How do I download ioquake3 for Windows, macOS, or Linux?

ioquake3 provides direct download options for Windows, macOS, and Linux from its official website. Visit ioquake3.org and look for the Download section, which lists all three platforms. If you need other builds or versions, the site also links to a "more downloads" page.

What you need before downloading

ioquake3 is a free and open-source first-person shooter engine based on the Quake 3: Arena and Quake 3: Team Arena source code. The engine itself is licensed under GPL version 2 and does not include the commercial game data.

This means:

• The engine is free to download from ioquake3.org.
• You still need the Quake 3: Arena game data (the .pk3 files) to actually play Quake 3. The site links to a page where you can buy Quake 3: Arena & Team Arena.
• Alternatively, you can play a standalone game built on ioquake3 by other teams, which may not require the original Quake 3 data.

Download steps by platform

Windows

1. Go to ioquake3.org.
2. Find the Download section on the page.
3. Click the Windows link to get the installer or package.
4. Run the downloaded file and follow the installation prompts.
5. After installation, point ioquake3 to your Quake 3: Arena data files (typically baseq3 folder) if you own the game.

macOS

1. Go to ioquake3.org.
2. In the Download section, click the macOS link.
3. Open the downloaded disk image or package.
4. Drag the application to your Applications folder.
5. Launch it and provide the path to your Quake 3 data if prompted.

Linux

1. Go to ioquake3.org.
2. In the Download section, click the Linux link.
3. Depending on what's offered, you may get a binary, an installer script, or source code. Follow the included instructions.
4. Place your Quake 3 data files in the expected directory (usually ~/.q3a/baseq3 or the installation's baseq3 folder).

Other downloads

The site notes "Get more downloads here" — this leads to additional builds, source code, or platform-specific packages beyond the three main options. If the standard download doesn't work for your setup, check that page.

After downloading: getting started

ioquake3.org offers two official guides depending on what you want to do:

Both are linked directly from the homepage under "Get Started with a Guide."

If you don't own Quake 3

You have two options:

1. Buy Quake 3: Arena & Team Arena — the site provides a purchase link.
2. Play a standalone game made by other teams using ioquake3 — these are listed on the site and don't require the original commercial data.

Making your own game

If you want to build a game rather than play one, the ioquake3 source code is available on GitHub. The engine is designed to be extended, and the community runs events like game jams (for example, the 2025 7DFPS Game Jam) for people building with it.

Common issues

• Engine downloads but won't start a game: You likely haven't added the Quake 3 data files. The engine and the game data are separate.
• Wrong platform package: Double-check you clicked the correct OS link. The three main options are clearly labeled.
• Need a different version: Use the "more downloads" link rather than guessing at URLs.

ioquake3 is a community project, not affiliated with id Software, Bethesda, or Microsoft — so support comes from the community, guides, and the project's Mastodon and Blue Sky channels.