Gaming on Linux used to mean waiting for a developer to release a Linux version. Valve’s Proton has changed that for a lot of games, though it can’t promise that every title will run.

Where Proton and Mint help

Proton runs many Windows games for you. Proton is Valve’s compatibility layer, a translator based on a project called Wine that lets Windows games run on Linux through Steam. In Steam, open Settings, then Compatibility, and turn on “Enable Steam Play for all other titles.” After a restart, Windows-only games in your library that were greyed out can be installed.

ProtonDB tells you what to expect. ProtonDB is a community site where players report how each game runs under Proton, and it rates games from Borked up to Platinum. Platinum means a game runs well out of the box, Gold means it needs some tweaks, and Borked means it won’t start or is badly broken. Search a game there before you buy it, and read the recent reports.

Mint covers the basics. Linux Mint 22.3 is a long-term support release that its team says will be supported until 2029, so it’s a stable base. A newer version, Mint 23, is planned for December 2026, but there’s no need to wait for it. To install Steam, download the installer package from Steam’s website and open it with the package manager that pops up.

Your graphics driver matters. Mint doesn’t install NVIDIA’s proprietary driver by default, so NVIDIA owners should open Driver Manager from the menu, choose the recommended proprietary driver, apply the change, and restart.

Where it falls short

Not every game works. The biggest reason popular multiplayer games show up as Borked is anti-cheat software, so check ProtonDB for the cause before spending money. Even games rated Gold can need tweaks, like a launch option another player shared, and results can differ between graphics cards and Linux versions. Treat a ProtonDB rating as a guide, not a guarantee.

Stay safe

Download Steam from Steam’s own website, and use Mint’s Driver Manager for graphics drivers instead of random scripts or downloads. Be careful with terminal commands copied from forum posts, because they run with your permissions and can change your system. If you’re unsure what a command does, look it up first or skip it.

A good starting point

Install Steam, enable Steam Play for all other titles, and pick one game you already own. Look it up on ProtonDB first, then install it and see how it runs.