OpenHV vs Warzone 2100
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted game servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | OpenHV | Warzone 2100 |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 73 · Good | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | Game Servers | Game Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | C# | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary, source | bare-metal, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,073 | ★ 3,965 |
| First released | 2020 | 1999 |
| Replaces | Command & Conquer | Command & Conquer |
What are OpenHV and Warzone 2100?
OpenHV
OpenHV is a free, open-source pixel-art real-time strategy game built on the OpenRA engine. It includes self-hostable multiplayer servers for classic-style RTS skirmishes and campaigns.
- Pixel-art RTS
- Self-hostable multiplayer
- OpenRA engine base
- Fully free assets
Warzone 2100
Warzone 2100 is a free, open-source 3D real-time strategy game. It supports multiplayer matches that players can host and join over the internet or local networks.
- 3D real-time strategy
- Multiplayer match hosting
- Deep research and design system
- Active community development
OpenHV vs Warzone 2100: key differences
OpenHV is written in C#, while Warzone 2100 is built with C++. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for OpenHV versus GPL-2.0 for Warzone 2100. Warzone 2100 is the more established project (first released 1999), while OpenHV arrived in 2020. Warzone 2100 has the considerably larger community, at 3,965 GitHub stars versus 1,073.
Why pick each one
Choose OpenHV if…
- Completely free including art
- Classic RTS feel
Watch out for
- Small player base
- Younger project
Choose Warzone 2100 if…
- Unique unit design depth
- Free and open
Watch out for
- Hosting needs port forwarding
- Niche audience
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenHV or Warzone 2100 better?
Neither is universally better. Warzone 2100 has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are OpenHV and Warzone 2100 free and open-source?
Yes. OpenHV is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Warzone 2100 under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OpenHV and Warzone 2100 with Docker?
OpenHV: check the project docs for container support. Warzone 2100: check the project docs for container support.