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Spring Engine
What Spring Engine is
Spring Engine is an open-source engine for creating and playing real-time strategy games. It supports single-player matches and multiplayer games through a lobby client, with Lua available for scripting. Spring targets Windows, Linux and macOS, and the project describes additional control and customization options for games. The engine is free, with the listed Spring Engine plan priced at $0; no free trial is offered. Developers can compile it from source using CMake and make. Windows installation follows the project’s Spring download wiki, while Linux installation uses the Spring setup guide. The official homepage links to downloading and playing, information about the engine and available games. It also provides a place for help, suggestions, bug reports and a community forum, while repository issues go to Spring’s Mantis tracker. The project is maintained under the spring organization on GitHub. Its repository includes GPL 2.0 and GPL 3.0 license files alongside other license information.
Who it suits
Spring suits players who want single-player or lobby-based multiplayer strategy games, and developers building Lua-scripted, customizable RTS experiences. It supports the three listed desktop platforms.
What it does well
- Open-source real-time strategy engine
- Windows, Linux and macOS support
- Single-player and multiplayer through lobby
- Lua scripting support
- Source build instructions provided
What to know first
- No free trial
- Installation uses separate platform guides
- Multiplayer requires a lobby client
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Engine | — | Free |
As springrts.com lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Spring Engine provides a free, open-source base for playing or making real-time strategy games. Its platform coverage, Lua scripting and multiplayer lobby support make it flexible for both players and developers.
Facts from Spring Engine's own pages
- Customization
- The README says Spring games have many additional ways of control and customizability. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Development
- The project provides instructions for compiling Spring from source with CMake and make. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · springrts.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Gameplay
- Spring games support single-player and multiplayer matches through a lobby client. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Issue reporting
- The repository directs users to Spring's Mantis issue tracker to report issues. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository lists a license and two other licenses; its file list includes GPL 2.0 and GPL 3.0 license files. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Linux installation
- The README points Linux users to the Spring setup guide for installation. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- The repository is maintained under the spring organization on GitHub. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Multiplayer tools
- Yes · springrts.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Product
- Spring is an open-source real-time strategy game engine. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Scripting languages
- Lua · springrts.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Source code model
- open_source · springrts.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Support
- The project homepage is described as a place for help, suggestions, bug reports, and the community forum. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Target platforms
- Windows,Linux,macOS · springrts.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Use
- The engine is for creating and playing real-time strategy games. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Website status
- The official homepage links to download and play, learn more, and see the games. · springrts.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Windows installation
- The README points Windows users to the Spring download wiki page for installation. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where Spring Engine stands on Freedom251
- Game Engine Software#59 of 92