This guide covers five methods for running NIKKE on Linux using Wine/Proton:
| Path 1: DW Proton | Path 2: Miniloader | Path 3: Lutris | Path 4: DW Launcher | Path 5: Windows + Steam (Old - use DWProton with Steam instead) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needs Windows | No | No | No | No | Yes (initial install + every update) |
| Update process | Updates through the launcher | Updates through the launcher | Updates through the launcher | Updates through the launcher | Re-download from Windows each time |
| Notes | N/A | Some updates might not work, so you will need to move update_files |
N/A | N/A | Avoid this path unless necessary, you don't need windows anymore, but you can use Steam just fine. Simply use Steam and DWProton, it just works. |
Warning
Other launchers that support custom Wine runners (Steam, Heroic, Lutris, etc.) can also work, but this guide focuses on Bottles. Once I have some free time, I'll try to create a guide for every launcher to help you guys, but right now bear with me
And please read before assuming something, I've seen too many people saying that Steam isn't recommended. The only path that isn't recommended is Windows+Steam, not Steam by itself. Steam will work with DWProton and it's easy to setup, if you read the Windows+Steam path and strip the Windows part, you can use DWProton to download the game, and it will work. The reason it's not recommended anymore is because DWProton patched the download step, and it's now possible to download the game without Windows at all. So why am I keeping this path? It's still there as an option in case you can't get it running otherwise.
Shared (all paths):
- A Linux distribution
- NIKKE Windows installer from the official website
Path 1: DW Proton (Bottles)
Path 2: Miniloader (using Bottles)
- Bottles (Flatpak or native package)
- wine-miniloader
Path 3: Lutris
Path 4: DW Launcher
Path 5: Windows + Steam
- Access to a Windows machine
- Steam (Linux) — you can use other launchers as well, Steam isn't necessarily the best option specially with the new DW Proton version.
- DWPROTON or Proton GE
- A USB drive or way to transfer files
Note
If you're planning to run the game on Steam, you don't need to follow this path down to the T, you can use this as a reference and exclude the Windows part by just using DWProton. Windows and Steam option should only be used in case you're fucking desperate and the other options didn't work.
Download Bottles via Flatpak or your distro's package manager (e.g., pacman, dnf, yum). Run it once to complete initial setup.
- Download DW Proton from here — select the latest release archive.
- Extract it:
tar -xvf [DOWNLOADED_FILE].tar.xz - Move the extracted folder to the Bottles runners directory:
- Flatpak:
mv [EXTRACTED_FOLDER] ~/.var/app/com.usebottles.bottles/data/bottles/runners/ - Native package:
mv [EXTRACTED_FOLDER] ~/.local/share/bottles/runners/
- Flatpak:
- Open Bottles
- Click Create in the top-right corner
- Select Gaming as the environment
- Select dwproton as the runner
If
dwprotondoesn't appear as a runner option, the runner wasn't placed in the correct directory.
- Navigate to Dependencies inside your new bottle
- Search for and install each of the following:
- Required:
arial(minimal) orallfonts(if you're lazy)
- Optional:
mfc42vcredist2012vcredist2022
- Required:
- Download the Windows installer from the official website
- In Bottles, click Run Executable and select the installer you downloaded
- Wait for the game to finish downloading
- In Bottles, click Add Shortcuts and point it to:
<prefix-path>/drive_c/NIKKE/Launcher/nikke_launcher.exe - Run the launcher. If it doesn't start after a few seconds, stop it and try again — it may take a couple of attempts.
Download Bottles via Flatpak or your distro's package manager (e.g., pacman, dnf, yum). Run it once to complete initial setup.
- Download the miniloader from here — select
wine-cachyos-miniloader-fonts-10.0-1-x86_64.tar.xz. - Extract it:
tar -xvf wine-cachyos-miniloader-fonts-10.0-1-x86_64.tar.xz - Move the extracted folder to the Bottles runners directory:
- Flatpak:
mv [EXTRACTED_FOLDER] ~/.var/app/com.usebottles.bottles/data/bottles/runners/ - Native package:
mv [EXTRACTED_FOLDER] ~/.local/share/bottles/runners/
- Flatpak:
- Open Bottles
- Click Create in the top-right corner
- Select Gaming as the environment
- Select wine-cachyos as the runner
If
wine-cachyosdoesn't appear as a runner option, the miniloader wasn't placed in the correct directory.
