0 A.D.
Ancient warfare, stunningly rendered, forever free.
How to install 0 A.D. for free
0 A.D. is a free rts game released under Open Source (GPL-2.0). It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, needs about 3.0 GB of disk space, and requires no account, payment or trial. The fastest route is the PlayBound Launcher, which handles the download and setup in one click.
One-click install
PlayBound fetches the official release — no third-party mirrors.
Installation steps
- 1
Install the PlayBound Launcher, then find 0 A.D. and press Install. The launcher downloads the official release, unpacks it and creates a shortcut. This is the fastest route and it never uses third-party mirrors.
- 2
Alternatively, download 0 A.D. directly from the official site at https://play0ad.com. Always download from the official source — third-party mirrors of free games are a common malware vector.
- 3
Official releases are published on GitHub at github.com/0ad/0ad/releases. Pick the newest stable release matching your operating system.
- 4
Windows
Run the downloaded installer and follow the prompts. If Windows SmartScreen warns about an unrecognised publisher, that is normal for open-source projects without a paid code-signing certificate — choose More info, then Run anyway.
- 5
macOS
Open the downloaded .dmg and drag the app into Applications. On first launch macOS may refuse to open it as unidentified — right-click the app and choose Open to approve it once.
- 6
Linux
Check your distribution's package manager first, which is usually the easiest route. Otherwise download the AppImage from the official site, mark it executable and run it.
chmod +x *.AppImage && ./*.AppImage - 7
Launch the game and look at the settings menu before your first session — resolution and control defaults are worth checking. 0 A.D. needs roughly 3.0 GB of free disk space.
System requirements
Minimum
2.5 GHz dual-core CPU · 4 GB RAM · 1 GB VRAM GPU · 5 GB storage
Recommended
3.5 GHz quad-core CPU · 8 GB RAM · 2 GB VRAM GPU · 6 GB storage
Install questions
Is 0 A.D. free?
Yes, entirely. 0 A.D. is open-source under GPL-2.0 with no purchase, subscription or in-game spending of any kind. It is funded by donations to Wildfire Games.
Is 0 A.D. finished?
It is formally in alpha and has been for over a decade, but it is stable, feature-rich and content-complete in practice. Most players will not encounter anything that feels unfinished. The label reflects the project's own standards rather than the actual play experience.
Is 0 A.D. better than Age of Empires II?
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition has more civilisations, a ranked matchmaking service and decades of balance refinement. 0 A.D. has better visuals in places, deeper historical detail, and costs nothing. If you already own AoE2 it remains the more polished competitive game; if you do not, 0 A.D. is a genuine alternative rather than a compromise.
How many civilisations does 0 A.D. have?
More than a dozen playable civilisations spanning 500 BC to 500 AD, including Athenians, Spartans, Macedonians, Romans, Carthaginians, Persians, Mauryans, Kushites, Gauls, Britons, Iberians, Seleucids, Ptolemies and Han Chinese.
Does 0 A.D. have multiplayer?
Yes, with an in-game lobby for finding and hosting matches. There is no official ranked ladder, but casual and organised multiplayer both happen regularly.
What are 0 A.D.'s system requirements?
A 2 GHz dual-core CPU, 4 GB of RAM and an OpenGL 2.1 GPU as a minimum, with roughly 3 GB of disk space. Large late-game battles benefit noticeably from a faster CPU.