open-source-games: A Curated GitHub Catalog of Open-Source Games and Classic Engine Remakes Across 16+ Genres

For developers looking to study real-world game architectures or deconstruct how iconic classics operate under the hood, the GitHub repository 'bobeff/open-source-games' provides an expansive, genre-curated catalog of open-source video games and engine reimplementations.

Image source: @wangxiaoxin88 / X

Unlike casual game directories tailored solely for end-user gameplay downloads, this catalog links each featured entry directly to its underlying source code repository. This design enables developers and software engineers to clone projects locally, dissect core game loops, inspect physics simulations and rendering pipelines, and experiment with game programming paradigms across varied production codebases.

Broad Categorization Across 16+ Genres with Direct Source Links

The defining strength of 'open-source-games' lies in its systematic classification of game projects into well-defined genres:

• Strategy and Simulation: Real-Time Strategy (RTS), Turn-Based Strategy, Business and Tycoon, City-Building, and Tower Defense
• Action and RPG: Action, Third-Person, First-Person Shooters (FPS), Role-Playing Games (RPG), Roguelikes, and Shoot 'em ups
• Casual and Puzzle: Puzzle, Platformers, Racing, Sports, Sandbox, and Adventure

Every listing pairs the project name with direct links to its source repository on platforms like GitHub, allowing developers to directly explore, clone, and inspect diverse game implementations across each genre.

Classic Engine Remakes and Open-Source Reimplementations

A standout highlight of the catalog is its rich collection of open-source engine remakes and reverse-engineering efforts targeting legendary commercial titles:

• OpenTTD: A prominent open-source simulation game (GPLv2) based upon Chris Sawyer's classic 'Transport Tycoon Deluxe'.
• OpenRCT2: An open-source re-implementation and remake of the classic simulation title 'RollerCoaster Tycoon 2' under GPLv3.
• OpenLoco: An open-source reimplementation of Chris Sawyer's transport simulation 'Locomotion'.
• OpenMW: An open-source 3D game engine reimplementation (GPLv3) designed to run Bethesda's classic RPG 'The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind'.
• ScummVM: An open-source project designed to run classic graphical point-and-click adventure and role-playing games, including LucasArts' SCUMM-based titles.
• Doom and Quake Source Ports: A broad selection of source ports built upon id Software's released engine codebases, including Chocolate Doom—which accurately reproduces the 1990s gameplay experience—and Quake engine projects.
• Command & Conquer Projects: Source code implementations and modern recreations honoring the classic RTS franchise, such as OpenRA (rebuilding C&C and Red Alert) and related engine repositories.

These projects serve as exceptional educational references for developers seeking to study how commercial game engines were structured and how open-source communities maintain and reimplement legacy software.

Essential Practical Considerations: Proprietary Assets and Build Environments

Developers exploring and building projects from this catalog should keep two key operational realities in mind:

1. Asset Separation: For commercial engine remakes and source ports such as OpenRCT2, OpenMW, ScummVM, and Doom source ports, the engine source code is freely available under open-source licenses (such as GPL), but original proprietary game assets—including graphics, audio, and game data—are not included. Playing the full game requires users to provide legitimate copies of the original game assets.
2. Independent Build Requirements: Because 'open-source-games' is a curated catalog of third-party repositories rather than a single unified project, compiler requirements, library dependencies, and supported operating systems vary by game. Developers should consult the documentation of each upstream repository directly.

Sources

• GitHub Repository: bobeff/open-source-games
• Original Share (X @wangxiaoxin88): X Post