Welcome to Week 1 of Playing Native Linux Games, the series where I dive into games that run natively on Linux without any Wine, Proton, or compatibility wizardry. We’re keeping it pure penguin over here. And what better way to kick things off than with a game about a penguin, the one and only SuperTux 2.
This is the open-source platformer that’s been quietly living on Linux desktops for years, sometimes even bundled with certain distro. So let’s fire it up and see if this snowball-throwing tuxedo bird can stand toe-to-toe with the plumber we all grew up with.
The Premise
You play as Tux, the Linux mascot. His girlfriend Penny has been kidnapped by a villain named Nolok, and it’s your job to hop, slide, and snowball your way through a frosty world to get her back. Sound familiar? Yeah, it’s not winning any awards for originality, but that’s part of the charm.
Gameplay
At its core, SuperTux 2 is a 2D side-scrolling platformer. The mechanics are tight, movement feels responsive, and there’s a solid rhythm once you get going. You can:
Jump on enemies to defeat them
Collect coins (or “coins” — they’re actually fish)
Pick up power-ups like the fire-flower equivalent that lets you throw snowballs
It’s got all the platforming basics down pat. And to be honest? It feels good. There’s something clean and nostalgic about it.
Design & Aesthetics
Visually, SuperTux 2 goes for a colorful, cartoonish style. It’s simple but charming. Levels are laid out cleanly, backgrounds shift from snowy mountains to icy caves and it all runs smoothly even on older machines.
The music is low-key but catchy, with enough variation to keep things from getting repetitive. Some of the tracks go harder than they need to for a penguin game.
What Makes It Linux?
This game is more than just running on Linux. It was made for Linux. It’s open-source, community-driven, and the kind of project that feels like it came from someone’s garage, in a good way. It’s the kind of game that lives in your package manager waiting to be discovered.
Also: it works out of the box. No fuss. No config files. No setting your GPU to ‘Turbo Nuclear Mode’ just to get 60fps. It just opens and plays; a luxury on Linux, honestly.
Nitpicks
Alright, it’s not perfect. The game isn’t super difficult, at least not until later levels. Some of the hitboxes can be a little funky, and there’s the occasional funky physics.
Also, there’s not a ton of polish in terms of cutscenes or storytelling, which, again, may not matter, because you’re a penguin throwing snowballs at walking blobs.
But for what it is, it delivers.
Final Thoughts
SuperTux 2 is a love letter to retro platformers, but with a uniquely Linux heart beating under the hood. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. SuperTux is a great place to start.
It’s also an excellent reminder that good games don’t need AAA budgets or 4K shaders. Sometimes all you need is a penguin with a purpose.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Penguins
Would I play this on Steam Deck? Absolutely. Would I replace Celeste or Hollow Knight with it? Not really. But for a free, native Linux platformer, it punches way above its weight class.
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