About QuakeWorld
Quake launched in 1996 and helped define online first-person shooters, but playing it over the internet connections of the day was rough. Every movement had to make a round trip to the server before you saw it on screen, so high latency made the game feel sluggish. id Software answered later that year with QuakeWorld, a separate multiplayer client and server that added client-side prediction. Your own movement was predicted locally, which made the game feel responsive even on slow connections, and QuakeWorld became the standard way to play Quake online for years.
This page loads a browser version run by pieter.com as a non-commercial preservation project. You pick a name and drop straight into whatever map the server is running.
How it runs in your browser
QuakeWorld plays right here on our page, embedded from q1.pieter.com. There is nothing to download or install, and you don’t need your own copy of Quake. Because it is a live multiplayer server, you need an internet connection the whole time, and the server holds up to eight players at once.
QuakeWorld is multiplayer only, so there is no single-player campaign and no save system here. If you want the original episodes and monsters, see our Quake page.
Controls and devices
Play on a computer with a keyboard and mouse. QuakeWorld isn’t listed as working on phones, and controllers aren’t supported. Key bindings for this build aren’t listed here; check the game’s own menu if the defaults don’t suit you.
Quake movement is fast and rewards mouse aim, strafing and the famous rocket jump far more than hiding behind cover. Expect a learning curve if you are used to modern shooters with slower movement and aim assistance.
Tips
Learn where the strongest weapons and armor appear on the current map. Controlling those pickups is what decides most Quake deathmatches, more than raw aim. When you die, use the respawn as a chance to grab a weapon on the way back rather than charging straight at whoever beat you.
If the server is full, try again in a few minutes; with a limit of eight players, slots open up as people leave.
Is QuakeWorld Free, Safe and Official?
Is QuakeWorld free to play here?
Yes. It runs in your browser on this page with nothing to buy or install.
How many people can play QuakeWorld at once?
The server holds up to eight players. You choose a name and join the map that is currently running.
Can I play QuakeWorld on a phone?
It isn’t listed as working on phones or with controllers. Use a computer with a keyboard and mouse.
