CROBOTS: 6 Open Source Clones Compared
These take notably different implementation approaches: λ-Robots runs each battle bot as its own AWS Lambda function coordinated by a cloud game server built on .NET and the LambdaSharp framework, while Netrobots implements robots in C connecting to a local SDL2 graphical server and currently only builds on macOS. TclRobots instead has players script robots in Tcl, executed in sandboxed interpreters with commands like exec, open, and socket access disabled. Netrobots also explicitly departs from CROBOTS' original ruleset in documented ways — robots run concurrently rather than time-shared, so computation is effectively free, and a division by zero kills a robot instead of restarting it.
Comparison table
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Linux
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Halted
- Last updated
- 16y ago
- Stars
- 31
- Contributors
- 6
- License
- GPL-2.0
- Engine
- SDL2
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- NoBased on CROBOTS; users write custom robot AI scripts, no original game assets required.
- Modding support
- —
- Multiplayer
- Multiplayer
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- None
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Halted
- Last updated
- 15y ago
- Stars
- 14
- Contributors
- 4
- License
- —
- Engine
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- NoThe game provides its own environment and physics simulation; no original game assets required.
- Modding support
- —
- Multiplayer
- Multiplayer
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- None
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Archived
- Last updated
- 3y ago
- Stars
- 2
- Contributors
- 2
- License
- —
- Engine
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- NoServerless port of P-Robots; no original game assets required.
- Modding support
- YesPlayers can write custom battle bots using the LambdaRobots SDK to compete in matches.
- Multiplayer
- Multiplayer
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- None
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Not tracked
- Last updated
- Not tracked
- Stars
- Not tracked
- Contributors
- Not tracked
- License
- Not tracked
- Engine
- Not tracked
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- —
- Modding support
- —
- Multiplayer
- —
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- DOS, Classic Mac OS
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Not tracked
- Last updated
- Not tracked
- Stars
- Not tracked
- Contributors
- Not tracked
- License
- Not tracked
- Engine
- Not tracked
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- —
- Modding support
- —
- Multiplayer
- —
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- None
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Not tracked
- Last updated
- Not tracked
- Stars
- Not tracked
- Contributors
- Not tracked
- License
- Not tracked
- Engine
- Not tracked
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- —
- Modding support
- —
- Multiplayer
- —
| Title | Netrobots | TclRobots | λ-Robots | C++Robots | P-Robots | Pybots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Playable | Playable | Playable | Playable | Playable | Playable |
| Platforms | Linux | None | None | None | DOS, Classic Mac OS | None |
| Play in browser | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Mobile | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Project health | ||||||
| Development status | Halted | Halted | Archived | Not tracked | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Last updated | 16y ago | 15y ago | 3y ago | Not tracked | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Stars | 31 | 14 | 2 | Not tracked | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Contributors | 6 | 4 | 2 | Not tracked | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| License | GPL-2.0 | — | — | Not tracked | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Engine | SDL2 | — | — | Not tracked | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Compatibility | ||||||
| Requires original assets | NoBased on CROBOTS; users write custom robot AI scripts, no original game assets required. | NoThe game provides its own environment and physics simulation; no original game assets required. | NoServerless port of P-Robots; no original game assets required. | — | — | — |
| Modding support | — | — | YesPlayers can write custom battle bots using the LambdaRobots SDK to compete in matches. | — | — | — |
| Multiplayer | Multiplayer | Multiplayer | Multiplayer | — | — | — |
| Preview | | | |
Frequently asked questions
Are the CROBOTS clones on this page open source?
Yes — every clone catalogued here is an open-source project. Availability, license, and development-status details for each one are listed in the comparison table above.
What license do these CROBOTS clones use?
Netrobots (GPL-2.0).
Do I need to own the original CROBOTS to play these clones?
Netrobots, TclRobots, and λ-Robots run standalone, no original files needed.
See the full write-up for each clone, or go back to CROBOTS.