About
OpenRA is an open-source real-time strategy game engine that faithfully recreates and modernises the classic Westwood Studios Command & Conquer games from the 1990s. It includes fully playable versions of Red Alert, Tiberian Dawn, and Dune 2000 with overhauled netcode, widescreen support, map editor, and extensive multiplayer.
The project has been in active development since 2007 and is one of the most complete open-source RTS projects available. The free original game assets are downloaded automatically on first launch, making it fully free to download and play with no ownership requirements.
Identity
Launch
- Binary
- flatpak run net.openra.OpenRA
- Needs files
- none beyond the binary
Runtime
- Runs as
- Native Linux
- Proton
- not needed
⚙ Setup notes
Install: Native Linux via Flatpak (net.openra.OpenRA on Flathub). Install through Discover in Desktop Mode — search for OpenRA and click Install.
Assets: Game assets are not bundled, but the first time you launch each mod (Red Alert, Tiberian Dawn, Dune 2000) OpenRA automatically downloads the free original game assets from its servers — no purchased files or original disks are required to play.
Launch: Launch from the Discover app, the desktop shortcut, or add to Steam as a non-Steam game. When adding to Steam, point the launch command at flatpak run net.openra.OpenRA.
Flatpak note: The Flatpak sandbox can interfere with switching between the official mods and downloaded community mods; if you need community mods, the official AppImage release is the recommended alternative.
Controller: Controller support on Deck is limited — the game is designed for mouse and keyboard. The right trackpad works as a mouse cursor and is the recommended primary input on Deck; left trackpad can be mapped to hotkeys.
The one thing to know
No owned game files required: OpenRA auto-downloads the free original assets for each mod on first launch — no purchase or disks needed.
Install: via Discover (Flatpak net.openra.OpenRA); launch with flatpak run net.openra.OpenRA.
Flatpak limitation: the sandbox can break community-mod switching; use the official AppImage if you need that.
Controller: controller/gamepad support is limited by design; the right trackpad as mouse is the most practical Deck input. Full keyboard + mouse via a USB hub is the ideal setup for campaigns and multiplayer.
Proton: No Proton needed.
Community guides
Write-ups and threads from people who got this (or a similar) game running. deckport links to them — it doesn't reproduce them.
Get the artwork
deckport never hosts game images. Open this game on SteamGridDB, pick
the cover / hero / logo / icon you like, and drop them into the
game folder under .deckport-art/ before you push it to the
Deck. The importer files them under the right names automatically.
Run it on your Deck
Two files: the one-time importer (deckport.py) in your
Deck's home folder, and this game's install helper. Copy the game
into ~/Games and run the helper with Steam closed — it
writes the recipe (binary, launch options)
and registers the shortcut with artwork.