Descent: 6 Open Source Clones Compared
"Descent" here is Parallax Software's original 1998 source release itself — non-commercial license, built with vintage Watcom C/C++ and DOS-era tools, and missing the sound and modem code the studio didn't own the rights to. DXX-Rebirth builds on that lineage (via the earlier D1X/D2X ports) to add OpenGL rendering, UDP-based multiplayer, and custom music while staying compatible with original saves, demos, and mods, but it still needs the original Descent 1/2 data files. three-descent ships the shareware first episode playable with no setup, only needing original files for the full game, while Kathodos explicitly states it isn't trying to be an exact clone, and Ascent is a standalone Descent-inspired shooter with its own assets that needs no original game data at all.
Comparison table
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Windows, Linux, OSX
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Active
- Last updated
- 15d ago
- Stars
- 637
- Contributors
- 51
- License
- —
- Engine
- SDL2
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- YesRequires original Descent 1 or Descent 2 game data; player files, savegames, and missions from DOS versions can be freely used.
- Modding support
- YesSupports custom AddOn packs to replace or expand original game content; compatible with third-party levels.
- Multiplayer
- LAN, Online
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Windows, Saturn, OSX
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Archived
- Last updated
- 8y ago
- Stars
- 430
- Contributors
- 1
- License
- —
- Engine
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- —
- Modding support
- —
- Multiplayer
- —
Availability
- Status
- Semi-playable
- Platforms
- Web
- Play in browser
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Active
- Last updated
- 1mo ago
- Stars
- 89
- Contributors
- 1
- License
- MIT
- Engine
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- YesRequires original game files (descent.hog and descent.pig) from a registered copy of Descent for the full game; shareware Episode 1 is included.
- Modding support
- —
- Multiplayer
- —
Availability
- Status
- Unplayable
- Platforms
- None
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Halted
- Last updated
- 15y ago
- Stars
- 13
- Contributors
- 4
- License
- —
- Engine
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- YesRequires Descent game datafiles.
- Modding support
- —
- Multiplayer
- —
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- None
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Sporadic
- Last updated
- 10mo ago
- Stars
- 0
- Contributors
- 1
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Engine
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- NoStandalone Descent-inspired game with its own assets; no original game files required.
- Modding support
- —
- Multiplayer
- —
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Linux, Windows, OSX
- 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 | DXX-Rebirth | Descent | three-descent | Kathodos | Ascent | D2X-XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Playable | Playable | Semi-playable | Unplayable | Playable | Playable |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux, OSX | Windows, Saturn, OSX | Web | None | None | Linux, Windows, OSX |
| Play in browser | No | No | No | No | No | |
| Mobile | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Project health | ||||||
| Development status | Active | Archived | Active | Halted | Sporadic | Not tracked |
| Last updated | 15d ago | 8y ago | 1mo ago | 15y ago | 10mo ago | Not tracked |
| Stars | 637 | 430 | 89 | 13 | 0 | Not tracked |
| Contributors | 51 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | Not tracked |
| License | — | — | MIT | — | GPL-3.0 | Not tracked |
| Engine | SDL2 | — | — | — | — | Not tracked |
| Compatibility | ||||||
| Requires original assets | YesRequires original Descent 1 or Descent 2 game data; player files, savegames, and missions from DOS versions can be freely used. | — | YesRequires original game files (descent.hog and descent.pig) from a registered copy of Descent for the full game; shareware Episode 1 is included. | YesRequires Descent game datafiles. | NoStandalone Descent-inspired game with its own assets; no original game files required. | — |
| Modding support | YesSupports custom AddOn packs to replace or expand original game content; compatible with third-party levels. | — | — | — | — | — |
| Multiplayer | LAN, Online | — | — | — | — | — |
| Preview | |
Frequently asked questions
Are the Descent 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 Descent clones use?
three-descent (MIT); Ascent (GPL-3.0).
Do I need to own the original Descent to play these clones?
Ascent runs standalone, no original files needed; DXX-Rebirth, three-descent, and Kathodos require original game assets to play.
Can I play any of these Descent clones directly in a browser?
Yes — three-descent has a browser-playable build linked in the comparison table above, no install required.
Which Descent clone is the most actively maintained?
DXX-Rebirth and three-descent are currently under active development, based on recent commit activity. See the "Development status" row above for every clone's current status.
See the full write-up for each clone, or go back to Descent.