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Windows is the finest gaming operating system for gaming not only because it has the widest selection of games but also because said games mostly perform better than on Linux or macOS.
Variety is one of the most significant assets of PC gaming.
Apart from the numerous types of diverse hardware components, users also have the opportunity to choose which operating system suits them best. Today, there are three main choices: Windows, Linux and macOS.
These all serve different audiences and have their own distinct advantages and disadvantages. But we will set those aside and focus on one specific question: which of these three is the best operating system for gaming?
In this guide, we will present a brief overview of each OS and discuss all the advantages and disadvantages of selecting one as your gaming OS.
Table of ContentsShow
Overview
In this section, we will concisely discuss the background of each of the three operating systems, and also examine their essential features.
Windows
Microsoft Windows is, without a doubt, the most prevalent and widespread operating system. When Microsoft first released Windows 3.0 in 1990, it was considered innovative because of how it simplified the user interface and brought computers closer to the mainstream public.
Over the years, Windows had seen numerous subsequent incarnations: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, and other minor variations. It is only during the era of the universally-loved Windows XP that the PC gaming scene flourished. XP was followed by a contentious and glitch-ridden Windows Vista which was quickly replaced by a much more polished Windows 7.
After that came Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, another contentious release criticized for imposing a tablet-oriented UI on traditional PCs.
Today, we have the most sophisticated and most dependable version of Windows yet: Windows 10. This latest version of Windows also marks a big change in Microsoft’s approach to their flagship OS – rather than releasing a brand new Windows version every few years, the company has decided to build and improve upon Windows 10 with numerous free updates.
Linux
Linux is uncommon in that it doesn’t denote a single operating system but rather a broad range of different operating systems, all of which are based on the open-source Linux kernel. It was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds with the idea of offering people a free and flexible OS.
Arguably, the most widely recognized OS based on the Linux kernel is Google’s AndroidOS, although it is used only on smartphones and tablets. On PCs, the most common are the likes of Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, openSUSE, Arch Linux, Fedora, Valve’s SteamOS, and many more, all of which are completely free and built upon by numerous developers.
Ultimately, however, Linux is aimed more towards experienced users and enthusiasts due to its powerful features, flexibility, and lower hardware requirements as compared to Windows. That said, the interface could seldom be called “intuitive” and Linux-compatible software is not exactly in plentiful supply.
macOS
While its roots go all the way back to 1984, macOS as we know it today was only released in 2001. It is second only to Windows in terms of widespread use, and it differs chiefly in that it is only found on Apple’s iMac and MacBook computers.
Apple likes keeping their technology under tight lock and key, something that gives this OS several advantages and disadvantages. First and foremost, macOS is optimized to work with Apple hardware, making it extremely efficient. On top of that, it is engineered to be as close to perfection as possible, leading to a highly secure, user-friendly operating system, which is the favorite of many users, casual and professional alike.
An obvious downside to macOS is relevant to its primary advantage — the hardware. In terms of raw power, most Apple computers are woefully inadequate, relying on the software for high performance instead. This makes most users skeptical of Apple’s high prices.
Gaming
In this segment, we will be examining how each OS performs when it comes to various aspects of gaming.
Performance
In terms of in-game performance, Windows and Linux tend to be on relatively even ground, with slight framerate increases for one or the other based on the game in question. Furthermore, while every supported version of Windows maintains consistent framerates, different distributions of Linux can offer completely different performance.
The best-performing Linux distribution in this regard is hard to pinpoint, but SteamOS and Ubuntu appear to have the lead. Nonetheless, Windows is far more consistent and dependable, offering superior performance most of the time.
macOS is definitely the worst-performing of the three. That isn’t so much due to the operating system itself but rather the hardware limitations.
As you’re likely aware, Apple designs its computers to be compact and non-customizable, leaving little space for powerful GPUs and user modification. In the end, the only way to get good performance on a Mac is with an external GPU, but that would be quite an expenditure on top of the already steep price tags attached to Apple’s computers.
Game Selection
There is no doubt that the vast majority of PC games are released primarily for Windows, as it is the most popular gaming OS today. Whenever someone talks about “PC games,” they almost definitely mean “Windows games.”
The selection of games for Linux and macOS is considerably more limited. True, Linux support has been rising steadily over the past few years — if we’re going by Steam, over 4000 games support Linux at the moment. But keep in mind that the number of Windows-supported games is well over 20.000. As for Mac, there are currently around 7000 Steam games supporting it.
Online Platforms
Retail DVD and Blu-ray disks are constantly being pushed back by the more convenient online game stores. Furthermore, the fact that hardware manufacturers are dropping optical drives from their pre-made computers and laptops is not helping the gradual decline of the disc.
The most popular platform is undoubtedly Valve’s Steam, and most third-party game stores sell games that activate solely on Steam. As mentioned above, Valve offers support for all of these three operating systems.
Alternatives to Steam are:
- Origin – EA’s platform that sells only EA games. It officially supports Windows and macOS. It can be installed on Linux, but does not perform all that well.
- net – Blizzard’s platform that sells only Blizzard games. Once again, it officially supports only Windows and macOS.
- Microsoft Store – Known up until recently as “Windows Store,” this platform sells both Microsoft games and those released by other companies. It is only available on Windows.
- GoG – There is no big company trying to get its own platform outside Steam behind this platform. Standing for Good Old Games, GoG rather sells old classics and only a selection of the best newer games. Currently, the client is available on Windows and macOS, but the team is working on bringing it to Linux in the near future as well.
Conclusion
All things considered, one thing is certain – Windows is the leading OS for gaming, at least for the time being. This is solely because it is the uncontested champion when it comes to how many games are available on it. Linux and Mac simply cannot compete in that respect.
For Linux-users, it might be a smarter idea to simply install Windows on their computer, too, if only for the purpose of gaming. As for Mac, we simply cannot recommend it as an operating system for gamers. It may be ahead of Linux when it comes to the number of supported games, but it would require a substantial investment in an external GPU to run any of the more demanding games.
To make sure everything is clear, below you can find a concise overview of the overall advantages and disadvantages of these operating systems.
OS
Microsoft Windows
The Pros:
- Highest market sharernBiggest selection of programs and gamesrnUser-friendly
The Cons:
- Poor integrated anti-malwarernStability issues
Linux
The Pros:
- FreernNumerous distributions to choose fromrnExtremely flexible
The Cons:
- Difficult to use for non-experienced usersrnSoftware compatibility issues
Apple macOS
The Pros:
- Superb hardware-software integration and stabilityrnUnmatched securityrnBeautiful and user-friendly design
The Cons:
- Found only on Apple computersrnVery few third-party programs and games
