.desktop files not executing via double click, only from terminal

Question

When I try to doubleclick-execute a .desktop file it opens up the GNOME Games launcher and does nothing else. Even if i try to reset the opening application by right clicking and editing the properties, the default application still remains the games one (Icons don't work too). Executing the file via terminal, using gtk-launch filename.desktop, works fine.
Is there a configuration file that I should edit or something more to reset?

I'm working on Ubuntu 19.04 with GNOME 3.32.1

Answer 1

Nautilus no longer allows the launching of .desktop files thru it. (nautilus)

The only way to double click > launch is to have the .desktop file on your Desktop. Even then you'll need to set it to allow launching, likely thru the right click context menu.

Other file managers such as nemo aren't encumbered in this regard.

Answer 2

Could be permissions, directory permissions, mount options.

Use my pathlld script https://github.com/waltinator/pathlld to explore your access.