2048
Game ServersSelf-hostable browser version of the 2048 sliding puzzle
Replaces Mobile puzzle games
Best Offline-First Game Servers for self-hosting
The 28 best Offline-First game servers you can self-host, ranked by community traction.
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead
Game ServersOpen-source turn-based survival roguelike
Replaces NetHack
Prism Launcher
Game ServersOpen-source Minecraft launcher for managing instances and modpacks
Replaces Official Minecraft Launcher, CurseForge app
Endless Sky
Game ServersFree space exploration and trading game
Replaces Escape Velocity
shapez.io
Game ServersOpen-source factory-building puzzle game
Replaces Factorio
Ren'Py
Game ServersVisual novel engine for creating story-based games
Replaces TyranoBuilder
OpenXRay
Game ServersOpen-source engine for the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games
Replaces original X-Ray Engine
Minecraft Overviewer
Game ServersGenerates browsable map tiles from Minecraft worlds
Replaces Dynmap
SuperTux
Game ServersClassic-style 2D side-scrolling platform game
Replaces Super Mario Bros
Twine
Game ServersOpen-source tool for telling interactive nonlinear stories
Replaces Inklewriter
hextris
Game ServersSelf-hosted block-stacking puzzle game in the browser
Replaces Tetris
Cytopia
Game ServersFree city-building simulation game
Replaces SimCity
Pioneer
Game ServersOpen-source space adventure and trading simulator
Replaces Elite, Frontier
Inform 7
Game ServersNatural-language design system for interactive fiction
Replaces TADS
unknown-horizons
Game ServersOpen-source 2D real-time strategy and economy simulation
Replaces Anno series
Evolve
Game ServersBrowser-based incremental idle game of civilization evolution
Replaces Cookie Clicker, Universal Paperclips
colobot
Game ServersSelf-hostable open-source educational programming game
Replaces Commercial programming games
EasyRPG Player
Game ServersOpen-source interpreter for RPG Maker 2000 and 2003 games
Replaces RPG Maker RTP runtime
Naev
Game ServersOpen-source 2D space trading and combat game
Replaces Escape Velocity
Adventure Game Studio
Game ServersEngine and editor for creating point-and-click adventure games
Replaces Visionaire Studio
Lichess Board Note - chessground alt pychess
Game ServersSelf-hostable chess server playing multiple chess variants
Replaces Chess.com
FlightGear
Game ServersOpen-source flight simulator with multiplayer
Replaces Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane
FreeCol
Game ServersOpen-source turn-based colonization strategy game
Replaces Sid Meier's Colonization
Oolite
Game ServersOpen-source space trading and combat game inspired by Elite
Replaces Elite
LinCity-NG
Game ServersOpen-source city building and management game
Replaces SimCity
OpenDungeons
Game ServersOpen-source dungeon-keeper-style real-time strategy game
Replaces Dungeon Keeper
Curse of War
Game ServersFast-paced real-time strategy game for the Linux terminal
Replaces commercial RTS games
UFO: Alien Invasion
Game ServersOpen-source strategy game of defending Earth from aliens
Replaces XCOM
No apps match these filters.
At a glance
| App | Deploy effort | Difficulty | Min. RAM | License | ★ Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2048 | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 64 MB | MIT | 13,433 |
| Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead | Read-the-docs project | Medium | 512 MB | CC-BY-SA-3.0 | 13,355 |
| Prism Launcher | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 256 MB | GPL-3.0 | 10,648 |
| Endless Sky | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 512 MB | GPL-3.0 | 7,631 |
| shapez.io | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 256 MB | GPL-3.0 | 6,989 |
| Ren'Py | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 512 MB | MIT | 6,916 |
| OpenXRay | Read-the-docs project | Medium | 1,024 MB | Custom | 3,580 |
| Minecraft Overviewer | Read-the-docs project | Medium | 1,024 MB | GPL-3.0 | 3,505 |
| SuperTux | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 256 MB | GPL-3.0 | 3,168 |
| Twine | Under-an-hour setup | Easy | 128 MB | GPL-3.0 | 2,910 |
Quick picks
- Most adopted: 2048 (13,433 GitHub stars).
- Lightest footprint: Curse of War (from 32 MB RAM, against 2,048 MB for the heaviest here).
- Licensing: 16 of 28 use GPL-3.0; check the rest individually if you plan to modify and redistribute.
Every option here is open-source and self-hostable, tagged Offline-First within the game servers category. Deploy effort is graded from published container recipes, not vendor claims — see the methodology.