Exploring the Open Source Indie Game Scene
Indie Gems
© Lead Image © arseniipalivoda, 123RF.com
The best indie games are fun, substantial, and well designed. And because they are Free software, curious programmers can view the source code to learn about game development.
For those of us who love to game on Linux computers, there is a treasure trove of indie games, many of which are also open source software projects. Indie games are games that are developed by small teams or individuals. Open source games afford programmers the opportunity to tinker, learn, or create their own games based on the source code.
When exploring this scene, don't expect the emphasis on cutting edge graphics and enormous worlds filled with bespoke content that you're used to with mainstream AAA releases. Additionally, the indie scene is fairly independent of mainstream trends, so a gamer interested in genres that have fallen out of favor could well find themselves at home with an open source game. Despite how they work or how they were developed, the example games that I look at in this article pass an important test – they are all great fun to play!
Justification
Does the method of development have any impact on whether a game is worth playing? Linux can now play the majority of mainstream commercial PC game releases due to either the developer making a Linux version or through an emulation layer such as Proton. So, what is the attraction of playing independent and open source releases?
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Digital Autonomy
• How the Fediverse Found Parts for Its Platforms
• The Answer Was Already on the Shelf
• Changing the Chip Industry: How Public Investment Has Grown Open Silicon
• United Nations Open Source Portal Goes Live
• EU Open Source Strategy Plays Key Role in Tech Sovereignty Package
• France Says “Au Revoir” to Microsoft
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Bottlenecks Discovered by Meta Engineers Lead to Scalability Improvements
Thanks to a small group of engineers at Meta, the Linux kernel module kernfs has been improved, which has led to some serious gains.
-
PwnEscape Poses VM Vulnerability
A guest-to-host escape flaw in Linux KVM, named PwnEscape, might be yet another means of attacking Linux.
-
Linux Mint 27 Set for a Christmas Release
The developers behind Linux Mint have announced a Christmas release, and it looks like Santa's sack will be brimming with features.
-
Is Linus Torvalds Vibe Coding?
The creator of Linux has added AI into his process for Linux kernel development, and it's more than just for debugging.
-
openKylin 3.0 Released with Expanded AI Integration
The latest release features a pre-installed AI agent to help perform tasks.
-
DigitalOcean Ends Open Source Credits Program
In a change that has surprised many open source developers, DigitalOcean has decided to sunset its Open Source Credits Program.
-
Office 365 Available for Testing on Linux via Bottles
Linux users can now test the official Office 365, thanks to Mirko Brombin's work on Bottles.
-
Dutch Government Turns to Open Source for Digital Sovereignty
Following in the footsteps of other European countries, the Netherlands is looking to increase its sovereign digital infrastructure with open source software.
-
Linux May Soon Work on Snapdragon X2-Based PCs
If you're thinking about buying a Snapdragon X2-based desktop or laptop, Linux may soon be an option.
-
KDE for People Initiative Calls for AI Ban in Plasma
A new community of KDE wants the project to adopt a strict no-AI policy for KDE Plasma.