Magic: The Gathering Online: 3 Open Source Clones Compared
Forge is an active, Java-based rules engine offering structured single-player modes — an Adventure mode with overworld exploration against AI, and a faster Quest mode — alongside AI-opponent play in formats like Sealed, Draft, Commander, and Cube. XMage instead centers on playing against real people through public online servers or a self-hosted server for offline play with friends or AI, and supports the widest card pool of the three (over 32,000 unique cards). Magarena, by contrast, is a single-player-only card game whose development has halted, with its own README serving mainly as a contributor credits list rather than a feature description.
Comparison table
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Windows, OSX, Linux, Android
- Play in browser
- Mobile
- Android
Project health
- Development status
- Active
- Last updated
- today
- Stars
- 2,698
- Contributors
- 382
- License
- GPL-3.0
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- NoForge is an independent rules engine and does not require original Magic: The Gathering game assets.
- Modding support
- YesBuilt in Java with extensible architecture; developers can contribute by adding features and cards.
- Multiplayer
- Online
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Linux, OSX, Windows
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Active
- Last updated
- today
- Stars
- 2,359
- Contributors
- 613
- License
- MIT
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- NoXMage is a standalone digital implementation of Magic: The Gathering with its own card database and graphics.
- Modding support
- —
- Multiplayer
- Online
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Windows, Linux, OSX
- Play in browser
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Halted
- Last updated
- 3y ago
- Stars
- 445
- Contributors
- 100
- License
- GPL-3.0
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- NoThe game includes its own card definitions and does not require original Magic: The Gathering data.
- Modding support
- —
- Multiplayer
- —
| Title | Forge | XMage | Magarena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Playable | Playable | Playable |
| Platforms | Windows, OSX, Linux, Android | Linux, OSX, Windows | Windows, Linux, OSX |
| Play in browser | No | ||
| Mobile | Android | No | No |
| Project health | |||
| Development status | Active | Active | Halted |
| Last updated | today | today | 3y ago |
| Stars | 2,698 | 2,359 | 445 |
| Contributors | 382 | 613 | 100 |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Compatibility | |||
| Requires original assets | NoForge is an independent rules engine and does not require original Magic: The Gathering game assets. | NoXMage is a standalone digital implementation of Magic: The Gathering with its own card database and graphics. | NoThe game includes its own card definitions and does not require original Magic: The Gathering data. |
| Modding support | YesBuilt in Java with extensible architecture; developers can contribute by adding features and cards. | — | — |
| Multiplayer | Online | Online | — |
| Preview | | | |
Frequently asked questions
Are the Magic: The Gathering Online 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 Magic: The Gathering Online clones use?
Forge and Magarena (GPL-3.0); XMage (MIT).
Do I need to own the original Magic: The Gathering Online to play these clones?
Forge, XMage, and Magarena run standalone, no original files needed.
Can I play any of these Magic: The Gathering Online clones directly in a browser?
Yes — Forge and Magarena have a browser-playable build linked in the comparison table above, no install required.
Which Magic: The Gathering Online clone is the most actively maintained?
Forge and XMage 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 Magic: The Gathering Online.