Windows dominates the desktop, sure, but it’s definitely not the only game in town anymore. For years, if you wanted to play PC games, you basically signed a blood pact with Microsoft. You dealt with the forced updates, the telemetry, and that bloatware that somehow keeps coming back. But things shifted. Hard. If you’re looking for operating systems besides windows to run steam on, you actually have legitimate, high-performance choices that don’t feel like a science experiment gone wrong.
Let's be real: the Steam Deck changed everything. When Valve launched that handheld, they didn't put Windows on it. They used SteamOS, a custom flavor of Linux. Because Valve put their weight behind Proton—a compatibility layer that lets Windows games run on Linux—the "Linux can't game" argument died a quiet death. Now, you can get better-than-Windows performance on some titles, all while keeping your privacy intact.
Why Even Leave Windows?
Honestly, Windows 11 feels more like an advertising platform than an OS lately. Start menu ads? Constant nudging to use Edge? It's exhausting. For gamers, the biggest draw of looking for operating systems besides windows to run steam on is often control. You want your RAM to go to the game, not to "News and Interests" widgets you never asked for.
Privacy matters too. Linux doesn't phone home with your usage data unless you specifically tell it to. Plus, there’s the "cool factor" of having a desktop that looks and behaves exactly how you want it to, rather than how a committee in Redmond decided it should look.
SteamOS and the Immutable Kings
If you want the Steam Deck experience on a desktop, you're looking for HoloISO or Bazzite. These are "immutable" operating systems. Basically, the core system is locked down, making it incredibly hard to break. It’s the closest thing to a console experience you’ll get on a PC.
Bazzite is particularly incredible right now. It's based on Fedora, and it comes pre-loaded with Nvidia drivers—which, if you’ve ever used Linux, you know can be a massive headache. It just works. You boot up, log into Steam, and it feels like a high-end console. It even includes features like "GameMode" from Feral Interactive, which tells your CPU to prioritize your game over background tasks.
The Pop!_OS Factor
System76 builds computers, but they also make Pop!_OS. It’s based on Ubuntu, but it’s way better for gaming. Why? Because they offer a specific ISO that has the Nvidia proprietary drivers baked right in. You don't have to touch a terminal to get your GPU running.
Pop!_OS uses a workflow called Auto-Tiling. It sounds boring, but when you’re managing Discord, a browser for walkthroughs, and Steam at the same time, it’s a godsend. It snaps windows into place automatically. It’s snappy. It's clean. It’s probably the most stable recommendation for someone who just wants to play their library without learning how to code.
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Nobara: The Gamer’s Choice
Then there’s Nobara. Created by GloriousEggroll (Thomas Crider), a guy who literally works at Red Hat and maintains the "Proton-GE" versions of the compatibility layer. He knows gaming on Linux better than almost anyone.
Nobara is a modified version of Fedora. It includes patches for the kernel that aren't in the standard version—patches specifically designed to reduce input lag and improve frame rates. It’s a bit more "bleeding edge," so things might break occasionally when a new update drops, but the performance gains are real. If you’re the type of person who overclocked their GPU, Nobara is your playground.
Is Arch Linux Actually Worth the Pain?
You’ve probably seen the memes. "I use Arch, by the way." Arch is the "build it yourself" OS. You start with a blinking cursor and install every single component manually. Is it great for Steam? Yes, because it’s "rolling release," meaning you get the absolute newest drivers the second they come out.
But honestly? Unless you love spending your Saturday morning reading the Arch Wiki because your audio stopped working, stick to EndeavourOS. It’s Arch with an installer and a friendly face. You get the speed of Arch without the trauma.
The Elephant in the Room: macOS
We have to talk about Apple. For a decade, gaming on Mac was a joke. "Macs are for spreadsheets and video editing," everyone said. But with the transition to Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4 chips), the hardware became too powerful to ignore.
Valve still supports a native Steam client for macOS. However, the library is smaller. You aren't going to play Starfield natively on a MacBook Air. But—and this is a big "but"—Apple released the Game Porting Toolkit (GPTK). It’s their version of Proton. Projects like Whisky and Crossover use this technology to let you run Windows games on your Mac with surprisingly good results. Cyberpunk 2077 on a MacBook Pro? It's happening. It’s not perfect, and the anti-cheat software in games like Valorant will still block you, but it’s more viable than it’s ever been.
Anti-Cheat: The Final Boss
Here is the cold, hard truth. If you play Call of Duty, Valorant, Rainbow Six Siege, or Destiny 2, you cannot fully switch to operating systems besides windows to run steam on. These games use "Kernel-level" anti-cheat. They want deep access to your system to make sure you aren't cheating. Linux doesn't allow that kind of intrusion by default, and the developers of those specific games haven't enabled support for Proton, even though it's technically possible.
Check ProtonDB before you wipe your Windows drive. It’s a massive database where thousands of gamers report how well games run on Linux. If your favorite game is rated "Borked," you're out of luck. If it’s "Gold" or "Platinum," you might actually get a better experience than you did on Windows.
The Reality of Performance
Sometimes Linux is faster. Seriously. Because the OS overhead is so low, games can sometimes see a 5-10% FPS boost. However, there’s a thing called "Shader Stutter." When you first launch a game on Linux, the system has to translate the shaders. Steam usually downloads these for you in the background (Pre-caching), but if it doesn't, your first ten minutes of gameplay might be a bit jerky. Once they're cached, it’s smooth sailing.
Making the Switch: A Practical Path
Don't just delete Windows today. That's a recipe for frustration. Instead, try "Dual Booting." You can keep Windows on one half of your drive for those few games that require it, and put something like Bazzite or Pop!_OS on the other half.
Most modern Linux installers make this incredibly easy. They’ll literally ask, "Install alongside Windows?" Click yes, slide a bar to decide how much space each gets, and you're done.
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Essential Tools for the Transition
- ProtonUp-Qt: This is a tiny app that lets you download "Proton-GE." Often, if a game won't launch in Steam, switching to the GE version fixes it instantly.
- MangoHud: If you like seeing your FPS, CPU temp, and GPU usage in a cool overlay, this is the gold standard.
- VibrantLinux: If you miss the "Digital Vibrance" setting from the Nvidia Control Panel on Windows, this tool mimics it.
The Future is Open
The reliance on Windows is a habit, not a necessity. As Valve continues to pour money into the Linux ecosystem, the gap is closing. We are nearing a point where the OS is just a bootloader for Steam.
If you're tired of the "Windows Tax"—both the literal cost and the cost to your privacy—give these alternatives a shot. You might find that your hardware feels younger and faster once it's freed from the bloat.
Next Steps for the Move:
- Check your library: Visit ProtonDB and search for your top five most-played games. If they are "Gold" or higher, you are safe to move.
- Test without installing: Download the ISO for Pop!_OS or Fedora, flash it to a USB drive using a tool like Etcher, and boot from it. This "Live Environment" lets you poke around the OS without changing anything on your hard drive.
- Pick your flavor: Start with Bazzite if you want a console-like experience, or Pop!_OS if you want a traditional desktop that feels familiar.
- Update your BIOS: Ensure "Secure Boot" is handled correctly; some Linux distros require it to be off, though many modern ones work fine with it on.