Diablo Web runs the original Diablo (1996) in a browser tab. You can start the free shareware demo right away, with no purchase and no files of your own. For the full game you load DIABDAT.MPQ from your own copy of Diablo, which the site does not include. It works best on a desktop with mouse and keyboard; touch controls exist for phones. The site was working when we checked on 17 October 2026.
What it is
Diablo Web is a browser client by Nikita Maksimov (GitHub: JohnImril), live on GitHub Pages since 26 August 2024 and still updated in October 2026. It is a React and TypeScript app around an existing WebAssembly build of the game. The engine comes from devilution, the community reconstruction of the original Diablo source code, and the first WebAssembly port and browser client came from d07RiV’s DiabloWeb. Maksimov’s own work is the modernised client: the runtime, workers, browser storage, save handling and deployment.
Demo or full game
| Mode | What it uses | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Play Free Demo | Shareware data the site downloads on first use (25 to 50 MB) | Limited content, no purchase needed |
| Load Your MPQ | DIABDAT.MPQ from your own legal copy |
The full game |
You can also drop your MPQ onto the start screen. The start screen has an option to compress an MPQ so it takes less browser storage. If you do not own Diablo, the site and the README point to the official GOG store page; we do not link any other source for game files.
How to play
- Open the site and choose Play Free Demo, or Load Your MPQ if you own the game.
- Wait for the data to load. It is stored in your browser, so later visits start faster.
- Create a character and play. Keep the game open in only one tab.
- Export your saves now and then through Manage Saves.
Controls
The site recommends a mouse and keyboard. The game keeps Diablo’s classic controls:
| Action | Input |
|---|---|
| Walk, attack, pick up | Left click |
| Cast the selected spell | Right click |
| Attack without moving | Shift + left click |
| Inventory / character / quests | I / C / Q |
| Spell list / spellbook | S / B |
| Automap | Tab |
| Belt items | 1 to 8 |
| Menu | Esc |
Touch controls are available; turn the phone to landscape for more room.
Requirements
- A browser with WebAssembly, Web Workers, IndexedDB and Web Locks. The app will not open save storage without Web Locks.
- Free browser storage for the game data and saves.
- For the full game:
DIABDAT.MPQfrom a copy you own.
Is it safe and legal?
- It is an unofficial fan project, not made or endorsed by Blizzard Entertainment.
- The retail game data is not included; the README asks you to use only MPQ files you are legally allowed to use. The demo uses Blizzard’s shareware release.
- The repository has no licence file yet, and the author says licensing still needs to be clarified.
Not working?
- “Game already open”: another tab or the installed app is using your saves. Close it and press Try Again. Do not clear browser data to fix this.
- Loading error: use Reload and Try Again, which keeps your saves and files.
- Saves are gone: they live in one browser profile only. Re-import exported
.svfiles by dropping them on the start screen. - Storage errors in a private window: private browsing can block or limit IndexedDB; use a normal window.
FAQ
Can you play Diablo in a browser?
Yes. Diablo Web runs the original 1996 Diablo in a browser tab with WebAssembly. Its free shareware demo starts without any files of your own.
Is Diablo in the browser free?
The shareware demo is free and needs no purchase. It has limited content. For the full game you load DIABDAT.MPQ from your own copy of Diablo, which is sold on GOG.
What is the difference between the Diablo demo and the full game in the browser?
The demo uses the shareware data that the site downloads for you (25 to 50 MB) and covers only part of the game. The full game uses the retail DIABDAT.MPQ from a copy you own, which the site never provides.
Can I play Diablo in the browser on my phone?
The site has touch controls and suggests landscape mode on phones. The author says mobile controls still need work, so a mouse and keyboard play best.
Where are my Diablo Web saves stored?
In your browser's IndexedDB, on that browser profile only. There is no cloud save, so export your .sv files through Manage Saves before clearing browser data or switching devices.
Does Diablo Web have multiplayer?
Online multiplayer is labelled experimental. It relies on a separate backend project and is not finished support for normal play.
Unofficial. This page is written by an independent directory. It is not made by, endorsed by or affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment or Nikita Maksimov (JohnImril) (Diablo Web's author). We do not host any files, and we never link to game files, ROMs or ISOs.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources on Oct 17, 2026. Versions and steps follow the official project; if they differ, the official source wins.