This page lists well-made games which may seem suitable for Debian at a first glance, but which cannot be packaged (some could be added to non-free, though). The date describes when a packages' status was checked for the last time.

If a game is not suited for main section of Debian, it might be suited for the non-free section. Please evaluate this option, if you please or specify if you didn't evaluate the non-free section as an option.

Argonium [Oct 2005]

The source code is licensed under the GPL, but the game media files do not permit commercial use and the distribution of modified binaries.

Crystal Core [Jan 2006]

The default license for this game is CC by-nc-nd 2.5, some parts are under a free license, but not the game as a whole, see http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?thread_id=8822359&forum_id=40573 The data files can enter Debian non-free and crystal core itself contrib?

Cube Engine

165154

The game is under mixed licences. It also runs with modified network code in the distributed binaries to prevent cheating so a free version will be different to the versions that upstream distributes.

Dark Oberon [Oct 2005]

The engine is under the GPL, but the game media is licensed under the ?NonCommercial Creative Commons license. Can be distributed in non-free section, or contrib for the code and non-free for media (?).

Digital: A Love Story [Nov 2014]

Some game music is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license. Author Christine Love wrote that music artists are unlikely to relicense the music.

Don't Take It Personally, Babe, It Just Ain't Your Story [Nov 2014]

Some game music is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license. Author Christine Love wrote that music artists are unlikely to relicense the music.

Duke Nukem 3D (port by icculus.org) [Jan 2006]

Duke3D depends on the Build engine, which is not DFSG-free (limited rights to distribute only over the internet, no commercial usage).

Eskimo Fishing Trip [May 2007]

Source is GNU GPL, data not though. Source requires to link against Intel JPG lib and FMOD. I don't know about the JPEG lib, but FMOD is non-free, so this would likely run w/o sound.

Eternal Lands [Feb 2006]

The source code license doesn't permit the distribution of modified works and the game media doesn't even permit redistribution.

Jagged Alliance 2: Stracciatella [May 2007]

The source code license doesn't permit commercial use.

Legends [Feb 2006]

The game relies on a non-free engine and there's probably more non-freeness around.

Lix [Mar 2010]

The original graphics, and sounds are included. Oct 2013: Update the graphics have been replaced

Lost Labyrinth [Jan 2006]

The game only compiles with a proprietary ?PureBasic compiler.

OpenSonic [Aug 2009]

Use original Sonic material (illegal).

Paintball 2 [May 2007]

The game engine is derived from the GPLed Quake2 sources and free. However, their game media isn't redistributable even in non-free. On top of that they include some sounds they don't even have the right to distribute.

Planeshift [Oct 2005]

The source code is GPL, but all game media files are covered under a non-free license. The authors go into lengthy explanations why they did so on the website, so persuading them for a free license seems quite fruitless.

They are willing to grant permission to distribute the data but licenses must be negotiated individually.

Privateer remake project [Oct 2005]

Besides the very problematic trademark infringements all game media turned out to not to allow commercial distribution, the source code itself is GPLed like Vega Strike.

S.C.O.U.R.G.E [Oct 2005]

The code is GPL, the artwork is partially GPL (the share done by the author himself), partially unclear (taken from polycount.com with various licenses) and partially non-free (works by a specific author, that doesn't permit redistribution of derived works). This could probably be packaged into contrib with a non-free media file and possibly even be turned free, e.g. by replacing non-free media.

Shadow Warrior (port by icculus.org) [Jan 2006]

Shadow Warrior depends on the Build engine, which is not DFSG-free (limited rights to distribute only over the internet, no commercial usage). The game is buggy.

Soviet Unterzögersdorf [Aug 2006]

The underlying engine contains a sound font taken from a proprietary adventure game by Sierra. The game media isn't DFSG-free either (Creative Commons). If the sound is replaced might be distributable in non-free section (?). The game is binary-only and relies on the ags engine. The linux port of the engine is also binary only. Quote from the FAQ section:

Q: Then can I have the source code, to port it myself? (Chris Jones)
A: Sorry, AGS is not open-source. There are many reasons for this
which I will not go into here.

Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory [Jun 2007]

The license prohibits redistribution: http://liberatedgames.org/licenses/RTCW-ET_End_User_License_Agreement.txt

xrick [Jan 2006]

The source code is licensed under the GPL, but the game media files are ripped from the original. Re-doing them as Free Software would allow inclusion to Debian main. There already exist Debian packages at http://io.debian.net/~tar/debian/xrick/ and http://www.debian-unofficial.org .