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Head to head

OpenTS vs OpenRA

Short answer

OpenTS reconstructs Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun specifically as a lightweight standalone executable, while OpenRA covers the earlier Tiberian Dawn, Red Alert and Dune 2000 with a much larger, decade-plus-established community. Pick OpenTS if Tiberian Sun is the game you actually want, OpenRA for the bigger, more mature scene.

Both rebuild classic Westwood Command & Conquer games, but they target different entries — OpenTS specifically reconstructs 1999's Tiberian Sun, while OpenRA covers the earlier Tiberian Dawn, Red Alert and Dune 2000 together.

OpenTS vs OpenRA at a glance

OpenTSOpenRA
Source game(s)Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun specificallyTiberian Dawn, Red Alert, Dune 2000
EngineOriginal bgfx-based standalone rebuildOpenRA engine
Download size~15 MB~350 MB
MaturityNewer project, 2024Established since 2010, mature ladder and mods
NetcodeModern UDP netcodeEstablished, mature multiplayer
Community sizeSmall, growingLarge, long-established

Choose OpenTS if…

You specifically want Tiberian Sun, rebuilt as a lightweight standalone executable.

RTSStrategy1.7 GB
Full details

Choose OpenRA if…

You want the earlier C&C games with a much larger, more established community and ladder.

RTSStrategy350 MB
Full details

Against the PlayBound Bar

Classic Command & Conquer Tiberian Sun rebuilt from the ground up: crisp modern bgfx graphics, lag-free UDP multiplayer, robust mission scripting, and total fidelity to Westwood's 1999 RTS masterpiece. You can play at native 1440p or 4K with instantaneous bgfx rendering, smooth scrolling, and zero legacy DirectDraw stutter.

OpenRA scratches a very specific itch: remembering how much fun old Command & Conquer was, without having to treat a 1990s PC like a museum exhibit. We picked it because it doesn't merely preserve those games, it understands what made them fun and gives them room to breathe. The result feels familiar within seconds, but the modern controls, multiplayer, balance changes, and community creativity make it surprisingly easy to get hooked again.

What the bar measures →

Questions

OpenTS or OpenRA — which should I play?

OpenTS reconstructs Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun specifically as a lightweight standalone executable, while OpenRA covers the earlier Tiberian Dawn, Red Alert and Dune 2000 with a much larger, decade-plus-established community. Pick OpenTS if Tiberian Sun is the game you actually want, OpenRA for the bigger, more mature scene.

Who should choose OpenTS?

You specifically want Tiberian Sun, rebuilt as a lightweight standalone executable.

Who should choose OpenRA?

You want the earlier C&C games with a much larger, more established community and ladder.

Are OpenTS and OpenRA both free?

Yes. OpenTS is released under OpenTS engine: GPL-3.0; Tiberian Sun + Firestorm assets: freeware and OpenRA under Open Source (GPL-3.0). Both are entirely free with no trials, paid tiers or in-game purchases.

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