The best app for Linux handhelds is now on Android
The best app for Linux handhelds is now on Android
https://www.androidauthority.com/starboard-app-linux-games-android-3687131/
Publish Date: 2026-07-14 05:09:00
Source Domain: www.androidauthority.com
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
TL;DR
- A developer has released Starboard for Android, which is an unofficial port of the PortMaster app for Linux handhelds.
- Starboard gives you access to hundreds of ported Linux games, including Diablo, Doom, Balatro, and more.
- The app is free to download from GitHub or via Obtainium.
One of the best reasons to get a Linux handheld is the PortMaster app. This is a repository of games that have been ported to Linux, giving you quick access to a large library of titles. Fortunately, you can now run PortMaster on Android thanks to this unofficial app.
The Starboard app was released on GitHub last month, and it’s an unofficial PortMaster client for Android. This allows you to easily install and play a wide variety of games that were ported to Linux by the community. Starboard runs these games via a Debian-based Linux runtime on Android.
Games are generally divided into two categories, namely “ready to run” and “setup required.” The former category means you can install the game and immediately start playing, while the latter typically refers to ports that require the original game files. Examples of “ready to run” games include 2048, Celeste, Spelunky, shareware versions of games like Doom and Diablo, and Super Crate Box. Examples of games that require setup include Balatro, Undertale, Half Life, Fallout 2, Doom 3, and Morrowind.
Starboard’s compatibility list notes that just under 30% of PortMaster games play great or are merely playable, although 63% of the library hasn’t been tested yet. So there’s a chance that your desired games might not run at all. Thankfully, the app follows in GameNative‘s footsteps by offering a community-driven review system. This lets you rate a game based on whether it runs, the controls, graphics, and more. This feature also lists the reviewer’s device model, giving you a better idea of whether a game will work before you install it on your own device.
