What is ScummVM used for?

ScummVM lets you play classic point-and-click adventure games, text adventures and RPGs on modern devices using your own game data files. It is a good fit for playing retro adventure games on modern computers and preserving classic game libraries.

Is ScummVM open source?

Yes. ScummVM is open source under the GPL-3.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at scummvm/scummvm and is written mainly in C++.

Yes. ScummVM is open source, so the software itself is free to use.

Can I self-host ScummVM?

Yes. ScummVM can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.

What are some alternatives to ScummVM?

Similar open-source tools in the Games & Emulation category include RetroArch, Lichess and PCSX2. SaaS products in the same category include Amazon Luna, Apex Legends and Apple Arcade.

Is ScummVM actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to ScummVM was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is v2026.3.0, published on 20 June 2026. The project has 2.8k stars on GitHub.

ScummVM: open-source games & emulation

About ScummVM

ScummVM is an open-source engine that lets you play classic graphic point-and-click adventures, text adventures and RPGs on modern hardware, provided you already own the original game data files. It replaces the executables that shipped with those games, so titles from decades ago can run on current devices and operating systems.

The name comes from SCUMM, the Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion, which many LucasArts adventures such as Maniac Mansion and the Monkey Island series used; the VM stands for virtual machine. Support has since grown well beyond LucasArts games, and noteworthy titles include Broken Sword, Myst and Blade Runner. A full compatibility list is kept on the project wiki.

Getting started takes a few steps: install ScummVM, copy the game data from your original media into its own folder, choose Add game and point to that folder, adjust the options if needed and press Start. It is written in C++, runs on many platforms and is licensed under GPL-3.0. Donation details and release news are on the website.

Key features

Plays classic adventure games and RPGs
Replaces original game executables
Supports LucasArts SCUMM titles and many others
Add-game dialog with per-game options
Runs on many platforms

Good fit for

→Playing retro adventure games on modern computers
→Preserving classic game libraries

Built with: C++
Tags: adventure-games; game-engine; retro-gaming; scumm; emulation; multiplatform; point-and-click; open-source

ScummVM: questions and answers

What is ScummVM used for?: ScummVM lets you play classic point-and-click adventure games, text adventures and RPGs on modern devices using your own game data files. It is a good fit for playing retro adventure games on modern computers and preserving classic game libraries.
Is ScummVM open source?: Yes. ScummVM is open source under the GPL-3.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at scummvm/scummvm and is written mainly in C++.
Is ScummVM free?: Yes. ScummVM is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
Can I self-host ScummVM?: Yes. ScummVM can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.
What are some alternatives to ScummVM?: Similar open-source tools in the Games & Emulation category include RetroArch, Lichess and PCSX2. SaaS products in the same category include Amazon Luna, Apex Legends and Apple Arcade.
Is ScummVM actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to ScummVM was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is v2026.3.0, published on 20 June 2026. The project has 2.8k stars on GitHub.