native games. However, commercial gaming companies are only going to port games to Linux if they can realise a tidy profit from that work, and in the main that requires a significant gaming base. In many ways, open source games represent a solution to the Catch 22 situation, making Linux more attractive from a gamer's perspective, and increasing the possibility of more commercial games being released on the market.

To be eligible for inclusion in this list each game needed to meet the following requirements:

Free to play (no download charge, no monthly charge)

Does not require Wine to run. Wine is a compatibility layer for running Windows software.

Not in the early stages of development

The only exception we have made is to include Quake Live, a truly awesome web browser based game which has under a proprietary license. But it was simply too good to miss off this feature.


This article is the first in a three part series. Parts 2 and 3 will be available shortly.

Extra Hot Free Games

Quake Live Fast, browser based multiplayer shooter
Unknown Horizons 2D realtime strategy simulation
Stendhal Fully fledged multiplayer online adventure game like Ultima Online
Speed Dreams Motosport simulator
Commander Stalin Soviet real time strategy game
Marathon: Aleph One First-person shooter game based on Marathon 2
TripleA Turn based strategy game
Stockfish Extremely strong chess engine


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