How to Check ProtonDB Before Buying a Game for Linux

Buying a Steam game to play on Linux without checking compatibility first is how you end up with a title that crashes on launch or never gets past the menu. ProtonDB is the community database that prevents exactly that. It collects reports from real Linux players who have run a given game through Proton, Valve's compatibility layer, and distils them into a single rating from Borked to Platinum. A thirty-second look before you buy tells you whether a game runs flawlessly, needs a tweak, or simply will not work.

Quick Answer

ProtonDB aggregates community reports for every Steam game and rates each one on a five-tier scale from Borked to Platinum. Checking it before you buy tells you exactly how well a title runs under Proton on Linux, including any fixes other players needed. It takes under a minute and saves you wasted money on a game that will not launch.

Understanding the Five Ratings

ProtonDB sorts each game into one of five medal-style tiers based on aggregated player reports. Knowing what each means is the whole skill.

• Platinum: runs perfectly out of the box, exactly as it would on Windows, with no tweaks.
• Gold: runs perfectly after some minor configuration, such as a launch option or a setting change.
• Silver: runs with minor issues that do not seriously hurt the experience, like occasional graphical glitches.
• Bronze: runs, but with significant problems such as crashes or performance dips that interrupt play.
• Borked: does not work at all, usually due to anti-cheat or a hard incompatibility.

For a smooth experience, you want Platinum or Gold. Silver is often fine if you do not mind small quirks. Bronze and Borked are warnings.

How to Check a Game Step by Step

The process is quick once you know the path. Here is how to do it properly rather than glancing at the medal alone.

1. Search the game on ProtonDB. Go to the site and type the title into the search box. Open the game's page.
2. Read the headline rating. The large medal at the top is the aggregate rating from all reports. This is your first signal, but do not stop here.
3. Check how recent the reports are. Proton and game patches change compatibility constantly. A Platinum rating from two years ago means less than a recent Gold. Sort reports by date and weigh the newest ones most heavily.
4. Match reports to your hardware. Players list their distribution, GPU, and Proton version. A report from someone on similar hardware to yours is far more relevant than the overall average. This matters most on handheld Linux devices like those in the handheld gaming consoles range, where the chip is fixed and predictable.
5. Read the fixes, not just the score. A Gold game often becomes effortless once you copy a launch option another player shared. The written reports contain the exact commands and settings that got the game running smoothly.

The Anti-Cheat Trap

The single biggest reason a popular multiplayer game shows up as Borked is anti-cheat. Some kernel-level anti-cheat systems either do not support Linux or have it switched off by the developer, which blocks the game entirely even though the rest of it would run fine. ProtonDB reports flag this clearly, so if a competitive title you want sits at Borked, check whether anti-cheat is the cause before assuming a future patch will fix it. It often will not, because the decision sits with the developer, not Valve.

Reading Beyond the Medal

The aggregate rating is a starting point, not a verdict. A game rated Silver overall might be Platinum on your exact GPU and distribution, or the reverse. The written reports are where the real value sits: players note the specific Proton version that worked, the launch options they added, and whether a recent update broke or fixed things. Spending a minute reading two or three recent reports from similar setups gives you a far more accurate picture than the headline medal alone. If you are gaming on a fixed-spec Linux handheld from the bestselling PCs and devices, filtering to that exact hardware makes the reports especially reliable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Borked mean on ProtonDB?

Borked means the game does not run under Proton at all. The most common cause is anti-cheat that is unsupported or disabled on Linux, though a hard technical incompatibility can also be responsible.

Is a Gold rating good enough to buy?

Usually yes. Gold means the game runs perfectly after a minor tweak, such as adding a launch option another player shared. Read the recent reports for the exact fix and you should have a smooth experience.

Why do ProtonDB ratings change over time?

Compatibility shifts as both Proton and the games themselves get updated. A patch can break a previously perfect title or fix a broken one, so always weigh the most recent reports above older ones.

Should I trust the overall rating or individual reports?

Both, but prioritise individual reports from hardware similar to yours. The aggregate rating is a quick summary, while the written reports tell you the precise Proton version, fixes, and current state for setups like yours.

Does ProtonDB cover games outside Steam?

ProtonDB focuses on Steam titles run through Proton. Games from other launchers can often run on Linux through other tools, but ProtonDB's reports and ratings are centred on the Steam library.