Free / open source games: A - C

There are more and more free / open source games: this list, far from being exhaustive but continuously growing, gives priority to projects that keep on being developed and is meant to help whoever is looking for some fun.

All these open source games are free but remember that the term free is meant as in "free speech", not as in "free beer" so if you like one of these games please try to contribute to its development: some teams need varioul kinds of help (programmers, graphics experts...), some accepts donations to finance the development of a game, some need help to test new versions which means that you can have fun and at the same time help the development of a project.

This is the first part of the list and included the games from A to C: from the side menu you can access to all the other parts of the list.

A3P is an indie online shooter that combines the best aspects of the Third Person Shooter and Real-Time Strategy genres. A game consists of 3 matches, and whoever wins 2 out of 3 wins the game. At the beginning of each match, you receive money to purchase your weapons and up to three units. Or you can save up for better stuff later on.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux

Latest version: 0.5a (December 27 2009)

Advanced Strategic Command is a free, turn based strategy game. It is designed in the tradition of the Battle Isle series. It can be played both against the AI and against other human players, using hotseat or PlayByMail.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux

Latest version: 2.6.0 (December 28 2013)

Afternoon Stalker is a clone of the 1981 Intellivision game Night Stalker. The player is in a two-dimensional maze. The player is attacked by robots that shoot at it and that it must shoot down.

Latest version: 1.1.5 (July 14 2012)

Aleph One is a FPS derived from the Bungie project Marathon released as open source and expanded with a series of maps, textures and more. There are also some "major conversion" with different settings.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS.

Latest version: 0.22.1 (October 15 2009)

Alien Arena is a 3D standalone FPS derived from Quake II and Quake III sources with deathmatch and capture the flag modes, also online.

A review of the game is available.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux and FreeBSD.

Latest version: 7.66 Combat Edition (September 5 2013)

Hardware/software requirements: 1 GHz CPU, 256 MB RAM, 500 MB hard disk, graphics card with 3D acceleration

Anywhere Board Games (ABG) is an open source web app intended to replicate the experience of a bunch of friends sitting around a table playing their favorite board and card games but on computers. It also supports games in a Google+ Hangout.

Operating systems: Linux, Windows, Mac OS, Unix, Android

Latest version: 0.121029 (October 29 2012)

Apocalypso is an arcade-style game where you play as Dirk Dirtland as he tries to defend a city from a robot invasion. Enemies will attack both from far away as well as from inside the city, so Dirk will have to use both his weapon and his flexible shield as well as enhance his abilities through different upgrades in order to fend off all attackers and live to tell the tale.
5 different levels, each with a different tactical situation and a unique boss awaits our hero as he fights to save the remnants of a lost world.

Operating systems: Linux, Windows, GP2X Wiz

Latest version: 1.0 (March 4 2010)

Ardentryst is an RPG set in a fantasy world with elemnts inspired to other games such as Donkey Kong Country, Mario, Castlevania and Kingdom Hearts. The player is guided through a storyline which he or her must act in and play a major role in keeping peace and order in Ardentryst

Operating systems: Linux, Mac OS X, Windows

Latest version: 1.71 (July 26 2009)

Armagetron Advanced is a 3D multiplayer game that emulates and expands the light cycle, the futuristic motorbyke from the movie Tron. The arenas can be modified and there are various play modes, also online

Operating systems: Linux, OpenBSD, Mac OS X, Windows

Latest version: 0.2.8.3.1 (February 21 2010)

Asgard is a project aiming to create a classic computer role-playing game experience complete with epic battles, an expansive world map, towns, cities, and vile lairs all provided through vibrant graphics, compelling music, and an intriguing plot.

