Linux System Requirements

GnollHack for Linux comes in two forms:

• AppImage: a single file from the GnollHack releases page. It runs on most Linux distributions without installation.
• Steam: installed and updated through the Steam client, including on SteamOS and the Steam Deck.

Both include everything GnollHack needs to run, including the .NET runtime, the sound engine, the web view, and fonts. You do not need to install .NET, Mono, or Wine.

At a Glance

	Minimum	Recommended
Processor architecture	64-bit x86 (x86_64, also called amd64)	64-bit x86 (x86_64)
GNU C Library (glibc)	2.27	Your distribution's current version
C++ runtime (libstdc++)	From GCC 8 (GLIBCXX 3.4.25)	Your distribution's current version
Distribution	Ubuntu 18.04, Debian 10, RHEL 8, or equivalent	A release that still receives security updates
Display	X11, or Wayland with XWayland	X11, or Wayland with XWayland
Graphics	Any; software rendering is used without OpenGL	Working OpenGL driver (Mesa, NVIDIA, or AMD)
Sound	Optional	PipeWire, PulseAudio, or ALSA

Not supported: 32-bit x86 systems, ARM computers (such as a Raspberry Pi or Apple Silicon running Asahi Linux), and distributions built on the musl C library instead of glibc (such as Alpine Linux).

Supported Distributions

GnollHack doesn't depend on any particular distribution. It runs on any 64-bit x86 distribution that meets the minimums above. The table shows the oldest release of common distributions that meets them.

Distribution	Oldest release that meets the minimum	Notes
Ubuntu	18.04 LTS	22.04 LTS or 24.04 LTS recommended
Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu MATE	18.04	Same as the Ubuntu release they are based on
Linux Mint	19	21 or 22 recommended
Pop!_OS, Zorin OS, elementary OS	Based on Ubuntu 18.04 or newer	Same as the Ubuntu release they are based on
Debian	10 (buster)	12 (bookworm) or 13 (trixie) recommended
Fedora	Every currently supported release
Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux	8	9 or newer recommended
openSUSE Leap	15.3
openSUSE Tumbleweed	Current	Rolling release
Arch Linux, Manjaro, EndeavourOS	Current	Rolling release
SteamOS 3 (Steam Deck)	Current	Use the Steam version

Note: Several of the oldest releases in this table, such as Ubuntu 18.04, Debian 10, and Linux Mint 19, no longer receive security updates from their distributions. GnollHack may still run on them, but a currently supported release is recommended.

If your distribution isn't listed, check the requirements below. Most distributions released since 2018 meet them.

How to Check Your System

Open a terminal and run these commands.

Processor architecture. The output must be x86_64.

uname -m

glibc version. The first line must show 2.27 or newer.

ldd --version

Display type. The output shows x11 or wayland. Both work.

echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE

Graphics driver (optional). The OpenGL renderer string line should name your graphics card. If it says llvmpipe or softpipe, your system is using software rendering, and GnollHack will run more slowly. The glxinfo command is in the mesa-utils package on Ubuntu and Debian, and in glx-utils on Fedora.

glxinfo -B

Requirements in Detail

glibc and libstdc++

GnollHack uses two libraries that come with your distribution rather than with the game: the GNU C Library (glibc), and the C++ standard library (libstdc++). Every Linux distribution that uses glibc has both, so normally you don't need to install anything.

If your glibc is too old, GnollHack doesn't start, and shows a message saying it needs a newer GNU C Library. The fix is to upgrade your distribution to a newer release. Installing a different glibc by hand is not recommended, because it can make the whole system unusable.

Display: X11 and Wayland

GnollHack draws its window with X11. On Wayland desktops, it runs through XWayland, the compatibility layer that GNOME, KDE Plasma, and most other Wayland desktops include and turn on by default. You don't need to change any settings.

Graphics

GnollHack uses OpenGL when it is available, and otherwise falls back to software rendering. Software rendering works, but it is slower, especially on large screens.

For the best performance, use the graphics driver your distribution recommends:

• Intel and AMD: the Mesa drivers, which most distributions install by default.
• NVIDIA: the proprietary NVIDIA driver, installed through your distribution's driver manager or package manager.

Sound

GnollHack includes its own sound engine and works with PipeWire, PulseAudio, and ALSA. Current distributions use PipeWire or PulseAudio by default. Without a working sound system, GnollHack runs with no sound.

Running the AppImage

1. Download GnollHack-<version>-x86_64.AppImage from the releases page.

2. Make it executable. Either right-click the file, open Properties, and turn on Allow executing file as program, or run:

   chmod +x GnollHack-*-x86_64.AppImage

3. Double-click the file, or run it from a terminal:

   ./GnollHack-*-x86_64.AppImage

When you start the AppImage, GnollHack can add itself to your application menu.

If the AppImage Doesn't Start

AppImages use a system feature called FUSE to open themselves. Most desktop distributions support it out of the box. If you see an error that mentions FUSE, for example in a container or on a minimal installation, you can run the AppImage without FUSE:

./GnollHack-*-x86_64.AppImage --appimage-extract-and-run

When the game library can't load, GnollHack explains why in the terminal. If zenity, kdialog, or xmessage is installed, it also shows the explanation in a dialog.

Steam and the Steam Deck

The Steam version runs inside the Steam Linux Runtime, a container that Steam downloads and updates for you. It doesn't use your distribution's libraries, so most of the requirements above don't apply. You only need a 64-bit x86 computer on which the Steam client runs.

On the Steam Deck, install GnollHack from Steam in Gaming Mode or Desktop Mode, as you would any other game.

Where Your Games Are Saved

GnollHack keeps saved games, settings, and other data in your home folder:

~/.local/share/GnollHack

If the XDG_DATA_HOME environment variable is set, the folder is $XDG_DATA_HOME/GnollHack instead. To keep your progress, back up this folder before reinstalling your system or moving to a new computer.