Specs:
CPU: I5 2400 GPU: GT 730 2GB DDR5 RAM: 8GB Distro:
Any recommended games for my graphics card + how to make games smother - facing lad and screen shattering when I play CS:GO with game mode on!
With that kind of hardware, nothing you could tweak would help a whole lot.
You need an upgrade mate.
I agree with the other posters, your hardware is going to hold you back. But you could try switching to a lighter desktop environment like LXDE instead of GNOME. This user found a small increase in performance: https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/dg87jp/does_the_desktop_environment_matter_for_gaming/
But they had somewhat beefy hardware. If you're truly at the limit of your specs, 100% CPU/RAM usage, your performance increase could be even more.
Lightweight DEs are cool and such, but if that's the thing you're saving on a lightweight WM (like xmonad, DWM or i3) will probably be the best bet
Your setup is close to my 2015 very-much-non-gaming laptop, so... I'd recommend retro gaming and/or modern 2D games. A few suggestions would be: Baldur's Gate 1-2, Icewind Dale 1, Xenonauts, Battle Brothers, Wildermyth, Shadowrun Returns (and sequels), Into the Breach, Fallout 1-2. If you're into programming games, that hardware should run everything by Zachtronics as well as Human Resource Machine and 7 Billion Humans.
Something like Slay the Spire should be easy to run, essential roguelike deckbuilder
Into the Breach is a fun game. Command and Conquer 3 and you could get into emulation like Smash bros or Mario Kart.
The main thing is to game at lower resolution and quality settings as much as possible while keeping . Somebody also suggested gamemoderun and that can help. My laptop with a GeForce 930m can barely run CS GO at 50fps at 720p low settings and the GT 730 is even weaker so keeping realistic expectations will also help you be happier with the performance you have
If you use gamemoderun it optimizes your scheduling to prefer the game to other processes, among other optimizations.
I think your best bet is Gameboy emulation for gaming, that GPU isn't gonna be doing any 3D stuff any time soon unfortunately
