i used to have some games made by BIG FISH and SPINTOP for windows and am wondering if theres some (or the equivalent ) for linux especially mandriva

Can you please narrow it down a bit, LOL

yea sorry
big fish make small but quite excellent games like hidden relics and mystery p.i
puzzle games etc
solve puzzles to finish the game

Astromenace - http://www.viewizard.com/astromenace/index_linux.php - arcade (Opensource)
Head over heels - http://retrospec.sgn.net/game-links.php?link=hoh - isometric adventure (freeware/remake)
Runes of Avalon - http://www.runesofavalon.com/ - Puzzle with a bit of adventure-ish (close-source/shareware) (big fish game)

What I can think off quickly.

Edit: more
DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold - http://www.caravelgames.com/Articles/Games_2/JtRH.html
Fish Fillets - Next Generation - http://fillets.sourceforge.net/
Memonix (same link as astromenace)
Pingus - http://pingus.seul.org/
Frozen bubble (should be in the repo)
Professor Fizzwizzle and Professor Fizzwizzle and the Molten Mystery http://grubbygames.com/pfmm/

thanks. the games look ace. i managed to get 1 game (of my bigfish cd for windows ) to run through wine
the games im after are like where they hidden things in a shop and you have to find them (if that makes any sense)