14 Open Source Free First-Person Shooter FPS Games for Linux, Windows, and macOS
While there are dozens of closed-source none-free first-person shooter games, open-source community was busy for decades to offer open source alternatives.
Here in this list we compiled a list of the best competitive single- and multi-player FPS games for Linux, Windows, and macOS.
1- Alien Arena
Alien Arena is a Sci-Fi amazing FPS death match game with outstanding effects, weapons, and more.
It is available for Windows, Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD.
2- Nexuiz Classic
Nexuiz was my favorite FPS game on Linux for years. It comes with dozens of stunning effects, weapons, and options.
Nexuiz was originally developed by Lee Vermeulen and Ashley Hale (Ladyhavoc), who started Alientrap in the summer of 2002. The goal of the project was to create a high quality first-person shooter that could be played freely across all platforms in one package: PC, Mac, and Linux. The engine that powered Nexuiz was Forest Hale’s Darkplaces engine.
3- AssaultCube
The AssaultCube game is a lightweight FPS game with a WWII layout. It features similar weaponry, maps and more. AssualtCube is available for Microsoft Windows, Linux, Android, and Apple macOS.
AssaultCube highlights
- Source code is available under a zlib-like open source license.
- Low latency, it can even run across a 56 Kbps connection!
- Lightweight size, only about 50 MB to download, plus additional maps average 20 KB each!
- With the correct settings, it can run on old hardware (Pentium III and above).
- Officially runs on most major systems, and maybe even some non-major ones?
- Has a built-in, in-game map editor to help players create their own maps and allows for
co-operative edit mode in real-time with others! - Features a single-player bot system.
- Supports recording of your game by the "demo" system.
- Contains many multiplayer game modes, including: Deathmatch, Survivor, Capture the Flag, Hunt the Flag, Keep the Flag, Pistol Frenzy, Last Swiss Standing & One-Shot One-Kill (plus team versions of these modes).
- Comes pre-packaged with several dozen different maps!
4- Xonotic
Xonotic started off as a fork of Nexuiz Classic, but exceeded in many aspects. It is an addictive arena-style first-person shooter (FPS) with crisp movement and a wide array of weapons. It combines intuitive mechanics with in-your-face action to elevate your heart rate. Xonotic will always be free to play and modify under the copyleft GPLv3+ license.
Xonotic feature close to 30 weapons, allows gamer to change different game modes, and switch between classic and old maps.
Game modes include: Deathmatch (FFA), Capture the Flag, Clan Arena, and more.
5- OpenArena
OpenArena is a community-produced deathmatch FPS based on GPL idTech3 technology. It offers many game types, dozens of maps, and cool graphics. Keep in mind the game is stable, but it did not receive updates for years.
It uses the OpenGL 1.x graphics API.
The current supported gametypes are as follows:
- Free for All
- Team Deathmatch
- Tournament
- Capture the Flag
- One Flag Capture
- Overload
- Harvester
- Elimination
- CTF Elimination
- Last Man Standing
- Double Domination
- Domination
6- Warsow
Warsow is a free FPS game set in a futuristic cartoonish world, Warsow is a completely free fast-paced first-person shooter (FPS) for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
7- World of Padman
The World of Padman is a free shooter game with rich map set, weapons, and several game modes.
The Game is Available for Linux, Windows, and macOS.
8- OpenSpades
OpenSpades is a clone of Ace of Spades 0.75, which is a free online first-person shooter created by Ben Aksoy, featuring fully destructible terrain and plenty of game modes (including the well-known Capture the Flag) created by the community.
9- Tremulous
Tremulous is a free and open source asymmetric team-based first-person shooter with real-time strategy elements. The game features two opposing teams: humans and aliens. Each team must attack the enemy’s base and team members while defending their own base.
10- Cube 2: Sauerbraten
Cube 2: Sauerbraten is a free multiplayer & single-player first-person shooter, the successor of the Cube FPS.
Much like the original Cube, the aim of this game is fun, old school deathmatch gameplay and also to allow map/geometry editing to be done cooperatively in-game.
The engine supporting the game is entirely original in code & design, and its code is Open Source (ZLIB license, read the docs for more on how you can use the engine).
The game is released for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
11- Quetoo
Quetoo ("Q2") is a free first-person shooter for Mac, PC and Linux, with roots steeped in the venerable Quake series. Our goal is to bring the fun of old school death match to a new generation of gamers. We're pwning nubz, one rail slug at a time.
12- Red Eclipse 2
Red Eclipse 2 is a free open source sci-fi modern first-person arena shooter. It is available for Windows, GNU/Linux, BSD, and macOS.
Red Eclipse 2 features parkour gameplay, such as impulse boosts, dashing, and other tricks. It includes a built-in editor, and many gameplay modes.
13- BZFlag
The BZFlag game is a free multi-player 3D tank battle game for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
13- The Dark Mod
The Dark Mod is a free and open-source software first-person stealth video game, inspired by the Thief series by Looking Glass Studios. The game provides the basic framework and tools for more than 160 fan-made missions, including several multi-mission campaigns.
14- Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory
Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory is a free and open-source multiplayer first-person shooter video game within the Wolfenstein series. It was originally planned to be released as a commercial expansion pack to Return to Castle Wolfenstein and later as a standalone game.
If you know of any other open source FPS game that we did not mention here, let us know.
