Freeciv

2026-05-31T21:52:26Z

Maxwell-L-hack: The previous link for the bug tracker no longer exists, so I changed it to the link on the Freeciv.org homepage

{{Featured Article}}
{{Gameinfo
|title = Freeciv
|image = Image:Freeciv-2.1.0-beta3-sdl slack11.0.jpg
|caption = ''Freeciv'' 2.1.0 beta3 [[SDL]] client
|genre = [[:Category:Turn-based strategy games|TBS]],[[:Category:Online multiplayer games|Online]]
|developer = [[Freeciv contributors|Freeciv team]]
|code license = [[GNU General Public License|GPL]]
|media license = [[GNU General Public License|GPL]]
|engine =
|latest release = 3.2.0
|release date = July 17{{th}}, 2025
|release date iso = 2025-07-17
|release announcement = https://freeciv.fandom.com/wiki/NEWS-3.2.0
|language = [[:Category:C games|C]], [[:Category:HTML5 games|HTML5]]
|library = [[Simple DirectMedia Layer|SDL]]
|platforms = {{Linux}}, {{Windows}}, {{FreeBSD}}, {{Haiku}}, {{Mac}}
|link homepage = https://www.freeciv.org/
|link blog =
|link chatweb = https://web.libera.chat/
|chat = irc://irc.libera.chat/freeciv
|link feed =
|link forum = https://forum.freeciv.org/f/
|link pad =
|link project = https://www.freeciv.org/wiki/Freeciv:Community_Portal
|link tracker = https://redmine.freeciv.org/projects/freeciv
|link scmweb = https://github.com/freeciv/freeciv
|scm = git clone https://github.com/freeciv/freeciv
}}
{{Repositories
|right
|Arch = freeciv
|Slack = freeciv
|Debian = freeciv
|Fedora = freeciv
|Ubuntu = freeciv
|Gentoo = games-strategy/freeciv
|Mageia = freeciv-client
|Suse = freeciv-gtk3 
|Flatpak = org.freeciv.Freeciv
|Snap = freeciv-gtk
|FreeBSD = freeciv
|Haiku = games-strategy/freeciv
}}
'''Freeciv''' is a [[:Category:2D games|2D]] [[Turn-based strategy game|turn-based strategy game]], inspired by ''Sid Meier's Civilization'' series, where players control an empire to "eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate" ([[wikipedia:4X|4X]]). Both code and media are licensed under the [[GNU General Public License]].<ref>[https://www.freeciv.org/wiki/License ''Freeciv'' website on licensing]</ref> Freeciv is mostly written in the [[:Category:C games|C]] programming language.<ref>[https://www.openhub.net/p/freeciv Freeciv project data from Open Hub]</ref> This game does not require [[3D hardware acceleration]]. The game is also playable as an HTML5 Web game.

==Clients==
''Freeciv'' can be played via different clients, the majority of which are in an early stage of development.
*''Freeciv-gtk3.22'', currently the official and most stable client.
*''Freeciv-sdl2'', also official, but yet unstable.<ref>[https://www.freeciv.org/wiki/Download ''Freeciv'' download page]</ref>
*''Freeciv-QT''
*''freeciv-web'', an online version of Freeciv playable in a web browser.

==Gameplay==
There are several ways to win a Freeciv game. The simplest is to wipe out all the enemy players. Another option is to become the first to colonize space. There is also a time limit, so if after a certain amount of time has gone by and no one has won, the player with the highest score wins by default.

Freeciv can use various sets of rules: the standard Freeciv rules, the Civilization II rules, and the Civilization I rules. However, the basic gameplay stays the same.

==Development history==
On [[1995#November|November 14, 1995]], the ''Freeciv'' project started, to replace the broken ''Openciv''.<ref>[https://www.freeciv.org/wiki/Timeline Freeciv wiki's timeline on civilization like games]</ref> The original developers were [[Claus Leth Gregersen]], [[Allan Ove Kjeldbjerg]], and [[Peter Joachim Unold]]. Gregersen coded the game mechanics, Unold wrote the client architecture, and Kjeldbjerg provided the graphics.<ref>[https://www.freeciv.org/wiki/In_The_Beginning Historical account by Allan]</ref><ref>[https://www.freeciv.org/wiki/People#Original_authors.2C_otherwise_known_as_the_Great_Danes The original contributors section of People page at Freeciv wiki.]</ref>

However, when the game approached playability, they lost interest and moved on to playing the game [[XPilot NG|XPilot]]. Since then, a great number of new developers and contributors have allowed the project to grow. In May 2017 Gna! was closed and the Freeciv code repository moved to Github.<ref>[https://github.com/freeciv/freeciv Freeciv project on Github]</ref>

===Version history===
We have documented that The Freeciv project have a long and extensive [[Freeciv release history|release history]].

Freeciv supported online play via the [[GGZ Gaming Zone]] from version 2.1 until 2.5.<ref>[https://www.freeciv.org/wiki/GGZ ''Freeciv'' technical information] for GGZ Gaming Zone</ref><ref>[http://www.ggzgamingzone.org/gameclients/freeciv/ Factsheet on ''Freeciv''] from GGZ Gaming Zone</ref>

A version was included on the 100 Great Games for Linux [[:wikipedia:Shovelware|shovelware]] collection, [[Linux Games & Entertainment for X Windows]], [[Linux Games]], [[Linux Games++]], [[Red Hat Powertools]], and on [[OpenSource Game Power]] volume 1.

==Receptions==
As of April 27, 2012, ''Freeciv'' received 4.63 points out of 5 based on 125 votes on the now-defunct Linux Game Tome.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20120427134429/http://happypenguin.org/show?freeciv List of games sorted by rating] on the Linux Game Tome, through archive.org's Wayback Machine</ref>

==Freeciv on the web==
Freeciv can also be played online on sites hosting [https://github.com/freeciv/freeciv-web freeciv-web]. This project, created by [[Andreas Røsdal]], has developed a rich web client using AJAX, JavaScript and the HTML5 standard based on the existing Freeciv C codebase.<ref>[https://www.freeciv.org/wiki/FreecivWebClient FreecivWebClient] on the Freeciv wiki</ref> It is playable on most modern web browsers which support HTML5. The project was shut down in July 2011, but resurfaced in May 2013.<ref>[https://forum.freeciv.org/f/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=55 Play Freeciv online at play.freeciv.org] on the Freeciv forums</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[https://www.freeciv.org/ ''Freeciv'' homepage]
*[https://www.freeciv.org/wiki/Main_Page ''Freeciv'' wiki]
*[https://github.com/freeciv/freeciv Freeciv on GitHub]
*[https://sourceforge.net/projects/freeciv/ Freeciv on Sourceforge]

[[Category:Games]][[Category:Turn-based strategy games]][[Category:GPL games]][[Category:SDL games]][[Category:2D games]][[Category:C games]][[Category:Online multiplayer games]][[Category:Freeciv]][[Category:Game clones]][[Category:Physically released games]]
[[Category:Games with bots]]

Libregamewiki - User contributions [en]

Freeciv