The Quake community released one of its most ambitious map packs yet on Friday, introducing “Quake Rooftops Jam,” a collection of 19 custom maps that place players atop buildings rather than within the corridors for which id Software’s 1996 first-person shooter is best known. The free download arrives during what many are calling an astonishing year for Quake mapping, following a wave of death arenas and even a new official campaign from both dedicated fans and professional developers over the past twelve months.
The pack takes its inspiration directly from the part of your house that stops the rain falling in, transforming rooftops into primary play-spaces. While this may sound like an unusual subject for a mapping jam, it represents something genuinely fascinating within Quake’s design history. As a game built around tight corridors and enclosed arenas, open-air rooftop combat is rarely glimpsed in id Software’s classic shooter—skittering across virtual skylines has historically been more the domain of titles like Mirror’s Edge and its spiritual successors.
Hence, creating maps where rooftops form the core play-area presents an interesting design challenge that the community has embraced with remarkable creativity. The resulting collection features wildly different approaches to the theme rather than a single formulaic style.
A Skyline of Diverse Designs
Among the standout entries is Robert Yang’s “Rooftops,” a sun-soaked nonlinear map set in a Mediterranean coastal village semi-submerged in water. Other highlights include “Once, But No More,” a sprawling cityscape featuring multiple architectural styles stuffed with platforming sequences, and “City of Traitors,” a maze of gothic spires set within a misty purple void.
These variations demonstrate the range possible when designers abandon Quake’s traditional enclosed arenas in favor of open heights. The maps reward players comfortable with verticality and movement-based combat, qualities that align more naturally with parkour-focused games than with id Software’s original release.
How to Install the Pack
The pack is available for free download from . It is designed to run through a Quake sourceport such as or another compatible client, meaning players will need both a copy of one of these sourceports and the map files themselves.
Installation follows a straightforward process. Once you have downloaded the Rooftops Jam files, extract them into your Quake folder within a new directory titled ‘qrtjam’. You then create a shortcut to your Quake sourceport with the additional command line “-game qrtjam”, and boot it up from there.
The Quake community is only growing bolder. This is one of our most ambitious map packs yet, taking on a theme rarely explored in the game’s history.
[Quake Community Mapmakers]
The release comes as Quake itself continues to thrive three decades after its original launch. The mapping scene has produced some incredible death arenas throughout 2026, with fans and professional developers alike contributing to an expanding library of community content.
Looking Ahead
While the fan-driven map scene remains vibrant, the future of the series more generally is difficult to discern. Rumours circulated a while back that Machine Games might be working on a new Quake title, though all signs point to the studio’s next project being Wolfenstein 3.
Meanwhile, multiplayer spinoff Quake Champions recently transitioned to a paid model, though it remains playable as a one-off purchase. The continued enthusiasm for free community content like the Rooftops Jam suggests that id Software’s classic shooter will retain its dedicated following regardless of what happens with official sequels.
The pack offers players a fresh way to experience Quake’s fast-paced combat while showcasing the creativity of a community that shows no signs of running out of ideas. With 19 distinct rooftop arenas now available, there is plenty of open sky left to explore.
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