The Best Retro Games for Linux

Update : PathBlasters added at rank #34.
1

HUNTDOWN (2020)

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91
Review score
Logo of HUNTDOWN Screenshot of HUNTDOWN Screenshot of HUNTDOWN Screenshot of HUNTDOWN

Android Linux Mac OS PC Windows Xbox One IOS iPhone

Join the action-packed world of HUNTDOWN, a hard-boiled arcade shooter set in a gritty, neon-soaked 80s cityscape ruled by criminal gangs. Take on the role of one of three legendary bounty hunters and lay waste to the underworld to collect your bounty. With unique boss fights and an arsenal of weapons to choose from, HUNTDOWN is a must-play for those who love fast-paced, co-op shooters.


What we like:
  • Pixel art, music, and gameplay are fantastic
  • Perfect gunplay and 80s vibe
  • Packed with addictive carnage
  • Well-designed levels
  • Memorable and funny boss fights.
What could be improved:
  • Bonus objectives are repetitive
  • Difficulty on some bosses can seem off
  • Characters can be hard to follow in intense fights
  • Comedy can go overboard and may disappoint those expecting a more serious tone.

  • cooperative
  • boss-fight
  • cover
  • shooter
  • retro
  • boss
  • cyberpunk
  • arcade
  • hockey
  • pixel
  • action
  • platform
  • dystopian
  • 2d
  • classic

2

Streets of Rage 4 (2020)

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90
Review score
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Android Linux Mac OS PC Windows Xbox One IOS iPhone

Streets of Rage 4 is the long awaited fourth entry into the classic Sega franchise. It features a blend of old and new, with classic characters such as Axel and Adam Hunter returning alongside a new main character, Cherry. All characters have unique playstyles, from Axel's powerful punches to Cherry's speedy strikes. There are tons of unlockables to discover and it has an amazing soundtrack.


What we like:
  • Satisfying combat
  • Incredible music and visuals
  • Tons to unlock
  • Simple yet rewarding combat mechanics
What could be improved:
  • Lack of 4 player online
  • Occasionally too easy to get cornered

  • brawler
  • boss
  • cooperative
  • beat-em-up
  • combo
  • retro
  • classic
  • side-scrolling
  • fight
  • old-school
  • arcade
  • online
  • hand-drawn
  • crime
  • combat

3

Astalon: Tears Of The Earth (2021)

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86
Review score
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Xbox One Linux Mac OS PC Windows

Astalon: Tears of the Earth is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure game full of challenging platforming, epic bosses, and captivating storytelling. Control a party of three heroes with unique skills and abilities, explore a tower full of secrets and hidden artifacts, and embrace death as an opportunity to upgrade your characters and progress further. With retro graphics and music that nail the 8-bit vibe, Astalon delivers an unforgettable journey that will appeal to fans of classic NES-era games and modern side-scrollers alike.


What we like:
  • Smooth gameplay
  • Retro graphic style and music
  • Interesting map full of shortcuts and secrets
  • Fun to switch between different characters
  • Captivating story
What could be improved:
  • Forced backtracking every time you die
  • QOL upgrades earned too late in the game
  • Items in shop have no description
  • Dungeons feel repetitive
  • Bosses are mostly easy

  • platform
  • retro
  • metroidvania
  • fantasy
  • exploration
  • 2d
  • pixel
  • boss
  • post-apocalyptic
  • chiptune
  • action-adventure
  • old-school
  • anime
  • magic
  • demons

4

Axiom Verge 2 (2021)

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83
Review score
Logo of Axiom Verge 2 Screenshot of Axiom Verge 2 Screenshot of Axiom Verge 2 Screenshot of Axiom Verge 2

Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch wii u vita PC Windows Mac OS Linux

Dive into Axiom Verge 2, an epic adventure that takes you into a mysterious parallel universe. As Indra, unravel the secrets of this world, battling monsters, hacking machines, and exploring ancient ruins. With intriguing gameplay, unique combat mechanics, and a refreshing protagonist, this game offers an immersive, fast-paced, and thrilling experience.

