Nakama

Paid AndroidAPIiPhoneLinuxMacSelf-hosted+2

What Nakama is

Nakama is an open-source backend for social and real-time games. It provides building blocks for player accounts, authentication, social networking, storage, real-time data exchange, chat, notifications, leaderboards, matchmaking and multiplayer. Developers can support authoritative or relayed multiplayer, matchmaking and match listing, as well as tournaments and configurable leaderboards. Server-side logic can be written in Go, TypeScript, JavaScript or Lua, using event hooks and RPC calls. The product names Facebook, Steam and Google for social sign-in; custom authentication and its REST API can connect external services. Open-source client SDKs are listed for engines and languages including Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot, JavaScript, Swift and Java/Android. The server is licensed under Apache 2.0, with commercial licenses also available; client libraries use Apache 2.0. Nakama can be installed with Docker or manually on Windows, macOS and Linux, then hosted on a cloud of the developer’s choice or Heroic Cloud. Heroic Cloud plans include dedicated hardware, a managed database, backups, monitoring and scaling. Enterprise is a commercial proprietary license with clustering, high availability, automatic failover and long-term support releases.

Who it suits

Nakama is aimed at game developers, studios and publishers building online multiplayer games, from hobbyist and indie projects to AAA studios. It can suit teams that want to self-host or use Heroic Cloud.

What it does well

Includes accounts, social features and multiplayer tools.
Supports authoritative and relayed multiplayer.
Server logic supports four listed languages.
Can be installed with Docker or manually.
Apache 2.0 server and client-library licenses.

What to know first

Console client libraries are available on request and are not open source.
Enterprise features require a commercial proprietary license.
Managed cloud hosting is provided through Heroic Cloud.

Limits

Heroic Cloud Nakama plans have no DAU, MAU, or CCU limits. Console libraries are available on request and are not open source; clustering, high availability, automatic failover, long-term support releases, and guaranteed LTS fixes are listed under the commercial Nakama Enterprise license.

Getting started

Use the Nakama website or documentation to review the product and installation guide.
Install with Docker, or install manually on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Choose a cloud of your own or Heroic Cloud for hosting.
Select an open-source client SDK for a supported engine or language.
Use the social sign-in options or configure external services through custom authentication and the REST API.

Verdict

Nakama offers a broad set of backend components for online games, with both self-hosting and managed-cloud deployment options. Developers should check the client-library terms and whether the open-source or commercial licensing route fits their project.

Questions

Is Nakama free and open source?

The server is open source under Apache 2.0, and client libraries are also Apache 2.0. Commercial licenses are available.

What platforms can I use to install Nakama?

Nakama can be installed with Docker or manually on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It can run on a cloud you choose or Heroic Cloud.

Which game engines and SDKs are supported?

Named engines include Godot, Unity, Unreal Engine, MonoGame, LibGDX, Defold, Cocos2d, and Phaser. Open-source SDKs are listed for engines and languages including Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot, JavaScript, Swift, and Java/Android.

What languages can I use for server logic?

Server-side logic can be written in Go, TypeScript, JavaScript, and Lua, with event hooks and RPC calls.

Does Nakama have a managed cloud option?

Heroic Labs offers Nakama hosting on Heroic Cloud. Its plans include dedicated hardware, a managed database, backups, monitoring, scaling, a load balancer, SSL certificates, and log aggregation.

What is included in Nakama Enterprise?

Nakama Enterprise is a commercial proprietary license with clustering, high availability, automatic failover, long-term support releases, and guaranteed fixes for LTS versions.

Facts from Nakama's own pages

Client libraries: Open-source SDKs are listed for engines and languages including Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot, JavaScript, Swift, and Java/Android; console libraries are available on request and are not open source. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Cloud limits: Heroic Cloud Nakama plans include no DAU, MAU, or CCU limits, and include dedicated hardware and a managed database instance. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Competitive features: Its competitive features include tournaments, configurable leaderboards, and matchmaking. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Core features: It provides user accounts, authentication, social networking, storage, real-time data exchange, chat, notifications, leaderboards, matchmaking, and multiplayer. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Customization: Server-side logic can be written in Go, TypeScript, JavaScript, and Lua, with hooks, RPCs, REST API access, and direct database access. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Deployment: Heroic Labs offers Nakama hosting on Heroic Cloud, while its documentation provides a Docker Compose installation guide. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Enterprise: Nakama Enterprise is a commercial proprietary license with clustering, high availability, automatic failover, long-term support releases, and guaranteed fixes for LTS versions. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Install and hosting: Nakama can be installed using Docker or manually on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and can run on a cloud of the user's choosing or Heroic Cloud. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Integrations: The product page names Facebook, Steam, and Google for social sign-in and says external services can be integrated through custom authentication and its REST API. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Intended users: The product is presented for game developers, studios, and publishers building online multiplayer games, from hobbyists and indie teams to AAA studios. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
License: The server is licensed under Apache 2.0, with commercial licenses also available; client libraries are Apache 2.0. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Managed cloud: Heroic Cloud's Nakama plans include no DAU, MAU, or CCU limits, dedicated hardware and managed database resources, backups, monitoring, scaling, a load balancer, SSL certificates, and log aggregation. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Multiplayer: Nakama supports authoritative and relayed multiplayer, matchmaking, and match listing. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Product: Nakama is a scalable, open-source backend for social and real-time games. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Security: Heroic Labs states that its cloud infrastructure and services are SOC 2 Type II compliant. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Security and compliance: The pricing page describes Heroic Cloud infrastructure and services as SOC 2 Type II compliant. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Server logic: Server-side logic can be written in Go, TypeScript, JavaScript, and Lua, with event hooks and RPC calls. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Social features: It includes friends, groups, real-time messaging, chat rooms, notifications, and social sign-in. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Support: Heroic Labs lists studio support packages with dedicated email support, response SLAs, and, for some packages, uptime guarantees and developer hours. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026
Supported engines: The page lists Godot, Unity, Unreal Engine, MonoGame, LibGDX, Defold, Cocos2d, and Phaser among supported game engines. · heroiclabs.com, 7 Oct 2026