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Descent cover art
Descent. Descent artwork, via IGDB. Unofficial site, not affiliated with the publisher.
PC port · MS-DOS → PC

DXX-Rebirth (Descent and Descent II source port)

The leading source port of Descent and Descent II, built on the original released source, for Windows, Mac and Linux, with OpenGL rendering, modern controls, expansions and UDP multiplayer.

WorkingSource portNeeds your own copyUpdated

You need your own copy of Descent. This port only runs with files from a copy you own; there is no download or play button here. No copy? These play in your browser right away, no files needed: BO1 Zombies (vel.gg), GTA 3 Online (quenq III Web), The Simpsons: Hit & Run WASM.

What you need

The data files of your own Descent and/or Descent II (GOG and Steam sell them), plus a Windows, Mac or Linux computer with OpenGL.

GitHub repository ↗

We do not host any files. Only download from the project's official source.

Every version of Descent 4

  1. DXX-Rebirth (Descent and Descent II source port)This page

    WorkingSource port

    Descent-Rebirth and Descent II-Rebirth

    Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and other Unix-like systemsNeeds files from a copy you own★ 641Last change Oct 11, 2026

    GitHub ↗

  2. D1X 3DS

    ActiveSource port

    Nintendo 3DS (New 3DS) port of Descent I with hardware picaGL rendering and stereoscopic 3D.

    ★ 12v2.1.2 · Oct 24, 2026

    GitHub ↗

We link to each project's own page and host no game files. Version data from project pages, our daily checks and awesome-decomp-games (CC0).

Short answer

DXX-Rebirth is the leading source port of Descent (1995) and Descent II, built on the source code Parallax released, for Windows, macOS and Linux. It adds OpenGL rendering with optional effects, wide joystick support and UDP multiplayer, while keeping the games as they were. It needs data from your own copies.

This site is not affiliated with DXX-Rebirth, Parallax Software or Interplay. We do not host any files and only link the project’s official pages.

What it is

Descent (1995) and Descent II (1996) are six-degrees-of-freedom shooters from Parallax Software. Their source code was released in the late 1990s, and the community has maintained ports ever since.

DXX-Rebirth “is based on the late D1X and D2X source ports (which, in turn, were based on the original Descent source and LDescent)”. Its goal is “to keep Descent 1 & 2 alive and well, updating them for modern PCs while also keeping them the same games you remember playing back in 1995” (DXX-Rebirth README).

Current status

  • Status: Working, maintained; the repository was last updated on 11 October 2026.
  • Releases: the last tagged GitHub release is 0.60.0-beta2 (April 2018), but development continues in the main branch.
  • Platforms: officially Linux and other Unix-likes, macOS and Windows; the code compiles on many other systems. A separate fork brings D1X to the Nintendo 3DS.

Features

From the README:

  • full compatibility with Descent and Descent 2, all expansions and third-party levels;
  • OpenGL rendering, smooth even on low-end systems, with optional transparency, coloured lighting, texture filtering and FSAA;
  • broad joystick support through SDL;
  • multiplayer over UDP/IP, on LAN or the internet.

What you need

  • The data files of your own Descent and/or Descent II (GOG and Steam sell both).
  • A Windows, Mac or Linux computer.

The installation guide explains which files go where. We do not link any copies of the game data.

FAQ

How do I play Descent on Windows 10 or 11?

Use DXX-Rebirth with the data from your own Descent or Descent II (GOG and Steam sell both). It is a source port based on the original released code that runs natively on modern Windows, macOS and Linux with OpenGL.

Does DXX-Rebirth support the expansions and custom levels?

Yes. The README promises full compatibility with Descent and Descent 2, including all expansions and third-party levels.

Can I play Descent online with DXX-Rebirth?

Yes. DXX-Rebirth supports multiplayer over UDP/IP, which works on a LAN and over the internet.

Where do I download DXX-Rebirth?

The source and installation guide are on GitHub; the last tagged GitHub release is an old 2018 beta, while current builds are linked from the project and built from the active code.

Unofficial. This page is written by an independent directory. It is not made by, endorsed by or affiliated with Interplay (developed by Parallax Software) or The DXX-Rebirth team (DXX-Rebirth (Descent and Descent II source port)'s author). We do not host any files, and we never link to game files, ROMs or ISOs.

Sources

This page was last updated on Nov 3, 2026. A date after a source is the day we read it. Versions and steps follow the official project; if they differ, the official source wins.

More ports

See every native PC version of a console game in our recompiled games list, browse all PC ports of console games, or go back to the full list of ported games.