About
Corruption Cards is a 2021 Cacoward winner (Doomworld's top annual awards for outstanding Doom content). At the start of each level, it presents the player with a choice of three cards drawn from a pool of 200+ — cards that can make enemies deadlier, grant powerful new weapons, add environmental hazards, or completely transform how the game plays. The randomized card selection means no two runs through a campaign play out the same way. Compatible with any Doom-engine IWAD including the free Freedoom, it functions as a roguelite modifier layered over any Doom campaign or megawad. Latest release v6.3b, May 2025.
Identity
Launch
- Binary
- flatpak
- Options
- run org.zdoom.GZDoom -file CorruptionCards-v6.3b.pk3 -iwad doom2.wad
- Needs files
-
- Corruption Cards PK3 from ModDB (latest v6.3b, May 2025) — the download keeps its versioned name, e.g. CorruptionCards-v6.3b.pk3
- Any Doom IWAD (Doom 1, Doom II, Heretic, Hexen, or Freedoom — even the free Freedoom works)
Runtime
- Runs as
- Native Linux
- Proton
- not needed
⚙ Setup notes
Install: GZDoom is installed via Flatpak: flatpak install flathub org.zdoom.GZDoom.
Files: Drop the Corruption Cards PK3 (e.g. CorruptionCards-v6.3b.pk3) and any compatible IWAD into ~/.var/app/org.zdoom.GZDoom/.config/gzdoom/ — the GZDoom Flatpak looks for files there, not in the bare app folder. Match the -file name to the PK3 you downloaded.
IWAD: Swap -iwad doom2.wad for whichever IWAD you own — freedoom2.wad, doom.wad, heretic.wad, or hexen.wad are all supported.
Controller: GZDeck (github.com/flegald/GZDeck) is a controller-friendly launcher for managing GZDoom mods in Steam Game Mode.
The one thing to know
Supply your own copy: A gameplay mod requiring any Doom-engine IWAD — even the free Freedoom works.
Install: Install GZDoom via Flatpak (flatpak install flathub org.zdoom.GZDoom), download the Corruption Cards PK3 (v6.3b, May 2025, e.g. CorruptionCards-v6.3b.pk3) from ModDB, and drop it plus your IWAD into ~/.var/app/org.zdoom.GZDoom/.config/gzdoom/.
IWAD: Adjust the -iwad flag to match whichever IWAD you own (doom2.wad, freedoom2.wad, doom.wad, heretic.wad, or hexen.wad).
Pairs with megawads: Pairs extremely well with megawads — stack it on top of any campaign for a roguelite twist.
Controller: Use GZDeck (github.com/flegald/GZDeck) for a Game Mode-friendly launcher.
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.