11 Windows Games That Run Perfectly on Linux in 2025

It comes as a surprise to many that Linux systems can actually run some Windows games better. Valve’s Proton compatibility layer enables thousands of Windows-only games to run like native – or sometimes even better – on Linux systems. Tests made with SteamOS handhelds show improvements anywhere from 8% to 36% on SteamOS compared to Windows 11 for several popular titles.

A 2021 Linux gamers survey revealed that 78% of users played most games with Proton, and 73% saw it as the most important advancement for Linux gaming. Players often prefer Proton versions over native Linux ports, since these ports can lag behind in updates.

Let’s take a closer look at 15 Windows games that run amazingly well on Linux.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3 is not a new game but still holds up well in 2025. Its also a testament to how well Windows games can run on Linux. CD Projekt Red’s fantasy epic runs perfecly through Proton.

The Witcher 3 Linux performance

Performance changes a lot based on your choice of rendering API. DirectX 12 support exists but runs 12-40% slower than DirectX 11 on Linux systems. This difference shows up in CPU-heavy areas like Novigrad. Tests show that DX11 gives better frame rates but can have less stable frame pacing with more dips.

The Witcher 3 Proton compatibility

The action RPG holds a “Platinum” rating on ProtonDB, showing excellent compatibility. The Next Gen update works right away without any tweaks. Some users might see crashes with DirectX 12 mode.

You can fix common DX12 crashes by editing the launcher-configuration.json file in the game’s installation directory:

• Change "fallback": "DirectX 12" to "fallback": "DirectX 11"
• Add --launcher-skip to your Steam launch options

Depending on your distro of choice, you may get the best results using custom Proton versions like GE-Proton10-15. Adding gamemoderun %command% --launcher-skip to launch options can improve performance even more.

Witcher 3 update and mod support

The Witcher 3 Mod Manager works with both Steam and GOG versions through Proton. Script Merger helps fix mod conflicts and runs smoothly through Wine/Proton.

Mod setup needs a few extra steps compared to Windows. Linux users can find detailed guides to help them. Steam Deck users have complete modding guides too, so they can customize their Witcher experience with mods.

2. Cyberpunk 2077

Night City’s neon-lit streets in Cyberpunk 2077 runs particularly well on Linux when you have AMD hardware.

Cyberpunk 2077 Linux performance

Your GPU choice largely determines the performance story. AMD graphics cards show better results consistently. The Radeon 9070 XT reaches almost 196 FPS at 1080p versus 189 FPS on Windows. Numbers are even more impressive at 1440p ultrawide, where the same card jumps from 101 FPS on Windows to 131 FPS on Linux – a 29% boost that makes a real difference.The more affordable 9600 XT will handle the game nicely as well.

Windows does work better for NVIDIA users. The RTX 5080 hits 202 FPS on Windows but drops to about 163 FPS on Linux. This pattern continues with ray tracing enabled. AMD keeps its Linux advantage at 1080p but shows frame time issues where 1% lows drop by half.

Cyberpunk 2077 Proton tweaks

These tweaks are the foundations of optimal Linux performance:

• Proton Version Selection: Proton Experimental or at least Proton 8.0-1 works best for compatibility
• Launch Options: Add WINEDLLOVERRIDES="version=n,b" %command% to Steam launch options
• For Mod Support: Use WINEDLLOVERRIDES="version=n,b;winmm=n,b" %command%

Proton 8.0 handles most DLL overrides automatically now, which makes setup easier. You might need extra configuration through Protontricks or Winetricks to use Cyber Engine Tweaks and other mods.

Cyberpunk 2077 stability on Linux

The game runs well, but you might face some stability issues. Alt-tabbing between apps can cause crashes without warning, especially if you switch workspaces too quickly. The game stays reliable with proper setup.

V-Sync behaves differently than on Windows. Setting V-Sync at 60 FPS might feel less smooth than leaving it off. Entry-level GPUs might see small performance drops with multiple monitors.

3. Elden Ring

Valve’s implementation of Elden Ring-specific performance fixes gives Linux an edge over Windows, which lacks these optimizations. Gamers experience zero stutters or framedrops unlike the Windows version. The performance benefits remain strong with the latest Nightreign expansion, which runs without issues on Linux systems.

