Free alternatives to classic/well known games

[MrFlibble]

Apparently there was a free data replacement project for Descent/Descent II called Freescent. There was some moderate progress, but it has not been updated since 2007.

Project discussion:
http://www.dxx-rebirth.com/frm/index.php?topic=657.0
http://forum.descent2.de/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=248
http://www.descentbb.net/viewtopic.php?t=13270

[Edit] There's a somewhat newer project called Flight Back. Here's a YouTube video.

The project is part of the Open Descent Foundation - for some reason, their website is currently inaccessible, but there's a Wayback Machine copy.

Some info on Flight Back can be found in the PlanetDescent forums:
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php/ ... ml#msg6602

[SpawnMax]

O wow nice list!

[MrFlibble]

Recently a Windows download was added to the LordsAWar! website. Previously, only the source code was available.

The build is v0.3.0. There are two single-player scenarios, skirmish mode on random maps, and network multiplayer.

[MrFlibble]

Annex: Conquer the World is a free, open source real-time strategy game based on the MegaGlest engine, which is apparently inspired by the Command & Conquer series of games, as well as Earth 2140 and sequels, Warzone 2100 and StarCraft. There are four playable factions, several terrain tilesets, customizable tech trees, campaign scenarios, skirmish and mutliplayer modes.

The same developer is working on another RTS with a space sci-fi setting, called Terra Centauri: Last Stand. A beta is available here.

openKB is an engine recreation project for New World Computing's King's Bounty, with planned support for the original game's files as well as a free open source data set. The development is in its early stages, so no downloads yet.

Free Mars is a free, open source turn-based strategy game inspired by Sid Meier's Civilization, Colonization and Alpha Centauri.

Rescue! Max is a remake of Rescue!, a Mac shareware game.

CATharsis is a project to create an open source clone of Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project in Blender. It's not an engine recreation, but rather a stand-alone game similar to DNMP but with its own protagonist, art, levels etc. Rather early stages of development.

OpenGGS is an open source remake of The Great Giana Sisters (a Super Mario Bros. clone). The author has permission to use original graphics from the Commodore 64 version, but there's also a free tile set as well.

[MrFlibble]

Dungeon Keeper
o Dungeon Digger
Herzog Zwei
o Herzog 3D
Railroad Tycoon
o FreeRails
o FreeRails II
o Railz2
Total Annihilation
o Robotic War
Fleet Command, Harpoon
o Global Conflict Blue

[MrFlibble]

Added the free/prototype version of Sublevel Zero as a game inspired by Descent.

[MrFlibble]

Feudal Wars is a project of a free browser-based medieval RTS inspired by Age of Empires II. The list of features can be found here, and the project messageboard showcases the graphics and other stuff already done.

According to the FAQ, there will be a kickstarter for the game at some point. There seem to be no plans for a non-browser versions for now, but perhaps the authors will agree to release their assets into public domain and those could be combined with the OpenAge engine recreation of AoE2.

[MrFlibble]

Freedoom v0.10 is out, with lots of improvements. More monsters and almost all weapons have been replaced with higher quality art. Maps have been updated as well.

Wyrmsun v1.8.0 adds the custom hero option and inventories for heroes and high-level units.

[MrFlibble]

Added Mechanized Assault & eXploration Reloaded to the list as it allows to use a free set of graphics and not just the resources from the original M.A.X..

[MrFlibble]

Quake
o Open Quartz (QuakeForge, DarkPlaces)
o OpenQuartz 2 (DarkPlaces)
o OQPlus (QuakeForge, DarkPlaces) [SVN]

Now the above Quake project have all been abandoned while still very far from completion, but it has been brought to my attention that a new project, LibreQuake, is under development and already looking very nice:

[MrFlibble]

Recently I made a complete overhaul of the lists, based on what are hopefully more useful and transparent principles. For historical purposes, I'm archiving the original lists below (note that some information there may be incorrect).

Just as the title suggests, this is an attempt to list free games that very closely follow a well-known product or franchise and can thus serve as an alternative to that particular game.

What I have not included on the list are multiplayer-only games, browser-based games, and all kinds of free-to-play and "freemium" online products. I have also tried not to include projects that make use of original assets like graphics and sounds (unless authorized by original copyright holders, as is the case of T2002), so games like Gods Deluxe or Return of the Triad are not on the list.

