If it works under windows and you wanna keep it the easiest way to use it is massgrave.dev
Ofc im all for the move to linux but still, its not a crime to want to keep the old
this post was submitted on 26 May 2026
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You can use protondb.com to look up those games to see if they work using Steam's Proton compatibility layer.
The Sims 3 worked for me but just make sure it's installed on the same drive as Steam or it may not work properly. The launcher sometimes didn't work either but there are workarounds for that.
Didn't know about ProtonDB, thanks.
I learned the hard way that Linux doesn't always play nice with NTFS formatted drives if you're dual booting, even if it can read them. Just make sure the game is installed on a Linux friendly format drive like ext4 or Btrfs if you want to avoid most issues. Mint usually defaults to ext4.
Looks like your wife is lucky.
https://www.protondb.com/app/1034860/
https://www.protondb.com/app/47890/
https://github.com/bvschaik/julius
For Ceasar 3, there's no reason to run via VM or dosbox, vanilla save compatible Julius (https://github.com/bvschaik/julius) and way less vanilla Augustus (https://github.com/Keriew/augustus) both work perfectly on linux (and windows too, Julius and Augusts are cross-platform).
Julius is in Debian repos (https://packages.debian.org/trixie/julius) so perfect for Mint while Julius is in the Debian repos but only for at least Debian Unstable (thus won't be available for installation via apt on mint, I don't believe, but you can easily build it, use an appimage or a flatpak).
Thank you for this comment, especially about the Debian packages. I was reading about Julius on github and I was getting a bit confused about the installation step.
With the packages in the repo, this makes life infinitely easier.
if you keep the windows, rufus.ie eliminates all the 'tinkering'. it can do the download, it can modify the installer to bypass hw requirements, it makes the usb. but don't boot that usb for an 'upgrade'--just run the setup off the usb while in win10. as always, backup anything 'important' beforehand.
Haven't played the other 2 games, but sims 3 definitely works from my own experience.
+1 for me
What gpu does the laptop have? That is very important. Many games run well on AMD graphics but nvidia often can be problematic.
Assuming your wife is new to Linux: Get secondary hard drive and boot Linux off that, set Linux to first entry in grub. If your wife ends up frustrated with Linux then she can just boot back into windows instead of dealing with undue frustration and possible resentment.
Windows 10 still works fine and will continue to for a long time (you're literally running a win7 VM). If you're worried about security or whatever just don't use it for sensitive stuff. For gaming? Security updates don't matter.
Trying to play games from the NTFS drive on Linux is a surefire way to make sure she will end up frustrated with the experience.
The second hard drive can be linux native file format and you can run an individual(duplicate) install of each there. SATA/SSD will be plenty fast for these games.
It's a temporary solution until she's comfortable enough with linux to ditch the windows install. So the wasted space(Windows install/drive) can be reclaimed and reformatted later on.
Problem with Sims 3 is whatever side program EA requires. Goes back and forth on whether I can get it to work or not. Sims itself runs great