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The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind cover art
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind artwork © Bethesda Softworks, via IGDB. Unofficial site, not affiliated with the publisher.
PC port · Windows → PC

OpenMW (Morrowind engine for modern PCs)

A free, open-source rewrite of the Morrowind engine for Windows, Mac and Linux, with better graphics, Lua modding and fixed bugs. All main quests are completable. Needs your own Morrowind.

WorkingEngine rewriteNeeds your own copyopenmw-52-rc1Updated

You need your own copy of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. 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

Your own installed copy of Morrowind (Steam, GOG, Bethesda or disc; Tribunal and Bloodmoon optional), plus a 64-bit Windows 10+, macOS 14.8+ or Linux computer.

Official releases ↗GitHub repository ↗

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

Every version of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind 1

  1. OpenMW (Morrowind engine for modern PCs)This page

    WorkingEngine remake

    Open-source Morrowind engine: better performance, Lua modding, runs on Linux/macOS/Android.

    Runs on Windows 10 or later (64-bit), macOS 14.8 or later (Apple silicon and Intel), Linux (64-bit)Needs files from a copy you own★ 6.7kopenmw-52-rc1 · Nov 1, 2026

    Website ↗

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

OpenMW is a free, open-source replacement for the engine of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, for Windows, macOS and Linux. All main quests, including Tribunal and Bloodmoon, are completable. It needs the data files from your own copy of Morrowind. Latest stable release: 0.51.0, 19 June 2026; 0.52.0 RC1 came out on 1 November 2026.

This site is not affiliated with OpenMW or Bethesda Softworks. We do not host any files and only link the project’s official pages.

What it is

Morrowind came out in 2002 for Windows and Xbox. Its original engine still runs on Windows, but it is 32-bit, crash-prone without community patches, and does not exist for Mac or Linux.

OpenMW is “an open-source open-world RPG game engine that supports playing Morrowind by Bethesda Softworks” (OpenMW README). The team has rewritten the engine from scratch since 2009. It reads Morrowind’s original data files (Morrowind.esm, the expansions and their art and sound) and runs them with modern code. It also ships OpenMW-CS, a replacement for Bethesda’s Construction Set editor.

Development happens on GitLab; GitHub hosts a mirror and the release files.

Current status

  • Status: Working. The README says “the main quests in Morrowind, Tribunal and Bloodmoon are all completable”, with side-quest issues “expected (but rare)”.
  • Latest stable: 0.51.0, 19 June 2026. It lets modders create magic effects through the scripting API, adds terrain vertex painting to OpenMW-CS and fixes many Lua-related crashes (announcement).
  • Next version: 0.52.0 RC1, 1 November 2026, a test build for Windows, macOS and Linux.
  • Platforms: Windows 10 or later, macOS 14.8 or later, Linux. No 32-bit builds.
  • Mobile: no official Android or iPhone version.

What you need

  • Your own copy of Morrowind, installed. The Steam, GOG and Bethesda releases (Game of the Year Edition, with Tribunal and Bloodmoon) and original discs all work. On Linux and Mac, installing the Windows game under Wine counts as a proper install, per the README.
  • A 64-bit computer on one of the supported systems. Any graphics card from the last decade or so handles the default settings.

We do not link any copies of the game data.

How setup works (overview)

  1. Install Morrowind from your store or disc.
  2. Download OpenMW for your system from the releases page or openmw.org. Linux users can also use their distribution’s package or Flatpak.
  3. Run the OpenMW Launcher. The first time, its installation wizard finds your Morrowind folder (or lets you point to it) and imports the settings from Morrowind.ini.
  4. Pick your data files and mods in the launcher, set graphics options, and press Play.

The installation manual covers each system in detail.

What it changes

OpenMW aims to play like Morrowind, bugs aside. On top of that it offers:

  • Graphics: distant terrain and objects, real-time shadows, per-pixel lighting, post-processing shaders and high resolutions, all optional.
  • Lua scripting for mods, alongside support for the original MWScript.
  • Interface: a scalable UI and controller support with menu navigation.
  • Stability and fixes for many original engine bugs, while keeping the game’s rules.
  • OpenMW-CS, a cross-platform content editor.

Mods

The README is honest about this: mods made for the original engine “can be hit-and-miss”. OpenMW checks scripts more strictly, and some mods depend on original engine quirks. Mods that need MWSE (the Morrowind Script Extender for the original executable) do not work. Check the mod status wiki page before installing a big mod list, and look for OpenMW-specific versions of popular mods.

Common problems

From the 0.51.0 release notes’ known issues:

  • Windows reports a freeze during startup: usually harmless; it goes away once loading finishes.
  • Driver timeouts with antialiasing on AMD RX 6000 and 7000 cards: an AMD driver bug. Turn off hardware antialiasing.
  • Visual freeze on Intel GPUs while the game still takes input: a driver bug; an older driver can help.
  • Red tint on macOS: partly fixed by turning on per-pixel lighting.
  • The launcher cannot find Morrowind: point it at the folder that contains Data Files and Morrowind.ini.

FAQ

Is OpenMW free?

The engine is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 licence. It does not include Morrowind, so you need your own copy of the game, which is sold on Steam, GOG and Bethesda's own store.

Can you finish Morrowind in OpenMW?

Yes. The README says the main quests of Morrowind, Tribunal and Bloodmoon are all completable, and that problems with side quests are rare. The project still tracks a list of issues to fix before calling it version 1.0.

Do Morrowind mods work in OpenMW?

Many do, but not all. OpenMW checks scripts more strictly than the original engine, and some mods rely on original engine bugs. MWSE mods for the original executable do not work. The OpenMW wiki keeps a mod status list, and OpenMW has its own Lua modding API.

Does OpenMW work on Mac and Steam Deck?

Official builds cover Windows 10 or later, macOS 14.8 or later on Apple silicon and Intel, and 64-bit Linux, which includes SteamOS on the Steam Deck. 32-bit systems are not supported.

What is the latest OpenMW version?

On 3 November 2026 the latest stable release was 0.51.0 from 19 June 2026. A release candidate for 0.52.0 came out on 1 November 2026.

Is there multiplayer Morrowind?

Not in OpenMW itself. A separate project, TES3MP, is a multiplayer fork of OpenMW. It follows its own release schedule.

Unofficial. This page is written by an independent directory. It is not made by, endorsed by or affiliated with Bethesda Softworks or OpenMW team (OpenMW (Morrowind engine for modern PCs)'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.

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