OpenTTD review: a transport game on your PC

OpenTTD is a free open-source transport game. ¹³ You build roads, railways, docks and airports, and you earn money by carrying passengers and cargo. ³ A Local server is only for players on your own network, and a usage survey is sent only if you agree. ⁵⁶

Last checked October 28, 2026.

At a glance

What it is: A transport simulation based on Transport Tycoon Deluxe. You move passengers and cargo by road, rail, water and air. ¹³

Works on: 64-bit Linux, macOS 10.14 and later, and Windows 7 through 11. ¹²

Price: Free, including copies the project lists on Steam, GOG.com and the Microsoft Store. GOG requires Transport Tycoon Deluxe before it will add OpenTTD. ¹³⁸

Licence: GNU General Public License version 2.0 for the game. Some bundled libraries keep their own licences. ¹

Best for: A game only people on your own network can join. ⁶

Official site: openttd.org

What OpenTTD does (and how it protects your privacy)

The project describes OpenTTD as a transport simulation based on Transport Tycoon Deluxe, written by Chris Sawyer. It follows that game, then adds new features. ¹ Steam calls it a business simulation: you earn money by moving passengers and cargo by road, rail, water and air. ³ The latest stable release is 15.3, dated 4 April 2026. ²

Graphics are a separate download on first run. ² OpenGFX2 is the current official open-source set, and the one downloaded automatically. ⁴ Sound and music are optional: OpenSFX and OpenMSX come from the in-game list. ² If you already own Transport Tycoon Deluxe, those files can be the graphics instead. They cannot be downloaded. ² The guide says that older game is not free software. ⁴

Key features of OpenTTD

Road, rail, water and air on one map, with roads, railways, docks and airports. ³
Large generated maps, up to 4096 by 4096 tiles, in one of four climates. ³
Single-player, online co-op, online PvP and LAN co-op, as listed on Steam. ³ PvP means playing against another person.
A server you can hide. Public is listed, invite-only needs a code starting with +, and Local stays on your network. ⁶
Free graphics, sound and music. OpenGFX2 is offered on first launch. OpenSFX and OpenMSX add sound and music. ²⁴
Add-ons only when you ask. Most add-on content is downloaded with the Check Online Content button. ¹
Checksums and old saves. Official files publish MD5, SHA1 and SHA256 sums. ² Older savegames still load, unless the file is corrupt. ¹

Pros and cons

Pros

Free to download, and described on Steam as free and open-source. ¹³
Game code is under the GNU GPL version 2.0, with other licences named for some libraries. ¹
The survey sends nothing unless you opt in, and you can opt out later. ⁵
A Local server is only for players on your own network. ⁶
Open-source graphics mean you can skip the commercial original. ⁴
Three checksums are published for every official binary. ²

Cons

Graphics are a separate download. The installer asks for them on first launch. ²⁴
Original Transport Tycoon Deluxe files cannot be downloaded. You must already own them, and they are not free software. ²⁴
Supported platforms are Linux, macOS and Windows. BSD may run, but it is not actively tested. ¹
Invite-only and public games can use an openttd.org relay as a last resort. That relay can see the traffic, and the project says it only checks that packets are valid. ⁷
From 1 January 2024 the Steam client supports Windows 10 and later, while the website still offers Windows 7 and 8 builds. ²³

Is OpenTTD safe and private?

The survey is sent only if you agree. A result then goes out when you leave, load another game, return to the menu, quit, or if the game crashes. ⁵ It includes the final settings, the NewGRFs used, whether each company was a person or an AI and which script ran, how many vehicles and how much infrastructure each company had, how long the game ran, and basic operating-system and processor details. ⁵ The project says this is not personal data and is not meant to track one person. Results are published only after more than 100 surveys. IP addresses are not stored with them. A separate check uses the address only to block more than one result a minute. ⁵ Game Options is where you opt out or read a result first. ⁵

Registration with the Game Coordinator happens for invite-only and public servers. A relay is the last resort. On official builds that relay is openttd.org. ⁷ A relay can see the traffic. This one only checks that packets are valid OpenTTD packets. ⁷ Discord, Steam and GOG Galaxy plugins are ones you add yourself, from version 14.0. ² Steam names OpenTTD as developer and publisher. ³ The readme points to GitHub for the code. ¹ A GOG copy needs no activation and can be played offline. ⁸

How to get started with OpenTTD

Download OpenTTD 15.3 from the official stable page. Use the Windows installer, the macOS disk image, or the 64-bit Linux archive. Prefer stable over a nightly build. ¹²
Check the MD5, SHA1 and SHA256 sums on that page. All three should match, or the project says not to trust the file. ²
On Windows, run the installer. On a Mac, open the disk image and copy the files into a folder. On Linux, use your distribution’s package, or the guide for the generic archive. Lutris can hold the shortcut with other Linux games. ¹⁴
On first launch, agree to download the open-source graphics. That set is OpenGFX2. For sound and music, use Check Online Content and add OpenSFX and OpenMSX. ²⁴
Leave the survey off unless you want statistics sent. Game Options is where you opt out or preview a result. ⁵
Start a single-player game. For computer rivals, open AI Settings and download one. The guide suggests SimpleAI first. ⁴
For friends, open Multiplayer, then Start Server, and choose Local, Invite Only or Public. A server password and a company password are both optional. ⁶

Who should use OpenTTD (and who might prefer something else)

OpenTTD fits a long game of routes and cargo on Windows, macOS or Linux. ¹ The game is free, and a Local server is only for your own network. ³⁶ Open-source graphics mean you can start without the commercial original. ⁴

For a turn-based fantasy campaign, The Battle for Wesnoth is the closer match. SuperTuxKart is the short race. When the group wants voice beside the game, Mumble is a separate channel built for a session like that.

Frequently asked questions

Is OpenTTD free?

Yes. The readme says OpenTTD is available for free on Steam, GOG.com and the Microsoft Store, and Steam calls the game free and open-source. ¹³ The stable download on the official website is version 15.3. ² GOG requires Transport Tycoon Deluxe in your library first, and that copy has no activation step. ⁸

Is OpenTTD safe to play?

Match the three checksums on the official file. ² The survey stays quiet unless you opt in, and IP addresses are not stored with results. ⁵ A Local server is only for your own network. ⁶ Invite-only and public games can use the openttd.org relay as a last resort. It can see the traffic and only checks that packets are valid. ⁷

Does OpenTTD work on iPhone?

The supported list is Linux, macOS and Windows. BSD may run, but it is not actively tested. ¹ GOG’s FAQ names those same three systems. ⁸

Does OpenTTD need Transport Tycoon Deluxe?

Not for a normal install. The installer asks to download OpenGFX2, the current open-source graphics. ⁴ Original Transport Tycoon Deluxe files are optional, only if you own them, and they are not free software. ²⁴ GOG is the case that requires that older game before OpenTTD can be added. ⁸