Any further suggestions as to what games qualify as free alternatives are more than welcome

1. Free content replacement for original engine/engine recreation

Battle Isle 2200
o Advanced Strategic Command
Doom
o Freedoom (Doom engine)
Duke Nukem
o Dave Gnukem [download]
The Great Giana Sisters
o OpenGGS
Half-Life
o Black Mesa (Source)
Heretic
o Blasphemer (Doom engine)
Hexen: Beyond Heretic
o Zauberer (Doom engine)
M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault & Exploration
o Mechanized Assault & eXploration Reloaded
Panzer General II
o OpenGeneral
Quake
o Open Quartz (QuakeForge, DarkPlaces)
o OpenQuartz 2 (DarkPlaces)
o OQPlus (QuakeForge, DarkPlaces) [SVN]
Quake III: Arena
o OpenArena (Quake III engine)
o World of Padman (Quake III engine)
RPGMaker
o EasyRPG
Total Annihilation
o Zero-K (Spring RTS Engine)
Transport Tycoon Deluxe
o OpenTTD
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
o Aleona's Tales (Stratagus)
X-COM: Enemy Unknown
o UFO2000

2. Freeware clones

A-Train
o FreeTrain
Carrier Command
o Thunder&Lightning
Chip's Challenge
o Tile World
Crayon Physics
o Numpty Physics
Crimsonland
o Violetland
Dungeon Keeper
o Dungeon Digger
o OpenDungeons
Elasto Mania
o X-Moto
Elite
o Galaxias
o Oolite
Escape Velocity
o NAEV
Guitar Hero
o Frets on Fire
Herzog Zwei
o Herzog 3D
Lemmings
o Lix
o Pingus
Lode Runner
o SDL Scavenger
Master of Magic
o Continents [download]
Microsoft Flight Simulator
o FlightGear
Minecraft
o Manic Digger
o Minetest
OutRun
o RunOut
Paratrooper
o Dragon Fire
Planet Defender
o Planetary Defense
Railroad Tycoon
o FreeRails
o FreeRails II
o Railz2
Rescue!
o Rescue! Max
RPGMaker
o Advanced RPG Maker
o Mokoi Gaming
o Open Legends
o Open RPG Maker
o Sphere RPG Engine
Robot Odyssey
o DroidQuest
o Gate
Scorched Earth
o Atomic Tanks
Secret Agent
o Special Agent
Sentinel
o Sentry
The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici
o Widelands
Sid Meier's Civilization II
o Freeciv
Sid Meier's Colonization
o FreeCol
SimCity
o Lincity
o Lincity NG
o Micropolis
Stars!
o Stars! Nova
Stunts
o Ultimate Stunts
Super Mario Bros.
o Giana Worlds [download]
o Giant Sisters
o Secret Maryo Chronicles
o SuperTux
Super Mario Kart
o SuperTuxKart
Total Annihilation
o Robotic War
Transport Tycoon Deluxe
o Simutrans
Turrican
o T2002
Warlords
o Hostile Takeover
Warlords II
o FreeLords
o LordsAWar!
Wing Commander
o Flight Commander
Wing Commander: Privateer
o Vega Strike
Worms
o Hedgewars
o WarMUX

