What Does BOR Mean and What Can You Do With the OpenBOR Engine?
BOR stands for Beats of Rage, the original game that later became the OpenBOR engine. In the ChronoCrash community, "BOR" and "OpenBOR" are used almost interchangeably to describe a free 2D side-scrolling beat 'em up engine for building and playing games. You can use it to play finished games and demos, or to create your own beat 'em up with sprites, stages, and custom mechanics.
BOR vs. OpenBOR: What's the Difference?
- Beats of Rage (BOR) was the original game project. Its engine was later released and expanded by the community.
- OpenBOR is the open, community-maintained continuation of that engine. ChronoCrash describes it as "the world's most powerful 2D side scrolling engine."
- In practice, when people say "BOR games" or "OpenBOR games," they usually mean the same thing: 2D side-scrolling beat 'em ups running on the OpenBOR engine.
What You Can Do With OpenBOR
There are two main paths, and they require different levels of effort.
1. Play finished games and demos
If you just want to play, OpenBOR gives you access to a catalog of completed games and demos. According to ChronoCrash, the Downloads section contains "dozens of finished games and demos, plus tools and assets." Note that forum registration is required to download from that catalog.
2. Build your own beat 'em up
If you want to create rather than just play, OpenBOR is designed for independent game makers. You can:
- Build 2D side-scrolling beat 'em up levels and combat
- Use sprites and assets, including tools and assets offered in the Downloads catalog
- Learn the engine through the OpenBOR Wiki, described as a "knowledge base, lexicon, and technical manual" and "the reference bible for new and experienced creators alike"
- Get support from other creators on the ChronoCrash forum
Where to Get the Engine, Games, and Help
ChronoCrash is the home community for OpenBOR and organizes its resources into a few clear entry points:
| Resource | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Forum | Ask questions, get support for OpenBOR and other engines, talk with community members |
| OpenBOR Wiki | Knowledge base, lexicon, and technical manual for the engine |
| Downloads | Finished games, demos, tools, and assets (forum registration required) |
| YouTube channel | Playthroughs, tutorials, and previews of new OpenBOR projects |
ChronoCrash also supports other sprite-based engines like Mugen and IKEMEN, and its staff includes the OpenBOR Project Manager and several OpenBOR developers, so engine-specific questions have a direct place to go.
Playing vs. Developing: Which Path Is for You?
- Choose playing if you want to try existing beat 'em ups with minimal setup. Start with the Downloads catalog, and register on the forum first since it's required for downloads.
- Choose developing if you want to make your own game. Start with the OpenBOR Wiki for the technical foundation, then use the Downloads tools and assets, and lean on the forum when you get stuck.
- Do both if you're curious: playing finished games is a practical way to see what the engine can do before you commit to building.
The main difference is time and intent. Playing is a matter of downloading and running a game; developing means learning the engine's structure and assembling your own sprites, stages, and mechanics, with the wiki and forum as your reference points.