Nebulus: 3 Open Source Clones Compared
Tower Toppler is a complete, actively developed reimplementation with its own hand-painted graphics (so it needs no original game files), SDL2-based rendering, and a built-in level and mission editor. Javascript Tower Platformer is a browser-based homage that stalled at a semi-complete stage — notably, it currently has no way to exit or complete a level, a feature that was planned but never implemented.
Comparison table
Availability
- Status
- Semi-playable
- Platforms
- Web
- Play in browser
- YesPlay in Browser
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Halted
- Last updated
- 1y ago
- Stars
- 104
- Contributors
- 2
- License
- MIT
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- No100% client-side JavaScript, HTML and CSS with no mention of requiring original game assets.
- Modding support
- —
Availability
- Status
- Semi-playable
- Platforms
- Dreamcast
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Halted
- Last updated
- 4y ago
- Stars
- 10
- Contributors
- 1
- License
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- —
- Modding support
- —
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Linux
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Active
- Last updated
- 1mo ago
- Stars
- 5
- Contributors
- 5
- License
- gpl-3.0
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- NoShips with its own graphics and game data; no original game assets needed.
- Modding support
- YesIncludes a level editor for creating custom towers and mission files.
| Title | Javascript Tower Platformer | DCNebulous | Tower Toppler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Semi-playable | Semi-playable | Playable |
| Platforms | Web | Dreamcast | Linux |
| Play in browser | YesPlay in Browser | No | No |
| Mobile | No | No | No |
| Project health | |||
| Development status | Halted | Halted | Active |
| Last updated | 1y ago | 4y ago | 1mo ago |
| Stars | 104 | 10 | 5 |
| Contributors | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| License | MIT | — | gpl-3.0 |
| Compatibility | |||
| Requires original assets | No100% client-side JavaScript, HTML and CSS with no mention of requiring original game assets. | — | NoShips with its own graphics and game data; no original game assets needed. |
| Modding support | — | — | YesIncludes a level editor for creating custom towers and mission files. |
| Preview | | | |
Known limitations
- rendering: Tiny gap in ground rendering in Firefox and Internet Explorer where image wraps.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Nebulus 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 Nebulus clones use?
Javascript Tower Platformer (MIT); Tower Toppler (gpl-3.0).
Do I need to own the original Nebulus to play these clones?
Javascript Tower Platformer and Tower Toppler run standalone, no original files needed.
Can I play any of these Nebulus clones directly in a browser?
Yes — Javascript Tower Platformer has a browser-playable build linked in the comparison table above, no install required.
Which Nebulus clone is the most actively maintained?
Tower Toppler is 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 Nebulus.