Hammer++

Hammer++ is a community-made modification of the Valve Hammer Editor for Source that provides an updated, feature-rich version of the editor. The trailer and website can be found here.

Hammer++ currently supports the following branches of the Source engine:

It is also included with Military Conflict: Vietnam, in lieu of vanilla Hammer.

Other games/mods tested

Main article: Hammer++/Docs/Installation for Other Games
See also: Hammer++/Bugs and limitations with unsupported games

Important:In order to use CS:GO Hammer++, you must have the csgo_legacy beta branch installed for

Counter-Strike 2. The CS:GO Hammer++ no longer receives updates, so it's highly recommended that you use the Garry's Mod version alongside it instead, if you have GMod.


Game	Engine branch (game)	Hammer++ Version	Notes
Alien Swarm	Alien Swarm engine branch	Garry's Mod	Errors about reading particles, use mount.cfg to mount Alien Swarm data. Note:Functions differently than Hammer, instead of using a func_brush with name structure_seal, use a normal brush to close your maps. If compiled it forces the map to be fullbright even if there are lights. Important:Use func_details for your entire map as it will generate unwanted portals
Half-Life: Source	Source 2013 Singleplayer	Source 2013 Singleplayer	Configure Hammer for Half-Life: Source, then install to game's `bin` folder normally.
Half-Life Deathmatch: Source	Team Fortress 2 branch	Team Fortress 2	Configure Hammer for Half-Life: Source, then install to game's `bin/x64` folder normally.
Half-Life 2: Deathmatch	Team Fortress 2 branch	Team Fortress 2	Install to game's `bin/x64` folder normally.
Left 4 Dead	Left 4 Dead engine branch	L4D2	L4D2 Hammer++ appears fine on Left 4 Dead, except when compiling the map. Once compiled and joining the map, an error will appear and display: STEAM validation rejected and unable to interact with the menu after pressing ok. Workaround:Before compiling the map, check the box Don't run the game after compiling and then compile the map, after it has been compiled, enter Left 4 Dead and via console, type: map <map name>. Tip:You can enable dev by going to manage < properties and on Launch options, type: -dev 1. Fix:Remove the steam_appid.txt from the `hammerplusplus` folder.
Left 4 Dead 2	Left 4 Dead engine branch	L4D2	Identical to Left 4 Dead, without the Steam rejection, only displaying error on console and unable to interact with the menu when exiting the map. Fix:Remove the steam_appid.txt from the `hammerplusplus` folder.
Momentum Mod	Strata Source	Garry's Mod	Need retest using GMOD version. ^[confirm]
Source Filmmaker	Alien Swarm engine branch	Garry's Mod & Portal 2	Need retest using GMOD version. Portal 2's compile tools also work. Hammer++ shouldn't be installed in SFM's `bin` folder, but works when pointed to from another game.
Team Fortress 2 Classic	Source 2013 Multiplayer	Source 2013 Multiplayer	Setting up Hammer
Black Mesa	Xengine	Garry's Mod	Follow this guide to make it working. Check out issues in relevant subpage. A separate version for Black Mesa is not planned.
Black Mesa (mod) (2012 mod version)	Source 2007	Source 2013 Singleplayer	Install to Source SDK Base 2013 - Singleplayer's `bin` folder and add a game configuration pointing to the mod; the Source 2013 SP compilers generate BSPs that are compatible with Source 2007.
Mapbase	Source 2013 Singleplayer	Source 2013 Singleplayer	Install to game's `bin` folder normally. Check out the issues below in the relevant subpage.
Pirates Vikings & Knights II	Source 2013 Multiplayer	Source 2013 Multiplayer & Team Fortress 2	Hammer++ shouldn't be installed in PVKII's `bin` folder, but works when pointed to from another game. Important:Requires the Use special I/O delimiter (ESC) setting to be off.
Postal III	Source 2009	Source 2013 Singleplayer	Requires modification to Postal 3's FGD file(s); Recommended to use Postal 3's compilers instead; Some Hammer features from Postal 3's are missing like 'prefabs' (not to be confused with Prefab* on Hammer*); Requires Source SDK Base 2013 MP/SP to be installed; Requires folder linking inside SDK Base's `sourcetest` folder to load assets; Hammer++ will crash if placed inside Postal 3's `bin` folder.
Portal	Source 2013 Singleplayer	Source 2013 Singleplayer	Install to game's `bin` folder normally.
Portal 2: Community Edition	Strata Source	Garry's Mod?	Check out the issues on the relevant subpage. Support by developers is not planned, and usage is strongly discouraged; some Hammer++ features will be added to Strata Hammer.
SDK Base 2013 - MP (2025)	Team Fortress 2 branch	Team Fortress 2	Install to game's `bin/x64` folder normally.
Source SDK Base Source 2006 games & mods (including Counter-Strike: Source v34, Half-Life 2 Old Engine, etc...)	Source 2006	Source 2013 Singleplayer	See Installation for Source 2006 games. Don't forget that Source 2006 games will have less textures (including tools textures such as 2D Skybox), differences in LDR + HDR lighting compared to Source 2007 and later (including Hammer++ lighting preview). So remember to run both Source 2006's Hammer and Hammer++ and check see if the same texture exists in Texture Browser on Source 2006's Hammer before adding it to the map.
Hunt Down the Freeman (launch version)	Source 2013 Singleplayer	Source 2013 Singleplayer	Install to game's `bin` folder normally.^[confirm]
Hunt Down the Freeman (latest)	Source 2013 Multiplayer	Source 2013 Multiplayer	Install to game's `bin` folder normally.^[confirm] This build uses Source 2013 Multiplayer to reduce map size.
Jabroni Brawl: Episode 3	Counter-Strike: Global Offensive	Counter-Strike: Global Offensive	Install to game's `bin/win32` folder normally.^[confirm] FGD must be modified to replace soundscape and sky KVs with string. As CSGO version of Hammer++ is frozen on an older version, it may be desirable to use H++ alongside the native CSGO version, to take advantage of newer features like Propper++.

Features

Accurate lighting preview
Upgraded graphic fidelity
Significantly better stability
Particle rendering
2D + 3D skybox preview
New model browser, particle browser, color editor, and keybinding editor
Realtime display of fog and ropes
Variety of new tools such as physics simulation, gizmo manipulation, drawing of polygon shapes, and convex brush merging
New func_instance tools
Quality of life improvements
... and much more!