libretro/emulators/gzdoom.yml

emulator: GZDoom
type: standalone
core_classification: game_engine
source: "https://github.com/ZDoom/gzdoom"
upstream: "https://github.com/ZDoom/gzdoom"
profiled_date: "2026-10-04"
source_commit: "c26ce2e6ca2a0c770f140cb25dde0d30073ca8f7"
core_version: "4.15pre"
display_name: "GZDoom"
cores: []
systems: [doom, heretic, hexen, strife, chex]

notes: |
  Doom-engine source port by Christoph Oelckers. Supports Doom, Heretic,
  Hexen, Strife, Chex Quest and derived games through a unified IWAD
  identification pass.

  Engine resources (built from wadsrc*/static/ via add_pk3):
    gzdoom.pk3            BASEWAD, searched by BaseFileSearch
                          ref: src/version.h:90, src/d_main.cpp:3757-3761
    game_support.pk3      OPTIONALWAD, filter/game assets per IWAD
                          ref: src/version.h:92, src/d_main.cpp:3794
    lights.pk3            dynamic light definitions
    brightmaps.pk3        brightmap textures
    game_widescreen_gfx.pk3  widescreen HUD/menu replacements
  The last three are skipped for shareware IWADs and with -noextras.
  ref: src/d_main.cpp:2050-2071

  Game data is a user-supplied IWAD. iwadinfo.txt declares each known
  IWAD with its IWADName, MustContain lumps and support files. The
  search directories are scanned for the file names of its Names block
  and for any .iwad, .ipk3 or .ipk7 file; each candidate is then
  identified by its lumps, not by its name. The Names block also lists
  doomu.wad, doom1.wad, bfgdoom.wad, bfgdoom2.wad, freedoomu.wad,
  freedoom.wad, hereticsr.wad, heretic1.wad, hexendemo.wad, hexdemo.wad,
  strife0.wad and strife.wad.
  ref: wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:650-703, src/d_iwad.cpp:502-530

  Startup refuses to run if BASEWAD (gzdoom.pk3) is absent, and stops
  with "Cannot find a game IWAD" when no candidate is identified.
  ref: src/d_main.cpp:3757-3761, src/d_iwad.cpp:789-798

files:
  # ================================================================
  # Engine resources (shipped with the port, add_pk3 in CMakeLists)
  # ================================================================

  - name: "gzdoom.pk3"
    category: game_data
    required: true
    source_ref: "src/version.h:90, src/d_main.cpp:3757-3761, wadsrc/CMakeLists.txt:1"
    note: "Fonts, menus, zscript, textures. Fatal if absent."

  - name: "game_support.pk3"
    category: game_data
    required: false
    source_ref: "src/version.h:92, src/d_main.cpp:3794-3796, wadsrc_extra/CMakeLists.txt:1"
    note: "Per-game filters under static/filter/ (doom.id, strife, hexen, heretic, chex...)."

  - name: "lights.pk3"
    category: game_data
    required: false
    source_ref: "src/d_main.cpp:2053-2058, wadsrc_lights/CMakeLists.txt:1"

  - name: "brightmaps.pk3"
    category: game_data
    required: false
    source_ref: "src/d_main.cpp:2059-2064, wadsrc_bm/CMakeLists.txt:1"

  - name: "game_widescreen_gfx.pk3"
    category: game_data
    required: false
    source_ref: "src/d_main.cpp:2065-2070, wadsrc_widepix/CMakeLists.txt:1"

  - name: "gzdoom.sf2"
    category: game_data
    path: "soundfonts/gzdoom.sf2"
    required: false
    source_ref: "src/common/audio/music/i_soundfont.cpp:427-430, src/CMakeLists.txt:1429"
    note: "Default soundfont, used when the soundfont directories hold none."

  - name: "GENMIDI.GS.wopl"
    category: game_data
    path: "fm_banks/GENMIDI.GS.wopl"
    required: false
    source_ref: "src/CMakeLists.txt:1431, src/gameconfigfile.cpp:165-195, src/common/audio/music/i_soundfont.cpp:355-359"
    note: "OPL3 bank copied next to the executable; fm_banks is one of the scanned soundfont directories."

