What is cataclysm-dda?

cleverraven/cataclysm-dda — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-06-24

★ 12,323C++Audience · generalComplexity · 4/5LicenseSetup · hard

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((Cataclysm DDA))
    What it does
      Turn-based survival
      Procedural world
      Zombie apocalypse
      Modding support
    Tech Stack
      C++
      CMake
      SDL2
      MSYS2
    Use Cases
      Free PC gaming
      JSON modding
      Community contributing
    Audience
      Gamers
      Modders
      C++ contributors

mindmap root((Cataclysm DDA)) What it does Turn-based survival Procedural world Zombie apocalypse Modding support Tech Stack C++ CMake SDL2 MSYS2 Use Cases Free PC gaming JSON modding Community contributing Audience Gamers Modders C++ contributors

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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Play a free, deep survival game on Windows, macOS, or Linux using a pre-built download.

USE CASE 2

Create a JSON content mod that adds new items, creatures, or map tiles to the game.

USE CASE 3

Contribute code, translations, or bug reports to an active open-source game with over 1000 contributors.

USE CASE 4

Build the game from source to run the latest experimental features before a stable release.

What is it built with?

C++CMakeSDL2MSYS2

How does it compare?

	cleverraven/cataclysm-dda	autohotkey/autohotkey	daybreak-u/chineseocr_lite
Stars	12,323	12,355	12,285
Language	C++	C++	C++
Setup difficulty	hard	hard	moderate
Complexity	4/5	4/5	3/5
Audience	general	developer	developer

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1h+

Pre-built downloads are easy, building from source requires a C++ toolchain with platform-specific guides for Linux, macOS, MSYS2, or Visual Studio.

You can freely use, share, and modify this game and its content as long as you credit the original creators and share your changes under the same license.

So what is it?

Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead is a free, open-source turn-based survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world. The game drops you into a procedurally generated world where civilization has collapsed, and you have to find food, supplies, and shelter while dealing with zombies, giant insects, killer robots, and other threats. The world persists between play sessions, so choices you make have lasting consequences. The game has two visual modes: a tiles version with graphical sprites and an older text-based terminal version using characters to represent everything on screen. Both run on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Pre-built downloads are available on the official website and through several Linux package managers including Arch Linux, Fedora, Debian/Ubuntu, and Flatpak. If you want to build from source instead of downloading a release, the repository includes detailed compilation guides for Linux, macOS, Windows with MSYS2, Windows with Visual Studio, and a CMake path. The codebase is written in C++ and has been in active development for many years, with over 1000 contributors. The project is community-driven and releases both stable builds and more frequent experimental builds with the latest changes. Contributing is welcome: code, game content, translations, and bug reports all go through the GitHub repository. The license is Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0, which means the game and all its content can be freely used and modified. An in-game tutorial is available from the main menu, and pressing the question mark key during play opens a help reference with all key bindings.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

I just downloaded Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead for the first time. Give me a starter survival guide for the first few in-game days, what should I prioritize finding, crafting, and avoiding?

Prompt 2

How do I install the tiles graphical version of Cataclysm: DDA on Ubuntu Linux using Flatpak or the package manager?

Prompt 3

I want to create a simple JSON mod for Cataclysm: DDA that adds a new food item. Walk me through the required file structure and JSON fields.

Prompt 4

What is the difference between stable and experimental builds of Cataclysm: DDA, and how do I switch to the experimental channel?

Prompt 5

How do I compile Cataclysm: DDA from source on Windows using MSYS2, step by step?

Frequently asked questions