Warnings
- The macOS (OS X) version of this game needs a fix to work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later (see API for details).
This page is for the original release. For the Megaton Edition, see Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition. For World Tour, see Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour.
Key points
- Can run on virtually any computer
- Duke Nukem 3D source code was released in 2003, making the game very mod-friendly.
General information
- Official game site
- Duke Nukem Wiki
- GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
- GOG.com Support Page
- Steam Community Discussions
- Duke Nukem Fan Community
Availability
Source |
DRM |
Notes |
Keys |
OS |
Retail |
|
Regular or Atomic Edition. Atomic has a disc check (see Play without the CD). |
|
|
- A shareware episode is available.
Version differences
- The Atomic Edition includes the Plutonium Pak expansion. All digital distribution versions include the expansion.
- Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition includes both the DOS Atomic Edition as well as an updated version that includes Duke Caribbean: Life's A Beach, Duke It Out In D.C., and Duke: Nuclear Winter.
- The version sold digitally by 3D Realms (as part of the Anthology Pack) included the Atomic Edition as well as Duke Caribbean: Life's A Beach, Duke It Out In D.C., Duke: Nuclear Winter, and Duke!ZONE II. This version is no longer sold.
DLC and expansion packs
Name |
Notes |
|
Plutonium Pak |
Included with Atomic Edition and all digital distribution versions. |
|
Duke Caribbean: Life's A Beach |
Included with the Megaton Edition. |
|
Duke It Out In D.C. |
Included with the Megaton Edition. |
|
Duke: Nuclear Winter |
Included with the Megaton Edition. |
|
Duke!ZONE II |
Includes all Duke!ZONE content along with 3 new episodes. |
|
- Duke!ZONE II was just a shovelware user map compilation; most maps could be downloaded free online.
- Many more obscure, unauthorized expansions are available. See here for more info.
Essential improvements
Patches
All patches for the retail version can be found here. An old semi-official patch for OS X (PowerPC only) can also be found here. Digital distribution versions are already patched.
- bMouse will cause the vertical aiming to be inverted. To fix this, set the mouse Y scale to a negative number in Control Setup and Setup Advanced Control Options.
bMouse is a DOS extension which improves mouse looking by removing an engine limitation which would force to use one mouse axis at a time to aim.
Play without the CD
- The Atomic Edition checks for files on the CD.[5]
Make necessary changes[6]
|
- Copy the CD contents to the installation folder.
- Edit
<path-to-game>\CDROM.INI
- Clear the contents of
CDROM.INI
- Save your changes and close the file.
|
Source ports
Name |
Description |
|
xDuke |
Straight port from the original DOS release that only adds a console and the ability to load music packs. |
|
hDuke |
Based off xDuke. Focused on multiplayer, it features extra parameters such as frag limit and an anti-cheat system. |
|
nDuke |
Base off xDuke. Similar to hDuke, it also features a team deathmatch mode. |
|
Icculus Duke3D |
Straight port from the original DOS release for all platforms. |
|
EDuke32 |
Adds many modern features to Build engine such as high and widescreen resolution, dynamic lighting and shadows and expands the modding capabilities. It doesn't properly support multiplayer yet. |
|
EDuke32-OldMP |
A multiplayer branch of an old EDuke32 build. |
|
- All source ports (except later builds of EDuke32) will require to manually copy
DUKE3D.GRP
and DUKE.RTS
into their root folders.
Soundtrack for Duke Nukem 3D recorded on an authentic SC-55 for use with EDuke32 or the Megaton Edition. Choose either OGG or FLAC; MP3 does not support proper looping.
Multiplayer frontends
- Both frontends support both the DOS release and all source ports.
- YANG - Also supports other Build game such as Blood and Shadow Warrior, as well as any DOS games run through DOSBox.
- Duke Matcher
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
- It's unknown whether this game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux. Please fill in this information.
Save game data location
Video settings
Graphics settings (GOG.com version)
Template:Video settings
Set EDuke32 FOV[7][8]
|
Open the console (~) and enter r_pr_fov # with the angle to use.
Notes
- FOV can only be modified in Polymer render mode.
- FOV is calculated in Build angles, not degrees;
512 is about 90°, 625 is about 110°, etc. The default is 426 .
|
Input settings
Template:Input settings
Audio settings
Template:Audio settings
Localizations
Language |
UI |
Audio |
Sub |
Notes |
English |
|
|
|
|
Polish |
|
|
|
Available only in local retail stores. |
Network
Multiplayer types
Connection types
Splitscreen mod[9]
|
- Download this script file.
- Download the EDuke32 build in this post and follow the instructions.
- Execute EDuke32 and set Input Devices to Keyboard Only, then exit. This will avoid mouse look to impede player 2 forward movement while keeping player 1 mouse look functional.
- Execute EDuke32 with the splitscreen parameters and remap player 2 keys in Control Settings.
|
VR support
3D modes |
State |
Notes |
Native 3D |
| Red/blue anaglyph support was never finished. Broken in v1.5.[10] |
Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
DOS video modes |
VGA |
|
Executable | PPC | 16-bit |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows | | |
|
|
|
macOS (OS X) | | |
|
|
Linux | | |
|
|
Mac OS (Classic) | | | |
|
|
System requirements
DOS | Windows | Mac OS (Classic) | macOS (OS X) | Linux |
DOS |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
5.0 | |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel 486DX2 66 MHz
| Intel Pentium 75 MHz |
System memory (RAM) |
8 MB |
16 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
48 MB |
100 MB |
Video card (GPU) |
VGA
| PCI local bus |
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
XP, Vista | |
Processor (CPU) |
1.8 GHz | |
System memory (RAM) |
512 MB |
1 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
2 GB | |
Video card (GPU) |
DirectX 7 compatible
| DirectX 9 compatible |
macOS (OS X) |
|
Minimum |
Operating system (OS) |
10.6.8 |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Core Duo 2 GHz |
System memory (RAM) |
1 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
400 MB |
Video card (GPU) |
64 MB of VRAM |
Notes
References