About
Arcane Dimensions is a total conversion mod for Quake developed by SimonOC with contributions from over twenty community mappers. It is widely regarded as the finest Quake content ever produced: 30+ new maps ranging from gothic castles to alien towers, new enemy types, new weapons, new game mechanics, and a sweeping expansion of everything the original Quake engine can do. Released for free, it requires a legal copy of Quake's PAK files and a modern source port — Ironwail is the community-recommended engine on Linux and Steam Deck.
Identity
Launch
- Binary
- ironwail
- Options
- -game ad
- Needs files
-
- Quake PAK files (pak0.pak and pak1.pak from Quake — Steam, GOG, or any legally-owned copy)
- Arcane Dimensions mod folder — free download from ModDB
Runtime
- Runs as
- Native Linux
- Proton
- not needed
⚙ Setup notes
Overview: Widely considered the best Quake content ever made — 30+ new maps, new monsters, new weapons, and a massive expansion of the original Quake formula.
Requires: Quake PAK files plus the free AD mod folder from ModDB.
Proton: Recommended engine is Ironwail, a high-performance GLQuake fork with native Linux binaries that auto-detects a Steam Quake installation.
Install: Install Ironwail, create an ad subdirectory inside the Quake data folder, extract the Arcane Dimensions files there, and launch Ironwail with -game ad.
Alternative: vkQuake works and has a Flatpak package available on Flathub. Both engines have native Linux binaries.
Controller: These source ports (Ironwail / vkQuake, both Quakespasm-based) have limited built-in gamepad handling. On Steam Deck, add the engine as a non-Steam game and apply a Steam Input layout (sticks mapped to movement + mouselook) for a smooth controller experience — do not assume full native gamepad support.
Optional: The Copper mod pairs well with AD for extra QoL improvements but is optional.
The one thing to know
Supply your own copy: Requires owned Quake game files (pak0.pak + pak1.pak from Steam, GOG, or any legal copy — not included).
Mod: Download Arcane Dimensions mod folder for free from ModDB.
Engine: Use Ironwail or vkQuake as the engine — both have native Linux binaries.
Controller: Built-in gamepad support is limited. Add the engine as a non-Steam game and apply a Steam Input layout for proper Steam Deck controls.
Install: Place the AD files in a subfolder named ad inside the Quake data directory (e.g., ~/.steam/steam/steamapps/common/Quake/ad/). Launch Ironwail with -game ad.
Optional: The Copper mod pairs well with AD for QoL improvements.
Note: deckport links nothing.
Community guides
Write-ups and threads from people who got this (or a similar) game running. deckport links to them — it doesn't reproduce them.
Get the artwork
deckport never hosts game images. Open this game on SteamGridDB, pick
the cover / hero / logo / icon you like, and drop them into the
game folder under .deckport-art/ before you push it to the
Deck. The importer files them under the right names automatically.
Run it on your Deck
Two files: the one-time importer (deckport.py) in your
Deck's home folder, and this game's install helper. Copy the game
into ~/Games and run the helper with Steam closed — it
writes the recipe (binary, launch options)
and registers the shortcut with artwork.