Heroic Games Launcher is a free, open-source launcher that lets you log in to your Epic Games Store and GOG accounts on Linux, install your games, and run Windows titles through Wine or Proton. Install it from your distribution’s package source or as a Flatpak, sign in, pick a Wine or Proton build for each Windows game, and press Play. Most of the effort is in choosing the right compatibility layer and keeping your games on a drive the launcher can reach.
This guide covers installation, the first-run setup, the settings that matter for performance and compatibility, and the problems that trip up most new users. Menu names and available options change between releases, so treat the steps below as a map and check the current Heroic documentation if something looks different on your version.
What Heroic Does and Does Not Do
Heroic is an alternative front end for stores that do not ship an official Linux client. It uses community-built tools underneath: the Legendary project handles Epic Games Store library access and downloads, and a separate GOG downloader handles GOG. For Windows-only games it launches them through a Wine-based layer, much like Steam’s Proton does.
It is not a magic compatibility tool. Whether a given game runs depends on the game, the Wine or Proton build, your graphics driver and, for online titles, the anti-cheat system. Some multiplayer games block Linux entirely, and no launcher setting changes that. Before buying or installing a game, search a compatibility database such as ProtonDB for reports on that title, remembering that Steam reports often apply to the same executable.
Installing Heroic on Linux
Flatpak
The Flatpak build is the simplest route on most distributions and is the one many guides assume. It runs in a sandbox, which means it only sees folders it has permission for. If you keep games on a second drive, grant access to that location with a permissions tool such as Flatseal or the flatpak override command, or the launcher will not be able to install there.
Native packages and AppImage
Heroic also provides packages for common distributions and an AppImage, and some distributions carry community packages. A native install avoids sandbox restrictions on drives, but you are responsible for having a recent graphics stack and the required libraries. Check the project’s releases page for the current options.
Graphics drivers and Vulkan
Windows games on Linux depend on Vulkan. Install up-to-date drivers for your GPU and confirm Vulkan works before blaming the launcher. NVIDIA owners should use the vendor driver rather than the open default if their distribution offers both, and AMD and Intel owners should keep Mesa reasonably current.
First-Run Setup
Sign in to your stores
Open the login screen and sign in to Epic, GOG or both. Heroic loads your library after login, including free claims you have already added to your account. Your credentials are used to talk to the store services; if you are cautious about third-party launchers, read the project’s privacy notes and consider enabling two-factor authentication on the store accounts.
Install a compatibility layer
Open the Wine manager section in Heroic’s settings and download a recent build. Community builds such as Wine-GE and Proton-GE are popular because they bundle fixes and codecs, but availability and naming can change, so use whatever the current manager offers. Set this as the default for new games, then override it per game when one title prefers a different version.
Choose where games live
Set a default install folder on a fast drive with enough free space. Avoid drives formatted with a filesystem that does not support Linux permissions, since Wine prefixes often fail on them.
Install and launch a game
Select a title from your library, choose the install location, and wait for the download. Press Play, and check the first launch carefully: Wine prefixes are created on first run, and this can take a while with a blank screen.
Settings Worth Knowing
| Setting | What it does | When to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Wine or Proton version | Chooses the compatibility layer for that game | When a game crashes, shows black video or has missing cutscenes |
| Wine prefix location | Sets the folder holding the game’s virtual Windows environment | To keep prefixes on a roomy drive or to isolate one game |
| Esync and Fsync | Reduce synchronization overhead for smoother CPU-heavy games | Leave the defaults unless a kernel or game requires otherwise |
| MangoHud overlay | Shows frame rate and temperatures in game | When tuning performance |
| GameMode | Requests performance-oriented system settings during play | On desktops where you want consistent clocks |
| Cloud saves | Syncs saves where the store supports it | If you play on several machines; confirm per game |
Per-game options let you add environment variables and launch arguments. Only add them when a game’s compatibility report suggests a specific fix, since stacking options is a common cause of new problems.
Troubleshooting Checklist
- Confirm Vulkan works on your system before diagnosing the launcher.
- Try a different Wine or Proton build from the manager for the troubled game.
- Delete or recreate the Wine prefix for that game if it was damaged by an interrupted first run.
- Verify the game files from the launcher’s game menu after crashes on startup.
- Read the log in the game’s settings panel; it often names the missing library or the failed component.
- Check that the game’s drive is writable and mounted at login rather than only on demand.
Managing Updates, Saves and Disk Space
Updates and verification
Heroic can check for game updates and install them from the library view, and it can verify and repair installed files if a download was interrupted. Keep the launcher itself updated too, because fixes for store changes often arrive in new releases. If you use the Flatpak, update it through your normal software manager.
Cloud saves and manual backups
Epic and GOG both offer cloud save support for some games but not all, and the Linux side depends on how the game stores files inside its Wine prefix. Before you rely on sync, confirm in the game’s settings that saves were uploaded, and consider copying the prefix save folder to a backup location for games you care about.
Disk space and prefixes
Each game that uses its own Wine prefix keeps a separate virtual Windows folder, which can add noticeably to disk use over a large library. Shared prefixes save space but increase the chance that one game’s changes break another. For a small library, separate prefixes are the safer default; for a large one, group similar games carefully.
Anti-Cheat and Online Games
Online games with kernel-level anti-cheat are the most common reason a title fails on Linux. Some publishers enable Linux support for their anti-cheat, while others block it deliberately. Always check the game’s current policy, and do not attempt to bypass anti-cheat systems, because that can get an account banned. For single-player and many co-op games, anti-cheat is not an obstacle.
Who Should Use Heroic
Heroic suits Linux players who own games on Epic or GOG and want one place to manage them, including Steam Deck owners who want those libraries beside Steam. If most of your library is on Steam, you may not need it at all. If you only want a few GOG titles, downloading their offline installers and running them through Wine yourself is also an option, though Heroic automates most of that work and keeps prefixes organized.
Common Mistakes
- Installing the Flatpak and then pointing games at a drive it has no permission to read.
- Skipping the compatibility layer download and wondering why Windows games will not launch.
- Applying many launch options at once, so no one change can be blamed for the result.
- Expecting multiplayer titles with strict anti-cheat to work without checking their Linux status first.
- Storing games on a filesystem without Linux permission support, which breaks prefixes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heroic Games Launcher free and safe to use?
It is free and open source, and its code can be inspected by anyone. As with any third-party launcher, download it only from the official project page or a trusted package source and protect your store accounts with two-factor authentication.
Can I add Heroic games to Steam?
Heroic offers a way to add games as non-Steam shortcuts, which is handy for Steam Deck and Big Picture use. Availability and menu naming vary by version, so look in the game’s menu for the shortcut option.
Does Heroic work on Steam Deck?
Many people run it in desktop mode on Steam Deck and launch games from there or from a shortcut. Check current guidance for your Deck’s operating system version, since the setup steps can change.
Do I need Proton or Wine for GOG games?
Only for Windows builds. Some GOG titles have native Linux versions, which Heroic can install and run without a compatibility layer, while the rest need Wine or Proton.
