# OpenJazz: a Jazz Jackrabbit 1 engine reimplementation

> OpenJazz reimplements the Jazz Jackrabbit 1 engine in portable C++ and runs with data from the original game. It builds with CMake and SDL for desktop platforms, with further ports for consoles, handhelds and browsers.

- 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/AlisterT/openjazz>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/AlisterT/openjazz/blob/a1626f4edd4a7af72c54103021790c56d8ecfced/res/unix/OpenJazz.6.adoc>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/openjazz-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/openjazz-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/openjazz-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Files from an original Jazz Jackrabbit game are required to play.
- **Prerequisites:** Building requires CMake and SDL 2 or 3; SDL 1.2 is also supported but deprecated.
- **Limits:** The author states that development has slowed and there is no clear feature roadmap.
- **License:** GNU General Public License v2 or later.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/AlisterT/openjazz/blob/a1626f4edd4a7af72c54103021790c56d8ecfced/res/unix/OpenJazz.6.adoc>
2. <https://github.com/AlisterT/openjazz/blob/a1626f4edd4a7af72c54103021790c56d8ecfced/README.md>
3. <https://github.com/AlisterT/openjazz/blob/a1626f4edd4a7af72c54103021790c56d8ecfced/doc/BUILDING.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.