OpenClonk 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?
FeatureOpenClonkOpenRCT2
CategoryGame ServersGame Servers
LicenseISCGPL-3.0
LanguageC++C++
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM512 MB512 MB
Deploymentbinary, sourcebare-metal, binary, source
GitHub stars★ 401★ 16,049
First released20132014
ReplacesClonkRollerCoaster Tycoon

Why pick each one

Choose OpenClonk if…

  • Released under the ISC license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • Written in C++
  • Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
OpenClonk details

Choose OpenRCT2 if…

  • Faithful modern remake
  • Active community
OpenRCT2 details

Frequently asked questions

Is OpenClonk or OpenRCT2 better?

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

Are OpenClonk and OpenRCT2 free and open-source?

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

Can I run OpenClonk and OpenRCT2 with Docker?

OpenClonk: check the project docs for container support. OpenRCT2: check the project docs for container support.

Related comparisons