---
name: "scummvm"
section: "6"
platform: "linux"
package: "scummvm"
version: "2026.4.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/scummvm"
---

# scummvm(6)

adventure and role-playing game interpreter

## NAME

**scummvm** – adventure and role-playing game interpreter

## SYNOPSIS

**scummvm** \[*OPTIONS*\] \[*GAME*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**scummvm** is an interpreter that will play numerous adventure and role-playing games based on a variety of game engines.

*GAME* is a short name of game to load. This can be either a built-in gameid (as given by **--list-games**), or a user-configured target (as given by **--list-targets**).

## OPTIONS

The meaning of most long options (that is, those options starting with a double-dash) can be inverted by prefixing them with **no-**. For example, **--no-aspect-ratio** will turn aspect ratio correction off. This is useful if you want to override a setting in the configuration file.

- **-a** \| **--add**

  Add all games from current or specified (with **--path=***PATH*) directory. If **--game=***ID* is passed, only the game with id *ID* is added.

  See also **--detect**.

- **-b** \| **--boot-param=***NUM*

  Pass number *NUM* to the boot script, for games supporting this feature.

- **-c** \| **--config=***CONFIG*

  Use alternate configuration file path.

- **-d** \| **--debuglevel**\[=*NUM*\]

  Enable and set debug verbosity level (default: 0).

- **-e** \| **--music-driver=***MODE*

  Select music driver:

  - *adlib*

    Internal AdLib emulation.

  - *alsa*

    Output using ALSA sequencer device.

  - *core*

    CoreAudio sound (macOS).

  - *coremidi*

    CoreMIDI sound (macOS).

  - *fluidsynth*

    FluidSynth MIDI emulation.

  - *mt32*

    Internal MT-32 emulation.

  - *null*

    Null output. Don't play any music.

  - *pcjr*

    Internal PCjr emulation.

  - *pcspk*

    Internal PC Speaker emulation.

  - *seq*

    Use */dev/sequencer* for MIDI (some Unix systems).

  - *sndio*

    Use sndio MIDI.

  - *timidity*

    Connect to TiMidity++ MIDI server.

  - *towns*

    Internal FM-TOWNS YM2612 emulation (only usable in SCUMM FM-TOWNS games). Use only if you have a hardware MIDI synthesizer.

  - *windows*

    Windows built-in MIDI sequencer (Windows).

- **-F** \| **--no-fullscreen**

  Force windowed mode.

- **-f** \| **--fullscreen**

  Force full-screen mode.

- **-g** \| **--gfx-mode=***MODE*

  Select graphics mode( *opengl*, *surfacesdl*).

- **-h** \| **--help**

  Display a brief help text, and exit.

- **-i** \| **--initial-cfg=***CONFIG*

  Load an initial configuration file if no configuration file has been saved yet.

- **-l** \| **--logfile=***PATH*

  Use alternate path for log file.

- **-m** \| **--music-volume=***NUM*

  Set the music volume, 0–255 (default: 192).

- **-n** \| **--**\[**no-**\]**subtitles**

  Enable subtitles (for games that have voice).

- **-p** \| **--path=***PATH*

  Set the path to where the game is installed.

- **-q** \| **--language=***LANG*

  Select game's language:

  - *ar*

    Arabic (Modern Standard)

  - *eu*

    Basque

  - *bg*

    Bulgarian

  - *ca*

    Catalan

  - *zh*

    Chinese (Generic)

  - *cn*

    Chinese (Simplified)

  - *tw*

    Chinese (Traditional)

  - *hr*

    Croatian

  - *cs*

    Czech

  - *da*

    Danish

  - *nl*

    Dutch

  - *en*

    English (Generic, default)

  - *gb*

    English (Great Britain)

  - *us*

    English (US)

  - *et*

    Estonian

  - *fi*

    Finnish

  - *be*

    Flemish

  - *fr*

    French

  - *fr-ca*

    French (Canada)

  - *de*

    German

  - *el*

    Greek

  - *he*

    Hebrew

  - *hu*

    Hungarian

  - *it*

    Italian

  - *ja*

    Japanese

  - *ko*

    Korean

  - *lv*

    Latvian

  - *lt*

    Lithuanian

  - *nb*

    Norwegian (Bokmål)

  - *fa*

    Persian

  - *pl*

    Polish

  - *br*

    Portuguese (Brazil)

  - *pt*

    Portuguese (Portugal)

  - *ru*

    Russian

  - *sr*

    Serbian

  - *sk*

    Slovak

  - *es*

    Spanish

  - *sv*

    Swedish

  - *tr*

    Turkish

  - *uk*

    Ukrainian

- **-r** \| **--speech-volume=***NUM*

  Set the voice volume, 0–255 (default: 192).

- **-s** \| **--sfx-volume=***NUM*

  Set the SFX volume, 0–255 (default: 192).

- **-t** \| **--list-targets**

  Display list of user-configured game targets, and exit.

