Five cool Linux first-person shooters

True Combat: Elite is as visually stunning an FPS game as we’ve seen on Linux.

It’s easy to forget that Linux is not only open-source and free, it’s also fun. Gaming is one area where Linux is a bit underrated, yet there are some decent multiplayer options around. We’ve only chosen games that are free and will run on a recent version of Ubuntu/Xubuntu (or our own variant, UserOS Select 10.10, from PC User's April 2011 edition). They don’t need the latest hardware, so if you have at least a 2.4GHz Pentium 4 CPU and Nvidia GeForce FX-series or ATI Radeon 9000-series graphics card, you’re (almost) ready to go. These games need Nvidia or AMD/ATI drivers that deliver accelerated OpenGL graphics speed to run. If drivers are available online, you’ll see the ‘Restricted Driver’ notification appear on screen — just click and follow the prompts.

To install the games, you’ll need an internet connection, Ubuntu, Xubuntu or UserOS installed and a Terminal console (Start —> Accessories —> Terminal). Next, just type in the commands at each > prompt below. And don’t forget the graphics drivers!

1. Tremulous (102MB)

> sudo apt-get install tremulous

To start, select Start —> Games —> Tremulous. This is the smallest FPS game we’ve seen so far. The texture maps are a little weak and gameplay can be a little frustratingly rough at times, but because it’s so small to download, it’s popular, which means you can easily get a game online — even at 10am on Friday morning (mostly on US servers). It also handles older hardware well.

2. Warsow (265MB)

> sudo apt-get install warsow

To start, select Start —> Games —> Warsow. If Warsow is anything, it’s fast. Its world is unusually crafted, looking more like a comic book than the realism of Enemy Territory. Where most first-person shooters (FPS) are quite fluid, this one feels almost liquid-like in its gameplay, largely due to its emphasis on movement and weapons, where your ability to jump and dodge ranks just as high as your accuracy. It has the usual Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag game options, and happily works on Pentium 4-era hardware. Very quiet online at times, though.

3. Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory (271MB)

> wget -c http://ftp.games.skynet.be/pub/wolfenstein/et-linux-2.60.x86.run

> sudo sh ./et-linux-2.60.x86.run

(Note: follow the prompts but do not autorun the game at the end.)

> et

This excellent FPS game has been open source since last August, it has a huge online gaming community and has spawned one of the best-looking games on Linux: Total Combat: Elite. We tested it with a 2.8GHz Intel Pentium 4 CPU and GeForce FX 5500 without trouble at 1,024 x 768-pixel resolution. It’s popular — you can usually get a game, even during the day.

4. Cube 2: Sauerbraten (480MB)

> sudo apt-get install sauerbraten

To start, select Start —> Games —> Sauerbraten. Sauerbraten is the sequel to the popular Cube FPS game with improvements, particularly in the map renders (hence the size of the game). There are reports of issues with older ATI cards that require turning off pixel shaders. ATI cards are also known to occasionally cause lock-up, so your best bet is an Nvidia card. It’s another one that’s quiet online at times.

5. Total Combat: Elite (475MB+271MB)

> wget –c http://www.truecombatelite.com/files/TrueCombatElite_v049_Linux.run.gz

> chmod +x ./TrueCombatElite_v049_Linux.run.gz 

> sudo ./TrueCombatElite_v049_Linux.run.gz

(Note: do not autorun the game at the end of the install routine.)

> wget –c http://www.truecombatelite.com/files/tce049b_all_os_fixed.zip

> sudo apt-get install unzip 

> unzip ./tce049b_all_os_fixed.zip –d ./.etwolf/tcetest 

> sudo apt-get install libstdc++5 

> et +set fs_game tcetest

This is a big game. It’s built on Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, so you need to have it installed and run at least once. It’s as visually stunning an FPS game as we’ve seen on Linux, but because of its setup complexity there are fewer players; for a quick game, Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory or Tremulous are your best bets.