head to head · open source
libgdx vs OpenRA
libgdx has 25,405 GitHub stars, 6,525 forks, 337 open issues and last shipped 13 days ago. OpenRA has 17,408 stars, 3,048 forks, 1,598 open issues and last shipped 8 days ago. libgdx leads on adoption by 46% (25,405 vs 17,408 stars). libgdx is written in Java under Apache-2.0; OpenRA is written in C# under GPL-3.0. libgdx has attracted 26% as many forks as stars, OpenRA 18%. OpenRA was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 3 topic tags (cross-platform, game, game-engine), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| libgdx | OpenRA | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 25K | ★ 17K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Java | C# |
| Last push | 2026-09-09 | 2026-09-14 |
| Forks | ⑂ 6.5K | ⑂ 3.0K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick libgdx if
- You weight community size — 25K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Java
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick OpenRA if
- You want the OpenRA feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches C#
- You evaluated both and OpenRA fits your workflow better
About libgdx
libGDX is a cross platform Java game development framework built on OpenGL (ES) that renders 2D and 3D games for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, web browsers, and iOS, aimed at Java developers who want one codebase and no imposed design or coding style.
read the full libgdx overview →
About OpenRA
OpenRA is a libre, free and open source real time strategy game engine written in C with SDL and OpenGL, built for players, mappers and modders who want to run and extend early Westwood classics such as Command & Conquer: Red Alert, Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn and Dune 2000 on Windows, Linux, BSD and Mac OS X.
read the full OpenRA overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is libgdx or OpenRA more popular?
libgdx has 25,405 GitHub stars and OpenRA has 17,408. libgdx has the larger community by that measure.
Are libgdx and OpenRA free?
Both are open source. libgdx is licensed under Apache-2.0 and OpenRA under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between libgdx and OpenRA?
libgdx is written in Java and OpenRA in C#. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, libgdx or OpenRA?
Choose libgdx if you want the larger community (25,405 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose OpenRA if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.