# Duke Nukem 3D

Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/duke-nukem-3d/

18 people recommended Duke Nukem 3D in Hacker News comments, 5 had mixed feelings and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 5 of 12 months, in 5 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule.

14 of the 18 people who recommend it commented in one thread, “EDuke32 – Duke Nukem 3D (Open-Source)”.

**Verdict:** People recommend it for memorable multiplayer deathmatch, modding support and level editor, and groundbreaking design for its time. One critic found it a level below id Software's games.

Summary written by Claude from 25 comments. It was written before the November 2026 recount, and 24 of those comments still count.

## Why people recommend it

- Strong, lasting personal memories (5 comments in the sample): "I've had a lot of fun playing it at different points in my life" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47106088)) "Great memories when I was finally beat the first ep boss." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47109098)) "This game truly holds a special place in my heart." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47104924))
- Fun multiplayer, especially deathmatch (4 comments in the sample): "Duke3D deathmatch over IPX was epic, especially to hide in secret places when others didn't know them." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47105688)) "it was my first multiplayer online game and I was hooked" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47106699)) "Duke Nukem 3D is still unbeaten for fun in multiplayer" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46261915))
- Modding and level editor (3 comments in the sample): "Duke Nukem 3D was probably one of the earlier FPS games that really encouraged modding" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47104763)) "I was hooked on the level  editor (and pixelated nudity." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47106344)) "I still play its mods from time to time." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47106533))
- Groundbreaking level design and sound (2 comments in the sample): "Level design, graphics, sounds and the atmosphere was groundbreaking those days." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47104546)) "ran fast/sounded just fine even on a slow Pentium with a basic sound blaster" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50135446))

## Other first-person shooters people recommend

- [Quake](https://hackerapproved.com/p/quake/): 91 recommend, 23 mixed, 24 criticize
- [Doom by id Software](https://hackerapproved.com/p/doom/): 71 recommend, 24 mixed, 21 criticize
- [Unreal Tournament 2004](https://hackerapproved.com/p/unreal-tournament-2004/): 38 recommend, 12 mixed, 9 criticize
- [Quake III Arena](https://hackerapproved.com/p/quake-iii-arena/): 37 recommend, 11 mixed, 2 criticize

## Where to get it

- [Visit the official site](https://3drealms.com/)

## The badge

A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged.

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Duke Nukem 3D", https://hackerapproved.com/p/duke-nukem-3d/ (18 recommend, 5 mixed, 1 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026).

Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.