XDA spent the week arguing that Linux gaming would benefit from standardising on immutable distros, and the comment thread split predictably between “let me run Arch in peace” and “Bazzite already won.” Underneath that split is a quieter question: which launcher do you put on the immutable system to actually run the games? Steam handles its own library cleanly, but the rest of a Linux gamer’s catalogue (Epic, GOG, EA, Amazon, itch.io, ROM directories) needs help. We tested 7 Linux game launchers that pull libraries into one place and handle the Proton, Wine, or native bits underneath.
What to look for in a Linux game launcher
A few features separate the launchers that hold up over a year from the ones that lose their owner’s attention after a month.
- Multi-store integration. Steam, Epic, GOG, Amazon Prime Gaming, EA, Ubisoft, itch.io, Battle.net — the more of these in one window, the better.
- Proton, Wine, or native handling without a configuration session. The strong launchers auto-pick the right runner and let you override if it does not work.
- A Steam Deck story. The good launchers integrate with the Steam Deck’s Gaming Mode through “Add Non-Steam Game” wrappers or first-class shortcuts.
- ProtonDB ratings inline. Knowing a game is “Gold” before you install it saves a download cycle.
- Update and patch handling. Some launchers handle updates cleanly across stores; others lag the store’s native client.
- Cloud sync. A few launchers carry settings across machines.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Multi-store | Pricing | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | The foundation for any Linux gaming setup | Steam only | Free | First-class Proton integration |
| Lutris | The catch-all open-source launcher | Yes (most stores via scripts) | Free, open-source | Community installer scripts for tough cases |
| Heroic Games Launcher | The polished Epic and GOG client for Linux | Epic, GOG, Amazon Prime | Free, open-source | First-class Steam Deck install flow |
| Bottles | Per-game Wine prefixes with a clean UI | Loose (manual game install) | Free, open-source | Dependency presets that just work |
| PlayOnLinux | Long-running Wine wrapper for legacy games | Loose | Free, open-source | Library of community-tested install scripts |
| Junction | Gamer-friendly metadata hub across stores | Yes (broadest list) | Free | Single unified library across stores |
| Minigalaxy | The minimalist GOG client for Linux | GOG only | Free, open-source | Offline-friendly downloads with no clutter |
The 7 best apps for Linux game launchers on desktop
1. Steam — best foundation for any Linux gaming setup
Steam for Linux is the foundation everything else assumes. The native client is fast, Proton handles the Windows-only catalogue with very little user intervention, and the Steam Deck’s Gaming Mode is the same client tuned for handheld use. Steam Cloud syncs saves across machines, Remote Play works across the LAN, and the Workshop covers mods cleanly.
For 90% of a Linux gamer’s catalogue, Steam is enough on its own.
Where it falls short: It is a Steam-only client. Any non-Steam game (Epic, GOG, EA, ROMs) needs another launcher or an “Add Non-Steam Game” wrapper.
Pricing: Free.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux. Steam OS.
Download: store.steampowered.com
Bottom line: Pick this as the foundation. The rest of this list adds the catalogues Steam does not carry.
2. Lutris — best catch-all open-source launcher
Lutris is the catch-all that the Linux gaming community built. The store integration covers Steam, Epic, GOG, Amazon, EA, Battle.net, and the long tail of installers people care about, and the community installer scripts handle the tough cases (older games, anti-cheat workarounds, specific Wine versions). The library view is a single grid across every store you have linked.
The 2025 Lutris releases improved the Wine runner selection UX, added native Flatpak support, and refined the per-game preferences pane.
Where it falls short: Setup takes a session. Some installers fail and the recovery story is “find the right Wine version manually.” The interface is functional rather than flashy.
Pricing: Free, open-source.
Platforms: Linux.
Download: lutris.net
Bottom line: Pick this when you want one launcher that handles every store and every installer the community has scripted.
3. Heroic Games Launcher — best polished Epic and GOG client for Linux
Heroic Games Launcher is what most Linux gamers reach for after Steam to handle their Epic and GOG libraries. The interface is the most polished in the open-source launcher space, the Epic and GOG sign-in flow is clean, and Amazon Prime Gaming is supported alongside the two flagship stores. Heroic also packages itself well as a Flatpak, which means it installs cleanly on Bazzite, Aurora, and other immutable distros.
The Heroic Steam Deck flow is the best-supported “install an Epic exclusive on a Deck” path.
Where it falls short: Three stores rather than the full Lutris coverage. The Wine prefix story is less flexible than Bottles for power users.
Pricing: Free, open-source.
Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows.
Download: heroicgameslauncher.com
Bottom line: Pick this as the second launcher after Steam, especially on a Steam Deck.
