NetRadiant-Custom

NetRadiant-Custom is a free, open-source desktop editor for building levels for id Tech games. It suits Quake-focused designers who want geometry, texturing, compilation, and packaging in one tool. Its specialization is its advantage for those games and its clearest limitation for creators working elsewhere.

Overview

The project is a cross-platform fork in the GtkRadiant and NetRadiant lineage, ultimately following the 1.4, rewrite, 1.5, and NetRadiant generations. Its main configurations target Quake, Quake 3, and Quake Live, while releases cover many additional games. That makes it a focused environment rather than a general-purpose game editor: the value depends on whether your target game fits its id Tech-oriented workflow.

Ready-to-use packages are published through the project's Releases section. The latest build is dated January 14 and includes four downloadable assets. The repository's Security and quality section shows 0.

Key features

Brushes and entities can be created and manipulated directly in the 3D view. Vertex editing, brush-face extrusion, patch thickening, and a CSG shell modifier provide distinct ways to alter level geometry. Together, these tools give Quake mappers fine control over structural forms without switching editors, although their usefulness is tied to the supported game configurations.

Texture work is unusually well covered for a specialized editor. A UV tool handles alignment, drag painting applies textures interactively, and textures can be pasted between brush faces and patches. Texture locking keeps placement stable while vertices or edges are changed, reducing corrective work during geometry revisions. Viewports offer anisotropic texture filtering and optional MSAA, while configurable keyboard shortcuts, GUI themes, and fonts let experienced users tune the interface to their habits.

Region mode enables working-region compilations that build only the selected part of a map. That is valuable when iterating on a section and avoiding a full-map compile each time. The bundled Q3Map2 tooling adds automatic map packaging and BSP import and export as JSON. Its Assimp model loader supports more than 40 formats, broadening the model assets that can be brought into a project.

Beyond editing, the package supports archive extraction, mod packaging, and script editing. Supported formats include .map, .bsp, .pk3, .dpk, .dpkdir, Valve 220, brush primitives, axial projection, .def, .ent, and .fgd. This combination makes it useful across the map-to-mod pipeline, not only for arranging brushes.

Pricing

NetRadiant-Custom has one plan: Free at free. It includes the open-source level editor and ready-to-use packages from Releases. There is no free trial because the software is already free, and no paid tier, seat charge, quota, or renewal term is attached to the plan. It is the appropriate choice for hobbyists, mod teams, and anyone evaluating an id Tech workflow without a software budget; there is no cheaper edition that trades away features.

Platforms

Desktop packages support Windows, macOS, and Linux. The same cross-platform positioning suits teams working across operating systems, while the editor remains a desktop application rather than a browser-based tool.

Who it's for

Choose NetRadiant-Custom if you are creating Quake, Quake 3, Quake Live, or another game covered by its configurations and want integrated brush, entity, texture, compile, and packaging tools. It is especially appropriate for designers who benefit from region-based iteration, JSON BSP interchange, and broad model-format support.

Look elsewhere if your project is built around a different engine or needs a general editor rather than an id Tech-centered one. The software's depth is concentrated in the workflows it supports, so a mismatch between game and configuration can outweigh its extensive toolset.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Focused id Tech workflow. Quake-oriented configurations, map editing, Q3Map2 compilation, and mod packaging are combined in one free application.
• Pro: Strong geometry and texture controls. Vertex editing, extrusion, patch thickening, UV alignment, painting, and texture locking address detailed map production.
• Pro: Efficient iteration and interchange. Region compilations limit builds to a selected area, while JSON BSP support and an Assimp loader covering more than 40 formats expand workflow options.
• Con: Engine specialization. Its primary focus is the Quake family, so creators outside supported id Tech configurations may find the tool a poor match.
• Con: Desktop-only delivery. There is no web platform option for users who need browser-based editing.

Alternatives

DarkRadiant is the closer alternative when you want another free, open-source level editor for Windows, macOS, or Linux; it requires you to supply the game's resources separately. Pick OpenMW-CS instead for constructing content for the OpenMW game engine.

Chunker is a free, open-source option for Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web. Minecraft Launcher is the relevant choice for Minecraft access rather than id Tech map authoring; its download is free, while games require ownership or a time-limited demo.

QuickBMS is a free, open-source multiplatform utility, while Reloaded-II is a free Windows, macOS, and Linux option with no paid plans or usage limits stated. UAssetGUI is free MIT-licensed software for Windows and Linux, and WolvenKit is free GPL-3.0 software for Windows and Linux aimed at research and educational use.

For a broader starting point, browse the Game Modding Tools category.

Verdict

NetRadiant-Custom is a strong recommendation for Quake-series mappers and id Tech modders who want a no-cost, cross-platform editor with serious geometry, texture, compilation, and packaging support. Choose it for that concentrated workflow; look elsewhere when your game is outside its configurations or you need a general-purpose or browser-based editor.