Operating systems: all the ones supporting the software requirements

Latest version: 0.3.10 (August 16 2012)

Hardware/software requirements: Python, scons, SDL, SQLite 3, Boost 1.40

AssaultCube, already known as ActionCube, is a standalone FPS 3D game based on the Cube engine. Designed for realism, it's multiplayer oriented but you can also play it in single player mode.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X

Latest version: 1.3.0.0 (December 4 2021)

Hardware/software requirements: 800 MHz CPU, 256 MB RAM, graphics card with 3D acceleration

Atomic Tanks is a Scorched Earth clone with similarities to the Worms series. Annihilate the other tanks to earn money, then spend it on bigger and better shields and weapons to wipe out the opposition.

Operating systems: all the ones supported by the Allegro game library

Latest version: 5.3 (February 23 2012)

Hardware/software requirements: Allegro game library

Atomorun2008 is an evolution of 2003 game Atomorun. The player must escape a nuclear explosion but there are various obstacles.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X

Latest version: 1.0

Hardware/software requirements: 1 GHz CPU, graphics card with 3D acceleration

Avoision is a straightforward, yet captivating distillation of vintage arcade entertainment requiring strategy, precision, and perseverance with a singular objective: capture the red square while evading innumerable cruel, spiteful white squares.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux

Latest version: 1.1 (March 10 2012)

Batrachians is a game where you control a frog. Your goal is to eat more flies and score more points than the computer's frog. It is a clone of the 1982 Frog Bog video game for the Intellivision by Mattel Electronics.

Operating systems: Linux, Unix

Latest version: 0.1.6 (July 14 2012)

The Battle for Wesnoth is a turn-based strategy game with a fantasy setting.

Operating systems: GNU/Linux, Windows, MacOSX, BeOS, Solaris, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, AmigaOS4, OS/2, eComStation

Latest version: 1.14 stable (May 2 2018)

Hardware/software requirements: 2 GHz CPU, 2 GB RAM, graphics card with 3D acceleration

Beastlands - Song of the Were is a lightweight hack and slash adventure game with some RPG and RTS elements. It is based on Tanir's Quest's engine. The story of the game is based on the Beastlands plane of existence where sylvan creatures make up most of the population. Ehlonna, Godess of nature, daughter of Gaia leads a party of hers through the wilderness on a quest against evil intent together with her Brother Dieties.

Operating systems: all the ones with Python support

Latest version: 0.1.8.2 (December 19 2013)

Before we were Dead iss a relatively simple roleplaying-game with elements of aquatic platforming but its real strenghts lie in its richly developed world and atmosphere.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, GP2X WIZ

Latest version: 1.1 (September 11 2010)

Berusky is a free logic game based on an ancient puzzle named Sokoban.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux

Latest version: 1.7 (July 26 2013)

Berusky II is an evolution of the game Berusky which takes place in a 3D environment.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux

Latest version: 0.9 (February 24 2013)

Bitfighter is a free multi-player 2-D space combat game with Robotron-like controls. It's a team-based strategy game featuring retro vector graphics and customizable ships.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X

Latest version: 019a (February 14 2014)

Blob Wars: Blob And Conquer is a sequel of old arcade Blob Wars: Metal Blob Solid. In this new episode, which unlike the first one is a 3D game, the protagonist discoveres that hishomeworld is still littered with the alien force and he must fight them.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux

Latest version: 1.11 (November 16 2009)

Hardware/software requirements: graphics card with 3D acceleration

Block Attack - Rise of the Blocks is a free clone of Tetris Attack for Super Nintendo.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux

Latest version: 1.4.1 (19/11/2009)

Blockout II is a free version of old DOS game BlockOut® and it's basically a 3D Tetris.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux

Latest version: 2.4 (January 9 2008)

Hardware/software requirements: graphics card with 3D acceleration

Blood Frontier is a Sauerbaten total conversion that gives this new game a different look.

