These ten Steam games cover several kinds of adventure: exploration and platforming, point-and-click puzzles, survival, horror, and co-op action. The list preserves the 2025 recommendations as a retrospective, while distinguishing games with an official Linux build from titles whose current Linux support needs checking. Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04 are practical targets, but a Steam Linux listing is not a guarantee of identical performance on every PC.
“Adventure” is used broadly here. Hollow Knight is a metroidvania; Don’t Starve Together and Stranded Deep are survival sandboxes; TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is a co-op beat ’em up. Pick by the kind of play you want, not just the genre label.
Quick comparison
| Game | Adventure type | Linux status | Play style | Storage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow Knight | Metroidvania, action-adventure | Official SteamOS + Linux requirements list Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04 | Solo | 9 GB | Exploration and challenging combat |
| Alien: Isolation | Survival horror | Steam identifies a Linux version associated with Feral Interactive | Solo | 35 GB listed in Windows requirements; check Linux listing | Cinematic horror and stealth |
| Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged | Point-and-click mystery | Current Steam Linux support should be checked before buying | Solo | Not stated | Dialogue and puzzles |
| Duck Detective: The Secret Salami | Short comedy mystery | Steam lists Linux requirements; the listed Ubuntu versions are dated | Solo | 500 MB | A compact, accessible case |
| Don’t Starve Together | Co-op survival adventure | Official SteamOS + Linux requirements | Solo or online co-op | 3 GB | Unforgiving survival with friends |
| Core Keeper | Mining and exploration sandbox | Steam lists a Linux platform section | Solo or 1–8 players | Not stated | Long-term progression and building |
| Necesse | Sandbox adventure | Official SteamOS + Linux requirements for newer 64-bit Linux | Solo or multiplayer | 500 MB | Light storage use and settlement building |
| Lorn’s Lure | First-person exploration platformer | Check current Steam Linux requirements before purchase | Solo | Not stated | Climbing, atmosphere, and environmental mystery |
| Stranded Deep | Island survival | Steam lists Linux requirements; its Ubuntu recommendation is old | Solo or co-op | 4 GB | Crafting and ocean exploration |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge | Co-op arcade action-adventure | Official SteamOS + Linux requirements | Up to six players, per Steam’s product description | 1 GB | Fast group play |
Storage figures are the listed requirements in the cited Steam pages where available; they are not performance targets. Steam requirements can change, and the older Ubuntu entries below should not be read as modern compatibility guarantees.
Best overall exploration and action
1. Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight on Steam is the strongest all-round choice if you want a large world to explore, precise platforming, demanding combat, and storytelling delivered through places and encounters rather than constant exposition. Its interconnected map rewards curiosity, and new abilities open routes that were previously inaccessible.
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Steam’s Linux requirements explicitly name 64-bit Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04. The minimum listing calls for 4 GB RAM, a GTX 560 Ti/Radeon HD 7750-class GPU, and 9 GB of storage; recommended memory is 8 GB, with a GTX 1050/Radeon R9 380-class GPU. Those are the publisher’s listed requirements, not a promise of a particular frame rate on a given desktop.
- Best for: Solo players who want exploration, atmosphere, and a substantial challenge.
- Trade-off: Bosses and platforming can be difficult; choose another game if you want a relaxed, dialogue-led story.
2. Lorn’s Lure
Lorn’s Lure on Steam is a more unusual first-person adventure built around climbing, difficult traversal, surreal spaces, and environmental clues. Its climb-anything approach makes navigation the main event: the tension comes from finding a route and executing it, rather than fighting through crowds of enemies.
Steam’s available product information describes dark themes, including suicide, depression, mental illness, war, and existentialism, as well as some horror, blood, and gore. Check the live Steam platform and requirements sections before purchase; current Linux support and complete hardware requirements are not established here.
- Best for: Players who enjoy demanding platforming and interpreting a strange world.
- Trade-off: Its difficulty and themes make it a poor fit for a breezy or beginner-friendly adventure.
Best story, mystery, and puzzles
3. Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged
Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged on Steam is the list’s clearest traditional adventure: investigate a conspiracy, talk to characters, collect clues, and solve puzzles by combining items and information. The Reforged edition presents the classic mystery with enhanced visuals, improved audio, restored dialogue, and bonus content.
