Gaming on Linux has made great strides in the last few years. Gone are the days when playing Steam or GOG games on Linux was unimaginable. Playing GOG’s massive library of games on your Linux machine is not only possible—it’s also surprisingly easy.
Thanks to Linux apps like Lutris and Heroic Games Launcher, you can easily install and play GOG games.
Pour Some Wine For Your Windows-Based GOG Games
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Playing GOG games on Linux isn’t as simple as double-clicking the exe files of your games on Windows. While there are a few GOG games with native Linux ports, most of its games are made for Windows. To play Windows-based PC games, Linux gamers use Wine, a compatibility layer that lets Linux users run EXE files. They also use Valve’s Proton, which is built to run Windows games.
Both Lutris and Heroic Games Launcher use Wine and Proton to run GOG Windows games on Linux. Both apps scan for new versions of Wine, Proton, and others from the similar community. With these apps, you will be able to play your favorite games on Linux without any hassle.
To be sure, gamers also use ProtonDB to test how well their games run on Linux. It’s a useful site for finding which Wine version and configuration works best for a particular game. Most if not all GOG games are on ProtonDB’s database.
Installing GOG Games via Lutris
Lutris is a gaming client that brings games built for Windows to your Linux desktop. Lutris imports your games from sources like Origin, Steam, Ubisoft Connect, and GOG. It’s convenient to have all your game library together in one app.
To do this, hover over the Wine tab listed under Runners in the sidebar. Click the Manage Versions button in the open box-shaped box that appears. A window will pop up for managing Wine versions.
Lutris will automatically detect and show the latest versions of Wine. It will also feature other community-built compatibility layers, such as Wine GE.
Install your preferred compatibility layer and click OK to proceed.
Next, hover over the Wine tab in the sidebar, then click the gear-shaped Configure button that appears.
A Wine Configuration window will pop up. Click the dropdown box next to Wine version, then select the compatibility layer you have installed.
To connect the Lutris app to your GOG library, hover over the GOG tab in the sidebar. Click on the person-shaped Connect button that appears.
Clicking Connect will take you to the GOG login window. Enter your login credentials and click Log In Now.
Once you’ve linked your GOG account to Lutris, your GOG game library will be visible on the app. Because of Wine, you have the option of installing both Linux-native and Windows GOG games via Lutris.
From here, double click on the game of your choice to install it.
Next, select the folder directory to install your games. By default, the directory will be set under the game folder in your home directory. Click on Install to proceed.
Your GOG game may come with additional content, such as wallpapers and game art. Lutris will detect any additional content and give you the option to download them. Click on Continue to proceed.
Next, Lutris will show you the installation files you need to download. Click Continue to begin downloading the installation files.
Having a cache of installation files will come in handy if the game doesn’t install successfully the first time. Click on the Cache button to set a folder to keep the downloaded installation files. If you need to reinstall the game, you can go back to the cache of the installation files.