Recommended Linux distros: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 17:03, 28 September 2025
A Linux distribution (commonly called a distro) is a complete operating system built around the Linux kernel. It typically includes system software, libraries, a package manager, and various applications. Distributions vary in purpose, design, and target users, offering different default desktop environments, package formats, and system tools.
Linux distributions have existed since the early days of Linux, with early examples including MCC Interim Linux and H.J. Lu's bootable "Boot/Root" floppy disks. Most modern Linux distros are derived from one of four major families: Debian, Ubuntu (which is based on Debian), Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and Arch Linux.
If you're experiencing compatibility issues with a particular distro on your hardware, visit Linux-Hardware.org for detailed compatibility reports. Use the Computers page to check support for specific systems, or try the search tool to look up individual components.
These are our current recommended Linux distributions, organized by category.
Linux distribution categories
- General‑purpose distributions
- These Linux distributions provide a complete desktop experience and are supported by large user communities. They are ideal for everyday computing, media consumption, office work, and casual gaming.
- For step‑by‑step instructions on installing and configuring emulators on these systems, see the guide to set up/download emulators.
- Experienced‑user (advanced) distributions
- These are some of the most versatile general‑purpose Linux families. They give you access to the latest software, deep customisation options, or rock‑solid stability—depending on the flavour you choose. Because they expose more of the underlying system, they may require a bit of tinkering if you’re new to Linux.
- Gaming‑focused distributions
- These distros are crafted to be an all‑in‑one gaming platform. They ship with graphics drivers, Steam, and many popular launchers pre‑installed, and they provide straightforward ways to add emulators.
- A handy way to get started with emulation on any of these is to run EmuDeck, an installation script that sets up a complete suite of console emulators.
- Emulation‑centric distributions
- These Linux flavours are built specifically for retro‑gaming and console emulation, providing ready‑to‑use packages for PCs, single‑board computers, and even dedicated hardware boxes.
- See the Emulators on Linux article for more details and installation tips.
Linux distributions
| Name | Latest version | Architecture | Based on | Desktop Environment / Frontend | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General‑purpose | ||||||
| Ubuntu and its flavors |
24.04 LTS (Desktop) Other flavors |
x86, ARM | Debian | GNOME, Others (depending on flavor) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Linux Mint | 22 | x86 | Ubuntu | Cinnamon, MATE, Xfce | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pop!_OS | 24.04 LTS Beta | x86 ARM (preview) |
Ubuntu | COSMIC | ✓ | ~ |
| Manjaro | 24.x.x | x86, ARM | Arch Linux | KDE Plasma, Xfce, GNOME | ✓ | ~ |
| Raspberry Pi OS | 2024-03-15 | ARM, x86 | Debian | PIXEL | ✓ | ~[a 1] |
| Experienced‑user | ||||||
| Arch Linux | Latest | x86 ARM and others unofficially |
Independent | Any | ✓ | ✓ |
| CachyOS |
25.x.x. (Desktop) |
x86 | Arch Linux | KDE Plasma, GNOME, Others (depending on flavor) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Debian | 12.5 | x86, ARM and many others |
Independent | GNOME (and others) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fedora Fedora Atomic |
41 Fedora Workstation Fedora Atomic |
x86, ARM and many others |
Independent | GNOME (and others) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gaming-focused | ||||||
| Bazzite | 2.3.0 | x86 | Fedora Atomic | Steam Big Picture (for HTPC and handhelds), KDE Plasma, GNOME (for desktop) |
✓ | ✓ |
| Nobara Project | 40 | x86 | Fedora Linux | KDE Plasma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garuda Linux (KDE Dragonized Gaming edition) |
25.x.x | x86 | Arch Linux | KDE Plasma | ✓ | ~ |
| ChimeraOS | 45 | x86 | Arch Linux | Steam Big Picture | ✓ | ~[a 1] |
| SteamOS HoloISO |
SteamOS 3.7 HoloISO 1.5 |
x86 | Arch Linux | Steam Big Picture KDE Plasma (for desktop use) |
✓ | ~[a 1] |
| winesapOS | 4.0.0 | x86 | Arch Linux | KDE Plasma | ✓ | TBD |
| Drauger OS | 7.6 | x86 | Ubuntu | KDE Plasma | ✓ | TBD |
| Regata OS | 23 "Honeycomb" | x86 | openSUSE | KDE Plasma | ✓ | TBD |
| Emulation‑centric[a 1] | ||||||
| Batocera.linux | 43.1 | ARM, x86 | Independent | EmulationStation fork | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lakka | 6.1 | ARM, x86 | LibreELEC | RetroArch | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recalbox | 10.1 | ARM, x86 | Independent | EmulationStation | ✓ | ✓ |
| RetroPie | 4.8 | ARM | Raspberry Pi OS | EmulationStation fork | ✓ | ✓ |
| Elemenity OS | 1.1 | ARM64 | Custom (supports RetroArch) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Retro Home | 22.189-alpha1 | ARM, x86 | Ubuntu | Ludo | ✗ | TBD |
Comparisons
- Debian
- Known for its rigorous testing and stability. Debian’s “stable” branch is perfect for servers or workstations where reliability outweighs cutting‑edge features, while “testing” and “unstable” branches give you newer packages.
- Ubuntu
- The most widely‑used desktop Linux, offering long‑term support (LTS) releases, a huge software repository, and extensive community documentation.
- Linux Mint
- Based on Ubuntu LTS, Mint provides a familiar Windows‑like interface (Cinnamon, MATE, or Xfce), out‑of‑the‑box multimedia codecs, and a reputation for stability.
