# freeaoe: an Age of Empires 2 engine rebuilt from observation

> freeaoe rebuilds an Age of Empires 2 engine in C++ from observed gameplay and public knowledge. It loads original game data directly, including scenarios, campaigns, graphics and AI scripts; support for Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds remains in progress.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/sandsmark/freeaoe>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/sandsmark/freeaoe/blob/f5e46da59761868aa1814037f712f277c71b5bb3/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/freeaoe-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/freeaoe-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/freeaoe-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Requires original Age of Empires 2 data files; trial-version data also works.
- **Prerequisites:** Building requires SFML and a modern C++ compiler.
- **Limits:** The project is in early development; Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds support is unfinished.
- **License:** Licensed under GPL-3.0.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/sandsmark/freeaoe/blob/f5e46da59761868aa1814037f712f277c71b5bb3/README.md>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.