Which Operating System is Best for Gaming

With so many different types of computers, tablets, and phones to choose from, it can be hard to figure out which operating system (OS) will be best for your needs.

It’s especially difficult if you’re trying to decide between the various options designed specifically for gaming because they each have their benefits and drawbacks.

To make sure you choose the right one, this article will compare the three most popular operating systems made specifically for gaming purposes: Steam OS, Android OS, and Windows 10 Mobile.

Windows

While Windows has lost some popularity to other operating systems, it’s still popular among PC gamers.

This is because Windows 10 comes with a free game-streaming service and supports several native titles that are optimized for gaming.

That said, if you prefer using your keyboard and mouse over a controller (or vice versa), you might be out of luck.

Also, games built for Steam OS can only run in SteamOS or Windows; they won’t work on macOS or Linux.

You also may not have access to all the games you want since Apple doesn’t allow any apps or games in its app store that require an older version of macOS than what ships on a given computer.

The same goes for many closed Linux distros. However, Steam has hundreds of titles.
Most gamers probably won’t notice these differences, but there are some pros and cons to both Windows and macOS if gaming is one of your biggest priorities.

Linux

At first glance, Linux looks like a viable gaming option; it’s free and open source, so you can do pretty much whatever you want with it.

It also has some of today’s most popular games available through its Steam software store. However, performance-wise, Linux often pales in comparison to Windows.

Even on high-end machines, many gamers say they experience stuttering or lag while playing games through Linux and that’s if they can get a game to run at all.

The compatibility issues are certainly frustrating but there is hope on the horizon. Valve recently announced they were developing native versions of their Steam OS.

They expect those to be ready by next year. If you’re looking for something new, definitely keep an eye out for updates regarding Valve’s progress because their hardware may one day be worth considering as your go-to operating system (even if only temporarily).

In general though, unless you have a specific need or want to tinker around with an up-and-coming OS yourself, sticking with what works makes more sense here: just stick with Windows.

macOS

Apple’s macOS has a reputation as a gaming-friendly platform. Many PC gamers prefer to use macOS instead of Windows when playing titles on their laptops.

At first glance, it seems like Macs provide better graphics performance than PCs do. But what does that mean? And does it matter if you’re primarily a console gamer or not?

To answer these questions, let’s take a look at exactly how Macs perform and then talk about why their reputation as gaming machines is built more on marketing than reality. Let’s start with an easy one: benchmarks.

Many reviewers run game benchmarks on both platforms to see how they compare in terms of frame rates and other technical aspects.

On paper, there are two clear winners here: Macs tend to outperform PCs by huge margins when running certain benchmark tests.

However, keep in mind that benchmarking isn’t always a perfect real-world indicator of performance and even with apples-to-apples comparisons (such as GTA V),

We’ll sometimes find that different versions of hardware from different companies produce wildly different results!

So before making any conclusions based solely on comparisons between platforms and benchmarks, it’s important to talk about why your results might differ from those posted online by others.

Android

If you’re looking to get into PC gaming but don’t have a lot of money, Android might be your best bet.

The operating system itself is free, and most devices are in or around $100, depending on what kind of specs you want. Granted, PC gamers might find themselves limited by Android’s operating system if they plan on playing more than one game at a time.

Fortunately, there are plenty of controllers and PC sticks out there that will work with your device. With a bit of research and ingenuity,

It’s easy to turn an old smartphone into a basic gaming machine! 7 Useful Apps to Get You Started in PC Gaming,

While we would normally never advocate a mobile game over its desktop counterpart, when you’re trying to learn how to play PC games from scratch, there are times when getting familiar with controls feels like priority number one.

1) SuperTuxKart: An open-source Mario Kart clone that lets newbies try out driving basics before taking their skills online

2) OpenEmu: A virtual console for Macs and PCs (and even iOS!) that lets players test their old Nintendo favorites

3) DOSBox: Before Windows became popular, there was DOS and it still lives online

4) Klick & Play: Want something simple?

iOS

The beauty of iOS is that it’s only available on one operating system: iOS. This means every game you download will be optimized specifically for your phone.

It also means that if you accidentally spill soda on your phone, or drop it in a puddle (because, hey, no one’s perfect), all your progress doesn’t go down with it.

You can pick up where you left off at any time by logging into Game Center and starting a new game or challenge.

You won’t be able to play online multiplayer games when away from wifi, but you can still participate in challenges and earn experience points with offline modes like Pokémon Go.

All told, Apple takes much better care of its devices than Android does and it shows. If you want convenience without compromise, go with an iPhone and enjoy fast loading times and exclusive features like iMessage/Game Center syncing.