For Ceasar 3, there’s no reason to run via VM or dosbox, vanilla save compatible Julius (https://github.com/bvschaik/julius) and way less vanilla Augustus (https://github.com/Keriew/augustus) both work perfectly on linux (and windows too, Julius and Augusts are cross-platform).
Julius is in Debian repos (https://packages.debian.org/trixie/julius) so perfect for Mint while Julius is in the Debian repos but only for at least Debian Unstable (thus won’t be available for installation via apt on mint, I don’t believe, but you can easily build it, use an appimage or a flatpak).
Why would he disarm himself?