OpenRCT2 vs Widelands

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?
FeatureOpenRCT2Widelands
CategoryGame ServersGame Servers
LicenseGPL-3.0GPL-2.0
LanguageC++C++
Setup difficultyMediumMedium
Min. RAM512 MB1,024 MB
Deploymentbare-metal, binary, sourcebinary, source
GitHub stars★ 16,049★ 2,924
First released20142001
ReplacesRollerCoaster TycoonThe Settlers

Why pick each one

Choose OpenRCT2 if…

  • Faithful modern remake
  • Active community
OpenRCT2 details

Choose Widelands if…

  • Released under the GPL-2.0 license
  • Active community (2.9k GitHub stars)
  • Written in C++
Widelands details

Frequently asked questions

Is OpenRCT2 or Widelands 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 Widelands free and open-source?

Yes. OpenRCT2 is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Widelands under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run OpenRCT2 and Widelands with Docker?

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

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