Frequently Asked Questions

VMDB is a free, community-powered database of VM compatibility reports for games. Users test games inside virtual machines and share their results — so you know what to expect before you try.

Yes, completely free. No subscription, no paywalls. Browsing reports and submitting your own experience costs nothing.

No. Anyone can search for games and read all community reports without registering.

ProtonDB tracks whether games run on Linux via Proton or Wine — the host OS is Linux, but the game runs natively on it through a compatibility layer. VMDB tracks whether games run inside a virtual machine, regardless of what the host OS is. The two overlap in some setups but answer different questions.

• Platinum— Runs flawlessly with no tweaks required.
• Gold— Runs well; only minor issues or cosmetic glitches.
• Silver— Runs, but requires workarounds to get it working properly.
• Bronze— Runs, but with notable issues that significantly affect gameplay.
• Borked— Does not run or crashes immediately. The game is unplayable.

The overall rating is aggregated from all community reports for that game. Reports with a higher vote score carry more weight, so trusted, verified reports influence the result more than low-rated ones. The rating is recalculated automatically each time a new report is submitted or a vote is cast.

Yes. Every new report and every vote can shift the overall rating. If a VM software update improves compatibility, fresh reports will reflect that and the rating may improve.

No. You can submit a report anonymously without registering. However, creating a free account lets you edit your reports later, add new games to the database, and receive notifications.

You can submit reports for VMware, VirtualBox, QEMU/KVM, Hyper-V, Parallels, and Other. If your VM software isn't listed, choose "Other" and describe it in the notes.

Yes, if you submitted while logged in. Visit the game's page, find your report, and click the Edit button. Anonymous reports cannot be edited after submission.

You need a verified account to add new games. After registering and verifying your email, you can add a game via the Steam import tool, which automatically fills in the title, developer, and other metadata from Steam.

Be as specific as possible. Mention what worked, what didn't, and any steps you took to get the game running. The dedicated fields — Anti-Cheat, Graphics, Performance, Input, Required Tweaks, and General — help other users find the information most relevant to them.

Keeping the barrier to entry low is intentional — the more reports, the more useful the database. Quality is managed through the voting system: inaccurate or unhelpful reports get downvoted and carry less weight, while well-received reports rise to the top.

GPU passthrough is a technique where a physical GPU is assigned directly to a virtual machine, giving it near-native graphics performance. It is most commonly used with QEMU/KVM on Linux hosts. Without passthrough, the VM relies on emulated or virtual graphics, which is usually too slow for 3D games.

GPU passthrough dedicates an entire physical GPU exclusively to one VM. vGPU (Virtual GPU) splits one physical GPU into multiple virtual slices that can be shared across several VMs simultaneously — typically found in professional/server hardware like NVIDIA vGPU-capable cards.

It depends on your setup and operating system. QEMU/KVM with GPU passthrough on Linux currently gives the best gaming performance. VMware Workstation is popular on Windows and macOS. Parallels is well-optimised for Apple Silicon. Check the reports for a specific game to see which VM other users have had success with.

Many games use anti-cheat systems (e.g. Easy Anti-Cheat, BattlEye, Vanguard) or DRM that actively detect virtualization and block the game from starting. This is the most common cause of a Borked rating. Some can be bypassed with advanced configuration; the "Required Tweaks" and "Anti-Cheat" note fields in reports often contain useful workarounds.

Upvoting a report marks it as helpful and accurate. Downvoting marks it as inaccurate or unhelpful. The vote score is displayed publicly on the report, and reports with a higher score carry more weight when calculating a game's overall rating. This ensures the most trusted reports have the greatest influence.

Yes. Voting requires a registered account to prevent abuse. Registration is free.

Every report has a Flag button. Click it, choose the reason (e.g. inaccurate information, spam, or wrong game), and optionally add details. The moderation team will review flagged reports and remove them if they violate the community guidelines.

The flag is sent to the moderation team for review. You will not receive an automatic notification about the outcome. If the report is removed, it simply disappears from the listing without a public notice.

Email verification is required to add new games to the database. You can browse reports and submit reports without verification, but adding games is restricted to verified accounts to reduce spam.

Yes. In your profile settings you can request a full export of all data associated with your account, including your reports and profile information.

Yes. You can permanently delete your account from your profile settings. This action is irreversible and will remove your personal data from VMDB.