How do you get better at Quake?

Improve by staying in constant motion, learning map layouts, and using the right weapons at the right moments. Quake rewards speed and positioning more than slow, cautious play.

Which weapons are best in Quake?

The rocket launcher, grenade launcher, and nailgun are among the most useful, but it depends on the situation. The shotgun is great for common enemies, while heavier weapons should be saved for tougher fights.

Are there secret areas in Quake?

Yes. Quake has many secret areas with extra health, armor, and ammo. Check walls, elevators, dark corners, and spots that look a bit different from the rest of the map.

Which settings should you tweak in Quake?

It’s a good idea to adjust resolution, aspect ratio, and mouse sensitivity before playing. The modern edition works well on new displays, but it feels best when controls match your pace.

Can you play Quake multiplayer today?

Yes. The modern edition supports multiplayer, and bots are great for practice. It’s a solid way to learn weapons, tempo, and maps before facing other players.

Quake

Martin Jørgensen

3 weeks ago

Quake gameplay with a shotgun in a dark industrial level, where the player attacks an enemy in close quarters.

Quake is still brutal, dark, and surprisingly playable

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Quake is a classic first-person shooter from id Software where gothic horror, lightning-fast gunfights, and labyrinthine levels fuse into one of the most influential action games ever made.

We tested Quake on a Windows 11 PC, and the most surprising thing wasn’t how old the game feels—but how much of the speed, atmosphere, and level design still holds up. The modern Quake Enhanced edition makes it far easier to play the classic today without wrestling with old installers, source ports, or graphics tweaks. Steam describes this release as an authentic, updated, and visually enhanced version of the original.

Classic FPS with gothic horror and blistering speed

Quake Enhanced keeps the brooding retro vibe while making the classic easier to play on modern systems.

Quake isn’t a modern Skydespil with long cutscenes, weapon upgrades, and markers all over the screen. You’re thrown straight into dark corridors, hostile dimensions, and arena-like maps where reflexes matter more than exposition.

The game feels raw in the best way. The weapons still have that heavy, mechanical punch that many newer retro shooters try to emulate. The shotgun, nailgun, grenade launcher, and rocket launcher each have a clear role, and you quickly feel that Quake was built around movement. Don’t just shoot—strafe, hop, time your attacks, and keep an eye on ammo and health packs.

During our test we especially noticed how little the game wastes your time. Levels are compact yet intricate. There are hemmelige områder, locked doors, and moments where you stop and think, “Where the heck do I go now?” It can frustrate modern players, but it’s also a big part of the charm.

Quake Enhanced makes the classic easy to play today

The modern version of Quake is the obvious edition to grab today. Bethesda highlights it as an updated and visually improved take on the original, available on modern platforms including PC and consoles.

For most players, that means Quake is far more accessible. You get better support for modern displays, improved visuals, local and online multiplayer, cross-play, bots, and easier access to extra content. Steam’s notes also mention dedicated servers, split-screen, co-op, deathmatch, and free add-ons as part of the enhanced release.

It doesn’t turn Quake into a new game—and it shouldn’t. It still feels old in several ways, but in a way that lets you sense the foundation beneath many FPS games that followed.

Single-player: short, hard-hitting, and atmospheric

Quake mixes dark medieval settings with brutal FPS action, and small keys and secret areas are still a big part of the experience.

The single-player campaign in Quake isn’t about deep characters or a plot you’ll debate afterward. It’s about mood, rhythm, and survival.

Levels push you through murky bases, medieval corridors, and demonic dimensions where enemies strike fast and hard. The visuals are gritty, brown, and angular, but that’s exactly why the game still has a distinct identity. It doesn’t look like a polished sci-fi shooter. It looks like a nightmare built from stone, rust, and blood.

Quake Enhanced also includes more than just the base game. The improved edition features the classic mission packs and extra episodes, including content created by MachineGames.

Multiplayer and the Quake legacy

Quake also matters because it helped shape online multiplayer, arena shooters, and the culture around high-speed FPS duels. Even if you mainly download it for single-player, it’s hard not to feel how the layouts, weapons, and pace are built for competition.

Today many might associate the name with newer titles like Quake Champions, but the original remains compelling because it shows the roots. Quake Champions has continued to see updates around Quake’s 30th anniversary, including netcode improvements and new content—proof the series still has an active place among FPS fans.

Graphics and audio: ugly in the best way

Quake still flaunts its raw FPS style with dark corridors, quick enemies, and brutal firefights.

Quake isn’t pretty in a modern sense. Textures are rough, models are blocky, and enemies look simple. Yet it works. There’s a heavy, dark atmosphere that stands apart from more colorful shooters.

Sound does a lot of the lifting. Weapons hit hard, enemies sound unsettling, and the industrial mood fits the world perfectly. It’s one of those games where style matters more than technical realism.

Who should download Quake?

Quake is a must if you enjoy classic FPS games, retro shooters, Doom, Quake II, Dusk, Amid Evil, or any fast action titles without modern hand-holding.

It’s also a great pick if you want to understand why id Software has had such a massive impact on the genre. Quake isn’t just nostalgia—it still delivers sharp gameplay, strong level design, and a rhythm that makes you say “just one more map.”

Don’t choose Quake if you expect modern storytelling, realistic graphics, or a game that explains everything as you go. It’s direct, old-school, and occasionally a bit cryptic.

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Top 5 tips for Quake

1Beginner

Use movement as your primary weapon

Quake isn’t just about landing shots. You’ll survive far better if you’re always moving, strafing, and avoiding standing still in tight corridors.

2Weapons

Save the heavy weapons for the right moments

Rocket and grenade launchers are powerful, but ammo disappears fast. Use the shotgun and nailgun on weaker foes so you’ve got the big guns for tougher rooms.

3Maps

Hunt for secret areas

Quake rewards curiosity. Check behind elevators, shoot suspicious walls, and explore dark corners. Many maps hide extra health, armor, and ammo.

4Settings

Tune your mouse and video before you start

The modern edition makes Quake easier on today’s displays, but spend a minute on sensitivity, resolution, and aspect ratio. It makes hurtige kampe far more comfortable.

5Multiplayer

Start with bots before you jump online

Online Quake can be brutal if you meet veterans. Bots are a great way to learn weapons, maps, and pacing without getting steamrolled from the first minute.

Is Quake still worth playing?

Quake is still worth playing—but not because it feels like a modern FPS. It’s worth playing because it offers what many newer games lack: pure speed, sharp level design, and a heavy horror atmosphere that sticks with you.

It isn’t the easiest classic to jump into, and some players will miss modern comforts. But give it a little time and you’ll understand why Quake is still mentioned, copied, and celebrated all these years later.