OpenMW vs OpenRA
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted game engines & frameworks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
OpenMW
Open-source engine reimplementation for Morrowind
VS
OpenRA
Open-source remake of classic RTS games
| Feature | OpenMW | OpenRA |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Game Engines & Frameworks | Game Engines & Frameworks |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary, source | docker, bare-metal, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,494 | ★ 17,194 |
| First released | 2008 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Morrowind original engine | Command & Conquer, Red Alert |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenMW or OpenRA better?
Neither is universally better. OpenRA has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are OpenMW and OpenRA free and open-source?
Yes. OpenMW is licensed under GPL-3.0 and OpenRA under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OpenMW and OpenRA with Docker?
OpenMW: check the project docs for container support. OpenRA: yes.