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OpenMW-CS

openmw.org

Free plan Open source WindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hosted
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Spec score 8.5 #3 of 25 in Game Modding Tools

What it is

OpenMW-CS is a free editor for making or changing mods and creating original games. Its editing tools cover files, world and mechanics data, characters, and assets, with record filters and a cell view. The editor supports plugin and script editing, mod packaging, and ESM, ESP, .omwgame, and .omwaddon formats. The project says OpenMW can run original games made with OpenMW-CS; those games do not require Morrowind. Playing Morrowind does require a legally owned copy, because OpenMW does not include its content or assets. Official releases are listed for Windows, macOS, and Linux, alongside distribution channels including Windows Chocolatey, Linux distribution repositories, and Flathub. The manual is intended as both an introduction and a reference, including for people familiar with Morrowind modding, but cautions that OpenMW-CS remains in development and the manual does not cover its shortcomings. Mods requiring MWSE, MGE XE, or MCP are incompatible because those tools modify the original Morrowind executable. The source code is released under the GNU General Public License version 3.

Spec sheet

What it does
OpenMW-CS is OpenMW’s editor for creating or modifying mods and complete games.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Purpose
OpenMW-CS is an editor that allows users to edit or create mods or original games.Read 29 Sep 2026 · openmw.org
Intended users
The user manual is intended as both an introduction and a reference for the application, including for people familiar with Morrowind modding.Read 29 Sep 2026 · openmw.readthedocs.io
Platforms
The project lists Windows, macOS, and Linux as its primary target platforms.Read 29 Sep 2026 · openmw.org
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · openmw.org
Support
The FAQ directs users with problems using compatible mods to Discord, IRC, or the forums for help.Read 29 Sep 2026 · openmw.org
License
The source code is released under GNU GPL version 3; shipped fonts, shaders and other assets can have separate licenses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Founded
2008Read 28 Sep 2026 · openmw.org
64-bit requirement
Official Windows releases are 64-bit only; 32-bit Windows support ended with version 0.46.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Alternative-platform support
Android, FreeBSD and Raspberry Pi are described as having varying support levels rather than first-class status.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Beginner tutorial
The manual walks through creating a magic ring without requiring previous Morrowind-modding experience.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.readthedocs.io
Compatibility limit
Mods that require MWSE, MGE XE, or MCP are incompatible with OpenMW because those tools modify the original Morrowind executable.Read 29 Sep 2026 · openmw.org
Configuration paths
Documented default configuration locations differ by OS, including ~/.config/openmw on Linux, Library/Application Support on macOS and Documents/My Games/OpenMW on Windows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.readthedocs.io
Current release channel
The downloads page identifies OpenMW 0.51.0 as the latest official release and provides Windows, macOS and Linux downloads.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Development status
The user manual warns that OpenMW-CS is still in development and that the manual does not cover its shortcomings.Read 29 Sep 2026 · openmw.readthedocs.io
Distant terrain
Distant-terrain rendering is listed as an engine improvement.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Distribution
The downloads page lists official releases for Windows, macOS, and Linux and names OpenMW 0.51.0 as the latest release.Read 29 Sep 2026 · openmw.org
Distribution channels
The downloads page also lists Windows Chocolatey, Linux distribution repositories, and a Flatpak package from Flathub.Read 29 Sep 2026 · openmw.org
Documentation scope
The OpenMW-CS manual is presented as both an introduction and a reference, with tutorials, file handling, startup dialogs and record tables.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.readthedocs.io
Editing tools
The manual covers file, world, mechanics, character, and asset tables, plus record filters and a cell view.Read 29 Sep 2026 · openmw.readthedocs.io
Editor changes in 0.50
The 0.50 release improved OpenMW-CS selection markers and added bulk indentation support to its script editor.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Editor workspace
The manual documents multiple views and panels that users can arrange across windows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · downloads.openmw.org
Fedora packaging
Fedora distributes OpenMW-CS as a separate construction-set subpackage.Read 15 Oct 2026 · packages.fedoraproject.org
Graphics baseline
The FAQ says OpenMW can run on devices supporting at least OpenGL 2.0 with ARMv7 or newer for relevant alternative-platform builds.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Implementation
