# Recommend me some Linux games if you please **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 24, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234 "2003-05-24T14:57:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scarf-Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Scarf-Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarf-Ace)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/1 "2003-05-24T14:57:28Z")
That would run on Redhat 8.0. I’ve forsaken Microsoft for ever! ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/2 "2003-05-24T15:07:48Z")
Ah, well then, the number of games available to you is practically **countless!** Why, there’s the text based Mille Bornes, Hangman, and Battlestar Galactica Adventure games that come installed with Linux, and I **think** someone somewhere has done a port of the original 1970s Crowther-and-Woods Adventure game to Linux, and … um … hmmm … You sure you wouldn’t just rather run an O/S that game development companies actually write games for? ---
**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/3 "2003-05-24T15:21:52Z")
[url=“[http://www.nethack.org/](http://www.nethack.org/)”]NetHack\*\* and [url=“[http://www.freeciv.org/](http://www.freeciv.org/)”]FreeCiv\*\* both come to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/4 "2003-05-24T15:23:16Z")
Ahem. [NetHack](http://www.nethack.org/) and [FreeCiv](http://www.freeciv.org/). ---
**Author:** ![MikeRochenelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/49beb7/32.png) [@MikeRochenelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeRochenelle)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/5 "2003-05-24T15:47:14Z")
If I were Bill Gates, I’d be shaking in my boots. Games are the only advantage Doze has left. Anyway, there are more games out there than most people think. Which is not to say they’re all stunning examples of the breed, but there are still a bunch. [http://www.happypenguin.org](http://www.happypenguin.org) -Ben ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/6 "2003-05-24T15:59:14Z")
I like Chromium B.S.U., which usually comes with the distribution. It’s an arcade game with excellent 3D graphics. ---
**Author:** ![cletus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@cletus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cletus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/7 "2003-05-24T16:39:54Z")
[http://sourceforge.net/](http://sourceforge.net/) Check out their games section. They also have many other types of programs for free. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/8 "2003-05-24T16:50:31Z")
I’m not much of a game player, but I enjoy playing mame stuff now and then. Of course, my teenage years were back in the 70s/80s, so the nostalgic joy may not appeal to younger folks. [www.mame.net](http://www.mame.net) ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Crunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Chief\_Crunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Crunch)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/9 "2003-05-24T17:37:21Z")
There are a lot of games that have Linux versions, like Quake 3, Soldier of Fortune. Unreal Tournament 2003 has it’s Linux version on the same disc as the Win version. Also, _Tux Racer_ is pretty cool. There should be a demo version included in your distro. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bill H. \* > \*\*I’m not much of a game player, but I enjoy playing mame stuff now and then. Of course, my teenage years were back in the 70s/80s, so the nostalgic joy may not appeal to younger folks. > > [www.mame.net](http://www.mame.net) \*\* Normally, I wouldn’t think much of a response like this, but considering your stance in the recent [MP3 debate](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=181660&highlight=lady+freedom) you started in the pit, I must say I find this kind of funny. You are aware the copyright for the vast majority of these games hasn’t run out yet, right? So how are you legally entitled to play any of these games? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/10 "2003-05-24T17:38:38Z")
SuSE 8.2 comes loaded with a pretty decent selection of games. Better than RH8, by a long shot. Dunno about the quality of the 3D stuff, though, because I’ve gotta use the VESA driver for my notebook’s vid card. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/11 "2003-05-24T17:49:01Z")
Although its now out of business, you might be able to purchase games from Loki games, which ported a bunch of stuff over to Linux. I have Sim City 3000 unlimited by them. ---
**Author:** ![Mort\_Furd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mort\_Furd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mort_Furd)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/12 "2003-05-24T19:00:48Z")
Check out [WineX](http://www.transgaming.com/). They make an extended version of Wine that runs a lot of windows games. Check to make sure that a game is on the compatibilty list before you buy it, though. The most trouble comes from copy protection, and if the copy protection of your game isn’t supported, then it won’t work. I know. I’ve tried running games for small children with WineX. A lot of them are copy protected, but not with the same schemes as the big name games. Unhappy little Furds, let me tell you. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/13 "2003-05-24T20:30:06Z")
**Chief Crunch** wrote > [@](#): > > You are aware the copyright for the vast majority of these games hasn’t run out yet, right? Damned good point. As it turns out, I do own several roms as well as an original laser disc from Dragons Lair (used to have about 40 of them, plus the players back when the game went from hot to not so hot, but that’s another story). So those are legit, at least. Point noted. I’ll see what I need to do to correct this. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Crunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Chief\_Crunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Crunch)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/14 "2003-05-24T21:07:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bill H. \* > **Damned good point. As it turns out, I do own several roms as well as an original laser disc from Dragons Lair (used to have about 40 of them, plus the players back when the game went from hot to not so hot, but that’s another story). So those are legit, at least.** Well, not according to [Nintendo](http://www.nintendo.com/corp/faqs/legal.html): > [@](#): > > There is a good deal of misinformation on the Internet regarding the backup/archival copy exception. It is not a “second copy” rule and is often mistakenly cited for the proposition that if you have one lawful copy of a copyrighted work, you are entitled to have a second copy of the copyrighted work even if that second copy is an infringing copy. The backup/archival copy exception is a very narrow limitation relating to a copy being made by the rightful owner of an authentic game to ensure he or she has one in the event of damage or destruction of the authentic. Therefore, whether you have an authentic game or not, or whether you have possession of a Nintendo ROM for a limited amount of time, i.e. 24 hours, it is illegal to download and play a Nintendo ROM from the Internet. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/15 "2003-05-25T01:41:04Z")
So does this mean **Bill H** is making Lady Liberty cry? Or is it Baby Jesus? ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2003, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/16 "2003-05-25T05:48:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chief Crunch \* > **There should be a demo version included in your distro.** “distro” ?! ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2003, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/17 "2003-05-25T06:20:09Z")
distro == the whole package of kernel, OS, and additional software that you tend to get together. It’s short for ‘distribution’. Put another way, it means a particular flavor of Linux produced (or at least assembled) by a particular organization. IOW, Red Hat produces a distro, SuSE produces another one, et cetera. If you want a mind-numbingly thorough (but still not entirely complete) listing of different distributions, you can check [distrowatch](http://www.distrowatch.com/) or the [LWN](http://old.lwn.net/Distributions) distributions list. Contrary to your earlier sniping, BTW, there are quite a few gaming companies that offer at least some Linux compatibility, though not enough by far. What there isn’t very much of at the moment is publicity about that support. ---
**Author:** ![FyreFiend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/919ad9/32.png) [@FyreFiend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FyreFiend)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2003, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/18 "2003-05-25T07:09:42Z")
I’m not much of a gamer (unless you count my terrible nethack addiction) but I have most of the games loki ported over and like them. You can still find some of them at different computer stores. I picked up 3 of them the other month at MicroCenter for $0.99 each. As for using wine to run Windows games, my exp. has been rather hit or miss (more miss, unfortunely). If you have a fast box and some time to play with the configs you might have better luck then I ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/19 "2003-05-25T19:26:39Z")
Myth and Myth II both have Linux versions, and are very good games. From what I understand, the game actually works better under Linux than under Windows. ---
**Author:** ![Scarf-Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Scarf-Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarf-Ace)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234/20 "2003-05-26T12:27:36Z")
ho ho tracer, but thats only because Linux boxes in peoples homes are few compared to MS. As the Linux userbase grows over the next few years more developers will start making Linux games. Why will more people start using Linux? Free software man! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-linux-games-if-you-please/177234.md?page=2)