The best Linux distribution for gaming in 2023

Hi Linux Enthausis, and Gamers. Since 2009 knoppix live CDs i used many Linux distributions. Last six months i have been using Manjaro Linux. i can say Manjaro better than ubuntu in security speed and stability even its rolling release distro. Better with new kernels also just look big companies which are involved in linux and gaming they are already leaving ubuntu base for gaming. They are moving to arch base as much as manjaro. Try it use it distribute it. And Love your Manjaro


Last edited by Kuduzkehpan on 2 December 2022 at 4:34 pm UTC

As other people have mentioned, while there may be some debate as to which distribution is better for gaming, if you're a fan of Ubuntu, I don't think there's any reason to use stock Ubuntu instead of Pop!_OS nowadays. I've had endless headaches getting Nvidia's proprietary drivers working on stock Ubuntu machines, but Pop!_OS always works right out of the box, which is really the whole point since it's aimed primarily at people who are using GPUs for professional work.

Quoting: HxE

QuoteManjaro has too many problems both technical and management

I have a huge problem with Manjaro: other people tell me that Manjaro is bad, and the funny detail is those people don't use Manjaro anyway.

I've been deeply conflicted regarding all of the Manjaro discussion of late. For me personally, Manjaro has been hands down the best, most stable, and most-performant Linux choice I've made in over a decade on Linux at this point. Most of my and my household's (wife's, kids', elderly parents', work, etc) PC's have been running Manjaro with a variety of DE's flawlessly for years. I had lots of trauma with other distros (Ubuntu broke with every other major update and broken PPAs caused havoc; tons of gaming and wifi issues with Mint; the usual Arch drama with Antergos) and I moved over to Manjaro exclusively back at the dawn of DXVK when Manjaro was providing the rapidity of Nvidia updates needed to keep it working and I haven't regretted it. I've never had to reinstall a single system in my household, near 100% stability across machines (one CUPS issue a year or two ago pops to mind), and nearly every software install I've ever wanted to do has been easy-peasy via its package manager covering its own stable repositories, the AUR, or Flatpak. It's kernal installation and removal tool has been a lifesaver several times over. The Gnome setup tool mimicking various OS flavors has given every household member the custom interface they want. I've been very happy.

I've read all of the criticisms (from most not on the distro) and seen all the Youtube videos. The security lapses are head scratching and real and, if they really focus on it, probably easily addressed. The open/closed source ideological issues I give them a bigger pass on - As long as at the end of the day *I* have choice as to what I can install, I'll give them a lot of leeway to have flexibility to build a viable commercial enterprise which, so far, so good. And on the organization issues, well, I'm not passing judgement on that. As anyone who has spent any time in any company small, medium, or big knows, workplace drama is rife everywhere and Manjaro's issues wouldn't even raise eyebrows in my workplace. Just another day at the office.

I installed Fedora on a spare laptop, and it's fine, but I've needed to spend more time tinkering on that to get software found, downloaded, installed, and working on that laptop than on all of my home Manjaro PCs in total.

Warts and all, for now, Manjaro still remains my most recommended distro for medium-level Linux users (not beginners) <I duck getting ready for things to be thrown at me>.


Last edited by iiari on 2 December 2022 at 5:25 pm UTC

Shocking, this turned into a distro war.. whoda thunk it? lol

Anyway, you're all wrong. Obviously, the best linux distro for gaming in 2023 is Windows 11 with "Windows Subsystem for Linux" enabled.

Spoiler, click me

Yes, I am just being silly. Don't take this post seriously.

Last edited by BlackBloodRum on 2 December 2022 at 7:32 pm UTC

Quoting: scirocco

Quoting: BumadarIf your an nvidia user I agree, it works better out of the box on them.
If your an amd user then I feel there are more option as you can totally avoid closed source drivers.

Well only disto I can think of thats not good for an Nvidia user is Holoiso steamos.

I have a pretty slow gaming computer so I have to go for speed to reach 4k or atleast 4k with fsr or the like, so atm I am running ChimeraOS and CachyOS, they are both great for speed in games, ChimerOS is the fastest I have tried, however its a bit too locked down for daily driver usage.

I use tumbleweed myself, for as long as it's been out. It was always a pain with nvidia simply because the new kernels where always ahead of patches nvidia had to make. Switching to amd was the best I ever did, so for myself I think tumbleweed is best,but I stand with my statement that Ubuntu is probably best out of the box for new users.

You can already install SteamOS on any PC. It's called HoloISO.

Honestly with how convenient Arch has been for gaming considering that that's what steamos is based on I would suggest just using Arch.

Quoting: Liam Dawe...pointing people towards tiny random distributions that could vanish at any point is not going to help Linux and Linux Gaming in the long run. If I'm going to put my reputation on a recommendation for a distribution, it's going to be one with a long history of support and good backing. Hopefully that makes sense.

Understandable point. However experiences like this:

Quoting: Blender-samaI have to say that my experience with Nobara is very good. I tried Ubuntu and POP.OS with both I had problems with gaming.

And famously this (Linus Tech Tips on YouTube) are arguably not going to help Linux gaming in the long run either (or the short run for that matter).

It's possible that an "it just works" out-of-the-box experience, especially for newcomers to the ecosystem, would be the best possible thing for promoting Linux gaming at large.

Maybe there could be a "Best Gaming Distros for Beginners" list, or an annual "Best Distros for Gaming in 20xx" list, which can be updated each year to drop distros if they become unsupported.

As an aside, Pop_Os! is not exactly tiny or random either, as it's backed by a company and sits at #5 on DistroWatch.org, higher than Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian. As others have mentioned, it offers painless Nvidia support out-of-the-box which, while bad for FOSS purists, is good for Windows refugees and the FOSS curious.

DistroWatch rankings are utterly useless. Please stop using them, it’s just page hits on their website.

For everyone who has a good experience on anything, there will be someone saying they had a bad experience. That’s just life and doesn’t change my opinion that Ubuntu is the best starting point for most people.

I would recommend a flavor like Kubuntu over Ubuntu, especially for a new user. Plasma is going to look more "sane" than GNOME, which is something I can attest to from back when I first tried Linux.

If Ubuntu did Mesa and Kernel updates, I would put it on top. But without it I wouldn't recommend it, at least to AMD GPU users.