Bully: Scholarship Edition (2006): runs on Windows 11, Mac, Linux, Steam Deck?

Gamicality score 78 / 100

Playability today ★★★★★ 3

Runs today3.5 / 5
Design today2.5 / 5
See the checks

Steam user reviews Very Positive

36,334 reviews85% positive
Steam store page

Released: 2006
Developer: Rockstar New England
Genre: Action, Adventure
Best version today: Scholarship Edition is the version on PC and adds classes, missions and fixes over the 2006 PS2 original, but its PC port is rough and needs SilentPatch.
Runs on: Windows, Linux, Steam Deck
Last checked: October 31, 2026

Does Bully: Scholarship Edition run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11	Yes, with a fix. See the steps below. SourceNo player reports yet
Mac (Apple Silicon)	No Mac version is sold.No player reports yet
Linux	Through Proton: ProtonDB rates it Gold (runs perfectly after tweaks). SourceNo player reports yet
Steam Deck	Playable, as rated by Valve: it works, but may need some manual configuration. SourceNo player reports yet

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How to get Bully: Scholarship Edition running today

Install SilentPatch for Bully to fix crashes on Windows 10 and 11 and improve frame pacing; turn on in-game V-sync to avoid micro-stutter.
If saving fails, make sure the Documents folder is not redirected to OneDrive, or delete the Documents\Bully Scholarship Edition folder and let the game recreate it.
If the controls stop responding, delete the ControllerSettings file in Documents\Bully Scholarship Edition.

Synopsis

An open-world action game from Rockstar set at Bullworth Academy, a run-down New England boarding school. As troublemaker Jimmy Hopkins you attend classes played as minigames, deal with rival cliques of jocks, nerds and preps, and work your way up the school's pecking order through fistfights, pranks and errands around town.

What people say

Critics in 2006 and 2008 praised its humor, voice acting, music and the charm of its school setting, though the PC port was faulted for stutter, long loads and blurry visuals. Players still call it one of Rockstar's most likable games and value its tighter scale. Modern players often find the PC version crash-prone and awkward until patched, and a 2024 replay at Aftermath found the camera, combat and mean-spirited tone hard to put up with. Opinions on whether it holds up depend heavily on patience for its dated presentation.

Playability today

Playability runs from 1 to 5. It is the average of two parts. Each part starts at 1 and climbs to 5 as more of its checks pass. Read the method.

Runs today: 3.5 / 5

✓Sold today from an official store
✗Runs on Windows 11 without fan patches
–Single-player works without an internet connection
–All of its content still works (servers, DLC, unlocks)
–Supports modern resolutions and widescreen
–Full controller support or remappable controls
✓Steam Deck Verified or Playable
✗No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
✓No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
–No known game-breaking bugs in the current version

Filled in from the Steam store and Valve’s Steam Deck rating. Checks marked – are unknown and do not count until someone checks them.

Design today: 2.5 / 5

✗Controls feel natural on a modern controller or mouse and keyboardPlayers report unresponsive controls on PC and dreary, stiff melee, and moving while turning the camera sends Jimmy off course. Source: aftermath.site, pcgamingwiki.com.
✗Menus, text and interface are clear on today's screensText prompts look badly dated and choosing 4K can break the display without editing launch options. Source: aftermath.site.
✗Saving is fair: free saves or frequent checkpoints, little lost progressYou save only at save books in your dorm and other save houses, and on modern Windows saving can fail outright until fixed; evidence on save spacing is thin. Source: steamcommunity.com, pcgamingwiki.com.
✓It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progressGym classes teach combat moves step by step and missions are clearly marked, so no guide is needed. Source: thepixelempire.net.
✓Pacing holds up: little grind, filler or forced backtrackingThe compact town, short missions and class schedule keep things moving, though frequent loading screens interrupt play. Source: thepixelempire.net.
✗Camera and movement never fight the playerThe camera and character turn at different speeds, which makes walking in a straight line oddly hard. Source: aftermath.site.

Judged against games made today, from complaints that recur in recent Steam reviews and discussions, forums, PCGamingWiki and community wikis. Each reason links to where it comes from.