Chris Mumola Publishes Quake Retrospective Series on Substack

Games writer Chris Mumola has launched an ongoing retrospective series on the Quake franchise, published through his Substack blog Game Sense. The project takes a close look at how Quake evolved across its early years — from its groundbreaking 1996 debut to the rise of arena shooters and the competitive scene that followed.

The series mixes storytelling with game analysis, reflecting on level design, technology, expansions, and the legacy of id Software’s classic titles. Each article focuses on a specific chapter in Quake’s timeline, offering insights for both longtime fans and readers new to the franchise.

Episodes released so far:

• Quake’s Bizarre, Beautiful History — The origins of Quake, early development struggles, and its strange path to becoming a genre-defining FPS.
  
  
• Episode Two: Quake Shakes the World — A look at Quake’s impact on PC gaming and its revolutionary approach to 3D multiplayer.
  
  
• Expansion Pack One: Thunderbolt In — A deep dive into Scourge of Armagon and the new content it brought to the original game.
  
  
• Episode Three: Stroggification — Exploring Quake II and how it shifted the tone and style of the series with sci-fi storytelling and improved tech.
  
  
• Episode Four: Arena Eternal — A look at Quake III Arena, competitive play, and the rise of pure multiplayer FPS design.

New chapters are being added regularly, with each one offering a fresh take on what made Quake unique in both design and community influence.