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- Best for: Players who want a story-led, mostly non-combat adventure.
- Trade-off: Its pace and puzzle style can involve backtracking rather than constant forward motion.
4. Duck Detective: The Secret Salami
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami on Steam turns interviews and evidence inspection into a short, humorous mystery. You gather clues, work out what happened, and fill in blanks to make deductions. Steam describes a case lasting about 2–3 hours, so it is a good choice for a single evening rather than a long campaign.
The Steam page lists Linux requirements of 1 GB RAM and 500 MB storage, and names Ubuntu 20.04 and Ubuntu 18.04/CentOS 7 in its Linux requirements. Those dated entries should not be mistaken for an explicit Ubuntu 24.04 support statement.
- Best for: A compact mystery with light deduction and comedy.
- Trade-off: Its short length will not satisfy players looking for dozens of hours of progression.
Best survival and sandbox adventures
5. Don’t Starve Together
Don’t Starve Together on Steam is a co-op survival adventure about exploring, gathering, crafting, building a base, and surviving increasingly dangerous conditions. It can also be played alone. Steam’s Linux requirements list 1 GB RAM, a Radeon HD 5450-class GPU or better, and 3 GB of storage.
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Survival is deliberately unforgiving: death, lost progress, seasonal hazards, and learning unfamiliar systems are part of the game. Its adventure is emergent rather than a conventional scripted campaign.
- Best for: Friends who enjoy planning, experimentation, and replayable survival runs.
- Trade-off: It can be punishing when you are learning, and its story is not the main draw.
6. Core Keeper
Core Keeper on Steam is a mining and exploration sandbox set in an underground world. Mining, crafting, farming, fishing, base building, combat, and boss encounters give it a clearer progression path than a purely open-ended survival game. Steam describes it as a 1–8-player adventure, with solo play and online co-op.
The Steam page exposes a Linux platform section, but complete Linux hardware and storage figures are not established here. For multiplayer, check that everyone is on the same game version and account for connection quality if one player is hosting.
- Best for: Players who want a long-running world with goals, crafting, and optional co-op.
- Trade-off: Base building and systems matter more than a tightly authored narrative.
7. Necesse
Necesse on Steam combines exploration, mining, combat, settlement construction, and customization. It is a compact download by its listed storage requirement, while offering a broader sandbox loop than its footprint suggests.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Steam lists a newer 64-bit Linux system, 4 GB RAM, a GT 440/Radeon HD 6570-class GPU, and 500 MB storage as minimum requirements; recommended memory is 8 GB. The Steam page warns that some Intel graphics drivers may cause regular crashes, so laptop owners using Intel graphics should take that caveat seriously rather than treating the Linux label as a universal guarantee.
- Best for: Players who want exploration and settlement building without a large storage commitment.
- Trade-off: This is a systems-driven sandbox, and the stated Intel-driver issue is relevant to some Ubuntu laptops.
8. Stranded Deep
Stranded Deep on Steam makes an island chain its survival playground. Gather resources, craft tools and shelter, manage environmental hazards, and travel across the ocean. Steam lists online and split-screen co-op, world customization, and an island editor.
The Linux requirements list 8 GB RAM and 4 GB storage; the recommended Linux entry names Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. That is an old OS recommendation, not evidence that the game is certified for current Ubuntu releases. Treat Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 compatibility as something to verify with current reports, especially if performance is a concern.
- Best for: Players who want open-ended island survival and crafting.
- Trade-off: It is a survival sandbox, not a tightly scripted story, and performance may depend on drivers and world complexity.
Best horror and co-op action
9. Alien: Isolation
Alien: Isolation on Steam is a first-person survival-horror adventure built around stealth, exploration, scarce resources, and avoiding a persistent threat. Steam identifies Feral Interactive’s Linux version. Its tension and cinematic presentation make it a strong fit for players seeking a story-driven horror experience.
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The game contains graphic violence, gore, mature themes, and sustained tension. Steam’s Windows requirements list 35 GB of storage; check the Linux-specific listing and reserve ample space before installing. A native Linux version avoids Proton as a requirement, but does not rule out issues with modern drivers, display scaling, controllers, or older ports.
- Best for: Horror fans who value atmosphere and stealth over power fantasy.
- Trade-off: It is a poor fit for children, players sensitive to horror, or anyone seeking a low-stress game.
