Installing OpenClaw on Windows, Linux & macOS
Step-by-step instructions for cloning the repository, installing dependencies, and compiling the engine on all major platforms.
Read guide →OpenClaw: Build, Mod & Master the Open-Source RTS Engine
Your complete guide to OpenClaw — the community-driven, open-source reimplementation of the classic Command & Conquer: Red Alert engine. Learn to compile, play, mod, and extend one of the most iconic RTS engines ever created.
Latest Guides & Articles
Creating Custom Maps & Missions
Learn the .map file format, tile system, terrain editor workflow, and how to package a campaign from scratch.
Read guide →Reigning in the INI: Rules & AI Configuration
Deep dive into rules.ini, ai.ini, and the unit/structure/weapon data tables that drive OpenClaw gameplay.
Read guide →Optimizing OpenClaw for Modern Hardware
Fix upscaling, widescreen, frame pacing, and high-DPI rendering for a buttery-smooth experience on 4K monitors.
Read guide →Setting Up LAN & Online Matches
Configure ports, host dedicated servers, and play cross-platform with friends using OpenClaw's networking stack.
Read guide →Engine API Reference & Class Hierarchy
Browse the C++ class structure, sprite renderer, audio mixer, and event system that powers the engine.
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What is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is an open-source, community-maintained reimplementation of the classic Command & Conquer: Red Alert game engine written primarily in C++. The project began as a reverse-engineering effort to recreate the 2D Westwood Studios engine after the original game's source code became inaccessible to the wider community.
Why OpenClaw?
OpenClaw preserves the iconic gameplay, sprite-based rendering, and modding capabilities of the original while opening the door to modern improvements: widescreen support, high-resolution assets, modern operating system compatibility, and an extensible scripting layer for custom missions and AI behaviors.
Key Features
- Cross-platform: Runs natively on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
- Open-source: Released under the GPL — fork, modify, and learn freely.
- Modding-friendly: INI-driven rules, classic MIX archive support, custom tile sets.
- Modernized: High-DPI, widescreen, configurable frame-rate, network play.
- Active community: Contributors and modders keep the engine evolving.
Who is this guide for?
This site is for anyone interested in retro RTS games, game engine internals, or open-source game development. Whether you want to play a classic, mod an existing game, or study a 2D engine architecture, you'll find a path here.
"OpenClaw is a love letter to an era of strategy gaming — and a fantastic learning resource for modern engine developers." — R. Steiner, GameDev.net
Get Started in 3 Steps
- Install — Clone the repo and build the engine on your OS.
- Play — Run a stock mission or load a community campaign.
- Modify — Edit rules, design a map, share your mod with the community.