Best Linux Games To Try in 2011
By fossmaniac
2011 is here, and Linux as a gaming platform seems to be growing more and more, especially with new and games coming up in both free and paid categories. Here's a list of the latest and the best games on the linux platform for the year 2011. Some of these games are new and some old favorites have received a major overhaul.
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1. SuperTuxKart
Described by Full Circle Magazine as one of the best racing games for Linux, Supertuxkart is a 3d kart racing game featuring the Linux mascot Tux. The game involves the driver(usually popular FOSS mascots) racing across different tracks against some rather nasty opponents. One can knock other drivers down, blow them up, or slow them down depending on the 'gift boxes' one collects. The game also features a split screen multiplayer which can be played using two keyboards attached to the same computer. Game modes like Grand Prix, Time Trial and Follow the Leader make sure the game doesn't fall into the trap of monotony.
Download the game from here.
Supertuxkart 0.7
2. Alien Arena 2011
Alien Arena is a free, stand-alone first-person shooter computer game based on source code released by id Software. The game combines a 1950s-era sci-fi atmosphere with gameplay similar to the Quake, Doom, and Unreal Tournament series. Alien Arena focuses mainly on online multiplayer action, although it does contain single-player matches against bots. The latest version of the game i.e. Alien Arena 2011 includes ragdoll physics using the Open Dynamics engine and a new soundtrack.
Linux : Download
Ubuntu users can download the deb file from here
Alien Arena 2011
3. Urban Terror
Urban Terror is a free-to-play online game based on Quake 3 Arena developed by Frozen Sand.The onilne multiplayer game brings the best elements of FPS like Team Deathmatch, Capture the flag,Free-for-all Deathmatch, etc bundled into a Hollywood tactical shooter.Though the game is modeled as realistically as possible, the addition of special abilities like wall jumping and power sliding make the game very exciting. FPS veterans will find this game quite reminiscent of Counter Strike. The game is available across all platforms and can be downloaded and played free of charge. 2011, will see the release of UrbanTerror HD, making UT a standalone game rather than a mod which it now is.
Linux : Download
Ubuntu users can download the .deb file from here
Urban Terror Gameplay
0 A.D
0 A.D. is a historical real-time strategy open source game, focusing on the years 500 B.C. to 500 A.D. Published by Wildfire Games, this game is a war/economy strategy game allowing players to recreate or rewrite the ancient history of western civilizations. 0 A.D. is still in development and is likely to be released in 2011, yet users can download and play the game free of charge.
Linux : Download
.deb file for Ubuntu: Download
0 A.D
5. Minecraft
Though this game, unlike the ones mentioned above, is not free, thanks to its popularity it still deserves a worthy mention on this list. Minecraft is a new cross platform indie game which has recently been in the spotlight by many major publications. It is a 3D sandbox game, where players must try and survive in a randomly generated world. In order to do this, you must build tools, construct buildings/shelters and harvest resources. If you're still curious then do check out the best minecraft structures created by addicted players from around the world. Minecraft is still under heavy development but when finished, will retail at 20 Euros. For the moment, the game can be pre-purchased and played as a beta for 14.95 Euros.
Download/ Purchase the game at http://minecraft.net/
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Minecraft
My Other Posts
Don't forget to check out my other posts
1) Linux vs Other Operating Systems : 7 common myths busted
2) 5 Useful Linux Commands for Complete Newbies
3) 11 Killer Features That Make Ubuntu 11.04 Worth the Wait
4) Distraction-free web browsing in 3 easy steps
5) Livestation allows you to watch live news channels for free on your PC, PS3 and mobile device.
Poll
Which game are you most excited to try in 2011?
See results without votingComments
Had some trouble installing 3D games a few years back on my laptop because ATI was not well supported.
Will give it a try soon
Great share
Oh I loved this ^^ another fellow Linux lover.. Everytime I go through the repo's on Ubuntu I find a new game to play but for the past few months I've been really addicted to Frets on Fire (http://hubpages.com/hub/Frets-On-Fire). I voted for SuperTuxKart because it reminds me so much of SuperTux ^^
Heads up,
CiscoPixie
@CiscoPixie Thanks a lot! I've tried Frets on fire from playdeb ppa and loved it. It's much more than a Guitar Hero clone for Ubuntu. Though my all time fave remains Urban Terror which I still keep playing for hours.
