Quakespasm GitHub Website:
https://github.com/sezero/quakespasm
I was originally searching for graphic enhancement mods for Quake which were compatible with Quakespasm, but I was not able to find any, and there are possibly enhancement mods for Quakespasm out there. The graphic enhancement mods for Quake I found were only compatible with the DarkPlaces source port, which is an advanced source port for Quake, and a number of gameplay enhancement Quake mods will only run on Darkplaces. Gameplay ehancement mods for Quake are not always necessary, because there is still plenty of gameplay with the base Quake resources, and numerous levels were released by the Quake mod community throughout the years, even in the present times.
The last time I wrote a Quakespasm Build Guide, I was running the Raspberry Pi 4 Computer, which did run Quakespasm at 1920 X 1080 screen resolution, but will run better at lower screen resolutions. To lower the Fullscreen resolution, you will have to lower the Desktop screen resolution otherwise the Fullscreen resolution will default to the Desktop screen resolution. Instead of lowering the screen resolution to improve performance, modify the config.cfg file to adjust the graphics quality, because not all of the graphic settings are present in the game menu, and modifying the graphics requires modifying the config.cfg which will contain the Quakespasm game settings.
CONFIG.CFG FILE
Quakespasm will generate a config.cfg file for each mod, which means each config.cfg file will need to be modified separately to run the Quake mod with the modified graphics settings, otherwise the Quake mod will run on the default graphic settings. Here is the parameter you will need to modify in the config.cfg file to improve performance with Quakespasm:
r_dynamic "1" - Change the value to 0 to disable volumetric lighting, which will improve performance, but the lighting will appear more flat.
There are more parameters to modify in config.cfg, but Quakespasm is a lightweight source port which is designed to be similar to the original Quake game, and Quakespasm runs fine out of the box, but disabling volumetric lighting will improve performance. There are more settings to adjust in the config.cfg file, but I wouldn't say there is a need to write down all of the parameters to adjust, but here is a list of parameters that will seem familiar:
crosshair "1" - Enables the crosshair, which is disabled by default.
gl_flashblend "0" - Affects the muzzle flash as well as projectile effects.
scr_crosshairscale "1" - Adjusts the size of the crosshair.
r_particles "1" - Enables Particles.
r_shadows "1" - Enables Shadows.
sensitivity "6" - Affects mouse sensitivity.
There are more parameters to adjust in the config.cfg file, but overall the game runs fine out of the box if you decide not to adjust the parameters, and there are console commands for Quakespasm:
GitHub - AlexanderRevo/quakespasm-config: A guide to playing Quake on modern PCs using Quakespasm
https://github.com/AlexanderRevo/quakespasm-config
QUAKE MAP PACKS
Playing community made levels is one of the reasons why I moved away from commercial games even though I spend most of my spare time developing content, and I honestly believe a Quake shovelware level pack would still provide entertainment. The shovelware levels would actually be more entertaining with gameplay mods, and as I said before, there is plenty of gameplay value with the base Quake game. When I write these descriptions of level packs for games, I only play the mods for a certain amount of time, because I do not have enough time to actually play the levels, levels which are large in scale, but first impressions are everything, and should set the tone for the rest of the mod.
![Image]()
Epochs of Enmity mod for Quake - ModDB
https://www.moddb.com/mods/epochs-of-enmity
Epochs of Enmity is an episodic level pack for Quake which includes 12 levels if you include the Starting Area as well as the Credits, if I told you this level was part of the original Quake levels, you would believe me, because the quality of the levels will take you by surprise. In the first level, there are plenty of Secrets to search for throughout the level, the level is challenging to complete, there are several platforming sections in the level, the level loops around as you progress the level, and the level is overall large in size. The level is less challenging to complete after you are able to find the Secrets in the level, and searching for the Secrets in the level was the best part, because of the platforming involved.
![Image]()
Map-Center Quake Retrojam 1 addon - ModDB
https://www.moddb.com/games/quake/addon ... retrojam-1
The Map-Center Quake Retrojam levels are a mix matched level pack for Quake with all of the levels accessible from the Starting Area, and the quality of the levels are all over the place, because of the number of level authors. There are 24 levels to choose from, which is how these map packs are structured, expect the gameplay experience to be all over the place, and the levels are playable in any order, which means you do not need to complete any levels to play a level. I do not know if there is a theme to follow with these map packs, but based on my experiences, expect to find bugs in the levels, because there is a chance you will get stuck in the levels, which means save often or restart the level.
![Image]()
Quake: Realm of Dissonance mod - ModDB
https://www.moddb.com/mods/realm-of-dissonance
Realm of Dissonance is the best Quake level pack out of the 3 that I tested, because the quality of the level exceeds my expectations, and the quality of the 1ST level is commercial game quality. I had to loop around the 1ST level multiple times, because the level design loops around, I was riding the same elevators repeatedly, the Keyed doors are placed throughout the level, but you will see the keyed door before you gain access to the key, and due to the fact Quake does not have a built in minimap, you will get lost in the levels. The level was full of surprises, the gameplay was challenging, there are numerous locations to explore in the level, and the level contains excellent gameplay variety.
https://github.com/sezero/quakespasm
I was originally searching for graphic enhancement mods for Quake which were compatible with Quakespasm, but I was not able to find any, and there are possibly enhancement mods for Quakespasm out there. The graphic enhancement mods for Quake I found were only compatible with the DarkPlaces source port, which is an advanced source port for Quake, and a number of gameplay enhancement Quake mods will only run on Darkplaces. Gameplay ehancement mods for Quake are not always necessary, because there is still plenty of gameplay with the base Quake resources, and numerous levels were released by the Quake mod community throughout the years, even in the present times.
