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Retro Style Games on Linux

Alan Pope

on 14 August 2018

Tags: games , sc:snap:boa , sc:snap:codenamelt , sc:snap:dwarf-fortress , sc:snap:flare-rpg , sc:snap:mame , sc:snap:minecraft , sc:snap:minetest , sc:snap:openra , sc:snap:quake-shareware

This article is more than 6 years old.

Gaming on Linux doesn’t have to mean buying a ludicrously priced GPU (thanks crypto miners!). Nor does it require a beefy CPU. There’s a real resurgence in retro style gaming going on right now. We’ve pulled together a selection of retro-inspired games for you to play today, on your beloved Linux machine.

You can stay up to date with our editorial picks by following Snapcraft on Twitter where we share three new and interesting snaps a week. We’d also love to hear what your favourite snaps are, perhaps you’ve found something we’ve missed. Let us know!

1. Minecraft

Snapcrafters


At nearly 7 years old Minecraft doesn’t really qualify as a conventional ‘retro’ game. Ask any 13 year old game player though and they might well disagree! With a retro aesthetic, Minecraft can consume a lunch hour or an entire weekend as you gather resources, battle mobs and build you own world. Get Minecraft from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install minecraft

2. flare-rpg

Neil McPhail


Flare is an open source 2D action RPG. You’re exciled from Empyrean and begin a quest to re-gain entry to your homeland. With an isometric view, Flare is reminiscent of Diablo, dating back 20 years. Get Flare RPG from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install flare-rpg

3. WolfenDoom: Blade of Agony

Neil McPhail


Wolfenstein & Doom inspired a generation of game developers to create 3d worlds in which to get shot. WolfenDoom takes this to the next level as a story-driven FPS inspired by Wolfenstein 3D, Medal of Honor, and Call of Duty. Get WolfenDoom: Blade of Agony from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install boa

4. Codename-LT

erico_pt


The evil agents are out to get you (aren’t they always?) in CodenameLT from Brazilian studio Vaca Roxa! This cat-and-mouse game of evasion is lightweight and fun. Get CodenameLT from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install codenamelt

5. Minetest

Snapcrafters


Despite the name, this is not a test! Minetest is an open source, highly mod-able Minecraft-like game with creative modes, multi-player support, dynamic lighting and an infinite world to explore and build in. Get Minetest from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install minetest

6. Quake (Shareware)

Neil McPhail


Originally published as shareware in 1996, Quake is the classic follow up to Doom. This snap bundles the quakespasm engine with the shareware licensed levels. Get gibbed in Quake (Shareware) from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install quake-shareware

7. MAME

Alan Pope


In constant development for over 20 years, MAME is an incredible open source project. Play your favourite arcade games from long ago on your Linux PC. Just add ROMs and you’re all set. Get the latest and greatest version of MAME from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install mame

8. Dwarf Fortress

Michael Terry


Dwarf Fortress an open-ended construction & management simulation, rogue-like indie game with everything. Build fortresses and go on adventures in the vast procedurally-generated worlds. Get Dwarf Fortress from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install dwarf-fortress

9. ScummVM

Snapcrafters


The SCUMM engine has been used for building point-and-click adventure games for over 30 years now. SCUMMVM allows you to play them on your Linux computer. Over 200 games are supported including the King’s Quest, Police Quest and Monkey Island. There’s a game for everyone. ScummVM from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install scummvm

10. OpenRA

Daniel Llewellyn


OpenRA is an open source real-time strategy game-engine for the early Westwood games, such as Command & Conquer: Red Alert. Get OpenRA from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install openra

The community of developers building snap, snapcraft and snaps hang out on the snapcraft forums. Join us!

Header image by Rebecca Oliver.

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