Best Side Scroller Linux Games on Steam
Steam currently has 4,736 Side Scroller 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. Side Scroller game rankings were last updated on 4/24/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best side scroller games on Steam
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- Free side scroller games on Steam
- Free Steam games
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1. Hollow Knight
Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs, all in a classic, hand-drawn 2D style.
Hollow Knight holds the #1 spot for "best Linux Side Scroller game on Steam" with a Player Score of 96. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 349,267 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 339,265 positive reviews and 10,002 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 | 2/24/2017 |
| Developer | Team Cherry |
| Publisher | Team Cherry |
| Steam App Id | 367520 |
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.
Celeste has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Linux Side Scroller games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 93,094 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 90,879 positive reviews and 2,215 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. BattleBlock Theater®
Welcome to BattleBlock Theater! You’ve got no where to go but up...on stage. Play single player or co-op to free your friends and save Hatty Hattington! Jump, solve and battle your way through a mysterious theater inhabited by highly technological felines.
BattleBlock Theater® has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Linux Side Scroller games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 70,082 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 68,155 positive reviews and 1,927 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 | 5/15/2014 |
| Franchise | The Behemoth |
| Developer | The Behemoth |
| Publisher | The Behemoth |
| Steam App Id | 238460 |
4. 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.
Broforce has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Linux Side Scroller games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 56,310 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 54,627 positive reviews and 1,683 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $2.99 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 | $2.99 |
| Release Date | 10/15/2015 |
| Franchise | Free Lives |
| Developer | Free Lives |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Steam App Id | 274190 |
5. Mark of the Ninja
In Mark of the Ninja, you'll know what it is to truly be a ninja. You must be silent, agile and clever to outwit your opponents in a world of gorgeous scenery and flowing animation. Marked with cursed tattoos giving you heightened senses, every situation presents you with options.
Mark of the Ninja has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Linux Side Scroller games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 15,788 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,314 positive reviews and 474 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $0.00 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.
| Developer | Klei Entertainment |
| Publisher | Microsoft Studios |
| Steam App Id | 214560 |
6. Your Only Move Is HUSTLE
Master your technique, execute flashy combos, and outsmart opponents across the world, frame-by-frame. Slow down the clock to fine-tune your fighting style in this innovative, turn-based combat simulator. Pulverize your friends and choreograph spectacular fight scenes. No training mode required.
Your Only Move Is HUSTLE has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Linux Side Scroller games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 21,229 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 20,460 positive reviews and 769 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, it is possible to play Your Only Move Is HUSTLE on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
7. Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is the complete Shovel Knight collection, containing all 5 games in the epic saga! Dig, blast, slash, and bash your way through a fantastical, 8-bit inspired world of pixel-perfect platforming, memorable characters, and world-class action-adventure gameplay.
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Linux Side Scroller games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 15,538 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 14,919 positive reviews and 619 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $39.99 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 | $39.99 |
| Release Date | 6/26/2014 |
| Franchise | Shovel Knight |
| Developer | Yacht Club Games |
| Publisher | Yacht Club Games |
| Steam App Id | 250760 |
8. The Pedestrian
I can see the signs in my sleep now, always guiding me closer. Will this really work? Have we almost achieved the impossible?
The Pedestrian has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Linux Side Scroller games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,244 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,117 positive reviews and 127 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 possible to play The Pedestrian on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 1/29/2020 |
| Developer | Skookum Arts |
| Publisher | Skookum Arts |
| Steam App Id | 466630 |
9. LISA: The Painful
The miserable journey of a broken man...
LISA: The Painful has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Linux Side Scroller games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 14,073 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,473 positive reviews and 600 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 possible to play LISA: The Painful on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 12/15/2014 |
| Developer | Dingaling Productions |
| Publisher | Serenity Forge |
| Steam App Id | 335670 |
10. Dust: An Elysian Tail
Immerse yourself in a gorgeous hand-painted world on a search for your true identity. As the mysterious warrior, Dust, your action-packed journey will take you from peaceful glades to snowy mountaintops and beyond.
Dust: An Elysian Tail has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Linux Side Scroller games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 18,294 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,447 positive reviews and 847 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 | 5/24/2013 |
| Developer | Humble Hearts LLC |
| Publisher | Xbox Game Studios |
| Steam App Id | 236090 |
More Side Scroller Linux Games on Steam
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Side Scroller games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 5,789 | 2/24/2017 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,678 | 1/25/2018 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 146 | 5/15/2014 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 560 | 10/15/2015 | 95 | $2.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 9 | ??? | 94 | ??? | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,042 | 2/2/2023 | 94 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 83 | 6/26/2014 | 93 | $39.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 6 | 1/29/2020 | 93 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 42 | 12/15/2014 | 93 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 24 | 5/24/2013 | 93 | $14.99 | 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, April 24). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 24). Hollow Knight on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 2). Celeste on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 16). BattleBlock Theater® on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 17). Broforce on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 30). Mark of the Ninja on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Your Only Move Is HUSTLE on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 15). Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 19). The Pedestrian on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 19). LISA: The Painful on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 2). Dust: An Elysian Tail on Steam. Steam Store.