SelfHostHub

Self-hosted Games

SelfHostHub lists 20 open-source Games projects you can host on your own server. The most-starred on GitHub are Mindustry (29,399 stars), Lila (18,859 stars) and Luanti (13,734 stars). 4 of them document a Docker install, and 6 offer a live demo you can try first.

Factorio-like tower defense game. Build production chains to gather more resources, and build complex facilities.

GamesGPL-3.0

Lila

19k

Ad-less chess server powering lichess.org, with official iOS and Android client apps.

GamesAGPL-3.0

Voxel game engine (formerly Minetest). Play one of our many games, mod a game to your liking, make your own game, or play on a multiplayer server.

GamesLGPL-2.1

Transport tycoon simulation game.

GamesGPL-2.0

Minimalist text adventure game for your browser.

GamesMPL-2.0

The Battle for Wesnoth is an Open Source, turn-based tactical strategy game with a high fantasy theme, featuring both singleplayer and online/hotseat multiplayer combat.

GamesGPL-2.0

Multiplayer RPG. Inspired by Cube World, Legend of Zelda, Dwarf Fortress and Minecraft.

GamesGPL-3.0

MTA:SA

1.9k

Add network play functionality to Rockstar North's Grand Theft Auto game series, in which this functionality is not originally found.

GamesGPL-3.0

Competitive top-down shooter blending Counter-Strike with Hotline Miami. Runs on Linux, Windows, MacOS and the Web.

GamesAGPL-3.0

Razzia

1.1k

Quiz game platform, designed for smaller self-hosted events (alternative to Kahoot!).

GamesMIT

Open Source on Springrts engine. Zero-K is a traditional real time strategy game with a focus on player creativity through terrain manipulation, physics, and a large roster of unique units - all while being balanced to support competitive play.

GamesGPL-2.0

Cooperative platformer version of DDRace, a Teeworlds modification featuring unique cooperative gameplay.

GamesZlib

Geography multiplayer game.

GamesMIT

A web-based pictionary game.

GamesBSD-3-Clause

Arena first-person shooter similar to Unreal Tournament.

GamesZlib

2D battle royale game inspired by surviv.io.

GamesGPL-3.0

Server for openspades, the first-person shooter in a destructible voxel world.

GamesGPL-3.0

Clone of 2048 game in 3D.

GamesCC-BY-NC-4.0

Cross-platform real-time strategy game of ancient warfare.

GamesMIT

Create a virtual game room around a connected buzzer (documentation in French).

GamesAGPL-3.0

How to choose self-hosted Games software

  1. Check project health. Stars show popularity, not maintenance. Open the source repository and look at recent commits and releases.
  2. Match the licence to your use. 13 use a GPL-family licence (copyleft, including AGPL) and 8 use a permissive licence such as MIT, Apache-2.0 or BSD. AGPL matters if you modify the software and offer it to others over a network.
  3. Pick a stack you can run. The most common platforms here are C++ (9), deb (4), Docker (4) and Nodejs (3). Docker is usually the easiest path for a home server or VPS.
  4. Try before you migrate. Use a live demo where one exists (6 here), or a throwaway container first, and confirm it can import your existing data before switching.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular self-hosted Games software?

By GitHub stars, the top projects in this category are Mindustry (29,399 stars), Lila (18,859 stars) and Luanti (13,734 stars).

How many open-source Games tools are listed?

20 projects are currently listed in the Games category on SelfHostHub.

Which licences do self-hosted Games projects use?

The most common licences in this category are GPL-3.0 (5), MIT (5) and Zlib (4).

Can I run these Games tools with Docker?

4 of the 20 projects list Docker as a supported platform. Check each project's documentation for the exact install steps.

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