“Earlier gaming on Ubuntu was a distant possibility. But everything changed in 2013 when Valve released its gaming client Steam for Linux, which opened the door for thousands of games. Since then, all the major video game publishers have started extending their gaming support for Linux distributions. Game developers were craving the opportunity like this because they were aware of the increasing popularity of Linux.
The free and open-source nature of Linux opened a whole new gateway of capabilities and possibilities for developers. The first question that comes to mind of many users switching from Windows to Linux is How they can play their Windows-compatible games on Ubuntu? But don’t worry, it is very simple and smooth. Just head over to Software Centre and download Steam. That’s it; you are good to go.
But gaming on Ubuntu is not only limited to Steam because there are many open-source games available for Ubuntu that you can play independent of Steam. So in this article, we are going to list Best 10 games you can play on Ubuntu.”
1. ARK: Survival Evolved
ARK: Survival Evolved, published in 2017 for various platforms such as STEAM, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is an action-adventure survival game; players need to survive on one of the several maps filled with monsters, dinosaurs, and other prehistoric creatures.
This game can be installed on Linux and its distros such as Ubuntu using Steam for Linux. You can get it for free, but with some limitations. The game is all about survival on a mysterious island called ARK.
In order to survive, you must hunt, harvest resources, grow crops, craft items, and build shelters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW9vsrPWujI
2. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
There is no need to introduce CS GO or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive as it is one of the most popular first-person shooter video games in the world. There are two teams in the game, known as Terrorists and the Counter-Terrorists, and both compete against each other to achieve their respective objectives.
CS GO has excellent graphics, and it is very popular on the e-sport platform. It features various game modes, such as Arms Race which is also known as Demolition. The global offensive saw the introduction of a range of new guns, including pistols, shotguns, and sub-machine guns.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edYCtaNueQY
3. Football Manager 2022
Football Manager 2022 is a football management simulation game that is very popular among football followers around the world. In this game, the player becomes the manager of a football club in a league of a particular country. You can choose from 123 leading football leagues from around the globe. The game has a database of more than 500,000 real players from around the world.
As a manager, the player takes full control of a football club right from managing the squad, handling transfer activities, and setting up tactics for upcoming games. This game takes you closest to the real football management experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q9Js7h_I5w
4. The Battle for Wesnoth
The Battle for Wesnoth is an open-source strategy video game that you can play as a single-player or as an online multiplayer. In this game, the player is given the task of building an army by taking control of villages and defeating enemies.
The game offers 17 single-player campaigns and 55 multiplayer maps. Also, it offers add-ons such as new campaigns, factions, and multiplayer maps. This game doesn’t require you to have high-end computer hardware and runs smoothly on Ubuntu 16.04 and higher.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbYsOwgLJfY
5. Dota 2
Dota 2 is the sequel to Defense of the Ancients (DotA), and it is a free multiplayer online battle arena video game developed by Valve Corporation. The gameplay of Dota 2 involves the battle between two teams of 5 players, each defending their territory on the map.
Dota 2 has been one of the most played games on Steam, with over a million concurrent players at its peak after the initial release; publishers have rolled out several updates featuring support for Virtual Reality (VR) and an achievement-based paid subscription system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cSFPIwMEq4
6. Valheim
Valheim is a multi-player brutal exploration and survival game inspired by viking culture. The game is still in early access mode, and it was released for Windows and Linux on Steam on February 2nd, 2021.
The gameplay involves distinct environments with unique enemies to survive against. It comes with great graphics, which keeps you engaged in the game. You can play this game with up to 10 players at a time. As it is still in the development phase, you can always expect it to improve with time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mHRJ1KFe20
7. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is an action stealth video game that takes you in 2029 and features Adam Jensen, who is armed with new weapons and augmentations. Mankind Divided is a sequel to Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and it is the 6th game in the series.
Some of the features included in Mankind Divided are remote hacking, gun customizations, and many others. The game has won awards in different categories of Canadian Video Games Awards and was nominated for The Game Awards 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvSs5b6y-YM
8. Wasteland 2
Wasteland 2 is a post-apocalyptic video game developed by inXile Entertainment and distributed by Square Enix. The gameplay of Wasteland 2 is turn-based tactical combat.
The overall graphics of the game is excellent, which takes the gaming experience to another level. The game is highly customizable, and you can modify a player’s skills, statistics, and appearance easily.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKcBWGw93L0
9. The Talos Principle
The Talos Principle is a first-person puzzle game featuring a philosophical storyline. The game is inspired by the work of a giant Greek mythologist who protected Europe from invaders.
As a player, you take the role of a robot and try to solve more than 120 puzzles. Developed by Croteam, you can install this game using Steam on Ubuntu. Yes, it is a paid game, and it is worth every penny you spend on this game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAVh4_wnOIw
10. 0 A.D.
0 A.D. is a cross-platform historical war and economy game focusing on the tribes and civilizations, including historical sites of around 500 B.C. and A.D. 500.
Game gameplay involves tasks like army training, technology research, combat, and many others. The game has single-player and multiplayer modes in which players can choose between computer-generated random maps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OioSaUJQ-5A
So, these are the 10 best games you can play on Ubuntu in 2022. There are many other games you can play on Ubuntu, but we tried to pick the 10 best for you.
