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There are several ways to run Windows games on Linux using Wine, PlayOnLinux, Crossover, Steam Play, and Lutris. Let’s look at installing games using the last two apps.
In my opinion, Steam and Lutris offer the most modern and easy solutions for launching games. As an example, let’s play World of Tanks and World of Warships on Ubuntu 19.04.
Until recently, running Windows games in Linux was still a quest that overshadowed interest in the game due to the complicated and unsuccessful installation process.
With the advent of DXVK (a library based on Vulkan that allows you to broadcast 3D applications (games) Direct3D 10/11), and as a consequence, Steam Play (Proton) – the installation of many games in Linux has become almost as easy as in Windows.
#1 Install Windows games on Linux using Lutris
Lutris is a service with a game application that provides automated, customized scripts for installing games.
Integration with game stores such as GOG and Steam allows you to import an existing library of games, and community-supported installation scripts provide fully automated customization.
Step 1: Installing Lutris in Ubuntu-based distributions
For the correct operation of Lutris, the developers recommend pre-installing Wine (version of Staging). You can install Wine in Ubuntu according to the instructions of the official website: Installing WineHQ packages.
For Ubuntu distributions like this, add the Lutris repository:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lutris-team/lutris
sudo apt update
sudo apt install lutris
For best performance, you need to install the latest version of the video driver and the Vulkan library.
Nvidia graphics card users need to add a repository with new drivers and then install the latest version of the drive conveniently:
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 //поддержка 32 битной архитектуры (в том случае, если раньше ее не включили)
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
sudo apt update
You can select a driver using the built-in Utilities and Updates – Additional Drivers.
If the video card supports the Vulkan API, then install the necessary libraries (most likely they were already installed when installing the video driver. You can check if the video card supports Vulkan by following the link: Vulkan API):
sudo apt install libvulkan1 libvulkan1:i386
AMD/Intel graphics card users (Ubuntu 18.04 and above):
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install libgl1-mesa-dri:i386
sudo apt install mesa-vulkan-drivers mesa-vulkan-drivers:i386
Step 2: Installing Games on Linux with Lutris
Go to the program’s official website in the Games section and select the game we need.
Having found the game, we select (if available) the version of the script with the server we need (for example, for World of Tanks, it will be the RU DXVK version). Click on Install. As an example, we will show the installation of the game World of Tanks in Ubuntu 19.04.
The link will open in the installed Lutris application. We will be prompted to install the game. Click on Install.
Then you can select the folder in which the game will be installed. We continue the installation. The version of Wine necessary for this game will be installed. We agree to all installations. When the online installer is complete, you will be prompted to create shortcuts and run the game.
A full-screen window will then open in which the game will be installed. Do not be afraid. You can use the ALT+TAB keys to return to the working window.
You can launch the installed game both from the Lutris program and from the list of installed applications.
Similarly installed the game World of Warships in Ubuntu 19.04.
I encountered a problem in which the mouse cursor in the game did not allow you to make revolutions of about 180 degrees—previously installed the game in the KDE and Cinnamon environments (Linux Mint). If you display the cursor by pressing CTRL, you can capture other mouse turns. Solution: Switch the display of the game to windowed mode.
#2 Install Windows games on Linux using Steam (Proton)
For compatibility of games with GNU/Linux operating systems, Valve is developing the Proton (Steam Play) project, which in turn consists of various developments, such as Wine, DXVK, esync.
Information about the quality of support for Windows games on Steam Proton is available at ProtonDB.
To enable the Proton option, we need to open Steam – then Settings – Steam Play – and enable the available options.
The steam version of Proton should be chosen as the most relevant, i.e., with a large number.
Further installation of games is no different from installation on a Windows system. Steam Play will automatically make the necessary settings to install the game.
Comparision: Nvidia Geforce 1060 Graphics Card Performance in Ubuntu 19.04 and Windows 10
The comparison was carried out on a laptop with an Nvidia Geforce 1060 graphics card (6 GB) and an Intel® Core™ i7 8750H processor. Windows 10 1903 operating systems (build 18362.10019), NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready 436.15 video driver version, and Ubuntu 19.04 with 430.40 (the most current in the PPA:graphics-drivers repository).
1. World of Tanks
Tank battles in World of Tanks in Windows 10 ranged from 115-130 fps to 150-165 fps, depending on the game scene.
In Ubuntu 19.04 from 100 to 120 fps. Settings High, sd client.
2. World of Warships
In the Sea Battles of World of Warships in Windows 10, performance ranged from 65 to 75 fps.
In Ubuntu 19.04, the game World of Warships showed performance from 60 to 70 fps but periodically saged strongly to 25 fps.
Both games in Ubuntu were installed using Lutris.
Here is the guide you can use: How to Install Wargaming Game Center on Linux
3. War Thunder
Also, with interest, I checked the performance of the video driver in the game War Thunder. In Windows 10, the game was installed using the native client, and in Ubuntu 19.04 using Steam (native version).
In naval battles in War Thunder in Windows 10, fps from 65 to 85 were displayed, in air battles, about 100 fps.
Ubuntu 19.04 ranged from 35-55 in naval battles and 75 fps in air battles.
The version from Lutris using DXVK in Ubuntu 19.04 showed fps ranging from 50 to 75 in naval battles and 60 fps in air battles.
I know that the developers of War Thunder are testing the version using the Vulkan libraries. I have not tested it, but I am sure that the performance will be significantly higher than that of the native version that uses OpenGL.
4. Euro Truck Simulator 2
In the Euro Truck Simulator 2, Windows 10 was displayed from 85 to 120 fps.
In Ubuntu 19.04, ETS 2 ranged from 55 fps (in rare cases) to 110 fps. In both cases, ultra settings were used.
As you can see, the performance of games in Linux is inferior to Windows 10, but when using the DXVK and Vulkan libraries, the difference is much smaller than when using OpenGL. In any case, this is a breakthrough for Linux users: there are many more available games, and their installation has become as simple as possible.
In my opinion, it remains to solve the problem of the work of anti-cheats. Because of the problem with the outcome of some anti-cheats, many games are not yet available in Linux.
Conclusion:
I hope this guide on How to Run Windows Games on Linux was easy. If you face any issues, please comment down below. Here are some additional guides that you can use: How to Run Doom: Eternal on Linux and How to Run Forza Horizon 5 on Linux