RuneLite
Free, open source OldSchool RuneScape client for Windows, 28.5 MB
RPG games for PC
The RPG category for Windows lists 15 apps, and every one shown here is free to download. Free does not make them alike. Some are full games, such as Battle for Wesnoth at 414.5 MB. Others are clients or launchers, such as the 1.4 MB Ankama Launcher, which opens a portal to several games and other media.
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That split is the first thing to check. RuneLite, the Oldschool RuneScape client and the Runescape Launcher each connect to a RuneScape game rather than being a standalone RPG.
License is the second. RuneLite uses BSD-2-CLAUSE, Battle for Wesnoth uses GPLv2, and Endless Sky and OpenMW use GPL-3.0. PokeMMO, NIKKE and the Hytale Launcher are proprietary. Last, check the update date. Endless Sky and OpenMW were updated in 2026, while the Oldschool RuneScape client last changed on December 21, 2024.
Apps in this category
Battle for Wesnoth
Free open source fantasy tactics for Windows, with hotseat and online play
Endless Sky
Free open-source space sandbox with combat and trading, v0.11.2 on Windows
OpenMW
Free GPL-3.0 engine that reimplements Morrowind on Windows, v0.50.0
Oldschool RuneScape
Free 22.9 MB Windows client for Oldschool RuneScape, from Jagex Ltd.
Runescape Launcher
Free 3 MB Windows launcher for Jagex's RuneScape fantasy MMORPG
PokeMMO
Free fan-made Pokémon MMORPG for Windows, 79.5 MB from dl.pokemmo.com
Ankama Launcher
Free 1.4 MB Windows client for Dofus and other Ankama games and news
NIKKE
Free third-person shooter RPG from Level Infinite, v0.0.6.212 for Windows
Hytale Launcher
Free Windows launcher for Hytale, a sandbox RPG with mods and servers
Soulframe
Free Windows fantasy MMORPG from Digital Extremes, set on Midrath
GnollHack
NetHack fork for Windows with graphics, sounds and voiceovers, free on GitHub
Nethack
Free 12.8 MB single-player roguelike for Windows from the Nethack DevTeam
Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup
Free open source roguelike for Windows, a 27.9 MB download from GitHub
Tales of Maj'Eyal
Free open source roguelike RPG with tactical turn-based combat for Windows
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Top 5 picks
OpenMW
OpenMW is an open-source engine reimplementation for Morrowind, version 0.50.0, updated May 11, 2026. The download is 77.5 MB under GPL-3.0 and it is free. It is an engine rather than a standalone game, so check what game content it needs before installing.
Battle for Wesnoth
Battle for Wesnoth is a turn-based strategy game with a high fantasy theme, with singleplayer and online or hotseat multiplayer. Version 1.18.4 dates from February 18, 2025 and is licensed GPLv2. At 414.5 MB it is the largest of the five here, so it needs more disk space than the launchers.
Endless Sky
Endless Sky is a space exploration game with sandbox structure, a looser fit for the RPG label than most entries here. Version 0.11.2 was updated June 27, 2026. The file is 345.7 MB, free, and released under GPL-3.0. It suits anyone who wants an open-source option set away from fantasy.
Runescape Launcher
The Runescape Launcher from Jagex Ltd is a 3 MB download, version 2.2.12, updated June 10, 2026. The game is a medieval fantasy MMORPG with 28 skills and a classless character system. The license is proprietary and the launcher is free. The 3 MB figure covers the launcher only.
Hytale Launcher
Hytale Launcher, from Hypixel Studios Canada inc., carries version 2026.10.26-7b63bde and was updated October 27, 2026, the latest date among the listed apps. The game combines open-world exploration with RPG elements, quests, combat and creation tools, with solo play and community servers. The launcher is 17.6 MB and proprietary.
Questions and answers
Are the RPG games listed here free?
Yes. Every app shown on this page is free. Several are free software under open licenses, and others, such as PokeMMO and NIKKE, are proprietary but also free.
Which of these RPG games are open source?
RuneLite uses BSD-2-CLAUSE, Battle for Wesnoth uses GPLv2, and Endless Sky and OpenMW both use GPL-3.0. The Jagex, Ankama, Level Infinite, PokeMMO and Hytale entries are proprietary or list terms of service instead.
Is a launcher the same as the game?
Not always. The Ankama Launcher at 1.4 MB is a portal to several games and other media, and the Runescape Launcher is 3 MB. Battle for Wesnoth, by comparison, is 414.5 MB, so a small file often signals a launcher that fetches the game.
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Before installing, compare the size and the update date on each listing. A 1.4 MB or 3 MB entry is a launcher, so plan for additional downloads, while Battle for Wesnoth and Endless Sky are already several hundred megabytes. The Oldschool RuneScape client at 22.9 MB was last updated on December 21, 2024, which is older than most entries here. None of the listed apps are rated tier A on this site, so treat the licenses and dates as the main evidence when choosing.