3. Free games inspired by classic titles (not exact remakes)

Age of Empires
o 0 A.D.
Anno series
o Unknown Horizons
Battle Isle 2200
o Crimson Fields
Battlefield series, Call of Duty series
o Blacklight: Retribution
Bos Wars, Command & Conquer: Red Alert
o Commander Stalin
BoulderDash, Emerald Mine, Supaplex, Sokoban
o Rocks'n'Diamonds
Castle of the Winds, Ancient Domains of Mystery
o Fame
Castlevania series
o Return of Egypt
Celtic Legends, Heroes of Might and Magic, Civilization
o Legendary Legions
Command & Conquer series
o Annex: Conquer the World
o Dark Konflict
Dark Colony
o Dark Hive
Descent
o Sublevel Zero (prototype) [download]
Diablo
o Fire & Dragons
o Flare
o FreedroidRPG
o Gates of Destiny
o Summoning Wars
Doom
o Harmony
Doom, Quake etc.
o Cube
o Cube 2: Sauerbraten
Dune II
o Arrakis
Earthworm Jim
o Kapitan Binarny
Empire Deluxe
o GEMpire
Fleet Command, Harpoon
o Global Conflict Blue
Frontier: Elite II
o Pioneer
Gradius, Castlevania, R-Type
o Hydorah
Grand Prix Legends
o Dolphinity Racer
Grand Theft Auto series
o Crimelife
o Crimelife 2
o Crimelife III
Gun
o Guns and Spurs
Half-Life: Counterstrike
o AssaultCube
o Assault Cube Reloaded
o Urban Terror
Heroes of Might and Magic series
o Knights of War
KKnD, StarCraft
o Bos Wars
Lost Vikings
o Lost Snowmen
Master of Magic
o Leylines
Master of Orion
o FreeOrion
Natural Selection
o Tremulous
o Unvanquished
Oxyd, Rock'n'Roll
o Enigma
Populous
o Reprisal
Puzzle Bobble
o Frozen Bubble
o Hex Bubbles
o Zorx
Quake III: Arena, Unreal Tournament
o Alien Arena
o Arena of Honour
o Nexuiz Classic
o Red Eclipse
o Warsow
o Xonotic
R-Type
o GazerStar
Scorched Earth
o Scorched3D
Sid Meier's Civilization II
o C-evo
o Conquests
SimCity
o City of Rauma
o Kylavanem
o OpenCity
Star Wars: TIE Fighter, Descent: Freespace
o Space Combat
StarCraft
o Priority: Survive
Solar Fox
o Solar Wolf
Super Monkey Ball
o Neverball
Turrican series
o Hurrican
Ultima series
o The Kingdom of Syree
o Nazghul
o Untima IX: Descension
o Zorak: The Mountain of Terror
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
o Dark Oberon
o Wyrmsun
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
o Glest
o MegaGlest
Warsong, Master of Monsters
o The Battle for Wesnoth
Warlords II
o The Wargame Project
Wizardry VII
o Escape From The Maze
o LostHero - Story of Gilgamesh
X-COM: Enemy Unknown
o Project Xenocide
o UFO: Alien Invasion
o X-Force: Fight for Destiny

4. Board game implementations

Diplomacy
o Ludus Regius
Risk
o JavaRisk
o NetRisk
o OpenFracas
o yura.net Domination
Space Hulk
o Alien Assault
Titan
o Colossus

[MrFlibble]

Warcraft II

• Aleona's Tales (later releases merged with Wargus)

This game has been merged with the Wargus project and the latest version is included in the 2.4.3 release, but it does not work out of the box. I made a fix for this (plus a few minor updates), available here: tales-2.4.3-fix.zip

[MrFlibble]

Here's a little hotfix for Aleona's Tales sprites: tales-quick-fix.zip

It repairs some extra transparency in Peasant, Fawn, Knight and Gryphon sprites, and adds shadows to Footman and Archer sprites. Additionally, I replaced Footman and under attack voice with higher quality alternatives by David Slimp which I found in the old CVS repo, plus attempted to repair some other speech and sounds with clicks and noise using Audacity.

[MrFlibble]

Another update for the Aleona's Tales fix: tales-fix-update.zip

It supersedes the one in my previous post. Unzip and overwrite all files. It restructures the scripts to add custom unit and building names and tooltips, adds shadows to most Feral buildings and recolours the new water tiles. Some new icons and sounds too.

[MrFlibble]

Homeworld

• House Globe

Master of Orion

• Remnants of the Precursors

[MrFlibble]

I've just made yet another major overhaul of the list. In addition to simplifying the categories and presentation, I expanded it with many new titles.

Below is the previous version of the list, just in case:

Just as the title suggests, this is an attempt to list free games that very closely follow a well-known product or franchise and can thus serve as an alternative to that particular game.

What I have not included on the list are multiplayer-only games, browser-based games, and all kinds of free-to-play and "freemium" online products. I have also tried not to include projects that make use of original assets like graphics and sounds (unless authorized by original copyright holders, as is the case of T2002), so games like Gods Deluxe or Return of the Triad are not on the list.

