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The Settlers II cover art
The Settlers II. The Settlers II screenshot, via IGDB. Unofficial site, not affiliated with the publisher.
PC port · MS-DOS → PC

Return to the Roots (The Settlers II remake)

A fan rewrite of The Settlers II that keeps the original graphics and sounds while adding internet multiplayer and support for modern Windows, Linux and macOS. Needs The Settlers 2 Gold Edition.

WorkingEngine rewriteNeeds your own copyv0.9.5Updated

You need your own copy of The Settlers II. This port only runs with files from a copy you own; there is no download or play button here. No copy? These play in your browser right away, no files needed: BO1 Zombies (vel.gg), GTA 3 Online (quenq III Web), The Simpsons: Hit & Run WASM.

What you need

An original copy of The Settlers 2 Gold Edition for the graphics and sounds, plus a Windows, Linux or Mac computer.

GitHub repository ↗

We do not host any files. Only download from the project's official source.

Every version of The Settlers II 1

  1. Return to the Roots (The Settlers II remake)This page

    WorkingEngine remake

    Return To The Roots (Settlers II(R) Clone)

    Runs on Windows, Linux, macOSNeeds files from a copy you own★ 6020.9.5 · Feb 28, 2022

    Website ↗

We link to each project's own page and host no game files. Version data from project pages, our daily checks and awesome-decomp-games (CC0).

Short answer

Return to the Roots is a fan rewrite of Blue Byte’s The Settlers II (1996) that keeps the original graphics and sounds while adding internet multiplayer and support for modern Windows, Linux and macOS. It needs your own The Settlers 2 Gold Edition. Builds are on rttr.info; the last tagged release is 0.9.5 (February 2022), with development ongoing.

This site is not affiliated with Return to the Roots, Blue Byte or Ubisoft. We do not host any files and only link the project’s official pages.

What it is

The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici (1996) is Blue Byte’s beloved economic strategy game. Its DOS original needs DOSBox today.

Return to the Roots “is a fan-project, which aims to renew the original The Settlers 2” (s25client README). The team adds “a multiplayer mode via internet as well as the support for modern hardware and several operating systems”, plus “some smaller upgrades”. The README explains that “it is necessary to rewrite the whole game, but we will stick to the original graphics and sounds”.

Current status

  • Status: Working and actively developed (last update 2 November 2026).
  • Builds: on the project website; GitHub’s last tagged release, 0.9.5, is from 28 February 2022.

What you need

  • An original The Settlers 2 Gold Edition (GOG sells it). The README: “So you will still need an original ‘The Settlers 2 Gold Edition’ version to play Return To The Roots.”
  • A Windows, Linux or Mac computer.

We do not link any copies of the game data.

How setup works (overview)

  1. Install The Settlers 2 Gold Edition.
  2. Download Return to the Roots for your system from rttr.info.
  3. Point it at (or copy in) the Settlers 2 game data, as the website explains.
  4. Play the campaign or free play, or host an online game.

FAQ

How do I play The Settlers 2 on Windows 10 or 11?

Use Return to the Roots, a fan rewrite of the game that runs on modern Windows, Linux and macOS. It uses the graphics and sounds from your own copy of The Settlers 2 Gold Edition.

Does Return to the Roots have online multiplayer?

Yes. Internet multiplayer is one of the project's main goals and features, along with support for modern hardware and operating systems.

Which Settlers 2 version do I need?

The README says you need an original The Settlers 2 Gold Edition. GOG sells the Gold Edition; the 2006 remake (10th Anniversary) is a different game.

Where do I download Return to the Roots?

From the project website, rttr.info, which offers builds for Windows, Linux and macOS. The GitHub releases page mainly carries source archives.

Unofficial. This page is written by an independent directory. It is not made by, endorsed by or affiliated with Blue Byte (now Ubisoft) or Settlers Freaks (Return to the Roots team) (Return to the Roots (The Settlers II remake)'s author). We do not host any files, and we never link to game files, ROMs or ISOs.

Sources

This page was last updated on Nov 3, 2026. A date after a source is the day we read it. Versions and steps follow the official project; if they differ, the official source wins.

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