- Raspberry Pi OS (formerly Raspbian)
- Developed for the Raspberry Pi line of single-board computers. Based on Debian, it is maintained by Raspberry Pi Holdings and optimized for the Pi's hardware, with low memory requirements and support for both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures. Originally released in July 2012 under the name Raspbian, it was introduced shortly after the launch of the first Raspberry Pi model.
- RetroPie
- Designed for the Raspberry Pi (but also installable on generic Linux), RetroPie combines RetroArch, EmulationStation, and a suite of scripts to simplify controller configuration and ROM management.
- Fedora
- Red Hat’s upstream community distro. Fedora ships the latest GNOME desktop, SELinux security policies, and frequent updates, making it a great platform for developers and power users.
- Bazzite
- A solid choice for gamers and an excellent entry point for Linux newcomers who prioritize gaming. Its image‑based design makes the system stable, secure, and easy to use while delivering top‑tier hardware and game compatibility. Steam arrives pre‑installed, along with NVIDIA drivers, HDR and VRR support, and tuned CPU schedulers for responsive gameplay. A suite of community‑developed tools and tweaks further streamlines the streaming experience. Bazzite shines on x86 handhelds such as the ROG Ally, Legion Go, and HTPC setups. For desktop PCs, it offers a seamless, user‑friendly, and reliable environment—ideal for anyone who wants a hassle‑free experience. More advanced users seeking a less opinionated system and willing to tinker may prefer alternatives like CachyOS or Nobara.
- Nobara Project
- Based on Fedora, Nobara adds a collection of gaming‑optimised kernels, Wine/Proton tweaks, and pre‑configured repositories. It’s aimed at desktop gamers who want a Fedora‑rooted system with extra polish. It's spearheaded by GloriousEggroll, the creator of the GE‑Proton compatibility layer. While a handheld version exists, Nobara is primarily recommended for desktop PCs.
- Arch Linux
- A rolling‑release distro that follows the KISS principle. It provides a minimal base system and the powerful pacman package manager, letting you build exactly the environment you want.
- CachyOS
- An Arch‑based, rolling‑release distro that focuses on performance and customisation. It ships with the latest Linux kernel, a tuned CPU scheduler, and a collection of pre‑enabled optimisations (e.g., early‑oom killer, ZRAM). CachyOS targets enthusiasts who want a fast, bleeding‑edge system out of the box while retaining Arch’s flexibility.
- SteamOS
- Valve’s official Linux distribution, built on Arch Linux, delivers a console‑grade experience for PC‑gaming handhelds. It ships with the Steam client, a hardened KDE Plasma desktop, and a carefully selected stack of drivers and libraries that maximise compatibility with the latest games and Proton releases.
- SteamOS 3.0 was originally created for the Steam Deck, Valve’s own handheld console, where it provides a seamless “plug‑and‑play” gaming environment out of the box.
- Beginning in 2025, Valve broadened official support to include third‑party devices labelled “SteamOS Compatible,” such as the Lenovo Legion Go and ASUS ROG Ally. These devices receive the same driver set and integration guarantees as the Steam Deck, allowing users to enjoy a comparable handheld experience without buying Valve’s hardware.
- While the installer can be run on a conventional desktop PC, the system is not optimised for that use case. For a easy to use desktop‑oriented gaming environment, Bazzite is the recommended alternative.
- ChimeraOS
- Focused on bringing the plug‑and‑play console gaming experience to PC, it's a great option for living room PCs. With a fully controller compatible interface that boots directly into into Steam Big Picture after installation. Comes with a in web app to install and manage games from any device.
- Batocera
- A turnkey, read‑only system that boots directly into a unified emulator front‑end (RetroArch). It supports a massive library of cores and works on everything from Raspberry Pi to x86 PCs.
- Lakka
- A lightweight distribution that turns any device into a RetroArch‑powered console, focusing on low resource usage and a clean UI.
Android
| AOSP What does “AOSP Android” really mean? | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Latest version | Architecture | Frontend | Active | Recommended |
| LineageOS | 15.1 (Switch) Raspberry Pi 3 builds Raspberry Pi 4 builds Raspberry Pi 5 builds |
ARM | Trebuchet | ✓ | ~ |
See the Hardware features and Enhancements of sections of Android emulators for Android-x86 and its forks.
| Android on x86 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Latest version | Architecture | Frontend | Active | Recommended |
| BlissOS | 16.9.x | x86 | Android-x86 fork includes 3 launchers: Taskbar, Quickstep and Smart Dock. |
✓* | ✓ |
| Berry OS | 2023-02-22 | x86 | Based on Android-x86 and Bliss OS Mini Desktop launcher is pre-installed. |
✓ | ✓ |
| Android-x86 | 2022-03-25 | x86 | Trebuchet (KitKat version) | ~* | ~ |
Multiplatform-focused
These Linux distributions provide system development environment experiences on a wide range of platforms, including different hardware architectures.
| Name | Latest version | Architecture | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2 SDE | 25.4 | Alpha Arc ARM (incl. ARM64) Avr32 HPPA (incl. HPPA64) IA64 M68k MIPS (incl. MIPS64) Nios2 PowerPC (incl. PowerPC-64 and le) RISCV (incl. RISCV64) s390x SPARC (incl. SPARC64) SuperH x86 (incl. x86-64) and theoretically any GCC/Linux supported one. |
✓ | ✓ |
See also
- For Ports of the Linux kernel on consoles, see Homebrew and ROM hacks#Operating_systems.
- For Running Linux on PlayStation 2 (using the PS2 Linux kit), see PlayStation 2 emulators#Linux for PlayStation 2.
- For Running Linux on PlayStation 3 (using OtherOS), see PlayStation 3 emulators#OtherOS.
External links
- DistroWatch
- List of Linux distributions (Wikipedia)
- Comparison of Linux distributions (Wikipedia)
- Comparison of instruction set architectures (Wikipedia)