The last time I wrote a Quakespasm Build Guide, I was running the Raspberry Pi 4 Computer, which did run Quakespasm at 1920 X 1080 screen resolution, but will run better at lower screen resolutions. To lower the Fullscreen resolution, you will have to lower the Desktop screen resolution otherwise the Fullscreen resolution will default to the Desktop screen resolution. Instead of lowering the screen resolution to improve performance, modify the config.cfg file to adjust the graphics quality, because not all of the graphic settings are present in the game menu, and modifying the graphics requires modifying the config.cfg which will contain the Quakespasm game settings.
CONFIG.CFG FILE
Quakespasm will generate a config.cfg file for each mod, which means each config.cfg file will need to be modified separately to run the Quake mod with the modified graphics settings, otherwise the Quake mod will run on the default graphic settings. Here is the parameter you will need to modify in the config.cfg file to improve performance with Quakespasm:
r_dynamic "1" - Change the value to 0 to disable volumetric lighting, which will improve performance, but the lighting will appear more flat.
There are more parameters to modify in config.cfg, but Quakespasm is a lightweight source port which is designed to be similar to the original Quake game, and Quakespasm runs fine out of the box, but disabling volumetric lighting will improve performance. There are more settings to adjust in the config.cfg file, but I wouldn't say there is a need to write down all of the parameters to adjust, but here is a list of parameters that will seem familiar:
crosshair "1" - Enables the crosshair, which is disabled by default.
gl_flashblend "0" - Affects the muzzle flash as well as projectile effects.
scr_crosshairscale "1" - Adjusts the size of the crosshair.
r_particles "1" - Enables Particles.
r_shadows "1" - Enables Shadows.
sensitivity "6" - Affects mouse sensitivity.
There are more parameters to adjust in the config.cfg file, but overall the game runs fine out of the box if you decide not to adjust the parameters, and there are console commands for Quakespasm:
GitHub - AlexanderRevo/quakespasm-config: A guide to playing Quake on modern PCs using Quakespasm
https://github.com/AlexanderRevo/quakespasm-config
QUAKE MAP PACKS
Playing community made levels is one of the reasons why I moved away from commercial games even though I spend most of my spare time developing content, and I honestly believe a Quake shovelware level pack would still provide entertainment. The shovelware levels would actually be more entertaining with gameplay mods, and as I said before, there is plenty of gameplay value with the base Quake game. When I write these descriptions of level packs for games, I only play the mods for a certain amount of time, because I do not have enough time to actually play the levels, levels which are large in scale, but first impressions are everything, and should set the tone for the rest of the mod.
Epochs of Enmity mod for Quake - ModDB
https://www.moddb.com/mods/epochs-of-enmity
Epochs of Enmity is an episodic level pack for Quake which includes 12 levels if you include the Starting Area as well as the Credits, if I told you this level was part of the original Quake levels, you would believe me, because the quality of the levels will take you by surprise. In the first level, there are plenty of Secrets to search for throughout the level, the level is challenging to complete, there are several platforming sections in the level, the level loops around as you progress the level, and the level is overall large in size. The level is less challenging to complete after you are able to find the Secrets in the level, and searching for the Secrets in the level was the best part, because of the platforming involved.
Map-Center Quake Retrojam 1 addon - ModDB
https://www.moddb.com/games/quake/addon ... retrojam-1
The Map-Center Quake Retrojam levels are a mix matched level pack for Quake with all of the levels accessible from the Starting Area, and the quality of the levels are all over the place, because of the number of level authors. There are 24 levels to choose from, which is how these map packs are structured, expect the gameplay experience to be all over the place, and the levels are playable in any order, which means you do not need to complete any levels to play a level. I do not know if there is a theme to follow with these map packs, but based on my experiences, expect to find bugs in the levels, because there is a chance you will get stuck in the levels, which means save often or restart the level.
Quake: Realm of Dissonance mod - ModDB
https://www.moddb.com/mods/realm-of-dissonance
Realm of Dissonance is the best Quake level pack out of the 3 that I tested, because the quality of the level exceeds my expectations, and the quality of the 1ST level is commercial game quality. I had to loop around the 1ST level multiple times, because the level design loops around, I was riding the same elevators repeatedly, the Keyed doors are placed throughout the level, but you will see the keyed door before you gain access to the key, and due to the fact Quake does not have a built in minimap, you will get lost in the levels. The level was full of surprises, the gameplay was challenging, there are numerous locations to explore in the level, and the level contains excellent gameplay variety.
Statistics: Posted by Moonmarch — Sun Dec 28, 2025 8:18 am — Replies 0 — Views 31