Riptide Networking
Riptide Networking is a free, lightweight C# library for connections and data exchange in multiplayer games.
What Riptide Networking is
Riptide Networking is a free, lightweight C# library for connections and data exchange in multiplayer games. It provides networking functionality while leaving developers to choose what data to send and when. The library can be used with Unity and other .NET environments, including console applications. It includes UDP and TCP transports and a Steam transport. Documented message modes are Reliable, Unreliable, and Notify; reliable messages are sent again until delivery is confirmed. Riptide uses a client-server model that supports dedicated servers, relay servers, and a client acting as host. True peer-to-peer networking requires source changes. The default UDP transport works on PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android; VR and consoles have not been officially tested. Browser games are unsupported because there is no web transport. Player capacity depends on per-player data needs and available server hardware and bandwidth. Riptide is distributed under the MIT license, and its repository welcomes bug reports, feature requests, and pull requests. Python and Dart/Flutter ports are independently maintained and may not interoperate across versions.
Good
- Includes UDP, TCP, and Steam transports.
- Reliable messages are resent until delivery is confirmed.
- Supports dedicated servers, relay servers, and host clients.
- Default UDP works on PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
- Free to use under the MIT license.
Watch out
- No web transport for browser-based games.
- True peer-to-peer requires source changes.
- VR and consoles have not been officially tested.
- Player capacity depends on hardware, bandwidth, and data needs.
Who it suits
Riptide suits developers building multiplayer games in Unity or other .NET environments. It is not suitable for browser-based games and true peer-to-peer use requires source changes.
Verdict
Riptide is a focused networking library for multiplayer games using Unity or .NET. Its lack of web transport rules out browser-based games, and developers needing true peer-to-peer networking must modify the source.
Plans and prices
From Riptide Networking's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Riptide Networking | Free | 100% free to use · MIT license |
The facts
Each one read from Riptide Networking's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Architecture
- The FAQ says it supports dedicated servers, relay servers, and a client that also acts as the host; true peer-to-peer requires source changes.checked 7 Oct 2001
- Capacity
- The FAQ says supported player count depends on per-player data needs and available server hardware and bandwidth.checked 7 Oct 2001
- Installation
- The project links installation instructions and says it can be used outside Unity in other .NET environments.checked 7 Oct 2001
- Message delivery
- Its documentation describes Reliable, Unreliable, and Notify message send modes; reliable messages are resent until delivery is confirmed.checked 7 Oct 2001
- Other-language ports
- The repository lists Python and Dart/Flutter implementations, noting that independently maintained ports are not officially affiliated and may not interoperate across versions.checked 7 Oct 2001
- Purpose
- Riptide is a lightweight C# networking library primarily designed for multiplayer games.checked 7 Oct 2001
- Security and compliance
- The opened maker pages state that Riptide is distributed under the MIT license and do not specify security certifications or compliance programs.checked 7 Oct 2001
- Support and community
- The repository welcomes bug reports, feature requests, and pull requests, and links to a Discord server.checked 7 Oct 2001
- Transports
- The project lists built-in UDP and TCP transports and a Steam transport.checked 7 Oct 2001
- Unity and .NET
- The library can be used in Unity and other .NET environments, including console applications.checked 7 Oct 2001
- What it does
- It provides functionality for establishing connections and sending data while leaving developers to choose what data to send and when.checked 7 Oct 2001
Where it runs
- Browser limitation
- The FAQ says there is no web transport, so Riptide does not work in browser-based games.checked 7 Oct 2001
- Platform compatibility
- The FAQ says the default UDP transport works on PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android; VR and consoles have not been officially tested.checked 7 Oct 2001
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