If I have a dual boot Windows/Linux system, what OS would be best to use for a supported game and why?

SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS
If there is a difference, and Linux is clearly better, then why don't we see it as the recommended way to go ... newbie difficulties with Linux aside?

Now i know many of you will have a clear preference for one OS or the other, with most predominantly favoring Windows, but I am not interested in bias or conjecture or theories, only fact ... if some of you are expert enough to know it.

Let's take it for granted, that we are referring to a GOG game release, with both Windows and Linux downloads.

Of course, there will be two major issues involved - Installing & Running. So how do things usually compare in both those areas?

Thanks for any worthwhile input you give etc. :)

I've never heard of games that run better on Linux than on Windows. But I'm sure there are a few exceptions.

If you want best compatibility in general, Windows is the way to go.

It depends on the game of course, but in most cases:

Windows. If you want the easiest installation, highest stability and best performance of the game.

In my experiences many Linux versions are an after-thought, poorly tested because it wasn't used as the development platform and unoptimized for the same reasons. Installation and running can also be annoying on Linux for novice users due to missing prereq libraries or incompatible library versions.

If you want best compatibility in general, do not use Windows 10.
Many old games run better with Linux+Wine, and could be better than Windows 8.x.

But in general, Windows is a better gaming platform.

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I have used Linux as my default OS for 2 decades.

Neither have I, but as Linux is often touted as having less overheads, more stability, etc I have wondered if that equates to better game play, as in smoother, improved graphics and a lot more?

Or perhaps Windows drivers etc are better?
Or developers code better for the Windows platform ... or coding is made easier in that regard, etc? Not what I asked of course (unless you are referring to something like a driver in one OS as compared to its rival in the other OS), as that goes without saying. :)

Often Post-DOS-pre-Windows 7 games will take more effort to get them working in Windows 10. But most GOG releases run fine as is in Windows 10. Be a bit more specific. There's no reason why DOSbox or ScummVM games would run better in Linux.

I have generally thought the same, though things have now come a long way, compared to how they used to be, when barely any game was supported on Linux. So I have wondered if things have changed enough or significantly, to make Linux a viable and perhaps even better alternative.

Perhaps, like you suggested, it might be so for some games.

I think kbnrylaec meant old Windows native games.

I have quite a few old games marked in my library that ran better for me in Linux+Wine than Windows.

The entire Legacy of Kain series, Redline, Urban Chaos, Sacrifice, Sacred Gold.

Yes, we see many issues with Windows 10 and games reported here at GOG, so clearly it is not the best Windows OS for games, certainly out-of-the-box. From what I have heard and experienced, it seems that Windows XP is still probably the game champion and Windows 7 the best of the newer rest. Certainly with older games anyway. And I can still remember what a challenge it used to be to get games working on Windows XP, when it first came out.

Define "better". Last time I played them, Sacrifice and Sacred ran perfectly fine in Windows (7). What kind of magic pixie dust did Linux+Wine give you?

I should take a note of that, as I have most of that lot.

Sacrifice wouldn't run at all for me in Windows 7 (it does now in Windows 10 oddly enough) and Sacred had severe frame rate issues in WIndows that didn't occur in Wine.

Well, doesn't the difference in personal experience say it all?

Talking about compatibility.

One wonders how much trouble and effort it is to make a game compatible with Linux?
Is it worth it, for the relatively few sales they must make?

Many of course, who use Linux, don't use Linux alone, they also have a Windows install or have good success with Wine. So it seems on the face of it, that you would not want to go to a lot of trouble and or cost for that compatibility?

Unless there is some other driving factor ..... angst at Microsoft, Coolness, personal preference, etc.

Well yeah, my point is Linux+Wine can be a great alternative if Windows happens to be choking on an old game for whatever reason. Of course it's not going to be same experience for everyone.
Yeah if you have any issues defenitely try them in Wine.