Installing

Every download is on the releases page, each with a .sha256 file next to it. None of them contains the original game: you need your own Return Fire CD (Windows 95 edition) or an image of it, see Game data.

System	Download	Notes
macOS 11+ (Apple Silicon, Intel)	OpenRF-<version>-macos-universal.zip	Recommended on a Mac. The native app (SDL3)
macOS 11+ (Apple Silicon, Intel)	openrf-gasm-<version>-macos-universal.zip	Return Fire (gasm).app: the gasm build, asks for the CD itself
Linux x86_64	openrf-gasm-<version>-linux-x86_64.tar.gz	gasm bundle: openrf.sh launcher
Linux arm64	openrf-gasm-<version>-linux-arm64.tar.gz	gasm bundle: openrf.sh launcher
Windows 10/11 x86_64	openrf-gasm-<version>-windows-x86_64.zip	gasm bundle: OpenRF.cmd launcher
Any browser	nothing to download	Play in the browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari)
Your own gasm runner	openrf-<version>.wasm	Run it with gasm-run 0.5.0 or newer, see Running on gasm

The gasm bundles are openrf.wasm with the matching released gasm-run (the gasm WebAssembly game runtime) and a small launcher that finds your CD. They play exactly like the native app: same frames, same sound, same gameplay. Native SDL builds for Linux and Windows are planned.

macOS: the native app

1. Download OpenRF-<version>-macos-universal.zip and unzip it.
2. Move Return Fire.app wherever you like (e.g. /Applications).
3. OpenRF is not notarized by Apple. The first time you start it, right-click the app → Open, then confirm. (Or run xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/Return Fire.app".)
4. Give it the game data.

macOS: Return Fire (gasm).app

1. Download openrf-gasm-<version>-macos-universal.zip, unzip it and move Return Fire (gasm).app where you like.
2. It is signed ad hoc, not notarized: the first time, right-click it → Open (or xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "Return Fire (gasm).app").
3. It asks for your CD: Choose CD folder… for the CD itself, a mounted disc image (double-click an .iso; it appears under /Volumes) or a folder you copied the CD to; Choose disc image… for a raw .bin (of a .bin/.cue pair) or an .iso file.

The choice is saved in ~/Library/Application Support/OpenRF/cd-location. To pick another CD, hold Option while opening the app, or run it with --change-cd; --forget-cd deletes the saved location. The log is ~/Library/Logs/OpenRF/gasm.log. From Terminal:

"Return Fire (gasm).app/Contents/MacOS/OpenRF" --help
"Return Fire (gasm).app/Contents/MacOS/OpenRF" /Volumes/RFIRE --param level=12 --param play=1

Linux

1. Download openrf-gasm-<version>-linux-x86_64.tar.gz (or -linux-arm64) and unpack it: tar xzf openrf-gasm-*.tar.gz. The launcher keeps its executable bit; if your file manager lost it, chmod +x openrf.sh gasm-run.
2. gasm-run needs ALSA (libasound2, package libasound2t64 on newer Debian and Ubuntu) and a Vulkan or OpenGL capable graphics driver.
3. Run it once with your CD: ./openrf.sh /media/$USER/RFIRE (the CD or a mounted image), a folder you copied the CD to, or a raw .bin or .iso. Without an argument it opens a chooser (zenity or kdialog) if one is installed.
4. Optional: ./openrf.sh --install-desktop adds a menu entry.

The CD is saved in ${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-~/.config}/openrf/cd-location, so later runs need no argument. To change it: ./openrf.sh --change-cd, or give another CD as the argument. ./openrf.sh --help lists the options; anything after the CD goes to gasm-run.

Windows

1. Download openrf-gasm-<version>-windows-x86_64.zip and extract it (right-click → Extract All) to a folder of your choice.
2. Double-click OpenRF.cmd. If Windows SmartScreen warns about an unrecognised app, click More info → Run anyway (gasm-run is not code-signed).
3. It asks for your CD: Choose CD folder… for the CD drive, a mounted disc image (right-click an .iso → Mount) or a folder you copied the CD to; Choose disc image… for a raw .bin or an .iso. From a command prompt: OpenRF.cmd D:\.

The CD is saved in %APPDATA%\OpenRF\cd-location. To change it: OpenRF.cmd --change-cd, or delete that file; --forget-cd deletes it. OpenRF.cmd --help lists the options; anything after the CD goes to gasm-run. On an error the console window stays open so you can read it.

Where things are kept

	Saved CD	High scores	Log
Native macOS app	(the data folder, see Game data)	~/Library/Application Support/Return Fire/RFire_HS	Terminal output
Return Fire (gasm).app	~/Library/Application Support/OpenRF/cd-location	~/Library/Application Support/gasm/openrf/RFire_HS	~/Library/Logs/OpenRF/gasm.log
Linux bundle	~/.config/openrf/cd-location	~/.local/share/gasm/openrf/RFire_HS	the terminal, or ~/.local/state/openrf/gasm.log from a menu
Windows bundle	%APPDATA%\OpenRF\cd-location	%APPDATA%\gasm\openrf\RFire_HS	the console window

A CD or a mounted image has to be inserted or mounted again before the next start; a saved folder or image file must still be where it was.

Prefer to build it yourself? See Build from source.