Dune 2: 6 Open Source Clones Compared
Dune Dynasty and OpenDUNE both require the original Dune II 1.07 data files and are built as engine-accurate recreations — Dune Dynasty is built on the OpenDUNE engine and extends it further with widescreen graphics, up to six-player multiplayer, and three extra factions not in the original. Dune II - The Maker (D2TM) instead ships its own upscaled graphics, needs no original data files at all, and is actively developed with documented build workflows for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The Java version (Dune 2 - The Maker) is a separate, smaller project built with slick2d-maven that has only reached early alpha milestones and is halted.
Comparison table
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Windows, Linux, OSX, Atari, BeOS
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Active
- Last updated
- 13d ago
- Stars
- 1,688
- Contributors
- 29
- License
- GPL-2.0
- Engine
- SDL2
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- YesRequires original Dune II 1.07 data files (including dune2.exe) copied to the data directory.
- Modding support
- —
- Multiplayer
- —
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Linux, Windows, OSX
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Active
- Last updated
- today
- Stars
- 364
- Contributors
- 14
- License
- —
- Engine
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- NoDune II - The Maker is a remake with its own upscaled graphics and does not require original game data.
- Modding support
- YesSupports MIDI via FluidSynth with SoundFont files for custom music playback.
- Multiplayer
- —
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Linux, Windows
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Sporadic
- Last updated
- 8mo ago
- Stars
- 154
- Contributors
- 18
- License
- GPL-2.0
- Engine
- SDL2
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- YesThe original Dune II game data files (PAK files from the EU v1.07 release) are required to run Dune Dynasty.
- Modding support
- YesSupports custom campaigns with META.INI, level INI files, and custom balance tweaks via PROFILE.INI and HOUSE.INI files.
- Multiplayer
- Multiplayer
Availability
- Status
- Semi-playable
- Platforms
- None
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Halted
- Last updated
- 6y ago
- Stars
- 63
- Contributors
- 13
- License
- MIT
- Engine
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- —
- Modding support
- —
- Multiplayer
- —
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- DOS
- 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
- 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 | OpenDUNE | Dune II - The Maker | Dune Dynasty | Dune 2 - The Maker - Java version | Arrakis | Dune Legacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Playable | Playable | Playable | Semi-playable | Playable | Playable |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux, OSX, Atari, BeOS | Linux, Windows, OSX | Linux, Windows | None | DOS | Linux, Windows, OSX |
| Play in browser | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Mobile | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Project health | ||||||
| Development status | Active | Active | Sporadic | Halted | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Last updated | 13d ago | today | 8mo ago | 6y ago | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Stars | 1,688 | 364 | 154 | 63 | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Contributors | 29 | 14 | 18 | 13 | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| License | GPL-2.0 | — | GPL-2.0 | MIT | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Engine | SDL2 | — | SDL2 | — | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Compatibility | ||||||
| Requires original assets | YesRequires original Dune II 1.07 data files (including dune2.exe) copied to the data directory. | NoDune II - The Maker is a remake with its own upscaled graphics and does not require original game data. | YesThe original Dune II game data files (PAK files from the EU v1.07 release) are required to run Dune Dynasty. | — | — | — |
| Modding support | — | YesSupports MIDI via FluidSynth with SoundFont files for custom music playback. | YesSupports custom campaigns with META.INI, level INI files, and custom balance tweaks via PROFILE.INI and HOUSE.INI files. | — | — | — |
| Multiplayer | — | — | Multiplayer | — | — | — |
| Preview | | | |
Known limitations
- audio: If digitized sound output does not work, the game will be stuck in the house selection screen.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Dune 2 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 Dune 2 clones use?
OpenDUNE and Dune Dynasty (GPL-2.0); Dune 2 - The Maker - Java version (MIT).
Do I need to own the original Dune 2 to play these clones?
Dune II - The Maker runs standalone, no original files needed; OpenDUNE and Dune Dynasty require original game assets to play.
Which Dune 2 clone is the most actively maintained?
OpenDUNE and Dune II - The Maker 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 Dune 2.