Cataclysm-DDA
A deep, turn-based open-world survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by zombies and catastrophe.
Open source alternative to:
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead (Cataclysm-DDA) is a turn-based survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Players control a single survivor who must scavenge, craft, build, and fight to stay alive in a procedurally generated open world.
The game is known for its extraordinary depth: hundreds of items, crafting recipes, vehicles that can be built and modified, NPCs with faction reputations, and a detailed simulation of hunger, temperature, morale, and injury. Every playthrough is different, shaped by random world generation and permadeath.
Cataclysm-DDA is licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0 and is completely free. It has been under continuous community development for over a decade and offers both keyboard-friendly ASCII graphics and an optional tileset with visual sprites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platforms does Cataclysm-DDA run on?
Cataclysm-DDA runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and also supports Android via a community build. There are graphical tileset and ASCII/terminal versions of the game.
Does Cataclysm-DDA have multiplayer?
The base game is single-player. There are experimental multiplayer branches and community projects, but the official release is a single-player survival experience.
Is the game hard to learn?
Cataclysm-DDA has a steep learning curve and a large keybinding system, but it ships with in-game tutorials, extensive in-game help, and a large wiki maintained by the community.