Ultima VI: 3 Open Source Clones Compared
Nuvie's own README states the project has moved into ScummVM, its new home, with further Ultima VI development continuing there instead of in the standalone codebase — so ScummVM now carries that engine work forward, plus far broader platform support than Nuvie itself ever had. u6-decompiled takes a different approach altogether: rather than an engine reimplementation, it decompiles the original DOS executable and requires the original game files to rebuild GAME.EXE at build time, versus Nuvie/ScummVM simply reading data files at runtime.
Comparison table
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Windows, Linux, OSX, PS3, PSP, Android, iOS, Wii, BeOS, Amiga, Atari
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- Android, iOS
Project health
- Development status
- Active
- Last updated
- today
- Stars
- 2,811
- Contributors
- 970
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Engine
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- YesRequires original game data files from supported games to run.
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Windows, Linux, OSX
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Halted
- Last updated
- 2y ago
- Stars
- 164
- Contributors
- 19
- License
- GPL-2.0
- Engine
- SDL2
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- YesRequires original data files from Ultima 6, Martian Dreams, or The Savage Empire.
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- DOS
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Halted
- Last updated
- 4y ago
- Stars
- 57
- Contributors
- 1
- License
- —
- Engine
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- YesDecompiled code for the PC/MSDOS version of Ultima VI that requires original game files to build.
| Title | ScummVM | Nuvie | u6-decompiled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Playable | Playable | Playable |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux, OSX, PS3, PSP, Android, iOS, Wii, BeOS, Amiga, Atari | Windows, Linux, OSX | DOS |
| Play in browser | No | No | No |
| Mobile | Android, iOS | No | No |
| Project health | |||
| Development status | Active | Halted | Halted |
| Last updated | today | 2y ago | 4y ago |
| Stars | 2,811 | 164 | 57 |
| Contributors | 970 | 19 | 1 |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 | — |
| Engine | — | SDL2 | — |
| Compatibility | |||
| Requires original assets | YesRequires original game data files from supported games to run. | YesRequires original data files from Ultima 6, Martian Dreams, or The Savage Empire. | YesDecompiled code for the PC/MSDOS version of Ultima VI that requires original game files to build. |
| Preview | | |
Known limitations
- features: Martian Dreams and Savage Empire support is still in development; Ultima 6 is completable.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Ultima VI 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 Ultima VI clones use?
ScummVM (GPL-3.0); Nuvie (GPL-2.0).
Do I need to own the original Ultima VI to play these clones?
ScummVM, Nuvie, and u6-decompiled require original game assets to play.
Which Ultima VI clone is the most actively maintained?
ScummVM 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 Ultima VI.