OpenRCT2 vs Pelican Panel

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?
FeatureOpenRCT2Pelican Panel
CategoryGame ServersGame Servers
LicenseGPL-3.0MIT
LanguageC++PHP
Setup difficultyMediumMedium
Min. RAM512 MB1,024 MB
Deploymentbare-metal, binary, sourcedocker, bare-metal, source
GitHub stars★ 16,049★ 2,229
First released20142024
ReplacesRollerCoaster TycoonTCAdmin, Multicraft

Why pick each one

Choose OpenRCT2 if…

  • Faithful modern remake
  • Active community
OpenRCT2 details

Choose Pelican Panel if…

  • Easier setup than predecessors
  • Active development
Pelican Panel details

Frequently asked questions

Is OpenRCT2 or Pelican Panel better?

Neither is universally better. OpenRCT2 has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are OpenRCT2 and Pelican Panel free and open-source?

Yes. OpenRCT2 is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Pelican Panel under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run OpenRCT2 and Pelican Panel with Docker?

OpenRCT2: check the project docs for container support. Pelican Panel: yes.

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