How to use WINE/Bottles to run Windows games

[Bodrey]

Does anyone know how to run Windows games under Linux using WINE/Bottles? I'm new to Bottles but creating one seemed pretty straightforward. However, when I select the executable for the game I want to run (the game runs direct - doesn't require installation like a traditional Windows game) nothing happens - it doesn't launch.

I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or it just doesn't like this particular executable for some reason. If anyone can help that would be great! TIA

 

[909mjolnir]

have you tried opening a terminal (console) and running the name of the EXE?

i believe the syntax would be: (with single quotes)

wine 'linux_path_of_your_file/filename.exe'

I think it used to be "wine start" but the wine devs changed it.
The added benefit of running in a terminal (console) is that you can see the success and error messages and some of the dependencies.

I don't have any experience yet with wine bottles, but I use WINE and WINE-Staging a lot.
Bottles looks intimidating to me... so many options. I don't even use wineprefixes most of the time.

 

[f33dm3bits]

Which games are you wanting to play on Linux, can you give examples? It's most likely better to use Steam, Lutris or/and Heroic Games Launcher.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

Lutris comes with proton-ge which is a copy of proton, it runs most games that native wine can't run.

First verify your game is supported here (use search box):

https://www.protondb.com/

Install Lutris:

Download Lutris

Play all your games on Linux. Lutris is an Open Source gaming platform for Linux. It installs and launches games so you can start playing without the hassle of setting up your game. Get your games from GOG, Steam, Battle.net, Origin, Uplay and many other sources running on any Linux powered...

lutris.net

Install game.exe in Lutris and select wine-ge as runner in options for game, it should work.

 

[KGIII]

In Bottles, did you download a DXVK file, preferably the most recent?

 

[Bodrey]

To f33dm3bits: I like playing Hidden Object Adventure games. Most of them are from Big Fish Games/Elephant Games. I was able to get one of them installed and running using PlayOnLinux. It's called Blackrow's Secret, part of the Mystery Trackers series of games.

It asked me when I launched the game if I wanted to disable special effects because they would impact the performance so I said Yes. The performance isn't terrible, but there is a noticeable lag when clicking on items and "bringing them into focus".

I found a YouTube video that explains how to run Big Fish Games under Linux. The author recommended that the following libraries be installed. So, I checked them off (only these ones):

• POL_Install_directx9
• POL_Install_d3dcompiler_43
• POL_Install_d3dx9/10/11

It's totally conceivable that there are other libraries which should be included to improve the performance of this and other BFG games, but I have no idea.

I'm wondering if the performance would be any better running them under Bottles (if I could figure out how). I'm not sure I could use Lutris to run these games. From what I've seen it looks more like an interface to game sites in which you have to have a subscription/membership to gain access to their games. Maybe someone reading this post can let me know if Lutris is capable of installing and running games that have been downloaded and are not simply being sourced from a game site.

​

 

[Bodrey]

have you tried opening a terminal (console) and running the name of the EXE?

i believe the syntax would be: (with single quotes)

wine 'linux_path_of_your_file/filename.exe'

I think it used to be "wine start" but the wine devs changed it.
The added benefit of running in a terminal (console) is that you can see the success and error messages and some of the dependencies.

I don't have any experience yet with wine bottles, but I use WINE and WINE-Staging a lot.
Bottles looks intimidating to me... so many options. I don't even use wineprefixes most of the time.

I launched the game from the terminal just now and it does launch. However, there is a noticeable lag when clicking on objects which prompt smaller windows to pop up on screen. I've tried installing the game using Lutris and the odd thing is the game actually launches during the installation phase of the files and runs without any lag. However, after that initial launch it won't run after that - it keeps telling me that it can't find an executable for the game. I'm stuck... unless I can maybe figure out how to use Bottles.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

I'm not sure I could use Lutris to run these games. From what I've seen it looks more like an interface to game sites in which you have to have a subscription/membership to gain access to their games. Maybe someone reading this post can let me know if Lutris is capable of installing and running games that have been downloaded and are not simply being sourced from a game site.

You got it completely wrong, Lutris is game client like steam, yes you can install any game you want in Lutris, even naked exe files.
There is no need for any kind of membership or subscription.

 

[f33dm3bits]

I've tried installing the game using Lutris and the odd thing is the game actually launches during the installation phase of the files and runs without any lag. However, after that initial launch it won't run after that - it keeps telling me that it can't find an executable for the game. I'm stuck... unless I can maybe figure out how to use Bottles.

You have to let the installer finish , if you get a login screen or something like that during the installation you have to close it until the installation finishes. It's the same thing with Battlenet. It looks like it should work with Lutris.

I found a YouTube video that explains how to run Big Fish Games under Linux. The author recommended that the following libraries be installed. So, I checked them off (only these ones):

It's better to install games either with Steam, Lutris or Heroic Games Launcher because it will handle the needed dependencies when installing the game.

There is no need for any kind of membership or subscription.

