Widelands is a free, open-source real-time strategy (RTS) game offering both singleplayer campaigns and a multiplayer mode. Inspired by the classic Settlers II, it aims to provide significantly more variety and depth. The project targets RTS enthusiasts looking for a community-driven, extensible gaming experience.

How It Works

This RTS game focuses on resource management, base building, and strategic combat. Its design prioritizes depth and variety, likely achieved through intricate game mechanics and a robust scripting system for custom scenarios using Lua. The project emphasizes community contributions for content and development.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Download: Available at https://www.widelands.org/wiki/Download/.
• Compilation: Supports Linux, Windows (MSys2/MSVC), and MacOS. Requires GCC >= 8 or Clang/LLVM >= 7.
• Dependencies: Key libraries include SDL (>=2.0), SDL_image, SDL_mixer (>=2.0), SDL_ttf (>=2.0), gettext, zlib, libpng, Asio, Python (>=1.5.2), and libglew or glbinding.
• Build: Can be compiled using a convenience script (./compile.sh) or CMake. Detailed build instructions are at https://www.widelands.org/wiki/BuildingWidelands/.

Highlighted Details

• Free, open-source RTS with singleplayer campaigns and multiplayer.
• Inspired by Settlers II, featuring enhanced variety and depth.
• Extensible via Lua scripting for custom scenarios.
• Cross-platform compilation support.

Maintenance & Community

Code is bidirectionally mirrored between Codeberg and GitHub via bunnybot. The project follows the Google Styleguide. Comprehensive guides are available for contributing to scenarios, art, translations, testing, and bug triaging. Community resources and contribution primers can be found at https://www.widelands.org/wiki/GitPrimer/ and related wiki pages.

Licensing & Compatibility

The core project is licensed under GPL v2+, with some assets under various Creative Commons licenses. The GPL v2+ license imposes copyleft requirements, meaning derivative works must also be licensed under GPL v2+. This may restrict compatibility with closed-source applications.

Limitations & Caveats

The project has a strict policy against accepting AI-generated content, citing ethical, legal, and quality concerns. Compilation requires specific development libraries and tools.