Best Experimental Linux Games on Steam
Steam currently has 1,351 Experimental 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. Experimental game rankings were last updated on 5/10/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best experimental games on Steam
- Best experimental Steam Deck games
- Best experimental Steam games (for Mac OS)
- Free experimental games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Inscryption
Inscryption is an inky black card-based odyssey that blends the deckbuilding roguelike, escape-room style puzzles, and psychological horror into a blood-laced smoothie. Darker still are the secrets inscrybed upon the cards...
Inscryption holds the #1 spot for "best Linux Experimental game on Steam" with a Player Score of 96. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 111,763 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 108,382 positive reviews and 3,381 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 Inscryption on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 10/19/2021 |
| Franchise | Daniel Mullins Games |
| Developer | Daniel Mullins Games |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Steam App Id | 1092790 |
2. Kind Words (lo fi chill beats to write to)
A game about writing nice letters to real people. Write and receive encouraging letters in a cozy room. Trade stickers and listen to chill music. We're all in this together. Sometimes all you need are a few kind words.
Kind Words (lo fi chill beats to write to) has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Linux Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,712 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,563 positive reviews and 149 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Kind Words (lo fi chill beats to write to) on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $4.99 |
| Release Date | 9/12/2019 |
| Developer | Popcannibal |
| Publisher | Popcannibal |
| Steam App Id | 1070710 |
3. Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk
A short story about what sort of challenges everyday little things can be. Help the girl buy milk, be the first not to disappoint her.
Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Linux Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 24,837 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 24,089 positive reviews and 748 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $0.49 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $0.49 |
| Release Date | 8/26/2020 |
| Developer | Nikita Kryukov |
| Publisher | Missing Calm |
| Steam App Id | 1392820 |
4. Virtual Cottage
Virtual Cottage gives you a comfy place to rest and be productive without any distractions. Open the game, set yourself a goal and enjoy the atmosphere.
Virtual Cottage has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Linux Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,208 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 9,007 positive reviews and 201 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Virtual Cottage on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
5. Juice Galaxy
Juice Galaxy is a happy place to fly around and smack things and drink juice. And explore things. And just, flip around doing stuff.
Juice Galaxy has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Linux Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,064 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,006 positive reviews and 58 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Juice Galaxy on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
6. BABBDI
Find your way out of BABBDI. A short, first person exploration experience.
BABBDI has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Linux Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,407 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,317 positive reviews and 90 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play BABBDI on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 12/22/2022 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Lemaitre Bros |
| Steam App Id | 2240530 |
7. South Scrimshaw, Part One
South Scrimshaw is the story of a newborn whale in a vast alien ocean. It is a richly illustrated experimental visual novel, written in the style of a nature documentary.
South Scrimshaw, Part One has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Linux Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,069 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,062 positive reviews and 7 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play South Scrimshaw, Part One on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 6/9/2023 |
| Developer | Nathan O. Marsh |
| Publisher | Nathan O. Marsh |
| Steam App Id | 2443110 |
8. Buckshot Roulette
Play Russian roulette with a 12-gauge shotgun. Two enter. One leaves. Roll the dice with your life. Good luck!
Buckshot Roulette has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Linux Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 20,221 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 19,251 positive reviews and 970 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $2.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Buckshot Roulette on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $2.99 |
| Release Date | 4/4/2024 |
| Franchise | CRITICAL REFLEX |
| Developer | Mike Klubnika |
| Publisher | CRITICAL REFLEX |
| Steam App Id | 2835570 |
9. Pony Island
Pony Island is a suspense puzzle game in disguise. You are in limbo, trapped in a malevolent and malfunctioning arcade machine devised by the devil himself. It is not a game about ponies.
Pony Island has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Linux Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 15,690 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 14,948 positive reviews and 742 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 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 | $4.99 |
| Release Date | 1/4/2016 |
| Franchise | Daniel Mullins Games |
| Developer | Daniel Mullins Games |
| Publisher | Daniel Mullins Games |
| Steam App Id | 405640 |
10. Windowkill
Windowkill is a twin-stick shooter, but the game window itself is constantly closing in on you. Shoot the window edges to push it around your screen as you fight and dodge enemies and bosses in their own windows.
Windowkill has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Linux Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,197 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,166 positive reviews and 31 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
More Experimental Linux Games on Steam
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Experimental games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2,037 | 10/19/2021 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 16 | 9/12/2019 | 95 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 22 | 8/26/2020 | 95 | $0.49 | Steam Charts | |
 | 369 | 10/7/2020 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 122 | 11/22/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 23 | 12/22/2022 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 6/9/2023 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,010 | 4/4/2024 | 93 | $2.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 32 | 1/4/2016 | 93 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 93 | 2/23/2024 | 92 | $4.99 | 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 10). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 10). Inscryption on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 18). Kind Words (lo fi chill beats to write to) on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 17). Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 14). Virtual Cottage on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 17). Juice Galaxy on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 6). BABBDI on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 12). South Scrimshaw, Part One on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 16). Buckshot Roulette on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 19). Pony Island on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 18). Windowkill on Steam. Steam Store.