Best Classic Linux Games on Steam
Steam currently has 1,583 Classic games, but not all of them are able to be played on Linux builds. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Classic game rankings were last updated on 5/18/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best classic games on Steam
- Best classic Steam Deck games
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- Free classic games on Steam
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- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Portal
Portal™ is a new single player game from Valve. Set in the mysterious Aperture Science Laboratories, Portal has been called one of the most innovative new games on the horizon and will offer gamers hours of unique gameplay.
Portal holds the #1 spot for "best Linux Classic game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 156,541 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 154,187 positive reviews and 2,354 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
2. Half-Life 2
1998. HALF-LIFE sends a shock through the game industry with its combination of pounding action and continuous, immersive storytelling. Valve's debut title wins more than 50 game-of-the-year awards on its way to being named "Best PC Game Ever" by PC Gamer, and launches a franchise with more than eight million retail units sold worldwide.
Half-Life 2 has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Linux Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 191,786 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 187,220 positive reviews and 4,566 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
3. Counter-Strike
Play the world's number 1 online action game. Engage in an incredibly realistic brand of terrorist warfare in this wildly popular team-based game. Ally with teammates to complete strategic missions. Take out enemy sites. Rescue hostages. Your role affects your team's success. Your team's success affects your role.
Counter-Strike has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Linux Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 236,898 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 230,876 positive reviews and 6,022 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Counter-Strike on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
4. Half-Life
Named Game of the Year by over 50 publications, Valve's debut title blends action and adventure with award-winning technology to create a frighteningly realistic world where players must think to survive. Also includes an exciting multiplayer mode that allows you to play against friends and enemies around the world.
Half-Life has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Linux Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 126,512 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 122,200 positive reviews and 4,312 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
5. POSTAL 2
Live a week in the life of "The Postal Dude"; a hapless everyman just trying to check off some chores. Buying milk, returning an overdue library book, getting Gary Coleman's autograph, what could possibly go wrong?
POSTAL 2 has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Linux Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 99,854 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 96,486 positive reviews and 3,368 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 11/2/2012 |
| Franchise | Postal Franchise |
| Developer | Running With Scissors |
| Publisher | Running With Scissors |
| Steam App Id | 223470 |
6. Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Half-Life® 2: Episode Two is the second in a trilogy of new games created by Valve that extends the award-winning and best-selling Half-Life® adventure. As Dr. Gordon Freeman, you were last seen exiting City 17 with Alyx Vance as the Citadel erupted amidst a storm of unknown proportions.
Half-Life 2: Episode Two has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Linux Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 39,596 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 38,435 positive reviews and 1,161 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $7.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
7. DUSK
Battle through an onslaught of mystical backwater cultists, possessed militants & even darker forces as you attempt to discover just what lurks beneath the Earth in this retro FPS inspired by the '90s legends.
DUSK has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Linux Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 21,668 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 21,112 positive reviews and 556 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 12/10/2018 |
| Franchise | New Blood Interactive |
| Developer | David Szymanski |
| Publisher | New Blood Interactive |
| Steam App Id | 519860 |
8. Sid Meier's Civilization® V
Create, discover, and download new player-created maps, scenarios, interfaces, and more!
Sid Meier's Civilization® V has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Linux Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 197,431 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 189,827 positive reviews and 7,604 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $7.49 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Sid Meier's Civilization® V on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $7.49 |
| Release Date | 9/21/2010 |
| Franchise | Civilization Franchise |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 8930 |
9. Black Mesa
Relive Half-Life.
Black Mesa has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Linux Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 113,192 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 107,861 positive reviews and 5,331 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Black Mesa on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 3/6/2020 |
| Developer | Crowbar Collective |
| Publisher | Crowbar Collective |
| Steam App Id | 362890 |
10. Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition
Spanning the most turbulent era in Western history, your quest for territory and power takes you through Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and even onto the shores of the New World.
Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Linux Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 30,813 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 29,493 positive reviews and 1,320 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $24.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $24.99 |
| Release Date | 11/15/2006 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 4700 |
More Classic Linux Games on Steam
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Classic games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 554 | 10/10/2007 | 97 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 886 | 11/16/2004 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 8,647 | 11/1/2000 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 964 | 11/19/1998 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 346 | 11/2/2012 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 211 | 10/10/2007 | 95 | $7.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 61 | 12/10/2018 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 17,881 | 9/21/2010 | 95 | $7.49 | Steam Charts | |
 | 741 | 3/6/2020 | 94 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 3,943 | 11/15/2006 | 94 | $24.99 | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Portal on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Half-Life 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Counter-Strike on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Half-Life on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 22). POSTAL 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Half-Life 2: Episode Two on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). DUSK on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Sid Meier's Civilization® V on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 3). Black Mesa on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 9). Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition on Steam. Steam Store.