Open Source Strategy Games

[Trilarion]

I recently searched for other open source big strategy games (complex gameplay, interesting game world, turn based or with pause function, 4X) and I was suprised at not finding too many. Why is it that there aren't more than 10-20 really good projects which are also kind of mature?

The big shots:

• FreeCiv Web with a server written in C and a web client written in HTML 5/Javascript. The really cool thing is probably the online multiplayer mode.
• FreeCiv A very mature project written in C. Server used by FreeCiv Web.
• Battle for Wesnoth also very mature, written C using SDL. Port: Battle for Wesnoth Android
• FreeCol again very mature, written in Java using Swing. Last update 2015.
• OpenXCom very mature, written in C/C++ using SDL.
• UFO Alien Invasion very mature, written in C++ and Lua.
• OpenTTD extremely mature, written C/C++ and using (most probably) SDL.
• Micropolis based on Simcity, written Java using Swing and abandoned. See also LinCity or LinCity NG orMicropolisJS or OpenCity or 3D City
• Xconq Very old (ancient) stopped 2004. Partly a game engine.
• TripleA very mature. Written in Java using Swing. Last update 2015.
• MegaMak very mature. Written in Java using AWT. See also MekWars a web client to the MegaMek server part.
• Chess There are many open source implementations of chess. Best seem to be Komodo or Stockfish.
• Go Also for Go there are many open source implemenations. See this list for example.
• C-Evo written in Delphi and C# (both at the same time?) and last updated 2013.
• Star Control 2 finished some/many years ago.
• Glest RTS and Glest Advanced Engine
• Widelands Setller II like RTS.
• 0AD Ages of Empire II like RTS with beautiful graphics.

Others (smaller):

• FreeOrion Going slow for a long time and still in alpha state. Written in C++.
• LordsAWar Mature. Written in C++ using Cairo/GTK. Last update 2015
• Birth of the Empires (BOTE) with a Desktop version in C++ and an Android version in Java using libgdx. Seems to use original media resources.
• Advanced Strategic Command written in C++ using SDL and wrapping Lua.
• Globulation 2 RTS
• Open Imperium Galactica written in Java.
• Spring 1944 RTS based on Spring
• OpenRA RTS
• Netpanzer
• Zero-K RTS based on Spring
• Warzone 2100 RTS
• Ufo 2000

If you miss some good ones, please post them.

The pattern I see:

• There aren't many open source grand strategy games that are playable right now (~10 maybe).
• Most of them are quite mature. There is still active development but it's going rather slow.
• Most successful ones are quite old. There aren't many noticable newer efforts.
• They all struggle more or less with build systems, automatic installations etc.
• The old ones are mostly written in C/C++ and SDL or Java and Swing.
• There is almost nothing for mobile computing (although in principle SDL should run on mobile platforms).

[Trilarion]

I searched on google, sourceforge, github for turn based strategy and 4x strategy and found some projects (mostly one man projects who are still in definition phase) and just for completeness I here list those which have at least some concept or noticable amount of code. It's my personal, subjective selection. Some may be long dead or being abandoned in alpha phase.

• Clone of Ikariam and another clone browser based
• Pax Britannica RTS written in Lua.
• Freerails Java and Freerails 2 Java
• Netpanzer browser based.
• Open General ?
• Simutrans and source
• Another Simutrans and mod Iron Bite
• Crimson Fields using SDL. (similar to advanced commands)
• Tanks of Freedom using the Godot Engine (source)
• Mechanized Assault and Exploration Reloaded using SDL.
• LGeneral uses the old Panzer General data
• Unknown Horizons RTS with isometric view using the FIFEngine.
• Singularity written in Python using PyGame
• Civil written in Python using PyGame. Abandoned since 2003.
• ZetaWar written in Clojure (don't know it) and was in a recent Kickstarter.
• EPOH browser based, still in early phase.
• Hexwar browser based (Javascript and Ruby). Abandoned since 2012.
• Xenowar C/C++. Abandoned since 2012.
• WarOfKingdom in C/C++. Based on Rose? Chinese only website?
• sworsorc in Java. Abandonded since 2014.
• Zone of Control (ZOC) written in Rust (don't know it).
• 8 Kingdoms written in C++
• A Planet's Revenge text based space 4X written in Python
• Anti Chess written in Java.
• Altera Terra Civilization like, written in Java using Swing.
• Alien Assault Trader browser based similar to TradeWars.
• Age of Magic written in C++ for Symbian.
• Armies written in C++.
• Arthur's Knights written in C++/C#. Educational.
• Astral Clades written in Java.
• Atlantis written in C++. PBEM (play by email) engine. See also Atlantis Little Helper
• Drop Shock MMOTBS written in PHP.
• Ancient Beast written in Javascript using Phaser.io.
• Battlefield Java written in Java
• A Tactical Starship Sim based on begin.
• Blitzkrieg written in Java.
• Colonization too written in C++.

