Overview

SuperTux is a free, open-source 2D side-scrolling platformer in the style of the classic Super Mario games. You play as Tux, the Linux kernel mascot, running and jumping through a series of snowy, forest and cavern worlds in a quest to rescue his girlfriend Penny from the villainous Nolok. In development since 2003, it ships in most Linux distributions and its latest release, SuperTux 0.7.0 (March 2026), is one of the biggest updates the game has ever had — a much more polished, finishable experience.

Key Features

• Classic platformer gameplay — run, jump and stomp enemies, breaking question-mark blocks for coins and power-ups just like the games that inspired it.
• Four flower power-ups — fire, ice, earth and air flowers each change how Tux plays, from throwing projectiles to gliding through the air.
• Story mode with bosses — a full-lengthed campaign across multiple worlds, each ending in a boss fight such as the Yeti or the Ghost Tree.
• Level editor — TuxEdit lets you build, test and share your own levels with the community.
• Local multiplayer — new to 0.7.0, for playing together on the same machine.
• Unlockable bonus islands — collectable Tux Dolls unlock extra challenge islands and seasonal level sets.
• Continuous polish — the 0.7.0 release adds new sprites and abilities (slope sliding, butt jumping, rock rolling, crawling), revamped graphics, new enemies and new music.

Why Use It

SuperTux delivers genuinely polished classic platforming entirely for free — no ads, no in-app purchases, no accounts and no telemetry. It runs well on modest hardware, has an active community that keeps creating levels, and offers the closest thing to a Mario-style adventure without needing a console. Because the source is open, it is a great way to learn how a real 2D game is built.

Use Cases

• Casual platforming when you want fun, reliable gameplay with no strings attached.
• Family-friendly gaming, including local multiplayer on the same machine.
• Designing and sharing custom levels with the built-in level editor.
• Learning 2D game development from a complete, well-organised open-source codebase.

Platforms

Windows · macOS · Linux · Android · FreeBSD · Steam

Licence

GPL-3.0 (source code); artwork and assets use Creative Commons (CC BY-SA) licences.

Website

supertux.org

Similar Open-Source Games

If you enjoy the SuperTux universe, try SuperTuxKart for an arcade-style kart racer featuring the same cast — also free and open source. Browse the full Games directory for more free games.