How to Get GOG Galaxy on Linux

GOG Galaxy has become a major force in PC gaming. The GOG (originally known as Good Old Games) store has become a success by offering PC games free of DRM. Even though the GOG library contains a fair amount of Linux titles, the Galaxy client still hasn't found its way to the open-source operating system, at least not officially. Using emulation software like Wine and Lutris, you can install GOG Galaxy on Linux and access your favorite titles.

Before you start this guide, install the latest NVIDIA or AMD drivers on your system.

Install Wine Staging

Wine is the popular compatibility layer that translates Windows applications for Linux and Mac systems. The Staging branch of Wine contains the latest patches and features that haven't made it into the mainstream version of Wine. Lutris, which you use to install GOG Galaxy, requires Wine Staging to run. That's why the first step is to install Staging.

Ubuntu Linux

Open a terminal window.
Enable support for 32bit applications on your system with the following command.
```
$ sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
```
Change directories to the Downloads folder.
```
$ cd ~/Downloads
```

Download the signing key for the Wine repository.

$ wget -nc https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key

Import that key with the Apt package manager.
```
$ sudo apt-key add winehq.key
```
Add the Wine repository to your system. Replace focal with the version of Ubuntu that you use.
```
$ sudo apt-add-repository 'deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ focal main'
```
Update the repositories to make the new Wine one available.
```
$ sudo apt update
```
Install Wine Staging along with the recommended packages.
```
$ sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-staging
```
A few additional packages are installed. Wine needs these. Accept and wait a few seconds while the packages install.

Debian Linux

Open a terminal window.
Enable 32bit software support on your system.
```
$ sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
```
Change directories to the Downloads folder.
```
$ cd ~/Downloads
```

Download the signing key for the Wine repository.

$ wget -nc https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key

Import the new key into the Apt package manager.
```
$ sudo apt-key add winehq.key
```
Add a new repository file for the Wine repository. Open a text editor with sudo and create the file at /etc/apt/sources.list.d/wine.list.
```
$ sudo vim /etc/apt/sources.list.d/wine.list
```
Place the configuration for the Wine repository in the file. It looks something like this:
```
deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/debian/ buster main
```
Replace buster with the Debian version that you have. Save the file and exit.
Update the repositories to make the new one available.
```
$ sudo apt update
```
Install Wine Staging along with the recommended packages. This install may take a few minutes because Wine has several dependencies.
```
$ sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-staging
```
When the installation is complete, Wine is ready to use on your system.

Fedora Linux

Open a terminal window.
Add the Wine repository to Fedora through the DNF package manager. Run the following command. Replace the version number 32 in this case with the version of Fedora that you use.
```
$ sudo dnf config-manager –add-repo https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/fedora/32/winehq.repo
```
Install Wine Staging.
```
$ sudo dnf install winehq-staging
```

Arch Linux

Open a terminal.
Wine Staging is in the main Arch Linux repositories. Install it with Pacman.
```
# pacman -S wine-staging
```
The version of Wine in the Arch repositories is kept up-to-date regularly.

Install Lutris

Lutris is the next piece of this puzzle. Lutris is an open-source game manager for Linux that makes installing and managing games a breeze. The biggest selling point for Lutris is its ability to simply and efficiently install Windows games with Wine. There's no configuration, tweaking, or nonsense settings. It provides graphical installers that anyone can use.

Ubuntu Linux

Open a terminal.
Enter the command below to add the Lurtris PPA to your system.
```
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lutris-team/lutris
```
Update the repositories to add the new Lutris one.
```
$ sudo apt update
```
Install Lutris.
```
$ sudo apt install lutris
```
Lutris is installed and added to your system. You'll receive regular updates from the developers.

Debian Linux

Open a terminal window.
Change directories to the Downloads folder.
```
$ cd ~/Downloads
```

Download the signing key for the Lutris repository.

$ wget https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/strycore/Debian_10.0/Release.key

Import this key into your system.
```
$ sudo apt-key add Release.key
```
Create a file for the Lutris repository. Use sudo and a text editor to create a file at /etc/apt/sources.list.d/lutris.list.
```
$ sudo vim /etc/apt/sources.list.d/lutris.list
```
Place the following line in the file to add the repository.
```
deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/strycore/Debian_10.0/ ./
```
Save and exit the file.
Update Apt to add the new repository.
```
$ sudo apt update
```
Install Lutris.
```
$ sudo apt install lutris
```
With the Lutris repository on your system, you'll get updates as updates are released.

Fedora Linux

Open a terminal window.
Lutris is available in the default Fedora repositories. Install it with DNF.
```
$ sudo dnf install lutris
```
As long as Lutris remains in the regular Fedora repositories, you'll continue to get regular updates.

Arch Linux

Open a new terminal.
Lutris is in the Arch Linux repositories. Install it with Pacman.
```
# pacman -S lutris
```
With Arch, you can always expect to have the latest version of Lutris.

Install GOG Galaxy

You now have all the pieces. It might seem like a ton of work to go through to get GOG Galaxy, but you've opened the door to more possibilities by setting up Wine and Lutris. With this combination, you can install and run tons of Windows games on your Linux PC without any additional setup or configuration.

Open a browser and go to the Lutris page for GOG Galaxy.
Select Install in the lower-right corner of the image slideshow on the page.
The browser asks which program you want to use to open the file. Select Lutris.
Lutris opens a window asking if you want to continue with the install. Select Agree.
Lutris asks where you want to install GOG Galaxy. The default is usually the best choice. Select Install.
The installer runs and sets up GOG Galaxy.
After the install is complete, you're asked if you want to create launcher shortcuts.
On the Lutris home screen, select the GOG Galaxy tile to open it.
GOG Galaxy opens, and you can sign in or create an account.
Watch for future updates. Lutris scripts are updated regularly, as are versions of Wine.