Open Source IO Games (that you can learn GameDev from)
#1
More Infosuroi.io
This 2D Battle Ryoale web game was inspired by surviv.io. Both the gameserver and suroi-client are written in Typescript. uWebSockets.js is used for real-time communication between player and server. The HTML5 engine Pixi.js is used for rendering the game. nipplejs is used as a library for virtual joystick support on touchscreens. You can find the code at https://github.com/HasangerGames/suroi
Suroi is an open source 2D battle royale inspired by the defunct surviv.io. In Suroi, you'll spawn on an island, with nothing to your name. Break crates and other obstacles to get loot. Don't stand around for long, because a zone of deadly gas is always closing in! Your objective is to kill all the other players and be the last left alive. Complete it, and you'll be rewarded with a juicy chicken dinner! There are a wide variety of weapons to choose from, as well as several game modes in regular rotation. Invite friends and play together in duos or squads. Suroi is developed entirely by volunteers and supported by donations. If you'd like to help, please join our Discord server and check out our GitHub page (links on the main menu)! Controls are remappable, and a full list can be found by clicking the "Rules & Tutorial" button. Stay survivin'!#2
More Infosplix.io
Splix was made Open Source in 2023. The game is written in plain JavaScript and uses Deno as runtime. Almost all of the game's code is self-written. The simple custom renderer uses a JS-Canvas2D. Vanila Websockets are used for communication between splix.io gameserver and browser-client. You can find the code at https://github.com/jespertheend/splix
Capture and expand your area to win!#3
More Infoshapez.io
Shapez.IO is an Open-Source factory-builder game. The game is written in JavaScript with a custom Game Engine based on the code used for YORG.io 3 rendering on a Canvas2D. For the Desktop (Steam, GOG, Itch.io) builds of Shapez Electron is used. You can find the code at https://github.com/tobspr-games/shapez.io
A factory-automation game. Build, optimize and grow your factory to finally automate everything.#4
More Infomk48.io
The ship combat game mk48.io is a prime example for an interesting Open Source game. The server was initially written & released as Open Source in 2021 in the programming language Go, using Gorilla WebSocket for communicating to the client via JSON data-payloads. The JavaScript browser-player used Pixie.JS. Since then the game took an interesting turn, with the whole project being rewritten to Rust using SoftbearStudios' custom game engine called Kodiak. The client is too fully written in Rust, using WebAssembly (WASM) to run in the browser and render into a canvas using WebGL. You can find the code at https://github.com/SoftbearStudios/mk48
Mk48.io is a multiplayer ship combat game. It is free to play online in a web browser with no install required. Start with a small warship and defeat rival players or collect floating barrels to earn upgrades to increasingly larger battleships, submarines, and aircraft carriers. Avoid torpedos and incoming shells. Team and chat with other players.#5
More InfoMarble Blast Web
The classic Marble Blast Web-Port is mostly written in TypeScript. Almost all of the 3D Platformer's code is custom-written, including the 3D-Renderer which draws on a Canvas using WebGL. Even the RigidBody physics & collission Handling logic is self-implemented. Due to the modern & well-structured TypeScript code, the project is a pleasure to look-through and learn. You can find the code at https://github.com/Vanilagy/MarbleBlast
Marble Blast Web is a modern fan-made browsergame-version of the classic Marble Blast Gold an Marble Blast Platinum games. The player controls a marble and needs to race it to the goal as quick as possible while avoiding and overcoming various obstacles on a wide range of different maps. This open-source game-project features hundreds of different and challenging maps you can play in your browser for free. Beat the time records of other players and climb the leaderboard with your speedrun.
Explore Open Source Multiplayer Browser Games: Learn Real-Time Web Game Development
For developers eager to master multiplayer web game development, studying open source browser games is an invaluable way to build practical skills. These real-time HTML5 games—often recognized for their simple controls and engaging, competitive gameplay—have become a cornerstone of online entertainment. By examining the source code of these projects, you can gain hands-on experience with key concepts such as networking, real-time communication, game loops, and interactive user interfaces.
Why Study Open Source Multiplayer Games?
Open source browser-based games offer a transparent look into how popular real-time multiplayer experiences are structured and coded. Whether you’re interested in creating your own Agar-style game, experimenting with live leaderboards, or optimizing server-client communication, these projects provide excellent learning opportunities. Reviewing real-world codebases allows you to:
- Understand how real-time networking is implemented in web games
- See approaches to synchronizing game state and handling latency
- Learn about scalable backend solutions using Node.js, WebSockets, and cloud platforms
- Explore front-end frameworks for rendering graphics and managing player input
- Discover best practices for game design, security, and performance
Technologies Behind Open Source HTML5 Games
Most open source multiplayer browser games are built using a combination of JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS on the front end, with Node.js or similar technologies powering the backend. Many projects utilize libraries like Socket.IO for real-time communication, Phaser or PixiJS for graphics, and databases such as MongoDB or SQLite for storing player data. Studying these codebases helps you see how these technologies work together to deliver seamless online gameplay.
How to Use Open Source Web Games for Learning
- Clone and Run Locally: Download the project’s source code from GitHub or another repository and run it on your machine to understand how it all fits together.
- Read the Docs: Many projects include detailed README files, architecture diagrams, and setup instructions.
- Experiment and Modify: Try tweaking game mechanics, adding features, or refactoring code to deepen your understanding.
- Join the Community: Many open source projects have active communities where you can ask questions, report bugs, or contribute improvements.
What Makes a Great Open Source Browser Game Project?
- Well-Documented Code: Helps you follow the logic and learn best practices.
- Modular Structure: Clear separation between client, server, and shared code makes it easier to understand each part’s role.
- Open-Source License: A license that allows for learning and modification in the FOSS spirit.
Start Building Your Own Multiplayer Web Game
Browse the curated list below to find a variety of open source multiplayer browser games and HTML5 projects. Whether you want to reverse-engineer a classic, study a real-time shooter, or explore new gameplay concepts, these resources are a goldmine for aspiring web game developers. Dive into the code, experiment with new ideas, and use these projects as a launchpad for your own multiplayer creations.
Posted on: Jun 24, 2025