Alternatives to popular games that don't work on Linux, Steam Deck and SteamOS

As a joke:

Gambling Anime Open-World Action/Adventure RPG
Genshin Impact -> Wuthering Waves

Also there is FragPunk [External Link] first person shooter, The First Descendant [External Link] action MMO and GTFO [External Link] cooperative first-person shooter

What would GTFO be an alternative to?

For the extraction shooters, I'll suggest Incursion: Red River. It doesn't have any PvP like Tarkov, but it's still an alternative that works on Linux (desktop, at least; I haven't tried on the Deck at all).

CS2 is probably the closest alternative to Valorant as well.

When ARC Raiders releases, that'll be a good alternative for Tarkov, assuming it supports Linux like The Finals.

What would GTFO be an alternative to?

Alternative to Escape from Tarkov bcs it is a PvE Extraction shooter but in some alternative setting.

Looking it up properly, GTFO appears to be really nothing like Tarkov. Needing to extract doesn't necessarily mean it's an extraction shooter - they're a lot more of a specific genre.

GTFO would be more like Helldivers 2 or Deep Rock Galactic, they're just co-op shooters.

I was confused seeing Pokemon and Mario but I guess it was to mention games of those genres supported on Linux rather than them being actual games. This is a great list and I'd love to see it be expanded more based on commenters!

No Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon for platformers?

Yooka-Laylee, possibly as an alternative to Mario, but more closely Banjo Kazooie. Its steam deck verified and Linux native.

I was confused seeing Pokemon and Mario

The very top of the article:

Also including games not available on PC to show alternatives.

SuperTux and SuperTuxCart are pretty fun alternatives to Mario and Mario Kart, definitely worth checking out IMO.

Added platform fighters, split into two tables between PC and Nintendo alternatives.

Added Kart racing for Nintendo alts.

I really like this list. May I suggest making it a recurring feature, like the "how to proton" guide? Or perhaps a list that gets updated regularly, rather than an article that gets published once?

Hi tam, as this is a guide in our dedicated section it will be updated regularly as noted :)

Awesome. I get everything through RSS, so that didn't jump out at me, but now I see at the top it says "Tips & Guides". Sorry for the noise!

That's a good point, I've added "Guide: " to the beginning of articles on the main RSS feed to make it clearer going forward :)

you could add "disney speedstorm" to the linux compatible "mario cart" alternatives, i ran the epic store version via heroic
although it is a f2p grindfest/money sink

I have a few more creature collector RPGs, one of which has no Switch or Switch 2 port) that should be mentioned here:

(I refuse to call many of these games "Pokemon clones" because technically, they should be called "Dragon Quest V clones" because that game, despite being limited to Japan at first because of Enix's pull out of overseas markets until their merger with Squaresoft, was the first game to include "creature raising and fighting for you" elements, not Nintendo or Game Freak as they want the US PTO or the public to believe.)

1. Digimon Story Time Stranger looks to be a very solid creature collector turn-based RPG that has a long and storied history. Liam, I believe you even mentioned it here. I wouldn't be surprised if this game never comes to the weak Nintendo Switch 2 hardware given the console frame rate (it's actually 30 fps locked on PS5 and Xbox Series S/X and maxes out on PC at 144 hz) and its heavy CPU load compared to other options (the Switch 2 isn't as powerful CPU wise as even the Steam Deck according to analysis by some outlets). The demo had some issues on launch, like I mentioned on the article comments, that were fixed with a demo update (the infamous white screen issue) and it is really fun! I played the demo and can't wait for October 2nd/3rd! What a birthday present to me! 😂 It has a "Playable" rating on Steam by Valve (for incorrect controller icons, which I haven't experienced) and I can confirm apart from Denuvo's horrible "5 machine per 24 hour limit" (even for the demo), it plays very well. If the full game is anything like the demo, which I played through to completion (I finished it just now), then I can highly recommend it! This might be my favorite creature collecting RPG since Cassette Beasts, another game I really liked! It releases on the aforementioned October 2nd/3rd, 2025.

2. This one is also coming to all consoles, including Xbox Series X/S for the first time as well as PS5, PC, and Switch 2 (but not Switch), but Monster Hunter Stories 3 (and the entire side series for that matter) also bring some great gameplay and combat. This was especially apparent with 2 being a huge improvement from the original, and 3 looks to up the ante even further. (1 & 2 are available on PC and have "Verified" Steam Deck compatibility ratings on Steam by Valve and Platinum ratings on Proton DB and I can confirm they play well on even the Steam Deck!) Monster Hunter Stories 1 & Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin are currently available on Steam while Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection launches March 13, 2026 (for some reason, the release date hasn't been updated on Steam, but it has been confirmed by Capcom). (Also, fun fact, this series was co-developed in collaboration between Capcom, the developer of the parent Monster Hunter franchise, and Marvelous, best being known as the developer of the long-running Story of Seasons & Rune Factory franchises.)

Sorry for the long winded post, but I wanted to get my two sense in. I'm also so glad to see more franchises go past just consoles onto PC. (Well, apart from the one company who deserves nothing more than to be brought down. You know which one; the patent troll.)