OpenTESArena 0.18.0 the open-source re-implementation of The Elder Scrolls: Arena is out now, bringing many gameplay enhancements. It's getting closer to being more of a playable game now for modern platforms.
The goal with the project as a whole is to get all parts of the original game working, while also making plenty of quality-of-life changes to make it feel just a little bit smoother. It does not include the game assets, which you need to get elsewhere.
With this release they added in enemy combat AI, leveling up, and NPC conversations making the re-implementation a lot closer to the original. They also added a Thieving mode so you can pickpocket, where failure may trigger a guard encounter. On top of that shopkeepers now provide a number of services and there's some detection for Steam and GOG (Windows) installs of the original.
YouTube videos require cookies, you must accept their cookies to view. View cookie preferences.
Direct Link
Direct Link
Full changelog, click me
New features and changes:
- Added enemy combat AI
- Added experience gain and leveling up
- Added inventory item equipping and dropping
- Added thieving mode ("P" hotkey)
- Added random enemy encounters based on player level (@Allofich)
- Added guard encounters upon killing a citizen or failing thieving (@Allofich)
- Added several shopkeeper services (buy/sell items, rent room, heal, cure disease)
- Added citizen conversations
- Implemented NPC's ability to write directions on player's automap
- Added camping for a manual duration or until healed
- Implemented original loot generation and gold amounts (@Allofich)
- Implemented original combat hit chance calculation based on level (@Allofich)
- Added chance for disease and paralysis when fighting certain creatures (@Allofich)
- Added chance of dying during fast travel if diseased
- Added drunkenness effect after buying too many drinks at a tavern
- Implemented firing arrows from bow weapons
- Added "Test Spell" button ("C" hotkey) costing 10 spell points each
- Implemented sorcerors being incapable of restoring spell points by resting
- Added player hurt screen effect upon taking damage
- Implemented status gradient color changes when diseased, drunk, or low health
- Implemented player move speed based on speed attribute and encumbrance (@Allofich)
- Implemented player climbing and swimming speed based on race and class (@Allofich)
- Improved door bashing calculation and added self-damage when using fists (@Allofich)
- Improved citizen navigation when obstacles are in the way
- Improved detection of Steam version on all platforms and GOG version on Windows (@fetohiaras)
- Improved UI modding potential (see data/ui/ folder)
- Improved newline distribution in text (@Allofich)
- Improved error dialog on engine crash
- Changed default renderer to Vulkan
- Improved handling of original tab-color text ('\t' followed by palette color)
- Improved lifetime management of sounds
- Initial support for .wav files, capability to be expanded in the future
- Updated Jolt Physics to 5.5.0
- Updated WildMIDI to 0.5.0
- Upgraded Raspberry Pi release from Pi 4 to 5
- Renamed data/text/ folder to data/exe/
- Removed Windows dependency on dirent.h
Fixes:
- Fixed key not being consumed after use on locked door (@Allofich)
- Fixed wilderness den entrances (@fetohiaras)
- Fixed assertion with duplicate locks in PALACE5.MIF
- Fixed player status bar spacing by combining into one texture
- Fixed wilderness tavern names not showing in conversations
- Fixed texture on bottom of walls in dungeons, visible when standing in chasms
Known issues:
- Armor and enhancement properties on equipped items are not applied yet
- Human enemies don't display equipped weapons
- Shopkeeper inventories don't match original game
- Rented tavern room applies to all taverns globally
- Holiday conversation variables (%nh, %nhd, %hod) are not implemented
- Outside textures and sky don't update to match weather after entering and exiting an interior
- Building names for wilderness temples and in Imperial City don't match original game
Wonderful to see another classic coming along like this.
🌐 External Sources: GitHub - OpenTESArena - opentesarena-0.18.0
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
About the author - Liam Squires-Hand
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
See more from me
See more from me
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
You can also find comments for this article on social media: All posts need to follow our rules. Please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Readers can also email us for any issues or concerns.
1 comment
hardpenguin 17 Aug 2026
From their wiki:
Progress
Last updated Aug 12 2026
File formats: 95%
World generation: 100%
Collision detection: 85%
Combat: 75%
Items: 70%
Spells: 10%
NPC interaction: 75%
Quests: 0%
Cinematics: 10%
Weather effects: 100%
Save/load: 0%
1 Likes 👍 (1) See more...
Patreon
PayPal