Xonotic is a free, open source first-person shooter for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Built on the DarkPlaces engine as a fork of Nexuiz, it delivers fast-paced arena shooter gameplay in the style of classic Quake and Unreal Tournament - with strafe jumping, rocket jumping, a diverse weapon roster, and multiple competitive game modes. It is fully portable and can run straight from a USB flash drive with no installation.
Quick summary: Download the ~1.3 GB package, extract, and run the executable. No installation required. Play online against other players, offline against bots, or on a local LAN. The current stable release is 0.8.6 (June 2023), with active development and community content continuing through 2025-2026.
Xonotic Game | Free Arena First Person Shooter
Xonotic is a free and open source first-person shooter heavily influenced by classic FPS titles like Quake and Unreal Tournament. It is known for fast-paced gameplay, deep movement mechanics, and a wide variety of weapons and maps. The game was originally developed as a fork of Nexuiz in 2010 and has since evolved into its own distinct, actively maintained arena shooter.
Xonotic Origins and Evolution
Xonotic was created in 2010 following controversy over the original Nexuiz project being commercially licensed to IllFonic without community knowledge. Rather than abandon years of community-driven work, the majority of the original contributors forked the codebase and continued development under a new name - ensuring the game remained fully open source and community controlled.
Unlike Nexuiz, which stalled after the commercial licensing dispute, Xonotic has continued to evolve with regular releases, engine improvements, balance updates, and new community content. It runs on the DarkPlaces engine, which supports bloom, dynamic lighting and shadowing, offset mapping, and high-dynamic-range rendering. It is widely regarded as the true open source successor to classic arena shooters - a modernized take on Quake-style gameplay that is completely free and portable.
Key Features
- Fast-Paced Arena Shooter Gameplay: Skill-based combat with advanced movement mechanics including strafe jumping and rocket jumping. Multiple game modes including Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Duel, Team Deathmatch, and Domination.
- Diverse Weapon Roster: A varied selection of weapons, each with unique characteristics - shotguns, rocket launchers, plasma guns, the Vortex sniper rifle, the Shockwave, and more. Most weapons also have an alternate fire mode.
- Multiple Maps: A wide range of maps from tight dueling arenas to larger open spaces, designed to accommodate different playstyles and game modes.
- In-Game Guide: A comprehensive in-game guide was added in September 2025, complementing Halogene's established Newbie Guide to help new players learn movement, weapons, and strategy faster.
- Customizable HUD and Settings: Adjust player appearance, weapon behavior, visual settings, and the HUD to suit your preferences.
- Community Mods and Maps: An active modding community contributes custom maps, game modes, and modifications that keep the game fresh and varied.
- Open Source (GPLv3+): The full source code is freely available on GitLab, allowing anyone to study, modify, or contribute to the game.
- Cross-Platform: Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux - all platforms share the same online servers.
- Fully Portable: Runs directly from the extracted folder or a USB drive without any installation on Windows.
- Single Player and Multiplayer: Primarily designed for online multiplayer, but includes bot AI for offline practice and local LAN play.
- Competitive Scene: Community-organized tournaments and competitive leagues exist for skilled players looking for structured competition.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Actively developed open source FPS | Large download (~1.3 GB) for a free game |
| Highly competitive, skill-based gameplay | Steep learning curve for new players |
| Fully portable and cross-platform | Smaller online player base than mainstream shooters |
| Strong modding and community support | Primarily multiplayer focused - limited solo content |
| No microtransactions, paywalls, or DRM | New in-game guide helps, but skill ceiling is high |
Specifications, Official Site and Download
- Author's Website: Project Home Page
- First Release: 2010 (initial fork of Nexuiz)
- Current Stable Version: 0.8.6 (June 2023)
- Engine: DarkPlaces
- License: Open Source (copyleft GPLv3+)
- Extracted Size: ~1.3 GB
- Operating System: Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 | macOS | Linux
- Price: Free
- Application Category: GameApplication, Portable Game, Arena FPS
- Editor's Rating: 5 Star
- Download: Xonotic Download
Also available via the internal links below: Nexuiz (the predecessor) and Alien Arena (another free portable FPS).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Xonotic still actively developed?
Yes. The project continues to receive community contributions, balance updates, new maps, and engine improvements. Active development is tracked on GitLab. The in-game guide added in September 2025 is a recent example of ongoing community work. The current stable release is 0.8.6 (June 2023).
Is Xonotic better than Nexuiz?
For most players, yes. Xonotic is the direct community continuation of Nexuiz after the original project was commercially licensed without community consent in 2010. Xonotic has received years of additional development, balance work, and new content that Nexuiz never received. It is generally considered the true open source successor.
How hard is Xonotic to learn?
The basics are accessible - move, shoot, don't die. However, the game has a high skill ceiling. Advanced movement techniques like strafe jumping and rocket jumping significantly affect competitive performance. The in-game guide (added September 2025) and Halogene's Newbie Guide on the official site are good starting points for new players.
Does Xonotic support offline play?
Yes. You can play against bots in single player mode or host a local LAN match without an internet connection. Online play requires a connection but no account.
Can Xonotic run on older hardware?
It is well optimized and runs on mid-range systems. Graphics settings can be scaled down significantly for lower-end hardware. The DarkPlaces engine is mature and performs well even on older machines at reduced settings.
Is there still an active online community?
Yes, though the player base is smaller than mainstream shooters. Community-run servers are populated across multiple game modes, and organized tournaments and leagues exist for competitive players. The official forums and Discord remain active.
How does Xonotic compare to other free FPS games?
Among free open source FPS games, Xonotic stands out for its depth of movement mechanics, variety of competitive game modes, active online community, and continued development. Compared to more casual free shooters, it is harder to learn but more rewarding to master. It is one of the most feature-complete free arena shooters available.
Final Thoughts
Xonotic represents what open source gaming can achieve when a dedicated community continues to refine and evolve a project over years. It delivers fast, skill-driven arena shooter gameplay without microtransactions, paywalls, platform restrictions, or required accounts. No installation is needed - extract and play, including from a USB drive.
If you enjoy Nexuiz, classic Quake-style shooters, or fast competitive FPS games and want a modern, actively supported alternative that respects your freedom to play however and wherever you want, Xonotic is one of the best free FPS games available today.
