Quake 1996

Released: June 22, 1996
Anniversary: Turned 30 on June 22
Genre: Shooter
Platforms: Zeebo · Linux · PC · Mac · DOS · Amiga · Sega Saturn · Legacy Mobile Device
Developer: id Software
More info: Wikipedia IGDB

Where to buy

Digital: GOG $3.99-60% Fanatical $3.59-64% GMG Steam Epic Games Nintendo PlayStation Xbox

The lowest price we've seen on Fanatical since September 2026 The lowest price we've seen on GOG since September 2026 More deals on Fanatical GOG, and in Shooter
In a collection: Quake Collection

Steam
Physical: Search on Amazon

Affiliate links: GOG, Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, ININ Games and Amazon

Is it still worth playing?

id Software's 1996 first person shooter for MS-DOS. Teleportation experiments called slipgates have let a force codenamed Quake invade Earth, and a soldier travels through them to find and destroy its source. It has four episodes of seven to eight levels each, all starting from a hub level, and four runes that open the final level. You fight monsters, find secrets and reach exits with up to eight weapons and four ammo types, and there is a hidden Nightmare difficulty. Levels are fully three dimensional, with rooms above rooms, real jumping, swimming and looking up and down, and enemies have clear roles, as fiends leap, knights charge and ogres lob grenades. Its engine popularized polygonal models and full 3D levels in the genre, and QuakeC popularized modding. Full 3D levels, enemies with distinct roles and rocket jumping still make exploring and fighting feel like one thing today.