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OpenJazz, maintained by publisher AJ Thomson, is an open-source re-implementation project that recreates the 1994 DOS-era Jazz Jackrabbit™ side-scrolling platformer for modern hardware; the initiative preserves the fast-paced, run-and-gun gameplay of the original Epic MegaGames title while adding portability to contemporary Windows, Linux, and other systems. Because the engine is released under a permissive license, enthusiasts can compile and run it on everything from legacy Windows 98/Me/XP rigs to current distributions, making retro-gaming tournaments, speed-running events, or simple nostalgia sessions accessible without emulator overhead. Users obtain the freely shareable OpenJ20260301 executable—currently at version 20260301 and the third numbered release in the lineage—and then pair it with data files extracted from a legitimate Jazz Jackrabbit™ or Jazz Jackrabbit 2™ CD or floppy set, ensuring copyright compliance while benefiting from bug fixes, optional widescreen rendering, and community-developed level packs. Typical use cases include hobbyists reviving childhood favorites on notebooks, streamers showcasing 16-bit-style pixel art, educators demonstrating early shareware business models, and developers studying clean-room engine reconstruction; the software therefore sits in the Games & Entertainment category, specifically under Platform / Retro. Being open source, the build can be customized to add gamepad support, higher frame-rates, or networked co-op, yet the default binary already provides stable single-player and split-screen multiplayer on Windows. OpenJazz is available for free on get.nero.com, with downloads provided via trusted Windows package sources such as winget, always delivering the latest version and supporting batch installation of multiple applications.
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