Linux Mint

Elegant, easy to use, and immediately familiar. The best distro for Windows converts.

Desktop Beginner Gaming

Overview

Based on	Ubuntu (LTS)
Package manager	APT (with Flatpak integration)
Package format	.deb
Release model	Fixed releases based on Ubuntu LTS. ~5 years of support per release.
Default DE	Cinnamon (also available with MATE and XFCE)
Init system	systemd
Website	linuxmint.com

Why Linux Mint?

Familiar layout - Cinnamon's taskbar, start menu, and system tray will feel immediately natural to Windows users
Works out of the box - Multimedia codecs, drivers, and common tools are included or one click away
No Snap - Mint deliberately removes Snap support and ships Flatpak instead, giving users more control
Cinnamon DE - Developed by the Mint team, Cinnamon is polished, customizable, and lightweight
Ubuntu compatibility - All Ubuntu LTS packages and PPAs work on Mint
Timeshift built-in - System snapshots are integrated into the update manager for easy rollbacks

Editions

Cinnamon - The flagship edition. Modern, full-featured desktop with effects and customization.
MATE - Traditional desktop based on GNOME 2. Lighter on resources.
XFCE - The lightest edition. Good for older hardware.
LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) - Based directly on Debian instead of Ubuntu. A safety net if Ubuntu ever goes in a bad direction.

Package Management

Mint uses APT for system packages and includes Flatpak support through its Software Manager.

# Update package lists and upgrade
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

# Install packages
sudo apt install vlc gimp steam

# Search for packages
apt search "video player"

# Flatpak (pre-configured with Flathub)
flatpak install flathub com.spotify.Client
flatpak install flathub com.discordapp.Discord
flatpak list

# Mint's Update Manager (GUI) can also be run from terminal
mintupdate

Mint vs Ubuntu packages: Since Mint is based on Ubuntu LTS, you can use Ubuntu PPAs and .deb packages directly. The Mint team also maintains their own repos with Cinnamon, Nemo file manager, and other Mint-specific tools.

Gaming on Mint

# Install Steam (available in repos)
sudo apt install steam

# GPU drivers - use Mint's Driver Manager (GUI)
# Or from terminal:
sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

# Install Lutris for non-Steam games
sudo apt install lutris

# Install GameMode for performance optimization
sudo apt install gamemode

# Install MangoHud for in-game performance overlay
sudo apt install mangohud

Tips

Use the Driver Manager to install proprietary NVIDIA/AMD drivers with one click
The Software Manager shows both APT and Flatpak results in one interface
Timeshift is pre-installed. Set up automatic snapshots before you start customizing.
Cinnamon Spices (cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com) has themes, applets, desklets, and extensions
Use Warpinator (pre-installed) for easy file sharing with other computers on your network
If you want a newer kernel, use the Update Manager to switch kernel versions safely