Linux-Crack-Tips/Wiki/howtoplay.md

Back to index!

3. How To Play On Linux

Here is a introductory article about using Steam with Proton and Lutris to play games on Linux.

3.1 Using Steam

You can also add a non-Steam game to Steam and then play it on Linux using Proton. Follow these steps to do so. This also applies to the Steam Deck!

1. Open Steam and make sure that Steam Play is activated.
2. Click on "Steam" in the top left, click on "Preferences" and "Steam Play" at the bottom.
3. There tick both the box "Enable Steam Play for supported titles" and "Enable Steam Play for all other titles".
4. Choose the latest Proton version for "Run other titles with:".
5. Close the windows and return to Steam.
6. In the bottom left click on "+ Add a game" and then on "Add a Non-Steam Game...".
7. In the new window click on "Browse...".
8. On the bottom select "File type: All Files".
9. Browse to the directory in which your game is saved.
10. Select the game's executable e. g. game-launcher.exe".
11. Click "Open" and then "Add selected programs".
12. The game is now in your Steam library.
13. Right-click the game and select "Properties...".
14. Check that "Target" contains the path and the game's executable. This might not be visible on Steam Deck, in that case copy the path from a file browser (like Dolphin) and paste it into the field. Make sure to include quotation marks, e. g. /home/arjab/games/Elden Ring/eldenring.exe.
15. Check that "Start in" contains only the path from the previous section, but not the executable, e. g. /home/arjab/games/Elden Ring/.
16. Check that "Launch options" is empty if not specified otherwise.
17. Close the window, it saves automatically.
18. Hit the "Play"-button. Enjoy!

That's it.

19. If the game doesn't run, open "Properties..." again.
20. On the left, switch to the section "Compatibility".
21. Tick the box "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool".
22. Choose a different Proton version or a custom version like Proton by Glorious Eggroll.
23. Close the window and start the game.

3.1.1 Steam's wineprefix directory

Steam saves a wineprefix for every game in the following directory: /home/$user/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/$appid/pfx/

Replace $user with your username and $appid with Steam's application ID for the game. You can find the app ID by right-clicking on the game and selecting "Properties...". Than switch to the tab "Updates" on the left and you will see for example "App ID: 1234567" at the bottom.

The above path is a link to the actual path, which can be found in /home/$user/.local/share/Steam/....

3.1.2 Goldberg achievement emulator

Here is a guide for using the achievement capabilities of Goldberg Steam emu.

3.2 Using Lutris

Follow these steps to play a cracked game using Lutris:

It's not necessary to install a game using Lutris as described here. But for some (cracked) games it works better or as described below is necessary insofar as you need a different runner for e. g. the installation of FitGirl repacks. So if you have an already installed game, skip steps 6 to 12.

1. Obtain your desired game from a respected source.
2. Install Lutris and open it.
3. Click on to top left "+"-button to add a game.
4. Enter the name of the game and select the Runner "Wine".
5. Change to the tab "Game options".
6. Click on the top right button "Browse.." to select the game's executable.
7. *Browse to the directory of your downloaded game and select the installer's .exe.
8. Click "Save", you'll see your game's installation has been added to Lutris.
9. Double-click on it or use the bottom-left button "Play".
10. The installation should start, follow the on-screen instructions.
11. After the installation is done, right-click the game in Lutris and click "Configure".
12. Go to "Game options" and click the top right button "Browse..".
13. Browse to the directory in which you've installed the game.
14. Select the game's executable and click the bottom right "Save".
15. Double-click the game in Lutris to start it or use the bottom left button "Play".

Optional: If a game doesn't work or has poor performance, click "Configure" on the game and tick the bottom left box "Show advanced options". Now you can edit the game's options, change the runner, etc.

Here's also a guide on how to use Lutris and Wine on the Deck.

3.2.1 Lutris' wineprefix directory

Lutris uses the default wineprefix for all games which is located in "/home/$user/.wine". Sometimes it's necessary to create a new wineprefix and point to it in the game's Lutris configuration.

3.2.2 Using custom DXVK in Lutris

Lutris uses it's own fork of DXVK, but you can also use a custom version of DXVK with Lutris.

Simply install DXVK for example downloading the latest release or by installing the AUR package and copy or symlink it to the following directory:

~/.local/share/lutris/runtime/dxvk/custom

You can name the customdirectory anything you want, but it must contain the "x64" and "x86" folders. Now open any game's configuration in Lutris, chek the "Show advanced options" box and type the folders name into the "DXVK version" field.

Here's the official tutorial by Lutris including a video.

The same can be done for VKD3D, but Lutris already uses a fork of VKD3D-Proton.

3.2.3 Installing repacks return error

Thanks to u/hackedyak there is an easy fix for failing repack installations related to isdone.dll or unarc.dll..

1. When you run the installation using Lutris, right-click on the game in Lutris and select "Configure".
2. Select the right-most tab called "System options".
3. Scroll down to "Environment variables".
4. Click the "Add"-button on the bottom right.
5. Click into the field labeled "Key" and enter the following:

WINE_LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE - if you're using a Wine/Lutris runner.

PROTON_LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE - if you're using a Proton runner.

More on the installation of FitGirl repacks can be found here.

6. Now click into the field labeled "Value" and enter 0.
7. Click on "Save" in the bottom right and start the installation.

You should change this back to 1 after the installation though!

3.2.4 Install repacks using Lutris

Here is a guide on how to install FitGirl or Dodi repacks using Lutris.

3.3 Using Heroic Launcher

Since v2.5.0 of the Heroic Launcher it's able to sideload games just like Lutris as explained in more detail here.

3.4 How to pirate and play windows games on Linux: A simple guide.

Here is a guide by Mr. Goldberg on how to pirate and play games on Linux.