Sapphire Server vs Solarus
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?
Sapphire Server
Open-source server emulator for Final Fantasy XIV
VS
Solarus
Open-source 2D action-RPG game engine
| Feature | Sapphire Server | Solarus |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Game Engines & Frameworks | Game Engines & Frameworks |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, docker | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 819 | ★ 730 |
| First released | 2017 | 2011 |
| Replaces | official FFXIV servers | RPG Maker |
Why pick each one
Choose Sapphire Server if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in C++
Choose Solarus if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in C++
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Sapphire Server or Solarus better?
Neither is universally better. Sapphire Server has the larger community, while Solarus is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Sapphire Server and Solarus free and open-source?
Yes. Sapphire Server is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Solarus under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Sapphire Server and Solarus with Docker?
Sapphire Server: yes. Solarus: check the project docs for container support.