- **-u** \| **--dump-scripts**

  Enable script dumping if a directory called *dumps* exists in the current directory.

- **-v** \| **--version**

  Display ScummVM version information, and exit.

- **-x** \| **--save-slot**\[=*SLOT*\]

  Set the saved game slot to load (default: 0 = autosave).

- **-z** \| **--list-games**

  Display list of supported games, and exit.

- **--**\[**no-**\]**alt-intro**

  Toggle alternative intro for CD versions of Beneath a Steel Sky and Flight of the Amazon Queen (default: disabled).

- **--**\[**no-**\]**aspect-ratio**

  Toggle aspect ratio correction.

- **--auto-detect**

  Display a list of games from current or specified directory, and start the first one. Use **--path=***PATH* to specify a directory.

- **--cdrom=***DRIVE*

  Set the drive to play CD audio from; can either be a drive, path, or numeric index (default: 0 = best choice drive).

- **--**\[**no-**\]**copy-protection**

  Enable copy protection in games, when ScummVM disables it by default.

- **--**\[**no-**\]**dirtyrects**

  Toggle dirty rectangles optimisation in software renderer (default: enabled).

- **--debug-channels-only**

  Show only the specified debug channels.

- **--debugflags=***FLAGS*

  Enable engine specific debug flags (separated by commas).

- **--**\[**no-**\]**demo-mode**

  Toggle demo mode of Maniac Mansion or The 7th Guest (default: disabled).

- **--detect**

  Display a list of games with their ID from current or specified directory without adding it to the configuration file. Use **--path=***PATH* to specify a directory.

- **--dump-midi**

  Dump MIDI events to *dump.mid* (overwriting it), until quitting from game.

- **--enable-gs**

  Enable patch mappings to emulate an MT-32 on a Roland GS device for MIDI playback.

- **--engine=***ID*

  In combination with **--list-games**, **--list-all-games**, **--list-targets**, or **--stats**, only list games for this engine. Multiple engines can be listed separated by a coma.

- **--engine-speed=***NUM*

  Set frame per second limit (0–100) for 3D games, 0 = no limit (default: 60).

- **--**\[**no-**\]**exit**

  In combination with commands that exit after running, like **--add** or **--list-engines**, toggle opening the launcher instead of exiting.

- **--extrapath=***PATH*

  Set the extra path to additional game and ScummVM data.

- **--**\[**no-**\]**filtering**

  Force filtered/unfiltered graphics mode. Filtered graphics mode uses bilinear interpolation while unfiltered graphics mode uses nearest neighbor.

- **--game=***ID*

  In combination with **--add** or **--detect**, only add or attempt to detect the game with id *ID*.

- **--gui-theme=***THEME*

  Select a GUI theme, as given by **--list-themes**.

- **--joystick**\[=*NUM*\]

  Enable joystick input (default: 0 = first joystick).

- **--iconspath=***PATH*

  Set the path to additional icons for the launcher grid view.

- **--list-all-debugflags**

  Display list of all engine debugflags, and exit.

- **--list-all-engines**

  Display list of all detection engines, and exit.

- **--list-all-games**

  Display list of all detected games, and exit.

- **--list-audio-devices**

  List all available audio devices, and exit.

- **--list-debugflags**\[=*ENGINE*\]

  Display list of engine specified debugflags, and exit. If the *ENGINE* argument is “global”, or if it is not specified, list global debugflags.

- **--list-engines**

  Display list of supported engines, and exit.

- **--list-saves**

  Display a list of saved games for the target specified with **--game=***TARGET*, or all targets if none is specified, and exit.

- **--list-themes**

  Display list of all usable GUI themes, and exit.

- **--md5**

  Show MD5 hash of the file given by **--md5-path=***PATH*. If **--md5-length=***NUM* is passed, then show the MD5 hash of the first (if positive) or last (if negative) *NUM* bytes of the file given by *PATH*. If **--md5-engine=***ENGINE\_ID* is passed, fetch the MD5 length automatically, overriding **--md5-length**.

- **--md5mac**

  Like **--md5**, but for old Macintosh files. Show MD5 hash for both the resource fork and data fork of the file.

- **--midi-gain=***NUM*

  Set the gain for MIDI playback, 0–1000 (default: 100). Only supported by some MIDI drivers.

- **--multi-midi**

  Enable combination of AdLib and native MIDI.

- **--native-mt32**

  Tell ScummVM that the MIDI device is an actual Roland MT-32 or compatible device. This disables any GM emulation.

- **--opl-driver=***DRIVER*

  Select AdLib (OPL) emulator( *alsa*, *db*, *mame*, *nuked*, *opl2lpt*).

- **--output-channels=***RATE*

  Set output channel count (e.g. 2 for stereo).

- **--output-rate=***RATE*

  Set output sample rate in Hz (e.g. 22050).

