Former Guerrilla Games & Crytek AI developer Jose Escribano just dropped the AAA game (Horizon series) inspired AI framework called htn_planner. HTN stands for hierarchical task network and is a set of tools for AI planning in your game. It also includes several tools including domain editing tools, compilers, dynamic bindings for implementing it in your own C++ project, full samples and much more. The project is open source under the MIT license.
htn_planner is described as:
HTN Planner is a C++ hierarchical task network planner for game AI. Domains are written in a small declarative language and translated ahead of time into native C. The runtime executes the generated planner directly and does not parse domain source during gameplay.
The repository includes:
Key Links
htn_planner GitHub Repository
Exploring HTN Planners through Example
The AI of Horizon Zero Dawn
Hierarchical AI for Multiplayer Bots in Killzone 3
You can learn more about htn_planner and see the demos in action in the below.
htn_planner is described as:
HTN Planner is a C++ hierarchical task network planner for game AI. Domains are written in a small declarative language and translated ahead of time into native C. The runtime executes the generated planner directly and does not parse domain source during gameplay.
The repository includes:
- The generated planner runtime and its C ABI.
- A C++ integration layer with planner hooks and planning units.
- , which validates domains and emits C source.Code:
HTNTranslator
- A visual SDL and ImGui demo with generated execution debugging.
- An editor, language server, hot reload example, tests and benchmarks.
- A packageable Windows x64 SDK with CMake integration.
Key Links
htn_planner GitHub Repository
Exploring HTN Planners through Example
The AI of Horizon Zero Dawn
Hierarchical AI for Multiplayer Bots in Killzone 3
You can learn more about htn_planner and see the demos in action in the below.

