Arcane Dimensions

Breathing new life into Quake. 

- Andy Kelly

If you thought Quake ended with the defeat of Shub-Niggurath, think again. Arcane Dimensions is a fan-made campaign with the polish of an official expansion, containing maps that push the game’s tech to its limits. So far, in fact, that you need a modified version of the engine to even run the thing.

Like id’s official campaign, Arcane Dimensions opens in a hub map that lets you select your desired level and difficulty setting by jumping through portals. This is one of Quake’s coolest ideas, and I like that they’ve implemented it here, giving the mod a sense of continuity with the main game. Stepping into this hub for the first time, the increased complexity of your surroundings is striking. If you grew up playing Quake, seeing maps this detailed running on that old, familiar engine (well, a modernised version of it) is a thrill. And it looks fantastic running at 4K too.

It helps that the creators of Arcane Dimensions – a large roster including mfx, necros, Lunaran, Scampie, FifthElephant, and Preach – have mostly respected the game’s established art style. Quake’s gloomy, medieval world has been replicated well, and the mod slots in neatly beside the main campaign without feeling like a third-party knock-off. I’ve always adored the eerie, Lovecraftian atmosphere of Quake, and I’m glad mods like this are giving me the chance to experience it all over again.