Best way to play Quake in 2020? Best mods for new content?

[Stop the Insanity]

See subject... Or the text below!

Around 8ish years ago I got Darkplaces for Quake. It had improved monster models, lighting, textures, Z-aiming for Ogres, and a whole host of other improvements. I loved it.

I haven't looked into it since then, but I'm wondering if this is still the way to go, or if there's a better engine (source port?) out there, or what. I heard Darkplaces isn't the most true to the original, but I don't think I care about that. Is there something or somewhere that compares all the ways to play Quake in 2020? Because I feel like there's a lot, and something like that would be very helpful.

I'd also be curious about some good mods that add new levels and stuff too.

Thanks!

[Gila]

Right now most commonly used and popular sourceports are QuakeSpasm (or QuakeSpasmSpiked) and Fitzquake Mark V.

Most popular big mod of recent few years is probably Arcane Dimensions.
https://www.quaddicted.com/reviews/ad_v1_80p1final.html

There were many mods/episodes released in recent years as well. I suggest visiting quaddicted.com and there's a convenient map section where you can order it by release date, rating, etc...

This is a good start too, even though it's from 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGj4gXyCzg0

[Voodoo]

Arcane Dimensions is as amazing and disturbing as the original Quake was 24 years ago. Highly recommended.

[Electric Cupcake]

I quite like https://www.moddb.com/mods/quake-epsilon-build

Though as people will be quick to point out, the textures on some enemies look blocky, but the absolutely beautiful map textures and dynamic lighting and particle effects more than make up for it. Also, it uses an alternate soundtrack, so if you want the original, you need to swap the music files around. Also, it's based on Darkplaces, so most of Arcane Dimensions will run, but not all of it.

Other than that, the Quake 1.5 mod is pretty cool.

If you just want a modern engine with no extras, Vkquake and Quakespasm Spiked are the best ones right now.

[✯ El Juancho]

vkquake or quakespasm spiked, the best mod for quake is arcane dimensions, a master piece

[Chillin]

Originally posted by ZootsIdenticalTwinSisterDingo:

I quite like https://www.moddb.com/mods/quake-epsilon-build

Though as people will be quick to point out, the textures on some enemies look blocky, but the absolutely beautiful map textures and dynamic lighting and particle effects more than make up for it. Also, it uses an alternate soundtrack, so if you want the original, you need to swap the music files around. Also, it's based on Darkplaces, so most of Arcane Dimensions will run, but not all of it.

Other than that, the Quake 1.5 mod is pretty cool.

If you just want a modern engine with no extras, Vkquake and Quakespasm Spiked are the best ones right now.

but they dont have the added graphics that darkplaces gives

[✯ El Juancho]

Originally posted by Bboy4life:

Originally posted by ZootsIdenticalTwinSisterDingo:

I quite like https://www.moddb.com/mods/quake-epsilon-build

Though as people will be quick to point out, the textures on some enemies look blocky, but the absolutely beautiful map textures and dynamic lighting and particle effects more than make up for it. Also, it uses an alternate soundtrack, so if you want the original, you need to swap the music files around. Also, it's based on Darkplaces, so most of Arcane Dimensions will run, but not all of it.

Other than that, the Quake 1.5 mod is pretty cool.

If you just want a modern engine with no extras, Vkquake and Quakespasm Spiked are the best ones right now.

but they dont have the added graphics that darkplaces gives

darkplaces looks horrendous tho

[Vyvyvn]

I prefer epsilon's atmosphere honestly. At least with the original soundtracks reinstated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzWHtsOHrCY&t=41s

[Ikagura]

Originally posted by PRESSED-ON GRAVY:

I prefer epsilon's atmosphere honestly. At least with the original soundtracks reinstated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzWHtsOHrCY&t=41s

It's mostly opinion based but I kinda liked it even if I think that the original's ambiance was objectively better for the whole "eldritch" element. Also the music is the original one in this video.

[Vyvyvn]

Originally posted by Ikagura:

It's mostly opinion based but I kinda liked it even if I think that the original's ambiance was objectively better for the whole "eldritch" element. Also the music is the original one in this video.

Yes, I know because I built the music files myself for my install, And that's my video. :P

[Chillin]

Originally posted by ✯ Juancho:

Originally posted by Bboy4life:

but they dont have the added graphics that darkplaces gives

darkplaces looks horrendous tho

you talk rubish or maybe your on a crappy computer that cant enable the max settings.. it looks miles better then the original or the other engins i have tried. also add a Reshade with path tracing and it looks even better.

[Vyvyvn]

Raytracing.

[Mr. Boy]

Just to add to some mod suggestions above, one of the best new Quake Episodes ever released is called Dwell: https://www.quaddicted.com/reviews/dwellv1p2.html
And if you want to play through the original episodes with a few subtle changes to make the old gameplay feel a little fresher try Copper: https://www.quaddicted.com/reviews/copper_v1_15.html

The following sites are the best Quake mod resources:

https://www.quaddicted.com
http://quaketastic.com/
https://celephais.net/board/

You can also try the Quake reddit for occasional mod news: reddit.com/r/Quake

[Strogg]

If you want the original vanilla experience but better, I recommend The Ultimate Quake Patch. It also comes with original music as well.