SuperTux
Run, jump, and slide through a frosty platforming classic.
The PlayBound Bar
SuperTux clears all five: free with no monetisation, complete with a full campaign and level editor, still maintained, genuinely enjoyable on its own merits, and open-source so it cannot be lost.
Genuinely free
No trial, no paywalled campaign, no pay-to-win, no cosmetic treadmill. Free means free, forever.
Finished enough to enjoy
Playable and satisfying start to finish today — not a promising alpha you should check back on.
Actively maintained
A release or meaningful commit within the last twelve months. Someone is still looking after it.
Stands on its own merits
Good enough that we would recommend it even if it cost money. Free is not the reason it is here.
Won't disappear
Open-source or self-hostable, so no shutdown, delisting or licence expiry can take it away from you.
SuperTux last verified against the bar on . Read the full standard →
About SuperTux
SuperTux is a 2D side-scrolling platformer built openly and unapologetically in the Super Mario Bros. mould, and it has been quietly improving for over two decades.
The formula is exactly what you would expect and that is the point: run, jump, stomp enemies, collect coins, find secrets, reach the flag. There is a world map connecting levels, power-ups that change what you can do, and level design that escalates in difficulty at a sensible rate. Two full worlds of levels ship with the game, plus a substantial set of community add-on levels.
The standout feature is the built-in level editor. It is proper and complete, not a toy, and it has produced a real community of level designers. If you have ever wanted to build Mario levels without buying Super Mario Maker, this is the free route to it.
Jump physics are close to Nintendo's but not identical, and that matters more than it sounds. If you have thousands of hours of Mario muscle memory you will notice the difference in air control and momentum for the first hour. It is internally consistent and perfectly learnable — just not a clone.
The honest assessment is that the level design is good rather than exceptional. Nintendo's relentless inventiveness — a new idea every thirty seconds — is very hard to match, and SuperTux does not match it. What it offers instead is a solid, complete, free platformer with an excellent editor, on any computer, forever.
At 150 MB it is one of the smallest games in the catalog.
Why we picked it
Free 2D platformers are mostly rough. SuperTux is not — it is complete, consistent and has been polished across two decades, and the level editor turns it into something with far more longevity than the shipped campaign alone. For a 150 MB download that runs on anything, it is remarkable value.
Who it's for
Great if you want
- Classic 2D platforming without buying a Nintendo console
- Building your own levels with a proper built-in editor
- Very low-spec hardware — a 150 MB install
- Short sessions and pick-up-and-play
- Younger players, with straightforward and friendly design
Look elsewhere if
- You expect frame-perfect Nintendo jump physics
- You want Mario's relentless level-design inventiveness
- You want multiplayer, since this is single-player
- You want modern visual production values
Features
System Requirements
Minimum
1 GHz CPU · 512 MB RAM · Any GPU · 300 MB storage
Recommended
Any modern machine
Frequently asked questions about SuperTux
Is SuperTux free?
Yes, entirely. SuperTux is open-source under GPL-3.0 with no purchases or advertising.
Is SuperTux like Super Mario Bros.?
Very much so by design — running, jumping, stomping enemies, power-ups and a world map. Jump physics are close but not identical, so expect a short adjustment period if you have extensive Mario experience.
Does SuperTux have a level editor?
Yes, a complete built-in editor, which has produced an active community of level designers. It is the closest free equivalent to Super Mario Maker on a computer.
How long is SuperTux?
Two full worlds of levels ship with the game, plus a substantial library of community add-on levels — several hours for the base campaign and considerably more with community content.
Is SuperTux suitable for children?
Yes. It is bright, friendly, has no violence beyond cartoon enemy-stomping, requires no account, has no purchases and no online interaction with strangers.
