GZDoom Guide

Guide Author: MewLew

External Drive Setup

  1. On your external drive, create a folder for GZDoom (e.g., E:\GZDoom).
  2. Inside the GZDoom folder, create the following subfolders:
    • Mods (for mods like .pk3 or .zip files).
    • Games (for .wad game files).
  3. Copy your game .wad files into the Games folder (e.g., E:\GZDoom\Games).
  4. Install GZDoom through the Dev Portal and launch it, navigate to your external drive and select your GZDoom games folder (e.g., E:\GZDoom\Games).
    • If you have one game file, it will load automatically.
    • If multiple .WAD files are present, a basic menu will appear. Use B to scroll through the list if more than six games are available and A to select a game.

Modding:

  1. Copy your mod files (.pk3 or .zip) into the Mods folder (e.g., E:\GZDoom\Mods).
  2. Install GZDoom through the Dev Portal and launch it once, navigate to your external drive and select your GZDoom games folder (e.g., E:\GZDoom\Games). This will generate the ini file in the same directory.
  3. Locate the gzdoom_portable.ini file in the Games folder:
    • Example: E:\GZDoom\Games\gzdoom_portable.ini.
  4. Open gzdoom_portable.ini in a text editor (e.g., Notepad).
  5. Scroll to the [Global.Autoload] section (or the specific game section like [doom.id.Autoload]) and add the full path to your mod file e.g:
[Global.Autoload]
Path=E:\GZDoom\Mods\Universal_Enhanced_AI.pk3

[doom.id.Autoload]
Path=E:\GZDoom\Mods\brutalv21.pk3
  1. Save the changes to your gzdoom_portable.ini and ensure it is saved in your Games folder.
  2. Launch your game and your mods should be applied.

Internal Setup

  1. Install GZDoom through the Dev Portal and launch it once to initialize the folders. (Press B to exit GZDoom when prompted to select a folder.)
  2. Open the Dev Portal on your PC.
  3. Navigate to LocalAppData > GZDoom > Localstate using the File Explorer.
  4. Copy your game .wad files into the LocalState folder loose.
  5. Launch GZDoom.
    • If you have one game file, it will load automatically.
    • If multiple .WAD files are present, a basic menu will appear. Use B to scroll through the list if more than six games are available and A to select a game.

Modding:

  1. Inside the LocalState folder, create the following subfolder if it doesn’t already exist:
    • Mods (for mods like .pk3 or .zip files).
  2. Copy your mod files (.pk3 or .zip) into the Mods folder.
  3. Locate the gzdoom_portable.ini file in the LocalState folder and save it.
  4. Open gzdoom_portable.ini in a text editor (e.g., Notepad).
  5. Scroll to the [Global.Autoload] section (or the specific game section like [doom.id.Autoload]) and add the path to your mod file e.g:
[Global.Autoload]
Path=Mods\Universal_Enhanced_AI.pk3

[doom.id.Autoload]
Path=Mods\brutalv21.pk3
  1. Save the changes and reupload your gzdoom_portable.ini to the LocalState folder, replacing the original file.
  2. Launch your game and your mods should be applied.

Notes

  • Mods added under [Global.Autoload] will load for all games.
  • To load mods for specific games only, add the path under the relevant section (e.g., [doom.doom2.Autoload]).
  • Avoid loading multiple conflicting mods unless they are designed to work together.
  • You can also edit the .ini file to modify:
    • Graphics settings: Customize resolution and effects.
    • Controls: Map inputs to suit your play style.
  • Prefer to follow a video? Revive has tutorials for setting up and modding.