Best Retro Linux Games on Steam

Steam currently has 10,684 Retro 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. Retro game rankings were last updated on 12/10/2024.

Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:

1. Aseprite

Aseprite is a pixel-art tool to create 2D animations, sprites, and any kind of graphics for games.

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Aseprite holds the #1 spot for "best Linux Retro game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 19,867 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 19,692 positive reviews and 175 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. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Aseprite on the Steam Deck.

Steam Price $19.99
Release Date 2/22/2016
Developer David Capello
Publisher Igara Studio
Steam App Id 431730

2. Celeste

Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight platformer from the creators of TowerFall. Brave hundreds of hand-crafted challenges, uncover devious secrets, and piece together the mystery of the mountain.

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Celeste has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Linux Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 111,410 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 108,589 positive reviews and 2,821 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 1/25/2018
Franchise EXOK Games
Developers
Publisher Maddy Makes Games Inc.
Steam App Id 504230

3. Hotline Miami

Hotline Miami is a high-octane action game overflowing with raw brutality, hard-boiled gunplay and skull crushing close combat.

Hotline Miami banner

Hotline Miami has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Linux Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 100,308 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 97,480 positive reviews and 2,828 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.

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 10/23/2012
Developer Dennaton Games
Publisher Devolver Digital
Steam App Id 219150

4. Papers, Please

Congratulations. The October labor lottery is complete. Your name was pulled. For immediate placement, report to the Ministry of Admission at Grestin Border Checkpoint. An apartment will be provided for you and your family in East Grestin. Expect a Class-8 dwelling.

Papers, Please banner

Papers, Please has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Linux Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 71,605 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 69,650 positive reviews and 1,955 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.

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 8/8/2013
Developer Lucas Pope
Publisher 3909
Steam App Id 239030

5. Undertale

UNDERTALE! The RPG game where you don't have to destroy anyone.

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Undertale has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Linux Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 244,750 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 236,629 positive reviews and 8,121 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $2.49 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Undertale on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $2.49
Release Date 9/15/2015
Developer tobyfox
Publisher tobyfox
Steam App Id 391540

6. Baba Is You

Baba Is You is a puzzle game where the rules you have to follow are present as blocks you can interact with. By manipulating them, you can change how the game works, repurpose things you find in the levels and cause surprising interactions!

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Baba Is You has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Linux Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 20,954 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 20,493 positive reviews and 461 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.99 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 $14.99
Release Date 3/13/2019
Developer Hempuli Oy
Publisher Hempuli Oy
Steam App Id 736260

7. Finding Paradise

A story-driven experience about two doctors traversing backwards through a dying man's memories to fulfill his last wish.

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Finding Paradise has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Linux Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 18,094 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,704 positive reviews and 390 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 Finding Paradise on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 12/14/2017
Franchise Freebird Games
Developer Freebird Games
Publisher Freebird Games
Steam App Id 337340

8. 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.

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Half-Life has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Linux Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 141,349 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 136,497 positive reviews and 4,852 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.

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 11/19/1998
Franchise Half-Life
Developer Valve
Publisher Valve
Steam App Id 70

9. Broforce

Broforce is an action-packed side-scrolling run ‘n’ gun ode to freedom, putting you in control of an under-funded, overpowered paramilitary organization dealing exclusively in excessive force.

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Broforce has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Linux Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 57,881 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 56,137 positive reviews and 1,744 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Broforce on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $14.99
Release Date 10/15/2015
Franchise Free Lives
Developer Free Lives
Publisher Devolver Digital
Steam App Id 274190

10. 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.

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DUSK has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Linux Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 22,573 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 21,988 positive reviews and 585 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $6.79 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 $6.79
Release Date 12/10/2018
Franchise New Blood Interactive
Developer David Szymanski
Publisher New Blood Interactive
Steam App Id 519860

More Retro Linux Games on Steam

Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Retro games available on Steam.

ImageName
Actions
Aseprite steam charts
4,190
2/22/2016
97
$19.99
Steam Charts
Celeste steam charts
1,720
1/25/2018
96
$19.99
Steam Charts
Hotline Miami steam charts
222
10/23/2012
96
$9.99
Steam Charts
Papers, Please steam charts
378
8/8/2013
96
$9.99
Steam Charts
Undertale steam charts
1,266
9/15/2015
96
$2.49
Steam Charts
Baba Is You steam charts
258
3/13/2019
95
$14.99
Steam Charts
Finding Paradise steam charts
22
12/14/2017
95
$9.99
Steam Charts
Half-Life steam charts
1,366
11/19/1998
95
$9.99
Steam Charts
Broforce steam charts
209
10/15/2015
95
$14.99
Steam Charts
DUSK steam charts
85
12/10/2018
95
$6.79
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, December 10). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 10). Aseprite on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). Celeste on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 11). Hotline Miami on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, November 6). Papers, Please on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, November 28). Undertale on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, September 30). Baba Is You on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). Finding Paradise on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 8). Half-Life on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). Broforce on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 11). DUSK on Steam. Steam Store.

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