I have a recent install, using X and I3.
I've tried to start gaming on this install, but some games don't work. They start but when they are on screen the computer becomes unresponsive, the image freezes while the audio keeps working and the mouse moves normally.
It takes a while but eventually it is possible to switch to another workspace. Switching back takes a while too, and a single frame is rendered before freezing again, which demonstrates that the game is actually running underneath.

Other programs run fine while on another workspace, and a system monitor shows that nothing is consuming excessive resources.
The problem affects only some games, I haven't found any native game that had it. Examples of wine games that run fine are Hyper Demon and  Satisfactory. Examples of games that have this problem are ULTRAKILL and Risk of Rain 2. All of these examples i've run through steam. The problem seems to persist in any version of proton. I've also tried a couple games from the epic store using the heroic launcher, Citizen Sleeper and Robobeat. Both ran into the problem.

The games can be force stopped or stopped from the launcher and everything to normal.

My gpu is a Nvidia GTX 750ti. I'm using propietary drivers.

I'd be thankful for any help finding out what the problem is.