24 Extra Hot Free Linux Games (Part 1 of 3)
If Linux is going to make significant strides in increasing
market desktop share, it needs to be able to compete with Windows in
all areas. The average computer user typically just wants a
single operating system to use for their work, to surf the net, to keep
in contact with family and friends, and to have some fun. Having to
reboot
between operating systems is frankly too inconvenient for many users,
as well as being perceived as too difficult. Whilst you can run many
Windows software from Linux
(e.g. by using virtualisation software, or Wine), again this
simply appears to add to the complexity of using the PC. Furthermore,
whilst Wine does allow some of the hottest Windows games to run under
Linux, it is inevitable there will always be some incompatibility
issues.
Even though PCs face increasing competition from dedicated
gaming
consoles, PC gaming will never die. If Linux is going to dominate the
desktop market, it needs a good stream of native games. However,
commercial gaming companies are only going to port
games to Linux if they can realise a tidy profit from that work, and in
the main
that requires a significant gaming base. In many ways, open
source games represent a solution to the Catch 22 situation, making
Linux more attractive from a gamer's perspective, and increasing the
possibility of more commercial games being released on the market.
To be eligible for inclusion in this list each game
needed to meet the following requirements:
Free
to play (no download charge, no monthly charge)
Does not require Wine to run. Wine is a compatibility layer
for running Windows software.
Not in the early stages of development
The only exception we have made is to include Quake Live, a
truly
awesome web browser based game which has under a proprietary
license. But it was simply too good to miss off this feature.
This article is the first in a three part series. Parts 2 and
3 will be available shortly.
Now, let's scrutinize the 8 games at hand. For each game we
have compiled its own portal page, providing screenshots of the game in
action, a full description of the game, with an in-depth analysis of
the features of the game, together with links to relevant resources and
reviews.
We have previously released a number of features
highlighting great free Linux games including 42
of the Best Free Linux Games, 42
More of the Best Free Linux Games, 21
More of the Best Free
Linux Games, as well as a three part feature entitled 42 Hot
Free
Linux
Games (Part
1, Part
2, Part
3).
Return to our complete collection of Group
Tests, identifying the finest Linux software.
Last Updated Sunday, April 22 2012 @ 08:27 AM EDT
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