OpenRA Engine
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2025 3:06 am
I’ve been exploring different engines for creating 2D strategy and simulation games, and I’m wondering if the OpenRA Engine could be a good choice for something like Grow A Garden. The idea would be to build a cozy farming and resource management game with multiplayer features, similar in spirit to classic RTS mechanics but focused on gardening instead of combat.
OpenRA already includes systems for units, resource collection, building placement, and synchronized multiplayer — all of which could be adapted for a farming environment. For example, instead of tanks or soldiers, players could control gardeners and plant crops that grow over time. The pathfinding and AI behavior could be repurposed for farming bots or cooperative player interactions.
However, I’m not sure how flexible the engine is when it comes to changing game logic and visual style. Has anyone here tried to use OpenRA for something non-combat oriented, like a farming simulator or city builder? Would it be easier to modify existing logic, or would starting from scratch in something like Godot or Unity be better?
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s experimented with OpenRA in creative ways. Could it realistically power a game like Grow A Garden?
OpenRA already includes systems for units, resource collection, building placement, and synchronized multiplayer — all of which could be adapted for a farming environment. For example, instead of tanks or soldiers, players could control gardeners and plant crops that grow over time. The pathfinding and AI behavior could be repurposed for farming bots or cooperative player interactions.
However, I’m not sure how flexible the engine is when it comes to changing game logic and visual style. Has anyone here tried to use OpenRA for something non-combat oriented, like a farming simulator or city builder? Would it be easier to modify existing logic, or would starting from scratch in something like Godot or Unity be better?
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s experimented with OpenRA in creative ways. Could it realistically power a game like Grow A Garden?