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Install and Play Games on Raspberry Pi

Learn how to find, install, launch, and quit Raspberry Pi games using the Pi Store graphical interface and APT commands in Terminal.

A Raspberry Pi is a small single-board computer that can run a desktop operating system and software applications, including games. This lesson covers two ways to obtain games: browsing the graphical Pi Store and installing a package from configured Raspbian repositories with APT.

Raspbian is a Raspberry Pi-focused Linux distribution that provides desktop tools and software repositories. Many current Raspberry Pi systems use Raspberry Pi OS, which follows the same general approach to graphical applications and package management.

Games available for Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi systems support a range of games. Some are distributed through a graphical software catalog, while others are available as packages in software repositories. The available selection can include simple desktop games, puzzle games, educational games, and other titles suited to the installed system.

The exact catalog is not identical on every Raspberry Pi. Available titles depend on the operating-system version, configured repositories, Raspberry Pi hardware, graphics support, and whether a game has been packaged for that system. Game listings and package catalogs also change over time, so search the current listings rather than relying on a fixed list of titles.

Find games through the Pi Store

Open the store

1. Open the Raspberry Pi desktop Menu.
2. Open the Internet category.
3. Choose Pi Store.

The Pi Store is a graphical application catalog. It lets you discover software, inspect individual listings, and begin installation without typing package commands.

Browse the Games category

1. Open the store's Explore area.
2. Choose the Games category.
3. Browse the available game listings.
4. Use the available sorting controls to change the order of the results.

Sorting means changing the order of listings according to a selected criterion. It can help you narrow a large category to games that match your interests.

Inspect and choose a game

Select a game listing to open its details. Read the description and check the price, rating, popularity, compatibility information, and any stated hardware or graphics requirements. A free listing does not necessarily mean that it will run well on every Raspberry Pi model, so compatibility still matters.

If the store presents a price, distinguish between free and paid listings before starting installation. When you are ready, use the listing's installation control. Installing a game from the store follows the same general process as installing another desktop application: select the software, confirm the installation if requested, wait for it to finish, and then use the provided launch option or desktop menu entry.

Install a game from Terminal with APT

What APT does

APT is the package-management system used to install software from configured repositories. A package is a distributable unit of software managed by the operating system. The apt-get command is a command-line APT utility for installing and managing packages.

The command line is a text-based method of controlling software by entering commands. Package installation normally requires administrative privileges because it changes system software. The sudo prefix runs a command with elevated permissions.

Install Atris

Atris is a Tetris-style game and provides a simple example of installing a repository package.

1. Open Terminal.
2. Enter the following command exactly:

sudo apt-get install atris

This command means: use administrative privileges to ask APT to install the package named atris. APT obtains package information from the configured repositories, determines which dependencies are needed, downloads the required files, and installs the selected package and its dependencies. Read the confirmation prompt and confirm when you are ready.

Wait until the command finishes. Do not assume that installation succeeded merely because files appeared on screen; look for an error message or a completion message. If the installation reports an error, resolve that problem before trying to launch the game.

Launch Atris from Terminal

After installation, an application can often be started by entering its executable command in Terminal. For Atris, enter:

atris

The package name and the launch command sometimes differ. In this example both are atris, but that is not a rule for every application. If you do not know a game's command, check its package documentation or look for its desktop menu entry.

Exit a game

While Atris is running and has keyboard focus, press:

Q

This is a key press, not a Terminal command. Quit controls vary between games. Check the game's instructions or help screen when you do not know how to leave it. If a key does not work, click the game window first so that it has focus, then try again.

Troubleshooting

Pi Store is missing

• The store may not be installed or enabled.
• Your operating-system version may use a different software-management application.
• Your desktop menu layout may differ from the one described here.

Search the application menu for a software store or package-management tool. If the graphical store is unavailable, use APT when the game is provided by your configured repositories. Consult the current software-installation documentation for your operating-system release.

APT cannot find Atris

• Your package lists may be outdated.
• A configured repository may not provide the package.
• The package may not be available for your operating-system release.

Refresh package information using the appropriate APT update process, for example:

sudo apt-get update

Then try the installation again. If the package still cannot be found, search the configured repositories for a similar package name or choose another game that is available for your release.

Permission is denied

If installation is rejected because of permissions, check that you included sudo before the installation command:

sudo apt-get install atris

Your user account must also be permitted to use administrative commands. If it is not, ask the system administrator to install the package or grant the appropriate access.

The atris command does not launch the game

• Review the installation output for errors.
• Confirm that the package installation completed successfully.
• The executable may not be available in the shell's command path.
• The installed package may use a different launch command.

Check the package documentation or the desktop menu for the application's launch method. The package name and executable name are not guaranteed to match.

You cannot exit the game

For Atris, click the game window if necessary and press Q. For another game, consult its help screen or instructions because each title can use different controls.

Discover more games

To find additional games, browse the current Games listings in the graphical store and inspect the software available through your configured Raspbian or Raspberry Pi OS package sources. Use category browsing and sorting to compare popularity, price, and ranking, then check compatibility and requirements before installing.

Because catalogs change, a game that is available on one release or hardware configuration may not appear on another. Searching the current store and repositories is more reliable than depending on an old catalog. For related software-installation lessons, continue with other Raspberry Pi game-installation and launch guidance.