NextGBA vs OpenRCT2

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted game servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
FeatureNextGBAOpenRCT2
CategoryGame ServersGame Servers
LicensefreeGPL-3.0
LanguageTypeScriptC++
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM512 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, one-clickbare-metal, binary, source
GitHub stars★ 45★ 16,049
First released20232014
ReplacesRollerCoaster Tycoon

Why pick each one

Choose NextGBA if…

  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • One-click install on common self-host platforms
  • Written in TypeScript
NextGBA details

Choose OpenRCT2 if…

  • Faithful modern remake
  • Active community
OpenRCT2 details

Frequently asked questions

Is NextGBA or OpenRCT2 better?

Neither is universally better. OpenRCT2 has the larger community, while NextGBA is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.

Are NextGBA and OpenRCT2 free and open-source?

Yes. NextGBA is licensed under free and OpenRCT2 under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run NextGBA and OpenRCT2 with Docker?

NextGBA: yes. OpenRCT2: check the project docs for container support.

Related comparisons