This! It's just a launcher that you can use to install games and other launchers and so that you can have everything in one place.

Here's the other launcher you can use besides Lutris.

Heroic Games Launcher

An Open Source Epic, GOG and Amazon Prime Games Launcher

heroicgameslauncher.com

It doesn't look like it's very mainstream so you could try installing it in Bottles, if you do be sure you select "Gaming" as type of Bottle you are going to install in.

 

[f33dm3bits]

I just tried installing the game, the demo that is. I ran into the same problem as you with Lutris, it looks like Lutris expects the installer to finish which it doesn't so Lutris isn't able to end the installation for the prefix to finish being created. I installed it in Bottles and there I don't have the problem, so I would recommend you go ahead to install it in Bottles since it seems to be a lightweight game and probably won't need too many dependencies. I didn't login to try the game but since you had it working on Lutris without it finishing the installation for it to save it will most likely work on Bottles as well.

 

[Bodrey]

You have to let the installer finish , if you get a login screen or something like that during the installation you have to close it until the installation finishes. It's the same thing with Battlenet. It looks like it should work with Lutris.


It's better to install games either with Steam, Lutris or Heroic Games Launcher because it will handle the needed dependencies when installing the game.


This! It's just a launcher that you can use to install games and other launchers and so that you can have everything in one place.

Here's the other launcher you can use besides Lutris.

Heroic Games Launcher

An Open Source Epic, GOG and Amazon Prime Games Launcher

heroicgameslauncher.com

It doesn't look like it's very mainstream so you could try installing it in Bottles, if you do be sure you select "Gaming" as type of Bottle you are going to install in.

The installer never seems to finish until I close down the game (that launches during installation). Even though it always tells me that the installation completed the game can't be started because it tells me that it doesn't have an executable.

I've tried installing it under Bottles as well (using the Gaming category) but again nothing happens when I try to execute it.

 

[Bodrey]

Lutris comes with proton-ge which is a copy of proton, it runs most games that native wine can't run.

First verify your game is supported here (use search box):

https://www.protondb.com/

Install Lutris:

Download Lutris

Play all your games on Linux. Lutris is an Open Source gaming platform for Linux. It installs and launches games so you can start playing without the hassle of setting up your game. Get your games from GOG, Steam, Battle.net, Origin, Uplay and many other sources running on any Linux powered...

lutris.net

Install game.exe in Lutris and select wine-ge as runner in options for game, it should work.

Lutris seems to default to wine-ge... anyway. Doesn't make a difference. Here's what the Game Options tab looks like after it finishes installing the game...

 

[CaffeineAddict]

Lutris seems to default to wine-ge... anyway. Doesn't make a difference. Here's what the Game Options tab looks like after it finishes installing the game...

my mistake sorry, I wanted to say to select proton-ge as runner instead of default.
Your screenshot doesn't seem to show you install the game since "Executable" field is empty.

To install game, click on + icon in top left corner and select to install installer executable, then follow UI procedure.

 

[f33dm3bits]

I've tried installing it under Bottles as well (using the Gaming category) but again nothing happens when I try to execute it.

How do you try and execute it with Bottles within a Bottle?

 

[Bodrey]

How do you try and execute it with Bottles within a Bottle?

I click on the play button next to the bottle created for the game. A message pops up at the bottom of the window that says, "Launching BlackrowsSecret" but nothing happens.

 

[f33dm3bits]

I click on the play button next to the bottle created for the game. A message pops up at the bottom of the window that says, "Launching BlackrowsSecret" but nothing happens.

Try re-creating the Bottle and instead of choosing "soda-9.0-1" choose "sys-wine-10.0". I have found with Bottles that "soda" doesn't work as well as sys-wine.

 

[Bodrey]

Try re-creating the Bottle and instead of choosing "soda-9.0-1" choose "sys-wine-10.0". I have found with Bottles that "soda" doesn't work as well as sys-wine.

OK. I re-created the Bottle using sys-wine. Same result as before.

 

[f33dm3bits]

OK. I re-created the Bottle using sys-wine. Same result as before.

Can you share the link where you downloaded the installer file?

 

[Bodrey]

Can you share the link where you downloaded the installer file?

Mystery.Trackers.7.Blackrows.Secret.CE.rar - MegaUp

Download file - Mystery.Trackers.7.Blackrows.Secret.CE.rar

megaup.net

 

[f33dm3bits]

Mystery.Trackers.7.Blackrows.Secret.CE.rar - MegaUp

Download file - Mystery.Trackers.7.Blackrows.Secret.CE.rar

megaup.net

Looking at the extract of that zip file it looks like that's not an installer file but just a zipped directory of an installed game. So you are trying to play a pirated version?
When I downloaded the trial from the official website it worked.

Mystery Trackers: Blackrow's Secret Collector's Edition | Play & Download Free Trials for PC and Mac | Big Fish Games

You’re about to uncover the secret that’s been haunting Blackrow!

www.bigfishgames.com