Buy

What we like:
  • Excellent game design with a lot to discover
  • Unique combat mechanics that encourage stealth and hacking
  • Refreshing protagonist that breaks stereotypes
  • Improved aesthetic with varied pixel art and haunting music
  • Gameplay is fast-paced and responsive with a diverse array of weapons
What could be improved:
  • Level tree imbalance and unclear progression at times
  • Combat feels optional and some weapons are underutilized
  • Occasional confusion in navigating the open world
  • Less emphasis on bosses and limited weapon options

  • boss
  • exploration
  • platform
  • metroid
  • retro
  • boss-fight
  • classic
  • sci-fi
  • alternate
  • pixel
  • combat
  • metroidvania
  • narrative
  • adventure
  • fight

5

Steel Assault (2021)

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81
Review score
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Nintendo Switch PC Windows Mac OS Xbox Series X Playstation 4 Linux Playstation 5 Xbox One

Punch, whip, and zipline your way through a post-apocalyptic America in this 16-bit retro-style action platformer! Play as Taro Takahashi, a resistance soldier on a revenge mission against the dictator who lords over the ashes.


  • platform
  • post-apocalyptic
  • retro
  • arcade
  • old-school
  • pixel
  • action
  • america
  • 2d
  • perma-death
  • scroller
  • futuristic
  • classic
  • mech
  • fast-paced

6

Cathedral (2019)

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86
Review score
Logo of Cathedral Screenshot of Cathedral Screenshot of Cathedral Screenshot of Cathedral

Playstation 3 PC Windows Mac OS Linux Nintendo Switch

Enter a mysterious world and play as a knight trying to find his way home in Cathedral. With unique abilities and challenging bosses, explore the vast world full of secrets and mysteries. Jaw-dropping retro-inspired graphics and smooth controls make the game visually appealing. If you're a fan of Metroidvania games, Cathedral is worth checking out.


What we like:
  • Precise controls
  • Well-designed world
  • Challenging bosses
  • Varied quests
  • Generous checkpointing
What could be improved:
  • Charm system is underwhelming
  • Tedious exploration
  • Artificial backtracking
  • Overpowered enemies

  • platform
  • retro
  • metroidvania
  • boss
  • first-person
  • exploration
  • dungeon
  • shooter
  • boss-fight
  • puzzle
  • difficult
  • nes
  • fight
  • fps
  • vertical

7

Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe (2020)

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85
Review score
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PC Windows Nintendo Switch Playstation 4 Xbox One Mac OS Linux

He's gonna take you back to the past . . . again!

Buy

  • platform
  • retro
  • blood
  • difficult
  • scroller
  • boss
  • man
  • memes
  • funny
  • hardcore

8

Cyber Shadow (2021)

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81
Review score
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Xbox One Linux Mac OS PC Windows

Step into the shoes of a cybernetic ninja in Cyber Shadow, a thrilling adventure packed with intense platforming action. Unearth ancient powers, face colossal bosses, and unravel the mysteries of a ruined world. Immerse yourself in stunning 8-bit visuals paired with a pulsating soundtrack. Experience a perfect blend of retro nostalgia and modern gameplay.


What we like:
  • Gripping ninja action
  • Balanced gameplay
  • Stunning pixel art and OST
  • Excellent level design
  • Variety of powers and upgrades
What could be improved:
  • Overwhelming final boss rush
  • Limited initial moveset
  • Irrelevant currency system
  • Can feel both too short and too long

  • ninja
  • platform
  • retro
  • boss
  • action
  • boss-fight

9

Wild Dogs (2023)

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72
Review score
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Nintendo Switch Xbox One PC Windows Mac OS Linux Playstation 4

The world is under a frantic alien attack. Amidst the chaos and with the army virtually subdued, the deadliest and most inconsequential pair of specialists are called upon to do what must be done. Join the war hunting aliens around the world and in every way possible.

Buy

  • dog
  • soundtrack
  • retro
  • scroller
  • shoot-em-up
  • aliens
  • pixel
  • robots
  • 2d
  • fast-paced
  • run-and-gun
  • arcade
  • shooter
  • platform
  • contra

10

Terminal 81 (2023)

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90
Review score
Logo of Terminal 81 Screenshot of Terminal 81 Screenshot of Terminal 81 Screenshot of Terminal 81

Xbox One Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch Linux PC Windows

Thanks to the financial crisis of 2008, Lorena migrated to Terminal 81 to work, but what seemed like a simple Latin American neighborhood, it was a dangerous region dominated by a mysterious criminal organization that carries out murders, kidnappings and human trafficking.

Buy

  • horror
  • job
  • psychological
  • retro
  • mystery
  • noir
  • crime
  • simulation
  • investigation
  • open-world
  • capitalism
  • choices
  • immersive
  • emotional

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