Proton anti-cheat workaround

Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) used to create major problems for Linux gamers. Players would receive “inappropriate activity detected” messages without valid reasons. The situation improved in 2025 when both EAC and BattleEye added official Linux support through Proton.

Players can fix older anti-cheat issues by:

1. Verifying game file integrity through Steam
2. Creating an empty “DLC.bdt” file in the Game folder for DLC issues
3. Using Proton Experimental for best compatibility

Controller support

The game needs specific controller setup steps. Players should:

• Switch Elden Ring compatibility to “Proton Experimental”
• Configure Steam’s default Desktop Controller settings to “GamePad” template
• Set Elden Ring Controller Configuration to “Generic Gamepad” plus their specific controller type

Blank controller configuration screens might appear. Players can fix this by reconnecting their controller while keeping the panel open. PlayStation controller users need Steam Input enabled but administrator privileges turned off.

4. Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 Linux performance

The game outperforms Windows by up to 10 frames per second on AMD hardware with Vulkan API. This translates to a 14% performance boost. Linux’s AMD drivers’ superior performance comes from their native platform design instead of ported Windows code.

Hardware choices and test methods affect the performance results. Some players see matching performance on both platforms. Others notice slower framerates on Linux. AMD’s open-source Linux drivers excel at Vulkan rendering compared to their Windows versions, which creates these differences.

Proton Experimental’s latest updates have resolved several persistent issues. Players can now enjoy fixed FPS drops during keyboard input and restored HDR features. These improvements make the Linux version more refined.

Red Dead Redemption 2 graphics optimization

The game runs best on Linux with these crucial settings:

• Use Vulkan rendering: Vulkan delivers better performance than DirectX 12 through Proton
• Force RADV drivers (AMD users): Add VK_ICD_FILENAMES=/usr/share/vulkan/icd.d/radeon_icd.i686.json:/usr/share/vulkan/icd.d/radeon_icd.x86_64.json to launch options
• Resolution handling: For resolutions above 1920×1080, use Windowed Borderless mode with launch options: -width [your width] -height [your height]

NVIDIA users might notice stuttering absent in previous drivers. Players should check compatibility reports before updating their drivers.

5. Hogwarts Legacy

Hogwarts Legacy runs at higher frame rates on Ubuntu with Proton than Windows 11 when using high-end hardware like the RTX 4090. RAM usage tells an interesting story too – Windows 11 needs up to 26GB while Linux uses less than 10GB.

The game shines on basic hardware too. Players with an i5-8500 and RX 6400 4GB get over 40 FPS on medium/high settings without scaling. A 5600x/980ti setup delivers 45-60 FPS at 1080p using ultra settings and FSR at quality.

Proton compatibility

Linux runs the game smoothly, but fast travel might cause occasional crashes. Here’s how to fix this:

• Open a terminal and type: sudo sh -c "echo 1000000 > /proc/sys/vm/max_map_count"
• NVIDIA users should set VKD3D_SHADER_DEBUG=none if they see frame drops
• The game runs best when installed on an SSD

FSR works but affects image quality. The FSR options are quite conservative (around 67% at the highest), which makes things look a bit blurry. Many choose to skip FSR for better visuals, even if it means slightly lower performance.

Shader compilation remains the biggest headache for Linux players. The game shows a “Preparing Shaders” screen for 20-30 seconds each time it starts. The good news is that loads get faster after the first compilation.

You can skip these shader delays completely:

1. Start the game once and set your priorities
2. Find the configuration folder
3. Open GameUserSettings.ini and change LastOpened=Phoenix to LastOpened=Test
4. Set the file to read-only

The shader cache directory should be deleted before restarting if the game crashes during compilation. NVIDIA GPU users can prevent crashes during this CPU-heavy process by increasing the “AVX2 offset” in BIOS.

6. Resident Evil Village

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Tests show Resident Evil Village performs great (RT turned off) without frame drops during complete playthroughs. The newest Proton updates fixed major problems like post-cutscene freezes and blue-tinted videos.