  - name: "gs-by-papiezak-and-sneakernets.wopn"
    category: game_data
    path: "fm_banks/gs-by-papiezak-and-sneakernets.wopn"
    required: false
    source_ref: "src/CMakeLists.txt:1433, src/gameconfigfile.cpp:165-195, src/common/audio/music/i_soundfont.cpp:360-364"
    note: "OPN2 bank copied next to the executable."

  # ================================================================
  # IWADs (user-supplied). At least one is needed to launch a game.
  # All source refs point to wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt entries.
  # ================================================================

  # ---- Doom ----

  - name: "doom.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:420, 437, 659"
    note: "The Ultimate DOOM and DOOM Registered both use this name; told apart by their lumps."

  - name: "doom2.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:640, 653"

  - name: "doom2f.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:625, 657"

  - name: "doombfg.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:332, 666"

  - name: "doom2bfg.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:560, 667"

  - name: "doomunity.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:369, 661"

  - name: "doom2unity.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:592, 655"

  - name: "doomkex.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:350, 662"

  - name: "doom2kex.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:576, 656"

  - name: "doomxbox.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:403, 660"

  - name: "doom2xbox.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:608, 654"

  - name: "doom_complete.pk3"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:389, 652"

  - name: "plutonia.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:545, 670"

  - name: "plutoniaunity.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:514, 671"

  - name: "plutoniakex.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:529, 672"

  - name: "tnt.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:499, 673"

  - name: "tntunity.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:468, 674"

  - name: "tntkex.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:483, 675"

  - name: "nerve.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:565, 614, src/d_iwad.cpp:877-895"
    note: "No Rest for the Living. Autoloaded by Doom 2 BFG and Xbox editions."

  - name: "nerveunity.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:598, src/d_iwad.cpp:877-895"
    note: "Loaded from the IWAD directory by DOOM 2: Unity Edition."

  - name: "extras.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:357, 376, 488, 534, 582, 598"
    note: "Loaded from the IWAD directory by the KEX and Unity editions."

  - name: "soundtrack"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:376, 598, src/d_iwad.cpp:877-895"
    note: "Loaded from the IWAD directory by the DOOM and DOOM 2 Unity editions."

  - name: "id24res.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:341, 360, 379, src/d_iwad.cpp:862-875"
    note: "id24 resource WAD. SupportWAD of every id IWAD block, loaded when found and i_loadsupportwad is set."

  # ---- Freedoom (free) ----

  - name: "freedoom1.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:307, 676"

  - name: "freedoom2.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:294, 677"

  - name: "freedm.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:281, 680"

  # ---- Heretic ----

  - name: "heretic.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: heretic
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:241, 244, 254, 257, 681"
    note: "Both Heretic and Shadow of the Serpent Riders use this name; told apart by the EXTENDED lump."

  - name: "blasphem.wad"
    aliases: ["blasphemer.wad"]
    category: game_data
    system: heretic
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:228, 692-693"

  # ---- Hexen ----

  - name: "hexen.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: hexen
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:188, 684"

  - name: "hexdd.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: hexen
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:196-207, 685"
    note: "Deathkings expansion. Requires hexen.wad (Required = Hexen: Beyond Heretic)."

  # ---- Strife ----

  - name: "strife1.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: strife
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:151, 688"

  - name: "sve.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: strife
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:136, 140, 689"
    note: "Veteran Edition. Required = Strife: Quest for the Sigil (loads voices.wad)."

  - name: "voices.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: strife
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:142, 155"

  # ---- Chex Quest ----

  - name: "chex.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: chex
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:123, 694"

  - name: "chex3.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: chex
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:109, 695"

  # ---- Standalone commercial / community IWADs ----

  - name: "hacx.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:83, 698"

  - name: "hacx2.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:71, 699"

  - name: "action2.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:97, 696"

  - name: "harm1.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:57, 697"

  - name: "square.pk3"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:33"
    note: "Absent from the Names block: picked up only when named with -iwad."

  - name: "square1.pk3"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:45, 700"

  - name: "delaweare.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:22, 701"

  - name: "rotwb.wad"
    category: game_data
    system: doom
    required: false
    source_ref: "wadsrc_extra/static/iwadinfo.txt:9, 702"