Raspberry Pi online course

Install and Play Games on Raspberry Pi

Learn how to find, install, launch, and quit Raspberry Pi games using the desktop software catalog or APT in the terminal.

Raspberry Pi can run many types of games, including small terminal games, desktop games, and software distributed through a graphical application catalog. This lesson uses Raspberry Pi OS, which older instructions may call Raspbian.

Game availability depends on your Raspberry Pi model, operating system release, configured software repositories, graphics support, and whether a particular game is still maintained. A game that appears on one Raspberry Pi installation might not appear on another.

Ways to Install Raspberry Pi Games

Graphical software catalog

Best for: Beginners who prefer browsing applications and reading descriptions.

Discovery: Categories, search, filters, popularity, cost, or ratings when supported.

Installation: Select a listing and choose its install action.

Launching: Open the game from the desktop application menu.

APT in the terminal

Best for: Users who know a package name or want to search repository contents.

Discovery: Package names and descriptions from configured repositories.

Installation: Run an APT command, usually with sudo.

Launching: Run the installed application's executable name or follow its documentation.

A package is a distributable unit of software and related metadata. A repository is a configured software source containing packages that APT can find and install. APT is the Debian-family package-management tool used by Raspberry Pi OS to obtain, install, update, and remove packages.

Find Games in the Graphical Software Catalog

Open the software catalog

  1. Start the Raspberry Pi desktop.
  2. Open the desktop application menu.
  3. Look for the installed software-management application or graphical software catalog. Its name and location can vary between Raspberry Pi OS releases.
  4. Open the catalog and wait for its listings to load.

Some older Raspberry Pi instructions refer to this type of application as the Pi Store. If that menu entry is not present, use the software-management application supplied with your current desktop environment, or use APT from a terminal.

Browse the Games category

  1. Open the Games category, if the catalog provides categories.
  2. Use the search box when you already know a game title or type of game.
  3. Filter or sort the results by options such as popularity, cost, or user rating when those controls are available.

Catalog features differ by application and operating system release. You might see free and paid software, ratings, screenshots, descriptions, or compatibility information. Do not assume that every listing works equally well on every Raspberry Pi model.

Review and install a game

  1. Select a game listing to open its details.
  2. Read the description to understand the game's purpose and controls.
  3. Check compatibility information, system requirements, price, and user ratings.
  4. Choose the install button or equivalent action.
  5. Authenticate if the catalog requests administrator permission, then wait for the download and installation to finish.
  6. Open the desktop application menu and look in the Games category or the category shown by the catalog.
  7. Select the newly installed game to launch it.

If the game does not appear immediately, close and reopen the application menu. Some graphical games use a different category or provide a launcher with a name that differs slightly from the package or listing name.

Install Games from the Terminal with APT

Understand administrator privileges

A terminal is a text-based interface for running commands. Installing system packages changes protected parts of the operating system, so the command normally requires administrator privileges.

sudo is a command prefix that runs an authorized command with administrator privileges. When prompted, enter the password for an account that is allowed to use sudo. The password may not appear on screen while you type.

Update package information

Before installing software, refresh the local list of packages and versions available from your configured repositories:

sudo apt update

This command refreshes package information; it does not normally install operating-system upgrades. Wait until it finishes. Read any errors about network access, repository sources, or signatures before continuing.

Install atris

atris is a Tetris-style game package. Install it with:

sudo apt-get install atris

APT may display the packages it will install and ask you to confirm. Type Y when prompted, if the proposed installation is correct. Wait until APT finishes downloading, unpacking, and configuring the package. A successful installation normally ends without an error and returns you to the shell prompt.

Launch and Quit atris

Many command-line applications can be started by entering their executable name in a terminal. After installing atris, run:

atris

The game should open in the terminal or in its own window, depending on the package and desktop environment. While atris is running, press Q to quit.

Controls and exit methods differ between games. Check the game's help screen, start screen, manual, or package documentation instead of assuming that Q will work for another title.

Refresh package lists

Command or key: sudo apt update

Result: Downloads current package information from configured repositories.

Install atris

Command or key: sudo apt-get install atris

Result: Installs the atris package and required dependencies.

Launch atris

Command or key: atris

Result: Starts the game.

Quit atris

Command or key: Q

Result: Exits the running game.

Discover More Games with APT

Search the configured repositories for packages whose names or descriptions contain the word game:

apt search game

Review the results carefully. Read package descriptions to identify the type of game, display requirements, input method, and any required dependencies. A package name is not always the same as the command used to launch the application.

  1. Run the search command.
  2. Choose a package whose description matches your needs.
  3. Read its package information or documentation when available.
  4. Install it with APT, using sudo when system privileges are required.
  5. Use the documented launcher command or find the new entry in the desktop application menu.

Repository-provided games are managed through the operating system's package system. External game downloads may use different installers, file formats, dependencies, and update procedures. Before installing external software, verify its source and understand what the installer will change. Prefer trusted sources and avoid running commands you do not understand with sudo.

Troubleshooting

The Pi Store entry is missing

The current Raspberry Pi OS release may use a different graphical software-management application, or the installed desktop image may not include one. Open the software application that is available in the desktop menu. If no graphical catalog is available, search and install games with APT in a terminal.

APT cannot find atris

  • Refresh package information with sudo apt update and try again.
  • Confirm that the Raspberry Pi has internet access.
  • Check that the configured package sources are correct for your Raspberry Pi OS release.
  • The package may not be available for your release or enabled repositories. Search for alternative games with apt search game.

Installation fails because of permissions

Run the installation command with sudo. If the account is not authorized to use sudo, sign in with an administrator-authorized account or ask the device administrator to install the package.

The game command does not launch

  • The executable name may differ from the package name. Check the package description or documentation.
  • The installation may not have completed successfully. Review the APT output and retry if necessary.
  • The game may be graphical and intended to start from the desktop application menu rather than the terminal.

The game is slow or does not support the device

The game might require more CPU performance, graphics capability, memory, or storage than your Raspberry Pi provides. Check its hardware and operating-system requirements, try a lower-demand game, or reduce graphics settings when the game supports that option. Keeping Raspberry Pi OS and trusted dependencies up to date can also resolve missing-driver or compatibility problems.

Exam-Relevant Notes

  • Raspberry Pi OS is the current name of the commonly used Raspberry Pi operating system; Raspbian is its former name.
  • A graphical software catalog discovers applications through categories, search, and listing details.
  • APT obtains packages from configured repositories.
  • sudo requests administrator privileges for commands such as package installation.
  • The usual APT workflow is to refresh package lists with sudo apt update, then install a package.
  • The example installation command is sudo apt-get install atris, the launch command is atris, and the atris quit key is Q.
  • Package availability varies with the Raspberry Pi model, OS release, repository configuration, and package maintenance status.

For related administration skills, see Update Raspbian, Raspbian Repository, and Install Applications from the Pi Store.