---
name: "quake"
section: "6"
platform: "linux"
package: "quake"
version: "85.1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/quake"
---

# quake(6)

classic first person shooter

## NAME

quake - classic first person shooter

## SYNOPSIS

**quake** \[*WRAPPER-OPTIONS*\] \[*ENGINE-OPTIONS*\] \[*ENGINE-COMMANDS*\]*...*\

## DESCRIPTION

This manual page documents briefly the **quake** command.

**Quake** is a popular first-person shooter game that appeared in 1996, released by iD Software.  This wrapper script will launch the Quake engine.  The game data needs to be installed independently using the 'game-data-packager' program, and by default it will be looked for at */usr/share/games/quake*.

This wrapper script accepts the two common GNU-style options to get information on the program.  Any further arguments are passed to the engine unmodified. Consult the engine documentation for full details, but most engines support a syntax whereby engine switches are prefixed with a minus sign, and you can give console commands by prefixing with a plus sign.  See the examples section for some common cases.

Additionally, if **quake** is run via a symbolic link whose name is **quake-armagon** or **quake-dissolution**, it will play one of the Quake mission packs, **Scourge of Armagon** (by Hipnotic Software) or **Dissolution of Eternity** (by Rogue Entertainment). Similarly, if run via a symbolic link whose name is **quake-dopa** it will play Quake Episode 5: Dimensions of the Past (by MachineGames). This requires that additional data files are installed.

## OPTIONS

These options are accepted for **WRAPPER-OPTIONS** in the synopsis.

- **-h, --help**

  Show summary of options.

- **-v, --version**

  Show version of program.

- **--debugger=***DEBUGGER*

  Prepend a debugger or other prefix (such as **strace**) to the engine command line

- **--print-backtrace**

  Use [**gdb**(1)](/gdb/1.md) to get a backtrace if the engine crashes (the **gdb** package must be installed)

## EXAMPLES

These are all engine dependent.

- Play the Zerstoerer mod:

  **quake -game zer**

- Play a specific map using the Drake expansion:

  **quake -game drake +map sludge1**

- Connect to a server for multiplayer:

  **quake +connect dm.quakeone.net:27000**

## SEE ALSO

[**quake-server**(6)](/quake-server/6.md), **quakespasm**(6), [**game-data-packager**(6)](/game-data-packager/6.md).

## AUTHOR

This manual page, and the Quake wrapper script, were written by David Banks \<amoebae@gmail.com\>, for the Debian project (and may be used by others).  The package was based on the **quake3** package by Simon McVittie.