Any further suggestions as to what games qualify as free alternatives are more than welcome

Update from 2021/09/15: A complete overhaul of the lists, using new groupings, which are hopefully more informative.

1. Original engine + free/libre game data
These are games based on the original code of their inspirations. Often, a free/libre game data set (levels, graphics, music) is created as a replacement for the original proprietary game data, while the playing mechanics remain the same, but sometimes, other aspects of gameplay undergo considerable alterations, which is reflected by the [mod] suffix in the list below.

In some cases, the source code/engine is still not public, but has been provided by owners to the community so that new free games or mods may be created.

Yet another case when the code is not available are various game construction sets that allow users to freely distribute games created with them. These are marked with the [toolkit] suffix.

Abuse

• fRaBs

Alien Shooter

• Theseus: Return of the Hero

The Bard's Tale

• The Bard's Lore [toolkit]
• The Bard's Quest [toolkit]

Crayon Physics

• Numpty Physics

Doom II

• Freedoom
• HacX [mod]
• Harmony [mod]

Duke Nukem 3D

• Mr The Killer [mod]

Freespace 2

• Wings of Dawn [mod]

Heretic

• Blasphemer

Hovertank 3D

• Robot Redemption

Lethal Tender

• Industrial Killers (ikillers.zip) [toolkit]

Quake

• LibreQuake
• Open Quartz
• Open Quartz 2
• Nexuiz Classic [mod]
• Rexuiz [mod]

Quake II

• CodeRED - Battle For Earth [mod]
• CodeRED - The Martian Chronicles [mod]
• Alien Arena [mod]
• D-Day Normandy [mod]
• Warsow [mod]

Quake III Arena

• OpenArena [mod]
• Acid Arena [mod]
• World of Pandman [mod]

Steel Panthers

• SPWW2 [mod]
• Steel Panthers: World at War [mod]

Steel Panthers II: Modern Battles

• SPMBT [mod]

Super-VGA Harrier

• Jaguar GR1: Strike Force Delta Zulu [toolkit]
• Tornado Squadron [toolkit]
• Skyhawk Attack [toolkit]

The Ultimate Doom

• Freedoom
• Chex Quest 3 [mod]
• REKKR [mod]

Wolfenstein 3-D

• Zillion 3D

2. Engine recreation + free/libre game data
Very similar to the above, but the original game source is not available in any form, so an attempt is made to recreate it from scratch and/or by means of reverse engineering. Usually such projects start by requiring the original game's data, and then a free/libre replacement data set is created by the community.

In some rare cases, the author of a recreation received permission from the copyright holders of the emulated game to use original proprietary game data, characters, title etc. These projects are marked with the [authr] suffix in the list.

Atomix

• Atomiks [authr]

The Bard's Tale Construction Set

• Bt Builder

Chip's Challenge

• Tile World

Command & Conquer: Red Alert

• Fractured Realms [mod]
• OpenHV [mod]

Commander Keen (second trilogy)

• Planet Cloudius IX

Digger (Windmill Software)

• Digger Remastered [authr]

Flight Sim Toolkit

• OpenFly

M.A.X.

• M.A.X. Reloaded

Panzer General

• LGeneral + K.u.k. General

Supaplex

• Open Supaplex [authr]

Total Annihilation

• Zero-K

Transport Tycoon Deluxe

• OpenTTD

UFO: Enemy Unknown

• UFO2000

Warcraft II

• Aleona's Tales (later releases merged with Wargus)
• Wyrmsun [mod]

3. Clones and remakes that faithfully recreate original mechanics
This is likely the most common type, with many projects being not only accurate reproductions of the original game mechanics, but often also trying to follow the original "look & feel" of their inspirations. At least some of these projects are motivated by the desire to create a FOSS alternative to a proprietary game for Linux users, or to fill in what is perceived as an empty niche for modern platforms.

Note that some of these games actually make rather drastic changes compared to the original titles they emulate, such as the transition to 3D graphics from 2D, or a cosmetic/thematic overhaul by using free software mascots as game characters for example.

