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We all know the current Linux gaming market share isn't turning heads and it can be tough to persuade developers that having a Linux version is worth it. I wanted to take the opportunity to talk about user reviews and how they can help out. The primary focus here will be steam, as it’s the largest player, but this also should apply to GOG, itch.io and other stores.

Since I follow a lot of developers and talk to developers every single day, one of the biggest problems they currently face is actually getting noticed. Unless they have some fantastic marketing skills or the backing of a decent PR firm or publisher, they're probably going to struggle in the current market given how many games are bursting onto various stores like Steam every single day.

I constantly see developers practically begging for people to review their game on Steam, because of just how important they are.

With that in mind, perhaps this is a way to get developers more invested in the Linux version of their games and the Linux community. I mentioned at the start that the current Linux market share isn't great, but let's think about how many of us actually buy games versus how many actually bother to leave a review—the answer is usually not that many. I know there's a lot of seriously passionate gamers who follow us, so why don't we think about actually getting that passion properly across to developers in ways that not only helps them directly but also helps us actually get noticed?

Developers are more likely to continue supporting Linux with future games if we are useful! Especially when the majority we speak to mention that a Linux version wasn't truly worthwhile in terms of financial reward. So with this, we give them another reason to support the platform.

If more developers suddenly saw reviews from a few hundred/thousand Linux gamers, which helps them get noticed through Steam's various algorithms for putting games in front of people, this could actually help quite a lot. I'm not just talking about how Steam shows games on the home page and in various lists, but also how it tells you how many of your friends recommended it too on the sidebar of a game's page. Think about it—you’re probably more likely to actually buy a game if you saw that multiple Linux users recommend it directly.

This can then push various games in front of a wider audience for Windows and Mac too, not just Linux, resulting in developers actually seeing more sales, overall. This, in turn, allows them to continue to support their games and work on new ones. So in a way, this actually ties into the previous article "How to be a great advocate for a niche gaming platform", about how we're not just fans of Linux but the games themselves as well and I think it's a point worth remembering.

It should go without saying, but I will do so anyway: if a game isn't any good then don't blindly go giving it a positive review. If you think issues can be solved, talk to the developer first and give feedback.

Also, just to be clear on something. I'm not saying this is going to move mountains and won't really apply to bigger developers that already get a ton of reviews. That said, it does depend on the situation. For Linux porters like Aspyr Media, Feral Interactive, Virtual Programming and so on—it would still be useful to show them that the port was worth it and continue to spread the word about their ports.

So basically, for a really short version: Think about the last few games you played and if they were good, leave a review and let the developer know you enjoyed it and played it on Linux. It helps a lot more than you might have thought.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Editorial
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About the author -
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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ShabbyX Aug 9, 2018
If you don't have the writing or language skills, or you just don't feel analytical, I believe writing a review like this would be much better than nothing:

"Works great on Linux, thanks".

It's not a great review, but shows us the Linux port is solid, shows the devs we appreciate it, and gets them a +1 on their score.

Certainly better than no review.
antisol Aug 10, 2018
I run a Steam curator called linuxgamer (https://steamcommunity.com/groups/games_for_linux) which only reviews Linux games. Devs are welcome to send me keys for games to review, and I review many of the games that I buy and play. Regular folks are also welcome to follow it and/or get involved.

Note that giving me a game for free only means you'll get a review, it doesn't mean you'll get a positive review. But I've only ever given one negative review and that was when I couldn't get in touch with the developer to see if issues were going to be fixed.
GeoGalvanic Aug 10, 2018
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Playing/buying the games is good.

Leaving reviews is a step up.

Being an active part of the community is even better.

If 1/100 people playing are on linux it doesn't look too great. If 1/50 reviewers are praising linux it looks a little better. If 1/20 community moderators/active/helpful users indicate that linux support is the reason they are invested in the community, it leaves a much more favourable impression of the OS than just market share numbers could ever do, and does so with less people.
Comandante Ñoñardo Aug 10, 2018
I just purchased Artifex Mundi Hidden Object (native Linux) games on GOG...
Now I have to post a review about them, clarifying that the games were played on Linux.
Asu Aug 10, 2018
I'm bitching under every bethesda game lol...
TheSHEEEP Aug 10, 2018
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I write reviews for about half the games I play (would leave more reviews on Steam if it didn't have that awful "only great or terrible" system, as half the games simply don't fall in either category).
And in each review I also positively mention the linux support.
Beamboom Aug 10, 2018
This is a very good point. I've never thought of that. ... And I even love writing down my thoughts and opinions on all sorts of things :-D I guess my opinion on user reviews has kept me from writing them myself.

But I'll start writing reviews from now on, whenever I think it's worth it!


Last edited by Beamboom on 10 August 2018 at 7:34 pm UTC
riusma Aug 10, 2018
I said something similar some 6 months ago on GoL forum! ^_^ (as an example, for SOMA we could represent up to 30% of Steam reviews with about 2% of its marketshare)
tonR Aug 10, 2018
Agreed with all y'all opinion here. But, it's hard to be a "niche gamer" since only people that I know using Linux are less than 5, which includes me. Writing/Reviewing on "open space" certainly blown your cover, especially on itch.io as more Malaysian devs than Malaysian gamers, based on my own observation. That's why I not big fan leaving reviews on Steam and especially on itch.

My approach is write a review via email (throwaway or real account) directly to developers. I know in today's social media dominant life, most people too lazy even to read an email. But so far, 7 emails sent, 4 being return (all thank you/appreciation reply). So, I'm considered it as very positive.
cprn Aug 10, 2018
I don't know how many of you know of this but Evgueni made this huge compilation of Steam reviews that are by Linux users and mention how the game runs on Linux, etc. It seems reasonable to mention it here. I understand the numbers are more important that the quality of the review, at least from the publishers point of view, but there are few that make you think about the game you played in a different light and I think it portrays how great reviews can be. So, maybe, it's just a thought, but maybe, instead of discussing whether it'll really help or not each of us will sit down for that 15 minutes tonight, think about a game and really say what they liked about it, what they didn't, if they had fun and if they had issues, and post it? Won't hurt anyone and might give you joy, who knows.

Other than that, if you wrote a review from a Linuxer's perspective that isn't included in Evgueni's compilation, give him a shout (you can propose the category up front to make his job easier). And if you have a friend who's looking for the next game to beat on Linux, feel free to pass them the link. I find it a really good resource.
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