TrenchBroom vs UAssetGUI
TrenchBroom
trenchbroom.github.ioUAssetGUI
github.comSide by side
| Figure | TrenchBroom | UAssetGUI |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Modding Tools | 7.3 (#19) | 7.8 (#12) |
| Intended users | The manual is intended to teach use of the editor, not mapping itself; it directs mapping and game-specific technical questions to other mappers and communities. | The repository describes the tool as for low-level, hands-on examination and modification of Unreal Engine game assets. |
| Purpose | TrenchBroom is a level editor for brush-based game engines such as Quake, Quake 2, and Hexen 2. | UAssetGUI is a tool for low-level examination and modification of Unreal Engine game assets by hand. |
| Support | The project points users to its Discord and says feature requests can be submitted through the TrenchBroom issue tracker. | The project invites bug reports through its issues page and says reports for assets that fail binary equality need sample assets, game name, Unreal Engine version, and mappings file if needed. |
Plans
In their own words
TrenchBroom
TrenchBroom is a free level editor for brush-based engines such as Quake, Quake 2, and Hexen 2. It provides a 3D workspace alongside up to three 2D views. Brush editing includes vertex changes, clipping, scaling, shearing, and constructive solid geometry operations for merging, subtracting, or hollowing shapes. A UV view handles textures and supports multiple material collections. The entity browser accepts drag-and-drop placement and definitions from FGD, ENT, and DEF files, while model display includes mdl, md2, md3, bsp, and dkm formats. An issue browser filters map problems, helps resolve them, and offers automatic quick fixes. TrenchBroom can call external compilers and launch game engines, but those compilation tools are separate. It supports several Quake, Valve, Hexen 2, and package formats. The 2026.2 requirements list Windows 10 1903+, Linux with glibc 2.33+, or macOS 13+, with OpenGL 2.1 and GLSL 1.2 hardware.
UAssetGUI
UAssetGUI is a desktop tool for examining and modifying Unreal Engine game assets by hand. It supports .uasset, .umap, .usmap, .utoc and .ucas files, as well as JSON. Windows is supported directly; Linux setup runs the Windows executable through Wine. Command-line arguments can export and import UAssetAPI JSON without opening the graphical interface, and custom C# scripts can extend the program. Portable mode, available in v1.1.0 or later, keeps configuration and saved mappings in a Data folder beside the executable. The v1.1.0 release added opening and saving .utoc and .ucas containers through built-in retoc integration. Pre-built binaries and an experimental build are available from the repository’s Releases page. Release notes report support for Unreal Engine 5.6 and 5.7, while earlier notes identify limits for some Unreal Engine asset support. UAssetGUI is free under the MIT License, which provides the software without warranty. The maintainer announced retirement from UAssetGUI development, though future contributors or releases might follow.