A-Train

• FreeTrain

Age of Empires

• 0 A.D.
• The Fertile Crescent

Alien Breed

• Alien Assault II

Anno series

• Unknown Horizons

Arkanoid

• PopCorn

Battle Isle II

• Advanced Strategic Command
• Crimson Fields

BlockOut

• BockOut II [authr]

Blood

• Transfusion [authr]

Bomberman

• Mr.Boom
• Fracas

Boulder Dash

• GDash
• Rocks'n'Diamonds

Bust-a-Move/Puzzle Bobble

• Bobble Puzzle
• Frozen Bubble
• Zorx

Carrier Command

• Thunder&Lightning

Castlevania 2

• Castlevania 2: The Lecarde Chronicles [authr]

Civilisation V

• Unciv

Columns

• Bref

Command & Conquer

• Dark Konflict
• Future Conflict (fc_101pm.zip)

Crimsonland

• Bloodworks
• Violetland

D/Generation

• rE/Generation

Diablo

• FreedroidRPG
• FLARE
• Summoning Wars

Doom

• Anarch
• Shaw's Nightmare

Duke Nukem 1

• Dave Gnukem

Dungeon Keeper

• OpenDungeons

Elasto Mania

• XMoto

Elite

• Oolite

Empire Deluxe

• GEMpire

Escape Velocity

• NAEV

Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures

• Dungeon Craft

The Great Giana Sisters

• Akiko and Minami
• Giana's Return
• Giana Worlds [authr]

Herzog Zwei

• Herzog 3D
• RAD - Rapid Aerial Deployment

Homeworld

• House Globe

King's Quest series

• King's Quest Remake [authr]
• King's Quest II Enhanced Edition [authr]
• King's Quest III [authr]

Knights and Merchants

• Knights Province

Lemmings

• Lix
• Pingus
• Hamsters

Lode Runner

• SDL Scavenger

The Lords of Midnight

• The Lords of Midnight PC [authr]

The Lost Vikings

• freeVikings

Magic Carpet

• Ogrian Carpet

Master of Monsters

• The Battle for Wesnoth

Master of Orion

• FreeOrion
• Remnants of the Precursors

Mechwarrior series

• Linwarrior 3D

Minecraft

• Manic Digger
• Minetest

Mortal Kombat

• Open Mortal

Nibbles

• Zmiy

OutRun

• RunOut

Oxyd

• Enigma

Pac-Man

• Open Greedy

Panzer General II

• Open General
• OpenPanzer / Panzer Marshal

Puzznic

• Wizznic!

Rise of the Triad

• Rise of the Wool Ball

RPG Maker

• EasyRPG
• Open RPG Maker

Secret Agent

• Special Agent

Sensible (World of) Soccer

• YSoccer

The Settlers II

• Widelands

The Settlers of Catan

• Pioneers

Sid Meier's Civilisation/Civilisation II

• Freeciv
• Great Nations
• Conquests
• C-evo
• Kingdoms

Sid Meier's Colonisation

• FreeCol

SimCity

• Lincity
• LinCity-NG
• OpenCity

SolarFox

• SolarWolf

Sonic the Hedgehog

• Open Surge

Star Wars: TIE Fighter

• Space Combat

StarCraft

• Priority: Survive

Stars!

• Stars! Nova

Stunts

• Ultimate Stunts

Super Hexagon

• Open Hexagon

Super Mario Bros.

• Secret Maryo Chronicles
• SuperTux

Super Monkey Ball

• Neverball

Tetris

• Super ACiD Block Attack

Thief: The Dark Project

• The Dark Mod

Total Annihilation

• Robotic War
• War Machines

Trailblazer

• Blazing Trails

Transport Tycoon

• Simutrans

Trugg

• Heartlight PC

Turrican II

• Hurrican
• T2002 [authr]

Ultima I

• The Kingdom of Syree

Ultima IV-V

• Haxima

Ultima VI

• IRE

Warcraft II

• Dark Oberon

Warlords II Deluxe

• LordsAWar!

Wing Commander

• Flight Commander

Wizardry VII

• Escape from the Maze
• Lost Hero

Worms

• Hedgewars
• WarMUX

X-COM/UFO

• X-Force: Fight for Destiny
• UFO: Alien Invasion

[MrFlibble]

The current fork of Blasphemer can be now found here:
https://github.com/Catoptromancy/blasphemer

The IWAD downloads are here:
https://github.com/Catoptromancy/blasph ... asphem.zip