Following disagreements within the development team right now the project is dead and its only hope is that someone picks it up and revamps it.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X

Latest version: 0.85 (Beta 2) (December 6 2009)

Hardware/software requirements: graphics card with 3D acceleration

Blood Makes the Grass Grow Green (BMTG3) is a side-scrolling or 1-dimensional strategy game that pits two people against each other in a duel over a stretch of land. Each player is positioned in a bunker at opposite ends of the map and tasked with deploying the right personnel and vehicles to capture FOBs (forward operating bases) and overrun your enemies bunker.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X

Latest version: 0.3.5 (February 2 2011)

Hardware/software requirements: graphics card with 3D acceleration

Bombic 2 is a bomb game like Dyna Blaster. It has lots of creatures and bonuses. You can play alone against creatures as with friends in cooperative mode. The game provides also a deathmatch for 2 to 4 players on one computer. It also includes a map editor.

Operating systems: Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris

Latest version: 1.0 (May 20 2010)

Bos Wars, previously known as Battle of Survival, is a futuristic real-time strategy game where every player must fight enemies and at the same time develop a war economy.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux

Latest version: 2.7 (June 19 2013)

Hardware/software requirements: graphics card with 3D acceleration

Brain Party is a fun, free puzzle game for all the family that's made up of 36 minigames designed to push your brain to its limits by testing memory, logic, mathematics, reaction time and more! Brain Party is split into two modes: test mode gives you five minigames in a row and adds up your brain weight to see how smart you are, and practise mode lets you play your favourite minigames as often as you want. If you do well enough, there are six extra minigames that can be unlocked as well as a new game mode designed to keep you playing and enjoying your favourite games even longer.

Operating system: Linux, Mac OS X

Latest version:  0.5 (March 30 2010)

Hardware/software requirements: graphics card with 3D acceleration

BrisKola is a game to play classic Italian cards game briscola versus the computer.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux

Latest version: 1.0.0 (November 7 2009)

Brogue is a Roguelike game that is a direct descendant of Rogue, unlike other popular modern roguelikes, and it favors simplicity over complexity, while trying to ensure that the interactions between components will be interesting and varied.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X

Latest version: 1.7.4 (July 3 2014)

BurgerSpace is a game in which you are a chef, and must walk over hamburger ingredients (buns, meat, and lettuce) to make them fall from floor to floor, until they end up on the plates at the bottom of the screen. It requires the SDL multimedia library. It is a clone of the 1982 BurgerTime video game by Bally Midway.

Operating systems: Linux, Unix

Latest version: 1.9.2 (February 25 2013)

The Butterfly Effect is a physics game about cause and effect. You build complex mechanical systems using levers, rocket-like cola bottles and ordinary objects like tennis balls and bikes to accomplish simple tasks like toppling a Bowling Pin.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux

Latest version: Milestone 8 (November 14 2010)

BZFlag, which means "Battle Zone capture the Flag", is a FPS where tank teams face each other in battle, also in online multiplayer games.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, *BSD, Irix

Latest version: 2.4.0 (July 3 2011)

Hardware/software requirements: graphics card with 3D acceleration

Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead is a roguelike set in a post-apocalyptic world. Surviving is difficult: you have been thrown, ill-equipped, into a landscape now riddled with monstrosities of which flesh eating zombies are neither the strangest nor the deadliest.

Operating systems: Linux, Windows, Mac OS X

Latest version: 0.A "Kaufman" (March 4 2014)

Cave9 is a game inspired to the classic Cave but in 3D. The player must escape from a bunch of enemies in his fighter aircraft and enter a large cave hoping to find another exit.

Operating systems: Linux

Latest version: 0.3 (September 15 2008)

Chess III Arena is a simple chess game that utilizes Quake III Arena .md3 models for the various pieces. If you don't have Quake III Arena you can use Open Arena free models instead. Chess III Arena can optionally be configured to play a computer opponent via gnuchess.