Hi,
I'm sorry to say but all these games have a crappy look alien shooter is just a Q3 lookalike same graphs and how old is that same for the other shooter CS like movement...
I haven't played the other games. but unless major game makers invest in getting there game in linux. linux will never be suitable to compete against windows.
I wish it wasn't so I have used ubuntu and gentoo aswell
but sadly enough only a few companies gave support for linux games.
respect for the Unreal makers and for enemy territory and wow. witch worked also fine for a long while.
btw UT2K4 and ET are better graphs then the 2 shooters you posted here ;)
and this comment is not in anykind ment offensive but just look at a game that is created last year and then look at one of these games... its not even comparable...
guess I'll stick another year with the microsoft stuff
and one more thing srr just read the other article about linux aswell there are really good applications on linux that are free but the kappitalistic world gives all there education on the payable software witch makes it better known then the freeware stuff like ones you are used to work a bit with photoshop and you switch then to gimp it is just not easy to switch... all the shortcuts are gone all the buttons are on different spots... office just the same.
I hope it will get better ones ;)
I have downloaded the Tuxracer with no luck running it on my Linux Kubuntu system : (. I have played "Alien Arena" on my old Linuc PC and definitely agree with it showing up on the top 5 linux games. Linux always out beats windows... unless you have a slow running computer. : )
Nice Hub BTW
I think it was the original Alien Arena though..
Well, you have a paid game Amnesia, the dark descent that is very good! I already played and isn't very expensive!
Too bad there are no RPG's mentioned...just a big fan is all, not a neigh sayer.
I was just about to mention amnesia too! Also, id software usually publishes patches to run their games on Linux. About the graphics, they are getting better. I'm playing Nexuiz at 1920x1080 and it looks pretty OK.
i love minecraft
well I`ve tried this new Beta Ubunty Natty, just Live ver. and I can say it`s looking pretty fast.It was x64 version, works fine, but I was suprised that even it`s 64 bit software, can`t see 4 GB of RAM,or more... just 3,8 or 3,9. This is very strange....All othet looks just fine, but I`m stuck with Windows 7 x64 and it`s more then fine...I`ll give my try with this Ubunty distro, on some spare HDD....it`s promising, really..
There must have been some unspoken FOSS criteria -- you didn't mention any of the indie closed source games out there that are creative, awesome, and great value!
so were is the real games like gears of war,starcraft2,portal2 etc.
oh wait still need wine lol
no really its time linux got into spending money to keep up with games anb industry standard software.
install ubuntu and wtf my graphic card don't work, nether does my mic. let me guess you need to use a command line to fix this. Give linux a better gui so every thing can be installed in gui
Don't forgett Speed Dreams! The upcoming version 2.0 will be great!
This is fun, I have played all of those games before, i would say top linux games in 2010
@steven ....you obviously know nothing about Linux. Sure for most games you need Wine (if they are Windows games), as for the GUI thing? I think pretty much everything you want to do can be done with a GUI so that argument doesnt hold up at all. As for graphics card and mic...it shows last time you tried linux, those issues are mostly resolved now. Don't forget, its made for free and by people who dont get paid for it. Not bad going against these other companies. And it's not the problem of linux needing to spend money, games companies don't see Linux as enough to make money of. However, if you look at how much Linux users spend on the Humble Indie bundles compared to other OS users, perhaps they should, as an average Linux user is willing to spend double than a Windows user for the same game
What?! No CorsixTH?! :) This is a rewrite of the Theme Hospital engine and is off to a stellar start!! I suggest anyone looking for a game to play check it out. It requires data files either from the original game OR from the demo, which I'm sure you can find somewhere. google it, you won't be sorry.
Urban terror, especially due to the quake engine and the ability do strange move (jump, slide, walljump...), is one of the best online fps ive ever played (not free fps included). Ya, crappy look, but fun is here, and challenge too, and add to this an excellent community/dev community.
I'm tower defense game addict, I wish there were more tower defense games. :( Nice compilation even for 2012, by the way.
simeonvisser 16 months ago
I have played Urban Terror before and I really liked it. I haven't tried the others so perhaps I should give them a go in 2011.