Windows 12

Dude, with the exception of Gamepass, Linux gaming is really easy.

If you're okay with Redhat/Fedora, using Nobara Linux (it's a spin-off, unofficial, but by the guy who does a lot of the Proton [magic compatibility sauce] stuff, GloriousEggroll, who AFAIK is a dev at RedHat) literally installs everything you need.

Steam → Steam
GoG/Epic → Heroic Launcher
Amazon/Blizzard → Lutris
Gamepass → You have to use the cloud version with Edge browser

Click, install, game.

There's only a few Anticheat PITA titles still (I believe Valorant is one) that won't work.

hit me up and I'll walk you through it if you want. there's tons of online resources but I know it's always easier to have a helping hand from someone who's done it before. I'm no expert, but I've been daily driving Linux for years.

Folks have mentioned dual boot before but you can also run Linux directly from a usb stick, without changing anything on your computer. You can try it to see what it's like and when you remove the stick it'll be like it was never there.

I saw something about dual booting. I know you want to game but start small. Try a virtual machine. They aren't difficult to setup and there are hundreds of easy tutorials. Get a feel for Linux. See how you feel and then dual boot. When you are comfy then migrate the truth is this community pushed Linux hard and that's because it is mainly FOSS and it is private or more private rather.

However, no matter what anyone wants to tell you. Linux absolutely has its quirks and sometimes they get technical. There is a learning curve and some issues can divulge into multiple problems. This kind of thing can be frustrating but shouldn't stop you from learning and experimenting. I like Linux but I also appreciate that Windows for an average consumer does what it needs to.

The other thing is there is one OSX and up. There is one Windows version. There is an insane amount of Linux distributions. The easiest to learn are Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and if you want something more lightweight and true to force you to learn then you can just install Debian.

You can have multiple operating systems installed and choose which one you want to use during boot. So just install GNU/Linux on a separate partition or a separate drive (a bit easier). Then try to use GNU/Linux as your main system. Install everything you need on it and configure it they want you want. Only switch to Windows when you absolutely have to. So you don't have to be a GNU/Linux expert right away and you can choose when to remove Windows. It can be a gradual change.

I don't know any good videos for beginners, but you can just look up answers to specific problems when you need them. If you will still have Windows, there is nothing to worry about. You can always ask for help here as well. So don't wait and install GNU/Linux today! Choose the distribution you want to use, find a video on how to install it and start using it.

Here is a link to a video explaining the Free Software movement if you are curious why this operating system was created https://youtu.be/Ag1AKIl_2GM. Maybe it will motivate you.

Dualboot Ubuntu and experiment there. That is what I did and loved the OS

Look at protonDB for game compatibility and try out a live USB with some easy to use linux version like Ubuntu. Most games will work except if they have anticheat.

Linux Mint is as easy as Windows to set up imo. Maybe try that on a stick

Depends what you need to do, there are apps abd games that if you can't leave behind you'll either won't be able to run or you will have to do a lot of work to get running. If you don't use the Adobe suite and your games are officially supported on Linux (check them out on protondb.com) then you're good to go.
If you want distro suggestions I can tell you my opinionated selection.

Sorry, I have watched so many videos, yet I don't remember exactly who goes in depth and presents with a simple step by step guide

You've got some time to plan out your transition :)

I'd pick up a Raspberry Pi 400 or a renewed Steam Deck depending on your budget. Those devices have amazing communities and both will build familiarity and confidence with the environment just through play. Find a project that interests you with one of those devices and follow along trying to re-create it. That's where you'll find most of your blog/YT stuff. I'd be happy to help try and find a project if you'd be up for talking about some of your interests or hobbies.

IMO the most important thing is to start using cross platform applications (E.g. LibreOffice, the GIMP) on Windows as well as you start learning the Linux environments. Especially if you are coming from the windows 7 or earlier era of gaming PC building, actually installing Linux is a piece of cake. Once you have confidence with the programs you'll be using and the resources available you'll have conquered a lot of the fear.

Honestly you'd be fine starting out with installing linux yourself 90% of the time, but I think it's worth the peace of mind to start out with a pre-installed distro on a well standardized platform like the rPi 4 or the Steam Deck.

I'd suggest setting up linux in a virtual machine first to get familiar with it first. There's many many distros out there and if you don't like the one you're trying, just try another one. When you have one you like, you can install it for real.

It's not nearly as hard as people make it out to be. For most distros you'll likely have a system with a browser, libre office, steam (except games aren't going to work well in a VM), etc. up and running in about an hour or two. It only really gets tricky if you're trying to get some janky hardware working.