I feel like I've been monkeys-pawed with the downfall of Windows for gaming. I.e. rather than being at the point where everything just works best/easiest in my Bazzite install it's a game of DRM, modding tool support, feature support, and random "this game runs better on Windows, this game runs better on Bazzite" discovery. Also Windows/Steam OS clone/"normal Linux" setups all have their own very awkward corners around the non-gaming portions. I've not found one that does not require substantial tweaking to get a usable all around experience unless you buy a device to use as more a dedicated gaming console (Xbox/Steam Deck type device).

I miss the ~mid Windows 7 era. Not that everything ran perfectly without issues on Windows 7 at the time, particularly old games, but at least there was an option good enough to assume to always go with first instead of "see if the games you play work best here".

All the games that "don't work" are the games that PEOPLE ACTUALLY PLAY!

It's always hardcore multiplayer games with the actual crowd. Using linux for gaming is a great way to continue down the path to becoming a recluse.

It really depends on what you play. I've been playing online co-op regularly with a bunch of friends since Covid times. We're jumping to new (well, on sale) games regularly, and the only recent time I booted to Windows was because a 4-player mod for Remnant II _might_ not work on Linux. Can't remember the previous game that did not work on Linux. I'm so used to things working without major tinkering that I forget to check protondb most of the time.

I actually don't like to play with random people on the internet.

I prefer the comfort of knowing them, and usually do it in the old basement LAN party way.

In my young time we didn't have internet, and we were actually LESS recluse overall ;-)

So if you don't play popular multiplayer games you're a recluse?

Plenty of people play single player games, and simply socialize outside of games...

I play Helldivers 2 on Linux, and there are TONS of people playing.