This second installment of a three-part list covers games 11–20: ten free and open-source Linux games spanning strategy, roguelikes, racing, arena shooting, space simulation and city building. The selection comes from Lee Reilly’s GitHub Blog feature, published August 26, 2021 and updated August 28, 2021; it is a curated overview, not a current ranking or standardized review. Game builds and features can change, so check each project’s official page for current Linux downloads.
What kinds of free Linux games are in part 2?
The ten games in this installment differ more in play style than in platform. Choose first by the kind of game you want, then by features such as multiplayer, customization or access method.
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| Game | Genre and play style | Notable feature in the 2021 feature |
|---|---|---|
| FreeOrion | Turn-based 4X space strategy | Customizable mechanics and presentation through FreeOrion Content Script (FOCS) files |
| NetHack | Roguelike dungeon exploration | Procedurally generated foes; described as challenging to learn |
| Stunt Rally | Rally racing | Network or split-screen play and a track editor |
| Red Eclipse 2 | Arena first-person shooter | Parkour movement, dashing, impulse boosts and real-time cooperative map editing |
| Freeciv | Turn-based empire building | A broad civilization strategy game with multiple ways to play |
| Endless Sky | 2D space trading and combat | Trade, carry passengers or take missions to earn money for ships and upgrades |
| Pixel Wheels | Top-down racing | Available across desktop and mobile platforms |
| Unknown Horizons | Real-time economy and city-building simulation | Settlement growth through supply, taxes, trade and resident management |
| Vega Strike | 3D space flight simulation | Exploration, trade and combat |
| Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup | Roguelike dungeon exploration | The 2021 feature described downloads, source builds and remote play options |
Strategy and empire-building games
FreeOrion
FreeOrion is a turn-based 4X game about building a space empire and pursuing galactic conquest. It draws inspiration from the Master of Orion games, but the 2021 feature explicitly described it as neither a clone nor a remake. Its FreeOrion Content Script (FOCS) files allow customization of game mechanics and presentation, making it the most directly configurable strategy pick in this group. Read the original GitHub Blog feature.
Freeciv
Freeciv is a turn-based empire-building strategy game. The 2021 feature reported support for up to 126 players, or 500 on its web version, and listed more than 500 nations and 50 playable units; those are historical figures from that feature, not freshly verified limits. The project’s official site identifies Freeciv as free and open source and lists stable version 3.2.6, released September 4, 2026. Check Freeciv’s official project page for current releases and details.
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Roguelikes for dungeon exploration
NetHack
NetHack is a challenging roguelike dungeon game built around exploration and procedurally generated foes. The original feature called it difficult to get into but rewarding. Its official site now carries a version 5.0.0 release announcement dated May 2, 2026, and a further update dated June 9, 2026, so its official information has moved well beyond the 2021 article. Visit NetHack’s official site for current announcements.
Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup
Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup (DCSS) is another roguelike in the selection. Reilly’s 2021 description pointed readers to downloads, source builds and telnet or SSH play, and mentioned the ability to view live dungeons. Those access details are article-era information; consult the project’s own current channels before relying on a particular route.
Racing and arena action
Stunt Rally
Stunt Rally combines rally driving across varied terrain and tracks with a track editor. The 2021 feature reported more than 20 cars and 172 race tracks, and described network and split-screen play. Those counts and details belong to the 2021 snapshot; a current release and feature set were not confirmed here.
Red Eclipse 2
Red Eclipse 2 is a fast arena FPS centered on movement: parkour, dashing and impulse boosts shape how players traverse maps and fight. The 2021 feature also highlighted real-time cooperative map editing. The official Red Eclipse site describes the project as free and open source and lists Linux downloads, but its featured release is dated December 19, 2019; that date should not be mistaken for a current release.
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Pixel Wheels
Pixel Wheels is a top-down racing game for Linux, macOS, Windows and Android. Its creator’s page links to Flathub, itch.io, F-Droid, Google Play and the project’s GitHub source code, and recommends the mobile stores for update delivery. Check the Pixel Wheels project page for platform-specific access.
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Endless Sky
Endless Sky is a free and open-source 2D space trading and combat game. The official introduction describes earning money by trading, transporting passengers or completing missions, then buying ships and upgrading them. Its site links to Steam and GOG as distribution pathways. Visit the Endless Sky official site for its current Linux download options.
Vega Strike
Vega Strike is an open-source, cross-platform 3D space flight simulator about exploration, trade and combat. Its official project site provides engine and game downloads and includes a recap of a 2024 development survey. Because platform builds and development status can change, use the project page for current information rather than assuming a particular build is available. Visit the Vega Strike project site.
City-building and economic simulation
Unknown Horizons
Unknown Horizons is a real-time settlement and economy simulation. Players expand a city while managing supplies, taxes, trade and residents. The project distinguishes between its code, which is GPL v2, and its content, which is mostly CC-BY-SA; “open source” does not mean every component uses the same license. Its official site also says a Godot port is in progress. Check Unknown Horizons’ official site for project updates.
How to choose among these ten
- Choose FreeOrion or Freeciv for turn-based empire strategy; FreeOrion stands out for FOCS-based customization.
- Choose NetHack or DCSS for roguelike dungeon exploration.
- Choose Stunt Rally or Pixel Wheels for racing; the former’s 2021 feature emphasized track editing and multiplayer, while the latter has desktop and mobile distribution links.
- Choose Red Eclipse 2 for movement-focused arena shooting and cooperative map editing.
- Choose Endless Sky for 2D trading and combat, or Vega Strike for 3D space flight, exploration and trade.
- Choose Unknown Horizons for real-time settlement management and economic simulation.
Linux availability and installation routes are project-specific. For example, the official pages for Red Eclipse, Endless Sky and Pixel Wheels list Linux-related access, but this list does not verify current packages for every distribution or every game. Check the relevant project page before downloading.
Where this list fits
This is the middle section of Lee Reilly’s three-part “30 free and open source Linux games” feature, covering entries 11–20. Its descriptions are useful for narrowing choices by genre and feature, but they are not a controlled comparison or evidence that every game still ships the same build described in August 2021.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
