NetRadiant-Custom

Overview

NetRadiant-Custom is an open-source desktop editor for building levels in id Tech games. It is a strong fit for Quake creators who want geometry, texture, and compilation tools together; outside its supported game configurations, its specialized focus is a drawback.

Key features

Brushes and entities can be created and adjusted in the 3D view, with vertex editing, face extrusion, patch thickening, and a CSG shell modifier for shaping geometry. That gives level designers useful control over map construction, though the main focus remains Quake, Quake 3, and Quake Live rather than a broad range of engines.

Texture tools cover UV alignment, drag painting, copying textures between brush faces and patches, and locking textures while manipulating vertices or edges. Locking can help keep placement intact through geometry changes. Viewports support anisotropic filtering and optional MSAA, while shortcuts, themes, and fonts can be customized to suit individual workflows.

With region mode enabled, working compilations can build only the selected map region, avoiding a full-map compile during local iteration. Bundled Q3Map2 features include automatic map packaging and BSP import and export as JSON; its Assimp model loader supports more than 40 formats. Archive extraction, mod packaging, script editing, and support for map, BSP, package, and game-definition formats extend its role beyond editing geometry.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing. It includes the open-source level editor and ready-to-use packages from Releases, making it a straightforward choice for individual creators or mod teams who need these tools without a software charge. There is no free trial because the software is free; no paid tier or seat-based charge is stated.

Platforms

NetRadiant-Custom runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The project directs users to its Releases section for ready-to-use packages; the latest build is dated January 14 and has four listed assets.

Who it's for

This is best for level designers working on Quake, Quake 3, Quake Live, or another game with a suitable configuration in a release. Its geometry and texture controls, localized compilations, and map-packaging tools make it a capable choice for that work. Modders targeting unrelated game ecosystems should choose a tool aligned with those games instead.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Geometry editing, texture controls, and compilation features sit in one editor, reducing the need to separate those map-making tasks.
• Pro: Region compilations can build only part of a map, useful when refining a specific area.
• Pro: Free, open-source packages are available across three desktop platforms.
• Con: Its stated main focus is a narrow set of Quake games, so fit depends on the game configuration you need.
• Con: It is a desktop tool, not a web-based editor.

Alternatives

Game Modding Tools is a useful starting point if you want to compare tools across the broader modding category.

• Minecraft Launcher is the better fit when you need a free launcher for Minecraft; access to games requires ownership or a time-limited demo.
• Chunker is another free, open-source option for game modding, with Linux, macOS, Windows, and web support.
• DarkRadiant is another free, open-source level editor for desktop platforms; it requires game resources that the editor does not install.
• OpenMW-CS is the relevant free alternative if you need a construction set for the OpenMW game engine.
• QuickBMS is a free, open-source multiplatform alternative.
• Reloaded-II is another free option for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• TrenchBroom is a free GPLv3+ alternative for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• UAssetGUI is a free MIT-licensed option for Windows and Linux.

Verdict

Choose NetRadiant-Custom if you are making Quake-family or suitably configured id Tech maps and want geometry, texture, and compilation tools in a free desktop editor. Look elsewhere if your project belongs to a different game ecosystem or needs a web-based workflow.