Super ZZT: 3 Open Source Clones Compared
The Reconstruction of Super ZZT is a byte-accurate reverse-engineered recreation of the original DOS source code (with one routine cleanly reimplemented to keep the whole project MIT-licensed), including the game's original built-in editor; the popular third-party editor KevEdit doesn't support Super ZZT worlds, though ZAP and ZEdit2 do. Roton takes a different approach: a C# emulation of the ZZT/Super ZZT engines paired with an SDL-based frontend (Lyon), requiring .NET rather than DOSBox. Zeta is a third option — a minimal DOS-compatible emulator built specifically to run ZZT and Super ZZT, with a WebAssembly build that lets it run directly in a browser, unlike the other two.
Comparison table
Availability
- Status
- —
- Platforms
- Linux, OSX, Windows, Web
- Play in browser
- YesPlay in Browser
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Sporadic
- Last updated
- 4mo ago
- Stars
- 70
- Contributors
- 2
- License
- MIT
- Engine
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- —
- Modding support
- —
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- DOS
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Halted
- Last updated
- 1y ago
- Stars
- 44
- Contributors
- 1
- License
- —
- Engine
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- NoThe open-source release includes the Super ZZT engine and can run standalone without original game assets.
- Modding support
- YesBuilt-in editor can be activated with the /E command-line switch, allowing creation of custom Super ZZT worlds.
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Windows, Linux, OSX
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Active
- Last updated
- 1d ago
- Stars
- 24
- Contributors
- 5
- License
- ISC
- Engine
- SDL2
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- YesRequires game files (ZZT or Super ZZT worlds) to be specified and loaded.
- Modding support
- —
| Title | Zeta | Reconstruction of Super ZZT | Roton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | — | Playable | Playable |
| Platforms | Linux, OSX, Windows, Web | DOS | Windows, Linux, OSX |
| Play in browser | YesPlay in Browser | No | No |
| Mobile | No | No | No |
| Project health | |||
| Development status | Sporadic | Halted | Active |
| Last updated | 4mo ago | 1y ago | 1d ago |
| Stars | 70 | 44 | 24 |
| Contributors | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| License | MIT | — | ISC |
| Engine | — | — | SDL2 |
| Compatibility | |||
| Requires original assets | — | NoThe open-source release includes the Super ZZT engine and can run standalone without original game assets. | YesRequires game files (ZZT or Super ZZT worlds) to be specified and loaded. |
| Modding support | — | YesBuilt-in editor can be activated with the /E command-line switch, allowing creation of custom Super ZZT worlds. | — |
Frequently asked questions
Are the Super ZZT 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 Super ZZT clones use?
Zeta (MIT); Roton (ISC).
Do I need to own the original Super ZZT to play these clones?
Reconstruction of Super ZZT runs standalone, no original files needed; Roton requires original game assets to play.
Can I play any of these Super ZZT clones directly in a browser?
Yes — Zeta has a browser-playable build linked in the comparison table above, no install required.
Which Super ZZT clone is the most actively maintained?
Roton 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 Super ZZT.