How to Install GameMaker on Linux
GameMaker has long been a favorite tool for indie developers and hobbyists building 2D games. For years, Linux users had to rely on workarounds — Wine, virtual machines, or simply switching to another OS. That changed when YoYo Games officially added Linux as a supported target platform and development environment. If you're on Linux and want to get GameMaker running natively, here's what you need to know.
What Linux Support Actually Means for GameMaker
GameMaker's Linux support comes in two distinct forms, and mixing them up causes a lot of confusion:
- Building games for Linux — exporting a finished game so it runs on Linux machines
- Running the GameMaker IDE on Linux — using GameMaker itself as your development environment on a Linux system
For a long time, only the first was officially supported. As of GameMaker 2022.1 and later releases, YoYo Games introduced a native Linux IDE, meaning you can now develop directly on Linux without Wine or emulation layers. That said, the experience and requirements differ depending on which Ubuntu-based distribution you're running.
System Requirements Before You Start
GameMaker on Linux isn't resource-light. Before downloading anything, check that your system meets the general baseline:
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB or more |
| GPU | OpenGL 4.1+ support | Dedicated GPU |
| Disk Space | 3 GB free | 5+ GB free |
| Display | 1024×768 | 1920×1080 |
GameMaker's Linux build is officially tested against Ubuntu LTS releases. Other distributions — Fedora, Arch, Debian, Mint — may work, but you're moving outside officially supported territory. Stability and feature behavior can vary significantly on non-Ubuntu systems.
Step-by-Step: Installing GameMaker on Linux 🐧
1. Create or Log Into a YoYo Games Account
GameMaker requires an account even for the free tier. Go to gamemaker.io and sign up or log in. Your license (Free, Indie, or Enterprise) is tied to this account and determines which export targets you can use.
2. Download the Linux Installer
From the GameMaker website, navigate to the Downloads section and select the Linux version. The installer is distributed as a .AppImage file or occasionally as a .deb package, depending on the release. AppImage is the more common format for GameMaker on Linux.
3. Make the AppImage Executable
Once downloaded, you need to grant the file execute permissions. Open a terminal in the directory where you saved the file and run: