How to install TuxScape on a Chromebook

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Chromebook Specials

In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of installing TuxScape on your Chromebook. TuxScape is an engaging open-source game that brings a RuneScape-inspired adventure to Linux systems, and thanks to Chrome OS's Linux support, you can enjoy it on your Chromebook too.

This tutorial combines both video and written instructions to make the installation process as straightforward as possible. Follow along with the video below for a visual walkthrough, and use the commands provided in this article for easy copying and pasting.

Prerequisites: Enabling Linux Apps on Your Chromebook

Before we can install TuxScape, you'll need to enable Linux (Beta) support on your Chromebook. This feature, also known as Crostini, provides a Debian-based Linux environment that runs in a container alongside Chrome OS. If you haven't already enabled this feature, here's how:

  1. Open your Chromebook's Settings
  2. Click on "Advanced" in the left sidebar
  3. Select "Developers"
  4. Click "Turn On" next to Linux development environment
  5. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup

Once Linux is enabled, you'll have access to a terminal window where we'll run the installation commands. If you need additional assistance with this step, check out our guide on All Currently Supported Chromebooks with Linux Apps (Crostini) support.

Understanding Flatpak

We'll be installing TuxScape using Flatpak, a universal package management system for Linux. Flatpak offers several advantages: it packages applications with all their dependencies, ensures consistent behavior across different Linux distributions, and sandboxes apps for improved security. This makes it an excellent choice for Chromebooks, as it simplifies the installation process and reduces potential compatibility issues.

Installation Commands

Now that Linux is enabled on your Chromebook, we'll run a series of commands to install TuxScape. Open the Terminal app from your Chromebook's app launcher and execute the following commands in order. You can paste commands into the terminal by right-clicking (two-finger click on the touchpad) or by pressing Ctrl+Shift+V.

Step 1: Update Your System

First, we'll update the package repository to ensure we're working with the latest software information:

sudo apt update

This command refreshes the list of available packages and their versions, but doesn't actually install or upgrade anything yet.

Step 2: Install Flatpak

Next, we'll install Flatpak itself:

sudo apt install flatpak

When prompted, press Enter or type 'Y' to confirm the installation. This will download and install Flatpak along with any required dependencies.

Step 3: Add the Flathub Repository

Flathub is the primary repository for Flatpak applications. We need to add it to our system:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

The --if-not-exists flag ensures this command won't cause errors if you've already added Flathub previously.

Step 4: Install TuxScape

Finally, we'll install TuxScape from Flathub:

sudo flatpak install flathub com.voxdsp.TuxScape

Press Enter when prompted to confirm the installation. The download size may vary, but the system will show you the progress as it downloads and installs the game.

Enabling GPU Support (Recommended)

For the best gaming experience, you'll want to enable GPU acceleration for Linux apps on your Chromebook. This significantly improves graphics performance and makes games like TuxScape run much smoother.

To enable GPU support:

  1. Open a new Chrome browser tab
  2. Navigate to: chrome://flags/#crostini-gpu-support
  3. Set the flag to "Enabled"
  4. Restart your Chromebook when prompted

Note that GPU support is still in beta for Linux apps on Chrome OS, but it works well on most modern Chromebooks and dramatically improves the gaming experience.

Launching TuxScape

Once installation is complete, you'll find TuxScape in your Chromebook's app launcher within the Linux apps folder. Simply click the icon to launch the game and start your adventure!

Additional Resources

For more detailed information and step-by-step instructions, you can reference the Google Doc used in the tutorial.

Want to learn more about TuxScape or report issues? Check out these links:

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Game won't launch or crashes immediately: Make sure you've enabled GPU support as described above. If issues persist, try restarting your Chromebook after enabling GPU acceleration.

Poor performance: Close other applications to free up system resources. Also verify that GPU support is enabled and your Chromebook has been restarted after enabling it.

Installation errors: If you encounter errors during installation, try running sudo apt update again, then restart the installation process from Step 2.

Terminal commands not working: Remember to paste commands using Ctrl+Shift+V (not just Ctrl+V) in the Linux terminal.

Final Thoughts

TuxScape is just one of many Linux applications you can now run on your Chromebook. The same Flatpak installation method can be used for countless other applications available on Flathub, opening up a world of software possibilities for your Chrome OS device.

If you have any questions or run into issues during the installation process, please leave a comment on our YouTube video and we'll be happy to help you troubleshoot!

Looking for a new Chromebook to run Linux apps? Have a look at our Chromebook Comparison and Buyers Guide!

You can also join our mailing list to be notified about all major Chromebook sales.

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