realmrun
realmrun is an unofficial clean-room native Linux engine (C11, SDL2) that requires your own copy of Warlords III: Darklords Rising (1998). It runs natively on Linux x86_64 and ARM64 with no Wine or Proton at runtime.
- Hardware
- Tested on Linux x86_64 and ARM64 hardware
- Input
- Touch, game controller, mouse, and keyboard
- Couch play
- Up to 6 human seats at once; remaining sides are AI; a scenario has up to 8 sides
- License
GPL-3.0-or-latersource ·CC BY 4.0docs (realmrun only)
A free GOG One-click Mod listing has been proposed; GOG and the rights holder still have to agree.
Installer & game files
The installer uses the player's own legally purchased GOG copy of Warlords III: Darklords Rising (GOG version 1.02). The package ships no original game data. Mods are not bundled; the installer sets them up from the player's own downloaded archives, only as far as each mod's terms allow.
Frontier is not a GOG edition. It is an unofficial fan expansion (Frontier 1.4.3; ModDB page titled “Frontier v1.4.2 Public Release”, by PlanewalkerTanthos and team). The installer never ships Frontier's patched Darklord.exe, DLLs, or soundtrack; it uses only Frontier's own data, and only from the player's own copy.
Default setup
The default setup reflects the author's handheld set, active by default once installed from the player's archives:
- GOG base 1.02 — the 5 base campaigns plus Thalassia (already in the GOG base, by Stephen Hand).
- Frontier 1.4.3 data — always active, using Frontier rules (
Frontier.rul), adding 3 campaigns: Unity of Clans, Loelle, and Men. - The Huge Wars — 10 missions (Stephen Hand, 1999).
- The Elves Return — 10 missions (Stephen Hand, 1999).
- Warlords III Code Patch by trixy fixes — reimplemented natively from scratch and on by default (written permission on file, 2026-10-30). The original patch files are not included or needed. One advanced setting can turn the fixes off (
codepatch_fixes=off).
Controls & local play
Input methods
Touch, game controller, mouse, and keyboard are supported directly in the native SDL2 build.
Couch hotseat
Verified couch play supports up to 6 human seats at once; remaining sides are AI; a scenario has up to 8 sides.
Native Linux
Clean-room C11 and SDL2 engine with no Wine or Proton at runtime. Tested on Linux x86_64 and ARM64 hardware.
Screenshots
