Dune II - The Maker Map Editor
Dune II – The Maker Map Editor is an in-game editor for creating and changing skirmish maps in the open-source Dune II remake.
What Dune II - The Maker Map Editor is
Dune II – The Maker Map Editor is an in-game editor for creating and changing skirmish maps in the open-source Dune II remake. Players can make a map without leaving the game and play it immediately. Editing tools include terrain painting, spice placement, player start positions, zoom, pan, and symmetry. Grid and axis overlays, undo and redo, and copy and paste support map editing. Saved maps go directly to the skirmish folder and appear in the skirmish map selection screen. The editor is described as an initial set of essentials for playable skirmish maps, with campaign map support planned for expansion. The remake aims to preserve Dune 2’s look and feel while improving graphics and quality of life with modern controls and features. Version 0.8.5 includes minimap move orders, camera tracking for selected units, configurable key bindings, improved pathfinding, and skirmish options such as a random game button. The project is free and open source for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its release page offers the latest stable version as d2tm.zip and also provides the source code. Audio playback requires a General MIDI soundfont.
Good
- Maps can be played immediately after editing.
- Includes terrain, spice, and player-start tools.
- Supports undo, redo, copy, and paste.
- Free and open source on three desktop platforms.
Watch out
- The editor currently focuses on skirmish maps.
- Audio playback requires a General MIDI soundfont.
Who it suits
This editor suits players who want to build and immediately play skirmish maps within the Dune II remake. It is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Verdict
The editor provides core tools for making playable skirmish maps inside the open-source remake. Its stated scope is limited to skirmish-map essentials, with campaign-map support planned for expansion.
Plans and prices
From Dune II - The Maker Map Editor's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Dune II - The Maker | Free | downloadable desktop game · source code available · no subscription tiers stated |
| Dune II – The Maker | Free | Open source remake; free download |
The facts
Each one read from Dune II - The Maker Map Editor's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API and SDK
- The opened README and wiki document command-line parameters and configuration but do not describe a public API or SDK.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Build prerequisites
- Source compilation requires CMake 3.21 or newer, GCC 14 or newer, SDL3 with image, text and mixer components, and Catch2 version 3 for tests.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Core enhancements
- The project advertises higher resolutions, zooming, multi-unit selection and skirmish play.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The stable download is a d2tm.zip archive, while bleeding-edge builds are linked from GitHub.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The GitHub wiki documents settings.ini flags, controls and startup parameters and lists 11 wiki pages.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Download
- The release page says to download d2tm.zip for the latest stable version and also offers the source code.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Editor improvements
- The map editor has grid and axis overlays, undo and redo, copy and paste, and diagonal and symmetry tools.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Editor limits
- The editor is described as a first version covering the essentials for playable skirmish maps, with plans to expand it for campaign maps.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Editor tools
- The editor supports terrain painting, spice placement, player start positions, symmetry tools, zoom, and pan.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Editor utilities
- Later editor work added grid and axis overlays, undo and redo, copy and paste, diagonal editing and improved minimap zoom handling.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Gameplay updates
- Version 0.8.5 added minimap movement orders, camera following, clearer multi-selection, harvester memory, pausing construction and configurable key bindings.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The maker’s GitHub README says the game uses FluidSynth for MIDI music and requires a General MIDI soundfont for audio playback.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Latest release
- The homepage lists version 0.8.5 as released on September 17, 2026.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The source code is released under the MIT License, while assets in bin/data are excluded and require project permission for reuse or redistribution.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: development bugs
- A project playtest report documented passive AI, stuck units, broken win states, disappearing harvesters and sluggish movement responses in an earlier build.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: historical crash
- An Allegro.cc reviewer reported being overwhelmed in mission two and then experiencing a game crash.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: map-generation requests
- An open GitHub issue requests small, medium and large random-map sizes plus a classic DOS-style generator, indicating those options were not yet available when filed.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: multiplayer and language
- Modstalgia says multiplayer is unavailable and the listing provides English localization only.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: unfinished features
- Geek Culture reported that version 0.6.0 lacked an options menu, saved progress and integrated cutscenes, with multiplayer still only an aspiration.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Map editor
- The in-game editor can create or modify skirmish maps from the main menu and saves them directly into the skirmish folder.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Map editor navigation
- The editor provides zooming and free camera panning.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Company owner
- Fundynamic identifies Stefan Hendriks as its owner and places the business in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.checked 15 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Desktop platforms
- The project publishes binaries and build instructions for Windows, Linux and macOS.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Linux and macOS build
- Ubuntu and macOS builds use supplied dependency scripts, CMake and make, with CTest available for verification.checked 15 Oct 2026
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