# OpenTESArena: a new engine for The Elder Scrolls: Arena

> OpenTESArena rebuilds the 1994 DOS game The Elder Scrolls: Arena in a new C++ engine using separately obtained game assets. It implements combat, items, shops, citizens, travel, and most character creation, while documenting original-game behavior and parsing Arena asset formats. Quests, spells, and saving remain unfinished.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/afritz1/OpenTESArena>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/afritz1/OpenTESArena/blob/cdb6f80dfa1bc93ee6229d295fde90de897964f8/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/opentesarena-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/opentesarena-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/opentesarena-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** The Elder Scrolls: Arena game data must be obtained separately; the repository does not distribute game assets.
- **Prerequisites:** Building from source requires Git, CMake, SDL 2.0.12, OpenAL Soft 1.19.1, and Vulkan 1.3.280; WildMIDI 0.5.0 is required for music.
- **Limits:** Plate item materials, potions, quests, spells, and loading or saving are not yet implemented.
- **License:** MIT license.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/afritz1/OpenTESArena/blob/cdb6f80dfa1bc93ee6229d295fde90de897964f8/README.md>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.