Operating systems: Linux, Windows

Latest version: 20100402 (April 2 2010)

Hardware/software requirements: graphics card with 3D acceleration

Chroma is an abstract puzzle game. A variety of colourful shapes are arranged in a series of increasingly complex patterns, forming fiendish traps that must be disarmed and mysterious puzzles that must be manipulated in order to give up their subtle secrets. Initially so straightforward that anyone can pick it up and begin to play, yet gradually becoming difficult enough to tax even the brightest of minds. It features:

• twenty one levels, ranging from beginner to expert
• infinite undo and redo capability, as well as replay of solutions
• a choice of smooth graphics or a minimal, text based version
• a level editor to allow you to design your own puzzles
• released under an open source licence, free to play

Operating systems: Linux, Windows, FreeBSD

Latest version: 1.10 (March 8 2010)

You are captain of the cargo ship Chromium B.S.U., responsible for delivering supplies to our troops on the front line. Your ship has a small fleet of robotic fighters which you control from the relative safety of the Chromium vessel.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux

Latest version: 0.9.15.1 (May 25 2013)

Hardware/software requirements: graphics card with 3D acceleration

Classic Invaders is a clone of classic game Space Invaders with play and look of the original but with more modern graphics, sound, and a slightly faster overall feel.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X

Latest version: 1.0 (April 17 2009)

Hardware/software requirements: graphics card with 3D acceleration

Connectagram is a word unscrambling game. The board consists of several scrambled words that are joined together. You can choose the length of the words, the amount of words, and the pattern that the words are arranged in. The game provides a hint option for times when you are stuck, and features an online word lookup that fetches the definitions of each word from www.dict.org. Your current progress is automatically saved.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X

Latest version: 1.0.1 (September 7 2009)

Conquests is a turn-based 4X Civilization-like 3D strategy game. You can discover new technologies from the stone age to the space age, explore the world, and wage war on your opponents.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux

Latest version: 1.2 (September 22 2012)

Cosmosmash is a game where you control a base that must destroy rocks before they hit the ground, or you lose points. You must also prevent "spinners" from touching the ground, or your base will explode. This game is a clone of the 1981 Astrosmash video game for the Intellivision by Mattel Electronics.

Operating systems: Linux, Unix

Latest version: 1.4.7 (April 18 2013)

Crimson Fields is a turn-based strategy game inspired to Battle Isle where player must develop both offensive and defensive moves.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, BeOS

Latest version: 0.5.3 (March 1 2009)

Crossfire is a multiplayer online computer role-playing game that took elements from Nethack and Angband to build a medieval fantasy world.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris

Latest version: 1.71.0 (April 5 2014)

Cube Escape is a game that starts with you inside a cube made up of numerous shells, with a maze etched on the surface of each shell. Escape the cube by traveling through the mazes, including over cube edges, until you find an upward exit. When you reach the red exit, you win.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux

Latest version: 0.8 (November 20 2009)

Hardware/software requirements: graphics card with 3D acceleration

Cube Trains is a puzzle game where you build elevated railways in a city. It features 3D puzzles, unlimited undo/redo, and smart placement of pieces. The non-linear level graph means you don't have to beat a level before unlocking the next one. The game comes with a built-in level editor, so you can build and share your own corners of the city.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X

Latest version: 1.0.0 (December 2 2012)

Hardware/software requirements: graphics card with 3D acceleration

Cuby intents to be a logic puzzle game. You control a 3D cube with your mouse. Click on a colored block and drag along the empty spaces to create a line that connects the pair. There are a bunch of levels in different sets. Detailed help about how to play and an editor to create new levels is included within the game.

Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, iPhone OS

Latest version: 0.4 (June 16 2009)

Hardware/software requirements: graphics card with 3D acceleration

CuteMaze is a simple, top-down game in which mazes are randomly generated using one of a choice of several different algorithms. You move the character through the maze while hunting for targets (cheese, by default)—the game is won once all of these targets have been picked up.

Sistemi operativi: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X

Ultima versione: 1.1.0 (September 21 2009)

Cytadela is the conversion of the FPS for AmigaOS with the same name. The goal of the game is to find six bomb parts with which the Citadel has to be blown up. To achieve it, the player not only has to defend himsefl against the enemies, but (s)he also has to solve many riddles, such as swithcing apropriate buttons in order to open some door, move some walls, etc.

Operating systemsi: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X

Latest version: 1.0 (May 5 2010)

Hardware/software requirements: graphics card with 3D acceleration