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Linux Games For Non-Gamers?

Posted by timothy on from the many-addictive-options-but-any-great-ones? dept.

Nethead writes "Due to some down-time, I'm looking for some Linux games to pass the time. I've been playing BattleMaster, a PHP web game but it's only two turns a day, and I'd like something a bit faster. I've not really played PC games since the Doom era so I'm really out of touch here. I don't have a real gamer box, just a simple video card. What do Slashdotters think I should try? A simple FPS or some type of networked game would do. What's out there for Linux?"

10 of 460 comments (clear)

  1. Linux games wiki by ljaszcza · · Score: 5, Informative

    Well, there is a wiki too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Linux_games I've played the Penumbra games, they are ... adventure games really but fairly atmospheric.

  2. Yes by gbarules2999 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Cube, OpenArena, Nexuiz are all fair FPS games. Not amazing, but fun diversions. Aside from that BZFlag, Battle for Wesnoth, and FreeCiv.

    A word of advice: Never play Frozen Bubble. I've lost days thanks to that bastard.

    1. Re:Yes by happygrue · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Battle for Wesnoth (open source: wesnoth.org) is a game that I started playing over 4 years ago. I looked far and wide for strategy games that could hold my interest with serious replay value. Once I found Wesnoth I got sucked in and I all but quit playing other games for quite some time, and I always keep coming back to Wesnoth, in a trend that players jokingly refer to as a "Wesbreak" - you just have to come back after a few months or a year to see what is new!

      It is simple yet, rich with both strategic and tactical depth. Lots (lots!) of user made content and it's own markup language with which to write your own. I started off thinking that I'd never play it multiplayer, but that is about all I do these days. There are some co-op multiplayer campaigns (a relatively recently introduced feature) that are tons of fun. And the 2v2 and 3v3 games can be epic and utterly gripping - provided you find serious folks to play with. Like any multiplayer experience you will find people you'd like to avoid...

      It's certainly not a game for everyone, but if you are into wargames, fantasy battle games, hex based games, rpg battle games or like to see thriving open source games you should take a look. Disclaimer: I am a (very minor!) contributor, so I am all kinds of biased. ;)

  3. happy penguin by micromegas · · Score: 5, Informative

    Check out http://www.happypenguin.org/. I've got the RSS enabled on the right side of /. If you ever up your video card, http://www.planeshift.it/ is an excellent open source mmorpg.

  4. Civ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Freeciv is a good game you can play and leave, then come back to later. It doesn't require a lot of hardware, and while complicated at first, it becomes remarkably simple to play once you've played for a while.

    Watch you don't get too addicted though! The urge to play 'just one more turn', or to go to bed 'after I've captured that city' is incredible.
    http://freeciv.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

    1. Re:Civ by palndrumm · · Score: 5, Insightful

      while complicated at first, it becomes remarkably simple to play once you've played for a while.

      See, I'd prefer that the other way around - simple at first, then more and more complicated as you play it more and get deeper into it.

  5. OpenTTD by Bluecobra · · Score: 5, Informative

    OpenTTD (which is based on Transport Tycoon Deluxe) is a great game and you can quickly loose track of the time building intricate train networks. You do need the original game files but this is pretty easy to do with the help of Google.

      http://openttd.org/

  6. Roguelikes by Sir_Lewk · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Nethack.

    I know some mod is about to mod me 'funny' but I'm quite serious. If you are a casual gamer and not addicted to fast-paced games and high-rez graphics, give roguelikes a try. My personal favorite is nethack, but there are a lot out there and there is some good variety and inovation in the genre.

    --
    "linux is just DOS with a UNIX like syntax" -- Galactic Dominator (944134)
  7. Windows Installation Game by davidwr · · Score: 5, Funny

    In this race against time, players vie to be the first player to successfully install and fully patch Windows XP.

    Game equipment, per player:
    *Linux computer with CD burner and an Ethernet card that doesn't require additional drivers for Windows XP
    *Blank hard drive
    *Windows XP pre-service-pack CD
    *Ethernet connection
    *Unlimited supply of blank CDs
    *Unlimited supply of over the counter painkillers, including Aspirin, Tylenol, and Jack Daniels

    Goal: Get Windows installed on the spare hard drive before all other players. If you get a virus or other malware you have to take a painkiller and start over.
    Rules: Ethernet cable must be up at all times, and Ethernet protocols must not be disabled.

    Strategies:
    *Install it from CD and pray you don't get infected.
    *Use Linux to download Service Pack 3 and create a slipstream CD and install with that, and hope you don't get infected.
    *Use Linux to format the drive and copy the files one by one, and download or write a tool to build the registry, fake log files, and other files.
    *Ask CowboyNeal for help.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  8. Silly, Linux itself is the game! by Virak · · Score: 5, Funny

    From the makers of the widely-acclaimed, award-winning hit Unix, comes Linux, an exciting game of patience and frustration!

    Risk your life to perform the sacred ritual of Installation to gain entry to the land of Linux, with the Dark Lord's minions Grub and Fdisk trying their hardest to stop you!
    Explore the fearsome depths of the labyrinthine cursed dungeon /etc in an attempt to find the ancient lost artifact, A Fucking Working Configuration!
    Engage in challenging battle with dozens of the Dark Lord's vile Sound Systems to free the people of the land of Linux from their oppressive tyranny and bring the joy of music to them!
    Uncover the true name of Linux itself through harrowing inane ideological debate, and use the vast trolling power of this to cause a major rift in the land over a fucking name!
    Face off against the Dark Lord Xorg himself in exciting one-on-one battle, and pry the holy twin swords of Multi-Monitor Support and Working 3D Acceleration from his cold, dead hands and bring peace to Linux at last--if you can!

    Linux promises upwards of 60 hours of unique and difficult gameplay, each moment full of exciting new threats and challenges in your attempt to free the land of Linux from the Dark Lord and his underlings at last and bring usability to all!

    (Warning: Linux should not be played by people with photosensitive epilepsy, pregnant woman, smokers, children shorter than this tall, BSD zealots, and anyone who doesn't actually want to fight Xorg and just wants their fucking computer to fucking work already)