Epic Games confirmed a native Linux launcher is coming, and Reddit spent the week arguing whether Heroic Games Launcher stays relevant afterward. Short answer from the Heroic team: yes. It launches Epic, GOG, Amazon Prime, and sideloaded games from one place, and the polish is good enough that even Steam Deck users install it first. If you have been running Heroic and want to know what else is worth trying, this list covers the seven desktop launcher alternatives that actually work in 2026.
We looked at Heroic Games Launcher alternatives across Windows, macOS, and Linux. Every entry actually runs on desktop today, most support Wine or Proton for playing Windows games on Linux, and each covers a different sub-need: single-store, multi-store, Wine wrapper, or command-line.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lutris | The Linux launcher benchmark | Yes | $0 | Community install scripts |
| Bottles | Wine prefix management | Yes | $0 | Per-app Wine prefixes |
| Steam | The universal fallback | Yes | $0 | Proton compatibility layer |
| Epic Games Launcher | Native Epic on all platforms | Yes | $0 | Weekly free game giveaway |
| GOG Galaxy | The DRM-free collector | Yes | $0 | Cross-launcher integration |
| Playnite | The Windows library aggregator | Yes | $0 | 60+ store plugins |
| Legendary | Terminal-first Epic client | Yes | $0 | Scripted install and update |
Why Heroic still matters, even with Epic on Linux
Heroic does three things well. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux from the same codebase. It unifies Epic, GOG, and Amazon Prime Gaming under a single library. And its Wine and Proton bundling is now stable enough for Steam Deck out of the box. What alternatives cover:
- Native single-store launchers are getting better. Epic on Linux is the biggest news of the year, but they only cover their own catalog.
- Wine-wrapper apps are best for non-store Windows games. Bottles is the clean pick if you want per-app prefixes.
- Aggregators still matter. Playnite on Windows and Lutris on Linux both handle libraries the mainstream launchers cannot.
Lutris - Best Linux launcher
Lutris is the Linux gaming launcher every Steam Deck power-user knows. It handles Wine, Proton, and native Linux binaries in one interface, and the community install-script system covers thousands of Windows games with one-click setups. GOG, Epic, Ubisoft Connect, and Battle.net all integrate.
Where it falls short: Windows and macOS versions have not been priorities. This is a Linux-first tool, and the UI shows it.
Pricing: free, open source. GitHub at lutris/lutris.
Download: Publisher site | Flathub
Bottom line: the Linux gamer’s default. Runs alongside Heroic on the same machine.
Bottles - Best for Wine prefix management
Bottles is the clean, GNOME-styled tool for running Windows software on Linux. Every app gets its own prefix, which means you can run a modded Skyrim and a vanilla Skyrim side by side without breaking either. Supports DXVK, VKD3D, and Esync out of the box.
Where it falls short: no store integration. You bring your own installers. Not a library manager, more of a runtime wrapper.
Pricing: free, open source.
Download: Publisher site | Flathub
Bottom line: the pick if you want fine control over each Windows game’s runtime.
Steam - Best for cross-platform reach
Steam does not need a pitch, but its Proton compatibility layer is why every launcher alternative on this list still runs alongside it. Proton makes Windows games playable on Linux with no user config, and Steam Deck is the reason Linux gaming grew.
Where it falls short: Valve’s library only. Non-Steam shortcuts help but do not replace a real cross-store launcher.
Pricing: free client. Games priced individually.
Download: Publisher site
Bottom line: install first. Everything else complements it.
Epic Games Launcher - Best for native Epic on Linux
Epic Games Launcher is finally getting a native Linux build, which is the story that seeded this list. The Windows and macOS clients are already the way to redeem the weekly free game giveaway and manage Epic exclusives. Native Linux support puts the launcher on the same tier as Heroic for pure Epic library needs.
Where it falls short: Epic library only. The UI has never been great. Launcher runs slower than Heroic on modest hardware.
Pricing: free. Games priced individually.
Download: Publisher site
Bottom line: install when the Linux beta is stable if you have Epic exclusives.
GOG Galaxy - Best for DRM-free collections
GOG Galaxy is the launcher for players who care about DRM-free ownership. The cross-launcher integration lets it read your Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, Epic, and Ubisoft libraries into a single view, which is closer to Playnite than to Heroic.
Where it falls short: Windows and macOS only. No Linux client. The macOS build lags behind Windows on features.
Pricing: free.
Download: Publisher site
Bottom line: the pick if DRM-free is your reason for using Heroic in the first place.
Playnite - Best for a Windows library aggregator
Playnite is the Windows-only library aggregator with over 60 store plugins. Import Steam, Epic, GOG, Xbox, Battle.net, Amazon, Humble, and more into one custom-themed frontend. Big Box mode looks great on a TV.
Where it falls short: Windows only. Steam Deck users cannot install it in Game Mode.
Pricing: free, open source. GitHub at JosefNemec/Playnite.
Download: Publisher site
Bottom line: the Windows-side companion to Heroic on Linux.
Legendary - Best terminal-first Epic client
Legendary is the command-line Epic Games client that Heroic actually uses under the hood. If you script installs, run headless servers, or just prefer the terminal, this is the tool. Same Epic library, no GUI.
Where it falls short: no GUI. Setup requires reading the readme. Not for anyone who prefers menus.
Pricing: free, open source. GitHub at derrod/legendary.
Download: GitHub | Publisher site
Bottom line: the CLI pick if you want to script your Epic library.
How to pick
Pick Lutris if you play mostly on Linux and want the biggest install-script library. Pick Bottles if you want per-app Wine prefix control without a store layer. Pick Playnite if you are on Windows and want one interface for every store. Pick GOG Galaxy if DRM-free is your first principle. Stay with Heroic Games Launcher if you want Epic, GOG, and Amazon Prime Gaming under one cross-platform roof, since that combination remains its unique offer.
FAQ
Is Heroic Games Launcher still useful now that Epic is coming to Linux? Yes. Heroic handles GOG, Amazon Prime Gaming, and sideloaded games as well as Epic. A native Epic launcher on Linux does not replace the multi-store setup.
What is the best free Heroic Games Launcher alternative? Lutris on Linux, Playnite on Windows. Both are free, open source, and mature.
Does Heroic Games Launcher work on Steam Deck? Yes, and it is one of the most-installed Deck utilities in 2026. Available in Discover Store as a Flatpak.
Can I run non-Steam Windows games on Linux without Heroic? Yes. Bottles, Lutris, and raw Wine/Proton all work. Heroic packages the setup for you, which is why it is popular.
Do Epic Games Launcher and GOG Galaxy import each other’s libraries? GOG Galaxy imports Epic. Epic Games Launcher does not import GOG. Playnite and Heroic both handle two-way integration.
