SHSelfHostIndex

OpenClonk vs Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead

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?
OP OpenClonk Open-source multiplayer action and tactics game VS CA Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead Open-source turn-based survival roguelike
FeatureOpenClonkCataclysm: Dark Days Ahead
CategoryGame ServersGame Servers
LicenseISCCC-BY-SA-3.0
LanguageC++C++
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM512 MB512 MB
Deploymentbinary, sourcebare-metal, binary, source
GitHub stars★ 401★ 12,896
First released20132013
ReplacesClonkNetHack

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 Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead if…

  • Enormous depth
  • Active development
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead details

Frequently asked questions

Is OpenClonk or Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead better?

Neither is universally better. Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead 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 Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead free and open-source?

Yes. OpenClonk is licensed under ISC and Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead under CC-BY-SA-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run OpenClonk and Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead with Docker?

OpenClonk: check the project docs for container support. Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead: check the project docs for container support.

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