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Raze
What Raze is
Raze is a free, open-source Build engine port backed by GZDoom technology. It combines Duke Nukem 3D, Blood, Redneck Rampage, Shadow Warrior, and Exhumed/Powerslave, and can also play Nam and WW2 GI. Its game modules draw on projects including JFDuke, EDuke, DukeGDX, Rednukem, NBlood, SWP, VoidSW, and PCExhumed. Raze runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, with ZScript and CON listed as scripting languages. Multiplayer tools are available, while visual scripting, mobile export, and console export are not. Versioned releases are published on GitHub, with 1.11.0 shown as the latest release on the opened page. Linux users can install a Flatpak edition. Custom WAD files can be run through command-line arguments, and commercial games require users to provide their game data in the configuration folder; raze.ini can load other directories. The project links to a forum, wiki, Discord server, and contribution information, and directs developers to its Programmer’s Corner for platform build guidance.
Who it suits
Raze suits players who want a free Build-engine port on Windows, Linux, or macOS and have the required commercial game data. Developers and mod users may also value its scripting, WAD, build, and community resources.
What it does well
- Supports several classic Build-engine games
- Runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS
- Multiplayer tools included
- ZScript and CON scripting
- Linux Flatpak edition available
What to know first
- Commercial games require user-supplied data
- No visual scripting
- No mobile export
- No console export
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Raze | Open-source game engine port; requires game data for commercial games | Free |
As raze.zdoom.org lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Raze brings multiple Build-engine games together in a free, open-source port with multiplayer and mod-oriented options. It is most useful when you already own the necessary game data and want desktop play or development resources.
Facts from Raze's own pages
- Build guidance
- The README directs developers to the wiki's Programmer's Corner for instructions to build Raze for a platform. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Build instructions
- The project README directs developers to the wiki's Programmer's Corner for build instructions for their platform. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Community support
- The repository links to a Raze forum and a Discord server as community resources. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Console export
- No · raze.zdoom.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Developer contribution
- The GitHub repository links to contribution information. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · raze.zdoom.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Game code bases
- Its game modules draw on JFDuke, EDuke, DukeGDX, Rednukem, NBlood, SWP, VoidSW, and PCExhumed. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Game data
- The Flatpak edition README says users should copy commercial game data into its configuration folder and can configure raze.ini to load other directories. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Game modules
- The game modules draw on projects including JFDuke, EDuke, NBlood, SWP, VoidSW, and PCExhumed. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The README says non-Build code is licensed under GPL v2 and directs users to individual license files for other contributions. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Linux distribution
- Raze is available as a Flatpak edition. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Linux issue fix
- The 1.10.2 release notes say it fixed SDL_WaitEvent causing program aborts on Linux during the launcher screen. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Mobile export
- No · raze.zdoom.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Mod support
- The Flatpak edition README describes running custom WAD files through command-line arguments. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Multiplayer tools
- Yes · raze.zdoom.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Operating systems
- Release notes mention Windows, Linux, and macOS-related build details, including MoltenVK. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Product
- Raze is a Build engine port backed by GZDoom technology. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Raze is a Build engine port backed by GZDoom technology. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Release channels
- The project publishes versioned releases on GitHub, with 1.11.0 shown as the latest release on the page opened. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Renderer and backend
- The 1.11.0 release notes list a backend update from GZDoom. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Scripting languages
- ZScript,CON · raze.zdoom.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Security and compliance
- The repository README provides licensing information; it does not state a security or compliance program. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Source code model
- open_source · raze.zdoom.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Support
- The project lists a forum, wiki, and Discord server as resources. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Where Raze stands on Freedom251
- Game Engine Software#70 of 92