10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge on Steam is a retro-styled beat ’em up with a story mode, character-specific abilities, and pixel-art stages. Steam lists Linux minimum requirements of 4 GB RAM, a GT 320/Radeon HD 5570/Intel HD 4600-class GPU, and 1 GB of storage. Its product description advertises co-op for up to six players.
- Best for: Local or online group play and accessible arcade action.
- Trade-off: It is a genre stretch: expect brawling more than puzzle-solving or deep world exploration. For a six-player session, controller recognition, available ports, and Bluetooth limits can matter in practice.
How to choose the right game
- For the broadest exploration experience: Hollow Knight.
- For a classic puzzle-led story: Broken Sword, after confirming its current Linux listing.
- For a short evening: Duck Detective.
- For horror: Alien: Isolation.
- For co-op survival: Don’t Starve Together.
- For a long-term crafting sandbox: Core Keeper.
- For a low-storage sandbox: Necesse, with the Intel-driver caveat in mind.
- For couch-friendly group action: TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge.
Native Linux, Proton, and Ubuntu compatibility
A native Linux game has a Linux build listed on Steam and does not need Proton to run. Proton is Valve’s compatibility layer for running Windows games on Linux. It makes many Windows-only Steam games playable, but compatibility can depend on the game update, GPU driver, Proton version, launcher, codecs, and multiplayer services. Ubuntu’s Proton configuration guide explains Steam Play setup; for a Windows-only title, check current ProtonDB reports for game-specific launch, video, controller, or multiplayer issues.
Steam Deck compatibility is useful evidence, not a guarantee of identical results on an Ubuntu desktop or laptop. Valve’s Steam Play FAQ explains the supported-title approach. For Ubuntu, use a 64-bit, updated installation, current graphics drivers, and enough RAM and storage for the particular game. The Steam for Linux project documents current Ubuntu or Ubuntu LTS support and a 64-bit kernel baseline; it also states that glibc 2.31 or newer has been required since August 15, 2025, which excludes older distributions such as Ubuntu 18.04. See Valve’s Steam for Linux requirements.
Install a game and enable Proton when needed
- Install Steam from a supported package source, open it, and sign in. Valve lists 5 GB as the Steam client’s storage requirement; that is separate from the space required by games.
- Open the game’s Steam store page and check the platform icons and Linux system requirements. If Linux support is not listed, do not assume a Deck badge means it will work on Ubuntu.
- Purchase or redeem the game, then open Library and select Install.
- If the title needs Proton, open Steam → Settings → Compatibility (also labelled Steam Play in some interfaces). Enable Steam Play for supported titles, or enable it for all other titles to try Windows games through Proton.
- For a per-game override, open Library → right-click game → Properties → Compatibility, check Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool, then select a Proton version.
- Launch the game and test the controls, sound, display, and any required online features. If it fails, check recent reports for that specific game before adding launch options or custom tools.
Steam’s labels and menus can change. Ubuntu documents an advanced custom Proton-GE location for Steam installed as a snap: mkdir -p ~/snap/steam/common/.steam/root/compatibilitytools.d. That is an optional workaround, not a normal installation step; try Valve’s included Proton versions first.
What to try if a game fails
It does not appear installable
- Restart Steam and check the game’s live store page for its Linux platform listing.
- For a Windows-only game, confirm that Steam Play is enabled and look at recent ProtonDB reports before trying Proton.
It launches and immediately closes
- Try Proton Experimental or another Valve-provided Proton version; remove custom launch options temporarily.
- Verify the game files in Steam, update Ubuntu and the graphics driver, and compare recent compatibility reports. Custom Proton builds can add another variable, so compare against Valve’s Proton before keeping one.
There is a black screen or missing video
Intro-video codecs, the display session, Proton media components, or graphics drivers can be involved. There is no universal fix: check current reports for the exact title, Ubuntu release, and Proton version rather than applying an unrelated game’s workaround.
Multiplayer or a controller is broken
Check that players have the same game version and that the service supports the Linux build or Proton. Anti-cheat, third-party launchers, voice chat, firewalls, and NAT can all affect online play. Steam Input maps many controllers, but button prompts and layouts can still be wrong; test wired and Bluetooth connections separately. For large local sessions, verify that the system recognizes every controller before starting.