The project says OpenMW and OpenMW-CS were written from scratch.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Independent description
ModDB describes OpenCS as a from-scratch editor intended to support all OpenMW features and editor plugins.Read 15 Oct 2026 · moddb.com
Independent distribution
Flathub lists OpenMW as free, with a 54 MiB download and 3,383 downloads per month; the page does not show a user-star rating.Read 15 Oct 2026 · flathub.org
Independent history
Wikipedia records the first public OpenMW release as version 0.1.0 in June 2008 and identifies GPLv3-or-later licensing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · en.wikipedia.org
Independent limit: unfinished tooling
A ModDB commenter complained that terrain editing and object clipping were still missing at the time of their 2019 post.Read 15 Oct 2026 · moddb.com
Independent performance praise
GamingOnLinux reported a very playable experience, no major gameplay breakage in testing and generally good performance, while noting occasional frame-rate drops on older integrated graphics.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gamingonlinux.com
Independent platform listing
GamingOnLinux lists OpenMW as GPL software with native Linux support and notes that Morrowind data files are required.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gamingonlinux.com
Independent praise: Linux stability
A ModDB commenter praised the Construction Set’s stability and its ability to enable Linux use.Read 15 Oct 2026 · moddb.com
Independent praise: Steam Deck
PC Gamer praised OpenMW 0.50’s controller and Steam Deck experience, describing navigation and inventories as natural to use.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcgamer.com
Install channels
Official installation documentation covers direct downloads, building from source, Ubuntu, Arch, Void, Debian, Fedora, Flatpak and NixOS.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.readthedocs.io
Known gaps
The FAQ identifies remaining AI inconsistencies, missing NIF model features and visual shortcomings before version 1.0.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Language and stack
OpenMW is written in C++ and uses multiple open-source libraries and tools.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Large load lists
OpenMW supports up to 2,147,483,646 loaded mods, compared with 255 in the original engine.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Lua API
OpenMW includes a native Lua scripting API for mod functionality.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Native platforms
The project lists native Windows, macOS and Linux support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Original games
The FAQ says OpenMW-CS can be used to create entirely new games, and OpenMW can run them.Read 29 Sep 2026 · openmw.org
Original-game compatibility
Content-only Morrowind mods are generally expected to work, while mods requiring MWSE, MGE XE or MCP are incompatible.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Original-game data
Playing Morrowind requires the user to legally own and supply the game’s data files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Physics and AI
The engine provides revised physics and artificial intelligence compared with the original engine.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Project origin
The OpenMW project was started in 2008 by Nicolay Korslund.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Required game files
Playing Morrowind requires a legally owned copy because OpenMW does not include game content or assets; playing original games created with OpenMW-CS does not require Morrowind.Read 29 Sep 2026 · openmw.org
Shader API
The engine exposes a post-processing shader API.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Standalone engine
OpenMW is a separately implemented engine and does not use the original Morrowind executable.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org
Version status
The project describes OpenMW-CS as still under development and says parity with the original Construction Set has not yet been reached.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.readthedocs.io

Plans and prices

OpenMW-CS Free free and open-source editor · requires user-supplied Morrowind data when making Morrowind content Read 15 Oct 2026 · openmw.org

Every OpenMW-CS plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Can create original games runnable by OpenMW.
  • Supports ESM, ESP, .omwgame, and .omwaddon formats.
  • Includes world, mechanics, character, and asset editing tools.

Limits

  • The editor is still in development.
  • MWSE-, MGE XE-, and MCP-dependent mods are incompatible.
  • Playing Morrowind requires a legally owned copy.

Who it suits

OpenMW-CS suits people who want to edit Morrowind mods or build original games with the OpenMW engine. Its manual also caters to readers familiar with Morrowind modding.

Verdict

OpenMW-CS offers a broad editing toolkit at no cost and can be used for original games as well as mods. Its development status and incompatibility with mods requiring MWSE, MGE XE, or MCP are important constraints.

Where Specifiction places it

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