An N64 port of id Software's foundational Quake. Thirty-two gothic levels, a devastating arsenal and the signature dark atmosphere. Performance takes a hit from the conversion and the look runs darker than ever, yet the spirit of Quake comes through cleanly, technical miracle included.
Your verdict
Category
First-Person Shooter1 player16+
Split screen
Description
N64 port of id Software's landmark FPS, plunging the player into dark dimensions filled with gothic monsters. Published by Midway, released in 1998 in Europe and North America. Thirty-two dark gothic levels, varied arsenal, fully polygonal 3D engine, and split-screen multiplayer mode.
Midway and Lobotomy Software North American March 1998 pressing of the Quake N64 port. Lobotomy having already delivered Powerslave/Exhumed, the port fully reworks the id Tech 1 engine to fit the console's limited memory. The US cartridge includes two exclusive levels missing from the original PC Quake, which makes it technically the most enriched Quake version of the era. A precise target for id Software and Lobotomy enthusiasts.
Is Quake still worth playing in 2026?
The N64 port of Quake remains a quiet technical miracle. Thirty-two gothic levels, a fearsome arsenal and id Software's signature dark atmosphere survive the cartridge compression. The frame rate suffered, the rendering is darker still than on PC, but the gunplay and the maze-like dimension of the maps still work. Aubrey Hodges' new music genuinely deepens the oppressive mood. For old-school FPS fans and N64 technical feat hunters, it remains an intriguing detour today and a richer experience than its reputation suggests.
