Lila is the forever free, adless and open source chess server behind lichess.org. It provides a robust and scalable platform for playing chess online, with features like real-time game updates, chat functionality, and a large community of players. Lila is designed to be highly customizable and extensible, with a modular architecture that allows developers to easily add new features and integrations.
Nakama, built by Heroic Labs, is an open-source game backend server that handles the infrastructure studios would otherwise build themselves: real-time multiplayer, matchmaking, leaderboards, in-game chat, and social features. Its server logic is customizable through JavaScript, Go, or Lua, and it has been used by studios including Electronic Arts, Paradox Interactive, Remedy, Zynga, and Bandai Namco. Teams can self-host Nakama for free using the open-source server, or run it on Heroic Cloud, a managed offering with usage-based pricing scaled by CPU allocation that removes DAU, MAU, and CCU limits. Client SDKs cover Unity, Unreal, Godot, JavaScript, and native mobile platforms, and the server requires a Postgres wire-compatible database such as CockroachDB.
- Free and open-source
- Highly customizable and extensible
- Large and active community of players
- Robust and scalable platform
- Genuinely open-source with a self-hostable server, not just a hosted-only product
- Broad client SDK coverage across major game engines and platforms
- No DAU/MAU/CCU-based pricing limits on the managed Heroic Cloud offering
- Proven at scale with adoption from major studios and publishers
- Limited support for non-chess games
- May require technical expertise for customization and extension
- Limited mobile support
- Requires a Postgres wire-compatible database such as CockroachDB, adding infrastructure complexity for self-hosting
- Heroic Cloud pricing is usage-based and not published as fixed public tiers
- Custom server logic requires programming knowledge in Go, Lua, or JavaScript
- Self-hosting requires ongoing operational and scaling responsibility
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing datalila is a free, open‑source chess‑specific server requiring technical skill to customize, while Nakama is a freemium, open‑source general game backend with broader multiplayer features and managed‑cloud option.
Key differences
- •Domain focus: lila only supports chess (and variants); Nakama supports any multiplayer game.
- •Customization language: lila extensions in Scala; Nakama extensions in JavaScript, Go, or Lua.
- •Client SDK coverage: lila only web UI; Nakama provides Unity, Unreal, Godot, iOS, Android SDKs.
- •Managed hosting: lila has none; Nakama offers Heroic Cloud with auto‑scaling.
- •Scalability model: lila scales horizontally but limited to chess load; Nakama proven at large studio scale.
Pricing & value
lila is completely free and open‑source; Nakama is freemium with usage‑based pricing for managed cloud.
Ease of use / learning curve
Nakama provides client SDKs and documentation for multiple engines, reducing integration effort versus lila's web‑only UI.
Features & depth
Nakama includes matchmaking, leaderboards, chat, and server‑side logic; lila offers only chess‑specific gameplay features.
Integrations & ecosystem
Nakama integrates with Unity, Unreal, Godot, CockroachDB; lila has no listed external integrations.
Scalability
Nakama is described as proven at scale for major studios; lila scales horizontally but only for chess traffic.
Support
Nakama offers community, documentation, and dedicated Heroic Cloud support; lila offers email and community forum only.
Security & privacy
Both are self‑hosted open‑source; specific security features not detailed in facts.
Choose lila if…
A small chess club or hobbyist wanting a free, customizable chess server and willing to handle Scala‑based setup.
Choose Nakama if…
A game studio needing a general multiplayer backend with matchmaking, cross‑engine SDKs, and optional managed hosting.
Common questions
Is there any cost to run either server?
lila is free; Nakama’s open‑source version is free, but Heroic Cloud managed hosting incurs usage‑based fees.
Can I use these servers for games other than chess?
lila is limited to chess variants; Nakama supports any multiplayer game via custom server logic.
What programming languages do I need to extend the servers?
lila extensions are in Scala; Nakama extensions can be written in JavaScript, Go, or Lua.