What is OpenRA?
OpenRA is an open source project that recreates and modernizes classic real time strategy games, like Red Alert, Command & Conquer, and Dune 2000.
We’ve developed a flexible game engine (the OpenRA engine) that provides a common platform for rebuilding and reimagining classic 2D and 2.5D RTS games. The OpenRA engine is not restricted by the technical limitations of the original games. It includes native support for modern operating systems (like Windows 10, macOS, and Linux) and screen resolutions without relying on emulation or hacks, and integrated online multiplayer.
EA has not endorsed and does not support this product.
Modernizing Classic RTS Games
While we love the classic RTS gameplay, multiplayer game design has evolved significantly since the 1990s. The OpenRA engine includes new features and gameplay improvements that are standard in more recent RTS games:
- A choice between “right click” and classic “left click” control schemes
- Overhauled sidebar interfaces with support for hotkeys and production queues
- Improved unit controls with features such as Attack-Move and stances
- The “fog of war” that obscures the battlefield outside your units' line of sight
- Other modern RTS features such as capturable tech structures and unit veterancy
- Support for game replays and an observer interface designed for streaming games online
These core changes and continuous balance refinements to support the active multiplayer community mean that the OpenRA gameplay has evolved from the classic releases, with heavy influences from later C&C titles.
OpenRA is 100% free, and comes bundled with three distinct mods. When you run a mod for the first time the game can automatically download the original game assets, or you can use the original game disks.
The OpenRA Games (aka Mods)
Games built using the OpenRA engine are known as “mods”. The OpenRA development team maintain the three official mods that can be downloaded from this website, but many more are developed and maintained by the OpenRA community.
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Tiberian Dawn
An alliance of nations fights to protect Europe and northern Africa from a mysterious terrorist organization and the valuable but toxic alien mineral, Tiberium, that is slowly spreading over the world.
The Tiberian Dawn mod focuses on fast and fluid play, taking heavy influences from modern RTS games with features like multiple-queue production.
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Red Alert
In a world where Hitler was assassinated and the Third Reich never existed, the Soviet Union seeks power over all of Europe. Allied against this Evil Empire, the free world faces a Cold War turned red hot.
The Red Alert mod focuses on strategy, providing a range of units and tactics to conquer the land, sea, and air.
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Dune 2000
Three great houses fight for the precious spice melange. He who controls the spice controls the universe! Establish a foothold on the desert planet Arrakis, where your biggest threat is the environment.
The Dune 2000 mod currently focuses on providing an experience that is authentic to the original game.
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⚠ Under Construction: Some mods are playable, but still in development. You can help them along by downloading them and reporting bugs to their respective projects. These mods must be installed separately.
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Tiberian Sun
The next major goal for OpenRA is to support the second generation of Command & Conquer games, starting with Tiberian Sun.
The game engine features to support Tiberian Sun are still in development. The mod is not included with the OpenRA installer, but the source code is available in our GitHub repository. Please note that we do not provide support for incomplete development builds.
Building Custom Mods
OpenRA is designed as a general purpose RTS game engine with strong modding support. The OpenRA Mod SDK provides tools to develop and release your own projects. Each new OpenRA release brings many improvements and fixes created for, and by, the modding community. A collection of community-built mods and games can be found on OpenRA's ModDB page.