Monday 28 December 2009

3 Wonderful Open-Source Games to Install After Installing Ubuntu

Battle for Wesnoth
Battle for Wesnoth is one of the most popular turn-based strategy games for Linux, if not the most popular. Completely free and open-source, it provides both singleplayer campaigns, as well as online multiplayer, hotseat or LAN support. The game takes place over various maps composed from hexes, and in each hex a unit at a time can be deployed. The player has to take advantage of various terrain types (which increase or decrease defence), use wisely the types of attack and abilities each unit has. Wesnoth currently comes with 6 factions (Loyalists, Rebels, Knalgan Alliance, Undead, Northerners and Drakes), but the add-on server has a whole bunch of custom eras and new factions.

Wesnoth 1.6.5

Scripting is handled in Wesnoth by WML, the Wesnoth Markup Language, which allows for building entire scenarios and campaigns.

Wesnoth is in a continuous change, with every new release bringing more features and gameplay innovation. The current stable release is 1.6.5, but soon 1.8 will be out, and it will include new unit portraits, WML (Wesnoth Markup Language) improvements, updated campaigns and more. 1.8 will also allow the user to directly upload user-made campaigns and scenario from in-game add-ons menu.

Dark Forecast, one of the most popular survival maps

To install Wesnoth in Ubuntu, type in a terminal:

sudo apt-get install wesnoth

SuperTux
SuperTux is a 2D jump and run Mario clone, with the difference that it uses its own maps, enemies, and the main character is... you guessed, Tux, the story taking place in Antarctica. It is licensed under the GPL and it is free of charge. SuperTux has very nice graphics, especially since it has support for software and OpenGL rendering, 26 levels and 9 types of enemies.


Except for the official website, there is also a fansite for SuperTux, with screenshots, user-made maps and a forum.

SuperTux 0.3.1

To Install SuperTux in Ubuntu, type in a terminal:

sudo apt-get install supertux

World of Padman
When it comes to Linux shooter games, there isn't only one choice. Games like Nexuiz, OpenArena or Sauerbraten were a good fit here too, but I decided upon World of Padman.

Based on the Quake 3 engine, World of Padman is a fun, cartoon-style first-person shooter with maps, weapons and characters inspired from the Padman series. It features nice, colourful graphics, popular modes like FFA, TDM or CTF, and weapons which will definitely make you laugh the first time you'll see them.

World of Padman

Although it is not included in the repositories, WoP can be easily installed like this:

- download the Linux installer and Linux patch installer from here
- make them executables:

chmod 755 padman.run
chmod 755 wop_patch_1_2.run

- and install both of them, padman.run (or worldofpadman.run, depending on the name of the file) first, and then wop_patch_1_2.run:

./padman.run
./wop_patch_1_2.run

Updated: Jan 2, 2010

12 comments:

ps3 games said...

Love your Blog!Whenever i see the post like your's i feel that there are helpful people who share information for the help of others, it must be helpful for others.Thanks and good job.I have been working with Ubuntu but i haven't installed games yet.Thanks for sharing links.

gus3 said...

The first comment is spam (easily spotted because it contains nothing of value). Don't click the name link.

Gripfx said...

Personally, I recommend Quake Live. Its cross OS and runs perfectly fine on ubuntu.

Mike-Linux-NL said...

the problem with gaming on linux is that these games you describe, are there for the last 5 years, if not longer. linux seriously needs some new, fresh and better native games, instead of the same games over and over again.

Daniele said...

For Ubuntu-based distros you can find the World of Padman super-easy .deb package here:
http://www.playdeb.net/updates/World%20of%20Padman

MrVertigo27 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MrVertigo27 said...

Don't Forget About Secret Maryo Chronicles its a nice jump and run with a bit more polish than Super Tux, great editor, graphics and comfortable physics

Http://www.secretmaryo.org

lonetwin said...

Just coincidently came across your blog post and also this ...
http://www.dedoimedo.com/games/linux-million-games.html

...thought you would like to know :)

Anonymous said...

I think Urban Terror is the best game in Linux, and in general.

Anonymous said...

All those who like SuperTux; this game however 'cute' it might be cannot be featuring on a 2010 list of best games. It is a good game (i have played it myself in the past) but it's a game that belongs to the late 80s. Too outdated. To keep up the linux prestige let's just feature games that match up to some state of the art games of 2008 or 2009.

littlebear said...

Wow, thanks, it was very helpful to know there are games for linux as well :)

Janice said...

I think Linux sincerely desires some new, fresh and better native games, rather than the same games repeatedly.