The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
OpenMW · originally by Bethesda Softworks
An open-source engine that plays Morrowind and both expansions from your own copy, with modern rendering, no engine bugs and its own construction set.
- Source
- OpenMW/openmw
- Site
- www.openmw.org
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Stars
- 6.7k
About
OpenMW is an open-source, open-world RPG engine that supports playing Morrowind by Bethesda Softworks. The main quests of Morrowind, Tribunal and Bloodmoon are all completable; some issues with side quests are to be expected but rare. Even before its 1.0 release it adds features the original engine never had, such as improved graphics and user interfaces.
It also comes with OpenMW-CS, a replacement for Bethesda's Construction Set. Mods written for the original engine are hit-and-miss: OpenMW's script compiler checks more strictly than Morrowind does, and some mods rely on quirks or engine bugs, so compatibility is handled case by case.
No game content is included. You need to own Morrowind; OpenMW's launcher finds the installed data files on its own when both are installed properly, including a Morrowind installed under Wine. The GitHub repository is a mirror of the main project on GitLab, but releases are published on GitHub.
Officially supported platforms are Windows 10 or later, macOS 14.8 or later, and Linux. 32-bit systems are not supported.
- Morrowind, Tribunal and Bloodmoon main quests completable
- Modern renderer with long draw distances and shaders
- OpenMW-CS, a replacement for the Construction Set
- Windows, macOS (Intel and Apple silicon) and Linux
What you need
The port contains none of the game. These come from your own copy and stay on your machine.
Your Morrowind installation
Morrowind, installed from GOG, Steam or disc. OpenMW uses its data files (Morrowind.esm and the Data Files folder, plus Tribunal.esm and Bloodmoon.esm for the expansions). The launcher should pick up the location on its own when Morrowind is installed properly.
Setup
- 1
Install Morrowind from GOG, Steam or your disc.
- 2
On Windows run the downloaded installer. On macOS open the disk image and drag OpenMW to Applications. On Linux extract the archive into a folder of your choosing.
- 3
Start the OpenMW launcher. It should detect your Morrowind data files; if it does not, point it at Morrowind's Data Files folder.
- 4
Press Play. Saves from the original engine are not compatible; start a new game.
Questions people ask
- Is the OpenMW download safe?
- Yes, as far as provenance and integrity can be proven. The download on this page is OpenMW's own GitHub release (openmw-0.51.0), pinned to a SHA-256 in Recompiled's public lockfile, so you can confirm the file you received is byte for byte what the project published. OpenMW is open source, so anyone can read what the program does. Hash the file on the Verify page before you run it.
- Is OpenMW legal?
- Yes. OpenMW is an open-source reimplementation of the game's engine, and the download contains none of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind: it reads the game from a copy you already own. What is not legal is obtaining a ROM or disc image you do not own, and Recompiled never hosts or links to one.
- Do I need the original game to play The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind with OpenMW?
- Yes. OpenMW contains none of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, so you need a copy you already own: Your Morrowind installation. The What you need section says exactly what to supply. Nothing you supply leaves your machine.