Linux is a first-class Java Edition citizen. Treat the package like a real package.

Mojang’s download page still splits Debian-based .deb, Arch via AUR, and a generic archive. Bedrock is not in that tarball no matter how many Discord screenshots say otherwise.

Minecraft Launcher view used for Linux installation guidance

Debian and Ubuntu

sudo apt install ./Minecraft.deb
minecraft-launcher

If dpkg complains about dependencies, sudo apt -f install after the .deb is the usual recovery — from the same official file, not a random mirror.

Arch

AUR package minecraft-launcher via your helper of choice. That is the path Mojang points Arch users at.

Tarball

Unpack, run ./minecraft-launcher from a stable folder such as ~/Games/minecraft-launcher. GPU drivers still have to work; the launcher cannot fix a broken NVIDIA/Mesa install.

Data: ~/.minecraft. Mods work the same as on Windows once the loader profile exists.