Factorio.

Cities: skylines

This one doesn’t even require Proton, since it’s Linux native. It’s also a very chill game.

If you haven't played it, Terraria. One of my all time favorite games, after all those years. Should also be really cheap on sales.

Minecraft, especially modpacks like that of FTB

Mindustry a defense strategy game, you collect minerals and conquer unexplored territories

If you like Rimworld the obvious suggestion from me is Dwarf Fortress. It's on steam but if you're not sure I believe there's a free version with the original ascii graphics on the bay12 games website (at least there was when I last played).

Also Factorio might interest you, but for a laid back experience you'd want to turn down biters (mostly disabling expansions). May be mentally taxing.

Another comment mentions modded minecraft, which gets a +1 from me. Though if you want a "forever world" I'd suggest playing unmodded (save for some client side graphics / QoL if desired), as there's at least some guarantee you can keep the world as the game gets updated. If you do go modded though I'd suggest using prismlauncher and browsing through premade modpacks on modrinth and curseforge. P.S. if you don't already own the game somehow you'll want java edition, not bedrock

OpenTTD!!!

Also Satisfactory.

Project zomboid, once build 42 finally comes out that is. Shouldn't be more than a few more months right? Haha

Vintage Story is worth looking into imho.

Factorio is definitely worth a try.

Satisfactory

Thrive

Mindustry

0AD

Luanti

X-plane runs natively on Linux, and you have countless hour of simming. While not fully single-player, Elden ring works perfectly through steam/proton, and the ordinary interaction with other players is about letting message

CoreKeeper is a good one for multiplayer. Like Terraria x Stardew. I self hosted a server that we played for months, including at a LAN party, but I do think they use a nat hole-punch server to ease connectivity. Not sure if it was possible to direct connect via IP. It's a big world with boss/gear progression and some mining automation.

Nothing has quite scratched the Rimworld itch for me, anything in that realm just makes me wanna play RimWorld more. But technically I have to mention Dwarf Fortress.

If you haven't played a factory sim, Factorio is a classic. If you don't want to have to fight buggers, you could try Dyson Sphere Program or Satisfactory instead.

Modulus is a recent factory sim with a unique twist: instead of having a fixed tech tree you work through, you're given arbitrary 3D block configurations, and you lay down the configuration of buildings to make them. I really like the open-endedness. Some designs nicely complement others, so that the pieces you cut out to make part A can be stuck into the line that makes part B.

Btw, for Stardew, you need to eat foods that give your stamina back. Early on it's harder to get the foods, but later you grow tons.

Tux Kart ! ftw

Postal Diplomacy has been around longer than the internet, so why not.

Endless Sky is great.

I enjoy Xonotix once in a while. Old school shooter like Quake or Doom. You can play online or solo against computer players. Lots of weapons to nab with odd effects.

Construction Simulator is p chill.

If you're into strategy I can highly recommend some TBS Games (Turn Based Strategy) in no particular order:

• Heroes of Might and Magic 3, 5 and the new Olden Era
• Civilization 5 and 6
• Age of Wonders
• Battle Brothers
• Old World
• Songs of Conquest

All of them got something to do with building up and watching grow but in a more "laid back", strategic way 😎

X4 is an economy simulator masquerading as a flight simulator. It also goes on sale regularly!

Mewgenics! It’s weird, it’s funny, the music is top tier.

Steamworld Dig

I've always been a fan of hearts if you can get 4 people together. If not, rummy or bridge? I guess it depends how offline you mean.

Vintage Story is a slowburn survival game with a Linux version from the developers, not a compat layer. It's focused on realism.

Ranch Sim is a game in which you design your own ranch.

Starship Evo, formerly Sky Wanderers, is still in development but has reached a very playable stage. You build bases and ships out of predefined shapes but with highly variable scaling, as in ranging from 12.5cm grid up to 1m with all the standard slopes, panels, etc. It has logic systems, inventory and production systems, and control systems for space ships, hovercraft, mech walkers, and space stations, all using that heavily customisable building system. Then you can fly around doing little missions, trading, space ship combat, etc.

Archean is similar building but with more realism and programming but more sandboxy with no NPCs.

I've heard some good things about Steamworld Build.

I have heard someone say Icarus was like Ark but better.

7 Days to Die ticks much of those boxes as well.

Stationeers is another struggle, survive, thrive game with very realistic mechanisms.

Foundry is Factorio in 3D. Satisfactory is Foundry without a Gödel grid.