4. Bottles — best per-game Wine prefixes with a clean UI
Bottles is the Wine prefix manager that turned a power-user workflow into a friendly app. Each “bottle” is an isolated Wine prefix with its own dependencies (DLLs, .NET versions, Direct3D translation layer), and the dependency presets handle most common Windows app and game requirements with one click. The result is a clean way to run a Windows-only game, a Windows-only productivity tool, and a Windows-only browser side by side without conflicts.
For Linux users who run Windows-only software beyond just games, Bottles is the workshop.
Where it falls short: It is not a store integration. You bring the installer or the standalone executable. Larger games install fine but the workflow is more manual than Heroic or Lutris.
Pricing: Free, open-source.
Platforms: Linux.
Download: usebottles.com
Bottom line: Pick this for per-game Wine prefixes with a clean UI when you are running Windows software beyond Steam.
5. PlayOnLinux — best long-running Wine wrapper for legacy games
PlayOnLinux is the older Wine wrapper that pre-dates Lutris and Bottles. The script library skews toward older Windows games and productivity apps, which is exactly the area newer tools sometimes lag on. For installing a 2008 Windows-only game that the modern wrappers struggle with, PlayOnLinux often has the script someone wrote in 2012 that still works.
The project’s pace has slowed but the script library remains useful.
Where it falls short: UI shows its age. Active development has moved to other projects.
Pricing: Free, open-source.
Platforms: Linux. (PlayOnMac for macOS.)
Download: playonlinux.com
Bottom line: Pick this when a modern wrapper fails on an older game and you want the long-tail script library.
6. Junction — best gamer-friendly metadata hub across stores
Junction is the relatively newer entrant aimed at being the “one library across every store” tool. It pulls metadata from Steam, GOG, Epic, EA, Ubisoft Connect, Amazon Prime Gaming, itch.io, ROM directories, and a long tail of others into a single grid, and launches the appropriate native client (or Wine/Proton wrapper) when you click play. The result feels closer to a Plex for games than to a launcher in the old sense.
The 2025 Junction releases added theme support and refined the cross-store metadata matching that used to produce duplicate entries.
Where it falls short: It is a metadata hub more than an installer. You still install through each store’s native flow.
Pricing: Free.
Platforms: Linux, Windows.
Download: getjunction.com
Bottom line: Pick this when you want one library view across more stores than Lutris reaches.
7. Minigalaxy — best minimalist GOG client for Linux
Minigalaxy is the no-frills GOG client for users who want to download their DRM-free library without running the full GOG Galaxy through Wine. The interface is small, the download is straightforward, and the offline-installer support means you can grab a game on a desktop and run the same installer offline on a laptop later.
For GOG-only users on a low-spec Linux machine, Minigalaxy is the right size.
Where it falls short: GOG only. No multi-store. No fancy library view.
Pricing: Free, open-source.
Platforms: Linux.
Download: github.com/sharkwouter/minigalaxy
Bottom line: Pick this when your library is GOG and you want a tiny tool that just downloads it.
How to pick the right one
- Start with Steam. Almost every Linux gaming setup has Steam at the foundation.
- Add Heroic for Epic, GOG, and Amazon Prime Gaming. It is the polished second launcher.
- Add Lutris when Heroic does not cover a store or a specific older game needs a community script.
- Use Bottles when you run Windows-only software beyond just games.
- Use PlayOnLinux as a fallback for older games that the newer wrappers miss.
- Use Junction when you want a single library view across every store.
- Use Minigalaxy if your library is GOG-only and you want a minimal tool.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Linux game launcher beyond Steam?
If your library is 100% on Steam, no. Steam plus Proton handles almost everything for most users. The second launcher matters when you have Epic exclusives, GOG-only games, or a long tail of non-Steam titles.
Which launcher is best for Steam Deck?
Heroic Games Launcher in Desktop Mode, paired with the “Add Non-Steam Game” wrapper that returns each Epic or GOG title to Gaming Mode. Lutris also works but Heroic’s Steam Deck install flow is more polished.
Can I run a Windows-only game on Linux without Proton?
Yes, through Wine directly or through wrappers like Bottles and PlayOnLinux. In practice, Proton (Steam’s customised Wine) has the broadest compatibility, so most players install the Windows game through Steam or Heroic and let Proton handle the runner.
What about anti-cheat games on Linux?
Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye both support Linux on the Proton path, but the publisher must opt in. Some popular multiplayer games still do not, which is one of the few areas where Linux gaming hits a wall.
Are any of these launchers paid?
No. Every launcher on this list is free. Steam, Heroic, Lutris, Bottles, PlayOnLinux, Junction, and Minigalaxy are all free, and most are open-source.