Quake original episodes, runes and final-level route
Find the four original episode names and the progression that unlocks the finale.
Edition covered
The original 1996 Quake campaign with four episodes and the final Shub-Niggurath encounter. Pictures come from the 2021 enhanced-release publisher gallery and include later expansion environments. Mission packs, Dimension episodes and altered remaster Nightmare rules are outside the gameplay reference.
Use the start hub
Quake begins in a hub that selects difficulty and episode portals. Choose an available original episode, then follow its connected maps to the rune at the end.
| Episode | Title | Progression role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dimension of the Doomed | First rune; includes Chthon |
| 2 | The Realm of Black Magic | Second episode route and rune |
| 3 | The Netherworld | Third episode route and rune |
| 4 | The Elder World | Fourth episode route and rune |
| Final map | Shub-Niggurath's Pit | Available after the rune requirement |
Collect all four runes
The original finale requires the runes from the four episodes. Completing one episode does not finish the full registered campaign, even though the first contains a major boss.
| Check | Reason | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Selected campaign | Packages contain multiple mapsets | Choose original Quake |
| Rune record | All original episodes matter | Confirm completed episodes |
| Current equipment | Episode starts change the loadout | Collect early weapons again |
| Exit commitment | Missed supplies may be inaccessible | Explore desired routes first |
| Difficulty | Original and enhanced Nightmare differ | Read the selected release's rules |
Expect a fresh episode opening
Original episode transitions reset much of the player's equipment state. Do not plan the next episode around carrying a late arsenal directly from the previous ending.
Separate later campaigns
Scourge of Armagon, Dissolution of Eternity and the Dimension campaigns are distinct selections in modern packages. Their maps are not part of the original four-episode rune route.
Scourge of Armagon, Dissolution of Eternity and the Dimension campaigns are distinct selections in modern packages. Their maps are not part of the original four-episode rune route.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Quake publisher listing | store.steampowered.com |
| id Software Quake manual, archived transcription | manualzz.com |
| id Software Quake source release | github.com |
| Original final-boss walkthrough | quakeone.com |