Resident Evil Village Proton tweaks

The best setup needs:

• Proton Experimental to fix videos and support graphics settings
• GE-Proton9-9 that has ddraw and dinput fixes for better compatibility
• REFramework with WINEDLLOVERRIDES="dinput8.dll=n,b" in launch options to fix FOV issues, especially on ultrawide screens

Ray tracing works with specific environmental variables, but RT effects don’t necessarily display properly. Most choose to skip RT and enjoy better frame rates without losing visual quality.

7. DOOM Eternal

DOOM Eternal Linux performance

Graphics hardware significantly affects DOOM Eternal’s performance. AMD users enjoy exceptional gameplay with high FPS at any video settings. NVIDIA users face different results. Some 1080 Ti owners get only 15-25 FPS even after adjusting settings.

AMD users can fix performance issues by switching from the “radeon” driver to “amdgpu”. The process requires blacklisting the radeon driver through a file in /etc/modprobe.d and enabling amdgpu support in GRUB configuration.

ProtonDB rates DOOM Eternal as “Gold“, which shows excellent compatibility.

To get the best performance:

• Choose Proton Experimental or GE-Proton10-11
• Fix mouse lag with launch option: %command% +set m_smooth 0
• Use SSD installation to avoid stuttering
• Fix mod support by removing idtechLauncher.exe and creating a symlink to DOOMEternalx64vk.exe

8. Hitman 3

IO Interactive’s stealthy masterpiece Hitman 3 needs minimal setup to get the best performance. It runs smoothly out of the box on Linux with Proton Experimental, particularly with AMD GPUs. The open-source Radeon driver beats NVIDIA’s proprietary solution in many cases. Mid-range cards like the RTX 5060 Ti deliver solid framerates at 4K resolution.

Hitman 3 Proton tweaks

These steps will help you get the best Hitman 3 experience:

• Pick Proton Experimental or newer versions
• Add “-skip_launcher” to launch options
• Older versions need registry fixes through Lutris
• Steam Deck users should cap FPS at 45 and turn on FSR 2 to balance battery life and performance

Hitman 3 online features on Linux

You need an internet connection to access most features. The game includes an offline single-player mode, but it offers much less than the online version. The good news is that online features work perfectly through Proton. This gives you full access to all game modes and progression systems.

9. Monster Hunter Rise

Capcom’s action-packed RPG Monster Hunter Rise was runing impressively well through Steam Play Proton from day one. AMD GPU users faced performance problems at first, but specialized builds fixed these issues later. The game reached 60 FPS on Steam Deck with better graphics than its Switch version.

A quick fix for a huge performance boost is to turn off Dynamic Shadows.

ProtonDB ratings for the game are very positive, and most users report excellent compatibility. Tests show smooth performance on systems of all types. The biggest problem is that intro videos don’t play properly with standard Proton, but Proton GE fixes this small issue easily.

Controller support

The controller experience varies among users. The game officially supports all controllers, but Linux players often have detection problems. You might be able to fix this by turning off Steam Input in the game’s properties. Some configurations work better when the wineprefix is set to Windows 8.

10. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Sekiro delivers smooth gameplay through Proton with minimal issues after installation. You might notice occasional stutters at startup, but these disappear quickly during gameplay. Your monitor’s refresh rate can substantially affect performance: a 60Hz setting yields the best results, while higher rates might cause persistent frame drops. Laptop users with Nvidia GPUs can eliminate most stuttering by tweaking their NVIDIA Control Panel settings.

The game earned a “Platinum” rating on ProtonDB that shows flawless compatibility without any tweaks. Many report optimal results with borderless windowed mode, which enables VRR+VSync to work with higher framerates. The Sekiro FPS Unlock DLL placed next to the game executable unlocks the frame rate.

Controller issues

Controller detection can be tricky, especially with third-party Xbox 360 controllers. Try to disconnect both keyboard and controller at the title screen, plug in only the controller, press any button, then reconnect the keyboard.

11. Hades

Supergiant Games’ roguelike Hades can run at at 90Hz/90FPS on Steam Deck OLED by using a special “Steam Deck Vulkan” launch option. This breaks past the usual 60 FPS limit on Windows systems. Desktop Linux users have seen even more impressive results. After removing the frame rate limiter, they report reaching speeds of over 500 FPS. Some players push the game so far that it hits 600 FPS – a speed where the Steam counter can’t even keep up.