[Trilarion]

• MoonPy, Tether or ScorchedMoon
• World of Heroes
• OpenMoo2 Python, PyGame
• Wolfpack Empire in C
• Imperium browser based
• Moopy Python, PyGame
• MercenaryCommander Java
• Turious
• Thousand parsecs partly framework, see also here
• Kingdoms written in C++ using SDL
• Freetrain written in C#
• Zugspiel
• GalaxyMageRedux written in Python Forum
• Battle of Antargis written in Ruby source
• Boson RTS
• Operation Citadel written in C. Inactive since 2001. sources
• Turnota written in C#.
• Supremacy written in C#.
• Wargame browser based.
• Polisgame written in Java.
• Tecbattle written in C++.
• Cult written in Haxe/Javascript.
• Galaticthrone written in Java
• SongOfAlbion written in C
• PrimitiveWars written in Java.
• aiwars written in Python.
• Dark Oberon written in C++ using SDL.
• Conquests written in C++, Civ-like.
• Dark Destiny browser based project
• Harris written in C using SDL.
• Attal: Lords of Doom written in C++.
• BattleChess written in Java and abandoned.
• 1000 AD written in ColdFusion 3. Abandoned in 2002.

[Trilarion]

• OpenHoMM , project C++
• H-World C++, CRPG
• OpenRPG rather for RPG (source)
• Fruitwar Java, framework
• Labyringth of Worlds
• Open Panzer HTML5 source
• Free Space Colonization C, SDL
• Space Faring Java
• Stareater C#
• A Planets Revenge Python
• fleet0ps Java
• Terra reconstructed C++, Lua
• Crowns and Shadows Java
• Freestars C++
• Duel Commander C, text based
• Eleconics Java
• First Strike Java
• Free Heroes 2 Engine C++, SDL
• Free Space Colonization C, SDL
• Freelords Java
• Freya Game Engine Java (engine, alpha state)
• AlterCiv C++, Python
• Heroes of Wesnoth C,C++
• Heroes of Wing Commander Python
• Java Battle Isle Java
• JQuest Java
• JSettlers of Catan, Java, also this and this and this
• Machinations C++
• Mars, Land of no Mercy C, C++
• mpango Java

Very early planning phase with only low amount of code:

• Last Hope PHP
• Hansa Java
• MetalMech PHP

[Trilarion]

• Outer Space Python
• Planetary Hoppers Java
• Project Helena Lazarus
• Promisance PHP
• Quasar PHP
• Quest Perl
• Rastullahs Lockenpracht C++, Ruby
• Slay Java
• Solar Empire PHP, Javascript
• Runesword II VB, RPG
• Sengoku: Warring States of Japan C++, Lua
• Space Opera Java
• Space Faring Java
• Space War Java
• Space Hilk Java
• Spice Trade Java project
• T-Bots C,C++
• The Epic of Heroes C++
• TBSWWEngine Delphi, Engine
• VCMI Project C++, SDL
• X-Force: Fight for Destiny Delphi/Kylix project
• Wargamer C++
• Schwertreiter PHP
• GalaxyNG C, PBEM Game server and GalaxyView
• Skrupel PHP, Javascript
• Solar Conflict PHP, MMORPG
• wwiig C++
• Stars Nova C#
• SharpKonquest C#
• Space Trader Win C#, related Space Trader for Java
• Black Nova Traders PHP, related Red Nova
• Civ One C#, exact clone
• OpenRails C#

[Trilarion]

• Starlane Ascendancy clone
• Call to Power 2
• CaesarIA C++
• History Line just concepts and repo
• Knights and Merchants KaM remake
• TVTower Blitzmax, Lua
• OpenPopulous C++
• MULE C++
• Theme Hospital C++, Lua forum
• Freeserf C++, SDL
• Settlers III Android, PC clone Java repo
• OpenSkyScraper C++
• FreeCiv AC
• OpenRCT2 Roller Coaster 2 reimplementation
• FreeRCT RCT clone
• Devana browser based
• Colobot C++
• Ironclad Java
• Far Colony Pascal
• Goblin Camp C++
• EternalWinterWars Java, Android
• Warlords Online Java, Android
• StrategyGame Java, Android
• Turn of War Java, Android
• Sunrider
• Wirzards Magic
• Wolfpack Empire
• Migration Simulation Game VB
• XArchon
• CommandoJS Javascript repo
• Rocks'n'Diamonds Boulder Dash clone also GDash or Mining Haze or Digger or Boulder Dash
• biju-game Bejeweled clone Javascript

[Trilarion]

Now this were some hours I got lost in internet searches and trying out projects. Finally I found almost 200 projects started in the last 20 years and many of which died somewhere between alpha and beta status. I will keep coming back to them and I might start making similar lists for open source RPGs or Adventures (my other two favorite genres).

This is the state as of 2016. There are big chances in the next years new strategy game project will be started. If I learned anything then that the genre is not dead and people are interested in making cool stuff with it, only it isn't easy, you need a lot of skills coming together (design, programming, artwork, persistence, ...).

[Trilarion]

• Jagged Alliance 2 Straciatella C++ and repo
• free heros2 engine C++, SDL, engine
• Wargus Warcraft II engine, repo

[Trilarion]

• Atomiks Atomix clone, also KAtomic or Gnome Atomix or WAtomic
• Antares C++ project
• DeuterosX
• Dune Legacy Dune clone, also OpenDune or Dune Dynasty or Dune 2 The Maker
• Emporer of the Fading Sun clone Java
• Blades of Exile C++
• Soccer Manager C, SDL
• Pizza Business
• Open Apocalypse C++ repo
• Zod engine
• CivOne C# repo
• FreeSynd Syndicate clone
• Return to the Roots Settlers II clone repo
• FreeCivAC
• Linwarrior C++ repo
• MechCommander 2 C++
• OpenZelda Zelda clone also LoZ Return of the Hylan and others and Fanwor

[Willem]

Cool!

I hope you don't expect to try them all out!