- **--platform=***PLATFORM*

  Specify platform of game( *2gs*, *3do*, *acorn*, *amiga*, *android*, *apple2*, *atari*, *atari8*, *beos*, *c64*, *cdi*, *coco*, *coco3*, *cpc*, *fmtowns*, *ios*, *linux*, *macintosh*, *macintosh2*, *megadrive*, *nes*, *os2*, *pc*, *pc98*, *pce*, *pippin*, *playstation*, *playstation2*, *ppc*, *saturn*, *segacd*, *shockwave*, *ti994*, *wii*, *windows*, *xbox*, *zx*).

- **--random-seed=***NUM*

  Set the random seed number used to initialize entropy.

- **--**\[**no-**\]**recursive**

  In combination with **--add** or **--detect**, recurse down all subdirectories (default: disabled).

- **--render-mode=***MODE*

  Enable additional render modes( *2gs*, *amiga*, *atari*, *c64*, *cga*, *cgaBW*, *cgaComp*, *cpc*, *ega*, *fmtowns*, *hercAmber*, *hercGreen*, *macintosh*, *macintoshbw*, *pc9801*, *pc9821*, *vga*, *zx*).

- **--renderer=***RENDERER*

  Select 3D renderer( *opengl*, *opengl\_shaders*, *software*).

- **--savepath=***PATH*

  Specify where saved games are stored.

- **--scale-factor=***FACTOR*

  Set the factor to scale the graphics by.

- **--scaler=***MODE*

  Select graphics scaler( *normal*, *hq*, *edge*, *advmame*, *sai*, *supersai*, *supereagle*, *pm*, *dotmatrix*, *tv2x*).

- **--screenshotpath=***PATH*

  Specify path where screenshot files are created.

- **--**\[**no-**\]**show-fps**

  Toggle FPS info in 3D games.

- **--soundfont=***FILE*

  Select the SoundFont for MIDI playback (only supported by some MIDI drivers).

- **--start-movie=***NAME**@NUM*

  Start movie at frame for Director. Either argument can be specified without the other.

- **--stats**

  Display statistics about engines and games, and exit.

- **--stretch-mode=***MODE*

  Select stretch mode( *center*, *even-pixels*, *fit*, *fit\_force\_aspect*, *pixel-perfect*, *stretch*).

- **--talkspeed=***NUM*

  Set talk delay for SCUMM games, or talk speed for other games.

- **--tempo=***NUM*

  Set music tempo (in percent, 50–200) for SCUMM games (default: 100).

- **--themepath=***PATH*

  Set the path to GUI themes.

- **--window-size=***W,H*

  Set the window size to the specified dimensions (OpenGL only).

## INGAME HOTKEYS

- Ctrl-F5

  Display the Global Menu

- Cmd-q

  Quit (macOS)

- Ctrl-q

  Quit (Most platforms)

- Ctrl-u

  Mute all sounds

- Ctrl-m

  Toggle mouse capture

- Ctrl-Alt 1-8

  Switch between graphics filters

- Ctrl-Alt +

  Increase scale factor

- Ctrl-Alt -

  Decrease scale factor

- Ctrl-Alt a

  Toggle aspect-ratio correction

- Ctrl-Alt f

  Toggle graphics filtering

- Ctrl-Alt s

  Cycle through scaling modes

- Alt-Enter

  Toggle full screen/windowed mode

- Alt-s

  Take a screenshot

- Ctrl-F7

  Open virtual keyboard (if available). This can also be triggered by a long press of the middle mouse button or wheel

- Ctrl-Alt d

  Open the ScummVM debugger

There are many more game-specific hotkeys. See: **https://wiki.scummvm.org/index.php?title=Category:Supported\_Games**

## ENVIRONMENT

- SCUMMVM\_MIDI

  The sequencer device to use with the ‘seq’ MIDI driver.

- SCUMMVM\_MIDIPORT

  The number of the sequencer to use when using the ‘seq’ MIDI driver.

- SCUMMVM\_PORT

  The ALSA port to open for output when using the ‘alsa’ MIDI driver.

- SCUMMVM\_SAVEPATH

  Override the default save path (POSIX systems).

## FILES

- *$HOME/.config/scummvm/scummvm.ini*

  Configuration file on most Unix systems. XDG environment variables take precedence, if defined.

- *$HOME/Library/Preferences/ScummVM Preferences*

  Configuration file on macOS.

## EXAMPLES

Running the built-in game launcher:

```
$ scummvm
```

Running Day of the Tentacle, specifying the path:

```
$ scummvm -p /usr/local/share/games/tentacle scumm:tentacle
```

Running The Dig with advmame2x filter and subtitles (with the *dig-steam* target already defined in the configuration file):

```
$ scummvm --scaler=advmame --scale-factor=2 -n dig-steam
```

Running the Italian version of Maniac Mansion fullscreen, from the content of the current directory:

```
$ scummvm -q it -f scumm:maniac
```

## SEE ALSO

**https://docs.scummvm.org**

## AUTHORS

ScummVM was written by the ScummVM team. See *AUTHORS* file for more information.