- Navigate to Dependencies inside your new bottle
- Search for and install each of the following:
- Required:
arial(minimal) orallfonts(if you're lazy)
- Optional:
mfc42vcredist2012vcredist2022
- Required:
- Download the Windows installer from the official website
- In Bottles, click Run Executable and select the installer you downloaded
- Wait for the game to finish downloading
- In Bottles, click Add Shortcuts and point it to:
<prefix-path>/drive_c/NIKKE/Launcher/nikke_launcher.exe - Run the launcher. If it doesn't start after a few seconds, stop it and try again — it may take a couple of attempts.
Note
A few screenshots to help with the steps: link
Script:
description: "Installs GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE official launcher. Recommended to use dwproton-10.0-20"
game_slug: nikke
gogslug: ''
humblestoreid: ''
installer_slug: nikke-installer
name: "GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE"
notes: "Installs GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE's launcher."
runner: wine
script:
files:
- nikkeinstaller:
filename: nikkeminiloader0.0.6.346.exe
url: https://nikke-en.com/nikkeminiloader0.0.6.346.exe
game:
exe: drive_c/NIKKE/Launcher/nikke_launcher.exe
prefix: $GAMEDIR
installer:
- task:
arch: win64
name: create_prefix
prefix: $GAMEDIR
- task:
description: "Install Goddess of Victory: NIKKE's launcher, then close the prompt once installation is complete.\nAvoid launching the game from the installer."
executable: nikkeinstaller
name: wineexec
prefix: $GAMEDIR
env:
PROTON_VERB: run
system:
env:
GAMEID: umu-nikke
slug: nikke-installer
steamid: null
version: Nikke Installer
year: 2023This path uses DW Launcher to handle the download, it's also maintained by DawnWinery.
Note
You can find the launcher here.
- Download the Windows installer from the official website
- Install and download the full game (~22 GB)
- Copy the entire
NIKKEfolder to a USB drive or transfer it to your Linux machine- The folder is located inside
drive_c
- The folder is located inside
- On your Linux machine, download the launcher from the official website, add as a non-Steam game, and run it for the first time using steam.
- Find the wineprefix Steam created:
~/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/- Non-Steam games will have a random 10-digit folder name. Sort by latest modified to find the right one.
- Copy the
NIKKEfolder (from Windows) into thedrive_cdirectory inside that prefix - Right-click the game in Steam → Properties → set the compatibility layer to Proton GE (or DWPROTON)
- Go back to Properties on the game in Steam
- Update the executable path to point to the launcher inside the wineprefix:
<prefix-path>/drive_c/NIKKE/Launcher/nikke_launcher.exe - Disable Steam Overlay (recommended)
- Launch through Steam — the NIKKE launcher will open
- Log in and start the game
- You may need to start and cancel a few times
Note
When the game updates, you will need to re-download the updated game on Windows and repeat steps 1 and 3.
- The launcher may require multiple start/cancel attempts (3–10 times) before it opens due to a timeout issue.
- Anti-cheat may complain from time to time, but restarting usually fixes it.
- The launcher will never remember your password. You must re-enter it every time.
- The game may forget your server region. You'll need to reselect it at launch occasionally.
- When quitting, you may need to manually click Stop in Steam (Path 4) or stop the process in Bottles (Paths 1 & 2).
- Using DWPROTON instead of Proton GE may reduce the frequency of restart issues (Path 4), but it's not bulletproof.
Tip
Both the patched miniloader and the DWPROTON was created by Dawn Winery, a group that helps with Linux patches for gacha games. If neither of the options worked for you, you can try following this guide: discord link.
- The game has been tested with daily use and remains functional.
- No bans have been reported, Dawn Winery group has been using their Proton and custom patches for quite a while without any issues.
Hello, I attempted on both Steam and Bottles methods. I got stuck at log in screen of the launcher after trying to log in. Does anyone know how to fix? I'm using dwproton.
EDIT: Nvm, I log in via Google with Steam launcher and it works.