Why I made 9to5penguin

I am a software engineer, which means I spend my entire 9-to-5 staring at IDEs, fixing bugs, and reading documentation. By the time I clock out, my brain is officially fried. I love PC & Console gaming, and I love Linux/FOSS. Unfortunately, that combo can sometimes lead to some late nights searching questions like "why won't my game open on CachyOS."

I just want to play my games.

That is exactly why I created 9to5penguin.

At this point, I would argue that Linux is often better than Windows when it comes to gaming performance. But extracting that maximum performance can sometimes feel like a second job. That is where I come in. I do the heavy lifting , late-night searching, and the benchmarking so you don't have to.

My Approach to Linux Gaming

I treat this site as a cheat sheet for busy adults. When I review a game or post my performance benchmarks, I am focusing on a few core metrics:

  • Is the game fun?
  • Does the game respect your time?
  • Is the game worth the cost?

Here is exactly what you will find on my blog:

  • My "Average Gamer" Reviews: I don't care about a 100-hour grindfest if the first 10 hours are boring. I review games based on how fun they are for someone who only has weekends or a few hours a week to play (like myself).
  • My Linux Tech Reports: I share my exact Proton launch options, kernel choices, and honest MangoHUD stats. If a game is completely borked on Linux, I will tell you to save your money. If a quick tweak makes it run flawlessly, I will give you the exact copy-paste commands to make it happen.
  • NO BS: No endless rambling before getting to the point. Just the stats, the settings, and the verdict.

Join My Backlog

If you are a working professional who wants maximum frame rates with minimum tinker-time, you are in the right place.

Subscribe to my free newsletter, The Penguin's Backlog. Every other week, I send out a quick email with a few cool games on my radar, hidden gems on sale, and the only Linux gaming news you actually need to care about.

Copy my settings, skip the troubleshooting, and let's actually play some games.

— Jesse