Just my opinions as I am still a Linux noob (been using it on and off for the last 15 years, but only on old hardware, and I made A LOT of mistakes):
Handheld? --> Bazzite
Desktop? --> openSUSE Tumbleweed
I used EndeavourOS for about a year and a half with no issues at all. Currently testing Nobara as I wanted to try something different. Again, no issues at all.
The only one i used is CachyOS so its the best out of the three
My best experience with gaming on linux was on nobara(gnome)
In summary: Choose what you want, what you have the easiest time working with.
A bit more into my own opinion-
Personally, I use Ubuntu as my gaming and productivity distro. It’s super easy to install and does everything for you (you can customize aspects of installation if you want). I’ve had issues installing Arch-Based distros on my rig, even with UEFI off. Arch-Based distros need more technical knowledge; I’ve found myself unable to dig too deep in the guts of certain aspects. The installer is truly hands-on, and due to the UEFI issue, my manual partitioning failed. It was specifically the EndeavourOS installer, which had this particular issue. Completely deleted my ability to boot Ubuntu, leading to a frantic night of reinstalling Ubuntu. I’d only suggest anything Arch related if you’re comfortable with learn by doing or have advanced experience with the inner workings of software.
For me, Ubuntu is a good middle ground that gives the user room to play, but also a stable base to build on top of. Valve’s Proton Compatibility makes gaming on most distros fairly easy because a lot of the work is done for a user. I’ve run so many games on Ubuntu just fine using Proton. There are exceptions for older games, which have different methods to get them running on Linux.
You can also enable Flatpak on Ubuntu (using commands to install the proper dependencies to make Flatpaks work on your system). There are so many options aside from using Debs and Snaps on Ubuntu. Snaps have gotten much better over time, I find myself not having any noticeable issues now since Canonical has worked heavily on the installer.
The distro I end up recommending more, second to Ubuntu, is Linux Mint because of their onboarding new users experience. It’s just as easy as Ubuntu to use, a bit aesthetically challenged though as Mint really embraces that default older Windows look. However, that familiarity helps ease new users into a Linux Distro.
I’d stay away from Manjaro, personally. They’ve had a number of organisational and security fuck-ups that in my opinion makes it hard to take them seriously. Once is forgivable, but when they make the same mistake 3+ times it’s just completely unforgivable and unprofessional.
Plus there’s the whole “we hold Arch packages back two weeks but not AUR packages” - which means there could be dependency issues if you like installing stuff from AUR. In fairness though, they do request that users do not install AUR software on their site, so people do get warned about that.
Endeavour is good. If I was to go back to an Arch distro, it’s what I’d use hands-down. Fundamentally just Arch with a better installer and a nice theme.
I’d also consider something Fedora based, like Fedora (duh), or Bazzite (if you want an atomic/immutable OS). Up-to-date, extensively tested. Bazzite even allows you to install it with out-of-the-box Gamescope support (in simple terms, you get some of the performance options and performance overlays that the steam deck has).
If “more stable Arch” is why you’re considering Manjaro, consider openSUSE Tumbleweed. They’re rolling like Arch, but openQA and rebuilding everything after a compiler update seems to catch a number of issues.
If you want easier to install Arch, consider EmdeavorOS.
Manjaro is pretty much never the right answer.
See also another source for the same.
I can’t disagree. I love Manjaro on one of my devices, a shitty old HP laptop. It runs better than any other distro on it, and it’s smooth as butter (even for light gaming) even though the hardware is terrible.
But.
I’ve had to reinstall more than once because things broke while installing upgrades, lol
I can vouch for Fedora, I used plenty of distros from Arch to Ubuntu (and many of it’s forks) and even weird outliers like Solus and Fedora is the most boring distro out of all of them, and I mean that in the best way. To quote a certain Todd: “It just works!” Do note you will probably want to enable RPM fusion (basically mandatory if you use nVidia) to get access to useful non open source and license encumbered packages Fedora can’t ship by default (like media codecs). Other than that, install Steam and whatever other launchers you want and enjoy a boring, reliable distro.
I switched from EndeavourOS to Fedora too and I love it
As someone considering the switch in the other direction, what made you want to leave EOS?
Not the person you asked, but I also switched from endeavors to fedora. My reason was simple - after all my screwing around in arch, I realized I was just building fedora. And fedora updates take less attention than arch’s do (and I’m lazy).
I’ve been using EndeavourOS for a little over a year now and maybe only twice have hit issues with updates or packages or whatever. Their built in update script helps a lot. I will also say I have an RTX 3080 and fedora wouldn’t run games on my setup, EndeavourOS would.
I just didn’t feel like setting everything up myself anymore (e.g. switching to BTRFS and enabling compression, switching to Pipewire and stuff like that) and I also wanted to be able to install packages through GNOME’s Software app, which isn’t possible on Arch but is on Fedora. Fedora has really good defaults IMO, they’re really fast to use new technology, like what I mentioned I had to manually switch to before.
I’m not the above user, but I also went from Endeavour to Fedora.
I had a couple of issues with Grub after updates - this was an Arch bug that was quickly resolved, but it was still an annoyance that highlights that the bleeding edge isn’t without risk.
Fedora pretty aggressively pushes modern tech into their distro. They’re kind of the main driver that paves the way for other distros to join the modern world, IMO. Wayland, Flatpaks, Portals, PipeWire, they push all of that.
Last time I tried Endeavour, despite the packages being new, it still defaulted to a lot of older technologies (that may have changed now, it’s been 2 years since I used it). Fedora doesn’t, and it plays a part in shaping those technologies. Some people may not like that, but personally I love it.
Like I said in an earlier comment, though, I do love EndeavourOS. If I went back to Arch-based distros I’d use it without a doubt.
I do have annoyances with Fedora. Stuff like having to enable proprietary media codecs via a command is utterly brain-dead and not intuitive for new users.
Manjaro was the first distro I used and it happened twice that it wouldn’t boot anymore just because I installed updates. To be fair, I did use the AUR but that’s like half the reason to use Arch in the first place IMO.
After that I installed EndeavourOS and that always worked fine but nowadays I use Fedora.
Issues with using AUR was enough for me to stay clear and not recommend to people.
Not that I’d necessarily recommend Arch as something for someone just getting into Linux or anything, but if you’re deadset on using something derivative, I would just recommend going with Arch.
This install scriot makes it no harder to install than anything. And the wiki is robust.
However, if you don’t want to learn how your OS works, and troubleshoot fringe issues, don’t use Arch.
My route into Linux I wouldn’t tell others to take.
I have good experiences with both bazzite and nobara.
Bazzite is an immutable OS though. So installing additional packages requires you layering them on top. It works differently than the traditional OS. Though if you just use it for gaming and browsing you’ll likely never notice the difference.
Garuda also markets itself as a mainly gaming distro. I don’t have any real experience with that. I tried it, but it didn’t feel like it was for me.
I’ve happily used the former two though.
if I get off my lazy but I want to mess around with appimage and bazzite.
EndeavourOS is what got me to daily drive Linux finally.
The installation is easy, it’s got sane defaults and pre-installs most common dependencies.
Bazzite. I’ll now accept my ban from the moderators.
I run endeavourOS and has done so for a few years already. I love it. For convenience sake I recommend you install flatpak and a kde-discover/gnome-software just for your everyday apps.
I game on a 1070ti and Nvidia is working fine for me on x11 Gnome. Give it a try :)
EndeavourOS is the closest to vanilla arch, so i’d recommend that. There’s no good distro for gaming, as long as the packages are up to date (so no debian) it’s perfectly fine.
Debian has all the packages one needs for gaming sufficiently updated to run games just as well as the other distros. It also has a better track record of not breaking, compared to rolling distros like Arch. Please stop spreading misconceptions.
Debian has all the updated packages one needs for gaming just as well as the other distros.
Yes and no, but I agree with the overall sentiment. Debian is entirely fine for gaming.
Don’t game much but I’ll pitch in with a different suggestion: Debian minimal install or Arch, same as for every use case.
I prefer apt based distros so I always go Debian, but with flatpak it’s basically irrelevant afaik.
I’ve had no trouble mimicking my deck’s setup and game compatibility on basically any distro, gamescope, proton etc.
Debian isn’t bleeding edge but it also just werks and with flatpak I haven’t encountered any issues getting new stuff essentially totally segregated from the main OS.
Bazzite
Not if you play rocket league lol. Bazzite has an inexplicable bug where rocket league specifically only uses 40% of your GPU and 25% CPU regardless of any graphics settings or launch options. With occasional drops to 7-10fps.
Haven’t used it myself, but I wanted to recommend it too. I’ve heard it’s basically SteamOS for anything that isn’t a Steam Deck.
Not only that. It can either be an almost 1:1 replacement for SteamOS (if you choose the
-deckvariant), or just a normal desktop distro with a lot of gaming optimizations, like the fsync-kernel, gamescope, hardware enablement, and quite a lot of QoL improvements.It’s basically a “Download the iso and begin gaming in 30 minutes”-distro.
It also ships some additional software that is optional, but quite neat. For example, I discovered
LACTthrough it, which made over a year of GPU humming gone by allowing me to set fan curves.For some diehard Arch users, it might be “bloated”, but I find it just right. I never had the feeling that the included tools are useless, and those that might be (e.g. Discord, OBS, etc.) are only installed when you tick the checkbox in the installer.
I’d give Nobara a try. I’ve been using it for about 2 years and it’s been pretty seamless. Already comes with a bunch of Linux gaming related software, like Steam, Lutris, Proton-up, etc.
It also has a bunch of gaming performance patches automatically installed.
If you’re not technically inclined at all and want a console style experience, Bazzite is probably your best bet.
All that said, most mainstream distros will give you a fine gaming experience, you just might have to do some manual fiddling and installing yourself depending on the distro and the games you’re playing.
Hannah Montana Linux
Ah, a connoisseur.
