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I love test-driving a new Linux distribution. And given how easy Linux has become over the years, finding a new take on the OS that hasn’t been done can be a bit of a chore.
Case in point, PikaOS is very similar to that of Nobara Linux, which opts for a Fedora base. But what are these two Linux distributions?
Simply put, they are Linux for gamers.
Although I’m not a hard-core gamer (my gaming tends to be relegated to the Nintendo Switch), I can seriously appreciate that a development team has opted to make gaming on Linux easier.
During my early days of Linux (back when I had considerably more time to spend playing games and didn’t mind sitting at my desk even longer), playing games on Linux was not easy.
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I remember the first time I managed to get Diablo running on Linux with the help of Wine. Back then, that was no easy task and I felt a serious case of pride in having done so. The game didn’t play perfectly, but it did play and I did love that game.
So, what does PikaOS do that so many other distributions do not? The most obvious thing is that it makes it considerably easier to install the tools needed to play games.
Upon first logging in, you’re greeted with a Welcome app. In the First Steps tab, you have quick access to tools for updating the system, installing patented codecs and libraries, installing propriety Nvidia drivers, installing apps from the Software Manager, and installing WebApps.
The PikaOS Welcome app makes it easy to take care of numerous tasks.
Image: Jack Wallen
One thing I should mention. During the codec installation, the Welcome app crashed and the codec installation process crashed. To get around this, I had to force a restart of the OS.
To solve this issue, the first thing you should do, out of the box, is run a system update from the First Steps tab. Once the update completes, reboot the system, and you shouldn’t have any problems installing the codec packages.
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Next comes the Recommended Additions, where you can install the likes of:
- PikaOS Game Utilities is a meta package that installs Steam, Lutris, GOverlay, MangoHud, Wine, Winetricks, vkBasalt, and other gaming-centric tools.
- Microsoft TrueType fonts for better Windows font emulation.
- Blender for creating 3D images.
- OBS Studio for streaming.
- Kdenlive for non-linear video editing.
- Krita for painting.
- LibreOffice for productivity.
In the Optional Steps tab, you can add AMD proprietary drivers, ROCm drivers, Xone drivers, and Proton GE (for Steam and Wine compatibility).
Finally, the Look And Feel tab allows you to customize themes, layouts, and extensions. The layouts section is pretty nifty, as it allows you to configure the GNOME desktop to look and feel like a more traditional desktop, a MacOS-like desktop, a Windows 11 layout, a throwback GNOME 2 desktop, and even a Ubuntu Unity-like desktop.
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My favorite of the six layouts is the Pineapple, which resembles both MacOS and elementary OS.
The PikaOS Pineapple layout is my favorite of the six offered.
Image: Jack Wallen
As far as pre-installed software goes, it’s pretty bare bones (until you start adding titles from the Recommended Additions tab in the Welcome App). You’ll find Firefox (web browser), Geary (email), Pidgin (messaging), Weather, Calculator, Cheese (web camera software), Rhythmbox, Contacts, a few utilities, and basic games.
However, installing new apps is quite simple via the Software Manager app.
Of course, the focus of PikaOS is games. When you install the PikaOS Game Utilities, you’ll get Steam installed, which makes it easy to play an endless array of games on the Linux desktop. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that when you launch the PikaOS Game Utilities installation, it opens a terminal window to run the installation.
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Give this plenty of time to complete and, in the end, you can launch Steam, log in to your Steam account, and start playing. Just remember, the first time you launch the Steam app, it will take a moment to update and configure. But once it’s up and running… let the games begin.
Buying and playing Steam apps on Linux couldn’t be easier.
Image: Jack Wallen
In the end, I found PikaOS to be quite a lovely experience and had me happily gaming with Steam. If you’re looking for a new Linux distribution capable of serving as your only desktop operating system, this could be the one.
