Nanolathe / Open-source 2.5D RTS engine
Total Annihilation,
rebuilt for
modern computers.
Play the classic through a modern, MIT-licensed engine you can study, modify and build on.
Three original demo missions. No game folder or installation needed.
Desktop Chrome, Edge or Safari, with a keyboard and mouse.
Get closer.
Zoom in on your units and the action. The original isometric view gains a new sense of scale.
See it in a new light.
Modern GPU rendering is the standard experience, with light, glow and richer detail. Prefer the old look? Switch to Classic.
Play on your computer.
Run natively on Windows, Mac or Linux, using the Total Annihilation game files you already own.
Play it. Understand it. Build on it.
An open engine.
Room to make it your own.
Total Annihilation is Nanolathe’s starting point. Its code, documented formats and clean-room research are open for others to explore and extend.
Play the classic.
A faithful foundation, modern rendering and a native beta for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Try the demo ↗See how it works.
Read the game formats, study the engine’s design and follow the evidence behind its behavior.
Explore the engine ↗Build on the code.
Modify the engine, experiment with mods or contribute to its next chapter. Nanolathe’s code is MIT licensed.
Code & contribution ↗Same scene. Same instant.
The same explosion.
A different atmosphere.
See the tank catch the blast, glow spread across the scene, and grass and healthy trees gain detail. Drag to compare, or tap a view below.
Capture settings and original files
Captured with engine 617540c5 on October 4, 2026. This compares full renderer paths: Modern includes supersampling and its default presentation effects. The tile cache was generated from the installed game’s original 32×32 tiles into real 64×64 synthesized tiles. Healthy tree sprites use real 2× synthesized feature banks; shadow or missing variants retain the engine’s normal fallback. Authored dead stumps are cleared from this staged display. No screenshot cropping, retouching or resampling was used. WebP exports decode to the exact captured pixels.
Your next battlefield.
Start with a demo.
Stay for the whole game.
Try three campaign missions in your browser. Install the beta with your own game data for full campaigns, skirmish and online play.
Desktop browsers for the demo.
Windows, Mac and Linux for the installed game.
A few things to know.
The short answers.
Is this the original Total Annihilation?
Nanolathe is an independent, MIT-licensed, open-source engine that reimplements Total Annihilation through clean-room research. It uses original game data supplied separately. It’s not affiliated with or endorsed by the game’s owners.
Do I need to own Total Annihilation?
The browser demo includes the original three-mission demo, so you can try it without a game folder. To play the full game, bring the installed files from a copy you own, such as GOG, Steam or your original CDs. The engine’s MIT license applies to its code; Total Annihilation’s content is separate.
What can I play right now?
Single-player skirmish, Survival and campaign are broadly complete, and with your own game files you can play skirmish and Survival online with friends. Every skirmish and Survival battle is recorded as a replay. The beta still has bugs and smaller missing features; compatibility can vary by mission or content pack, and save compatibility is still being refined.
What do I need for the browser demo?
A desktop computer, keyboard and mouse. Chrome, Edge and Safari are supported desktop browsers. Firefox, mobile and tablet play have not been verified. Demo files download when you choose to play and are cached for your next visit. Install the beta for larger battles and the full native experience.
Can I play multiplayer?
Yes, in the installed game or in desktop Chrome or Edge, and both can play together. Choose MULTI on the main menu to create a game and send its code to friends, or join with theirs. Skirmish takes 2 to 10 players, and Survival 2 or 3. The host chooses Modern, Community 3.9 or Strict 3.1 rules and can add computer players, and in battle you can chat, share and make alliances. Everyone needs their own game files; the three-mission demo can’t play online. Read the online guide.
Curious what’s under the hood?
The code and clean-room research are open to explore.