Command line interface

Launching ScummVM from the command line lets you pass a number of options, some of which override the applicable global or game-specific settings. It also lets you launch straight into a game without going to the Launcher first.

Some options, such as --help or --list-audio-devices, allow you to view information about ScummVM directly on the command line without starting the Launcher or starting a game.

Usage

scummvm [option] [game]

To launch ScummVM, enter the path to ScummVM. Optionally, follow this with any of the options documented below, and/or the path to the game you wish to start. If a game has already been added to the games list in the Launcher, you can pass the game id instead of the path to the game.

Windows

The following examples assume that the path to ScummVM is C:\Program Files\ScummVM\scummvm.exe.

To run Monkey Island, fullscreen (-f):

C:\Program Files\ScummVM\scummvm.exe -f monkey

To run Full Throttle, fullscreen (-f) and with subtitles enabled (-n), specifying the path to the game on a CD (-p):

C:\Program Files\ScummVM\scummvm.exe -f -n -pD:``resource``ft

macOS

The following examples assume the path to the ScummVM app is Applications/ScummVM.app.

If you are unsure of the path to the app, drag the ScummVM app icon into the Terminal window. This prints the path to the ScummVM app.

To run ScummVM from the command line, add /Contents/MacOS/scummvm to that path.

To run Monkey Island, fullscreen (-f):

/Applications/ScummVM.app/Contents/MacOS/scummvm -f monkey

To run Full Throttle, fullscreen (-f) and with subtitles enabled (-n), specifying the path to the game on a CD (-p):

/Applications/ScummVM.app/Contents/MacOS/scummvm -f -n -p/cdrom/resource/ft

Linux

The following examples assume the path to ScummVM is /usr/games/scummvm.

To run Monkey Island, fullscreen (-f):

/usr/games/scummvm -f monkey

To run Full Throttle, fullscreen (-f) and with subtitles enabled (-n), specifying the path to the game on a CD (-p):

/usr/games/scummvm -f -n -p/cdrom/resource/ft

Tip

If ScummVM is on PATH, there is no need to enter the full path to ScummVM. Similarly, if a game is already added to the Launcher, there is no need to specify the path to the game.

Options

The meaning of most options can be inverted by prefixing them with no-. For example, --no-aspect-ratio will turn aspect ratio correction off. This does not apply to short options.

Option parameters are shown below in capitals, and need to be replaced with real values.

Short options are listed where they are available.

Option	Short	Description
--add	-a	Adds all games from current or specified directory. If --game=NAME is passed, only the game with id NAME is added. See also --detect. Use --path=PATH before -a or --add to specify a directory.
--alt-intro		Uses alternative intro for CD versions
--aspect-ratio		Enables aspect ratio correction
--auto-detect		Displays a list of games from the current or specified directory and starts the first game. Use --path=PATH before --auto-detect to specify a directory.
--boot-param=NUM	-b	Pass number to the boot script (boot param).
--cdrom=DRIVE		Sets the CD drive to play CD audio from. This can be a drive, path, or numeric index (default: 0)
--config=FILE	-c	Uses alternate configuration file
--console		Enables the console window (default: enabled). Win32 and Symbian32 only.
--copy-protection		Enables copy protection
--debug-channels-only		Shows only the specified debug channels
--debugflags=FLAGS		Enables engine specific debug flags
--debuglevel=NUM	-d	Sets debug verbosity level
--demo-mode		Starts demo mode of Maniac Mansion or The 7th Guest
--detect		Displays a list of games with their game id from the current or specified directory. This does not add the game to the games list. Use --path=PATH before --detect to specify a directory.
--dimuse-tempo=NUM		Sets internal Digital iMuse tempo (10 - 100) per second (default: 10)
--engine-speed=NUM		Sets frames per second limit (0 - 100) for Grim Fandango or Escape from Monkey Island (default: 60).
--dump-scripts	-u	Enables script dumping if a directory called ‘dumps’ exists in the current directory
--enable-gs		Enables Roland GS mode for MIDI playback
--extrapath=PATH		Extra path to additional game data
--filtering		Forces filtered graphics mode
--fullscreen	-f	Forces full-screen mode
--game=NAME		In combination with --add or --detect only adds or attempts to detect the game with id NAME.
--gfx-mode	-g	Selects graphics mode
--gui-theme=THEME		Selects GUI theme
--help	-h	Displays a brief help text and exit
--joystick=NUM		Enables joystick input (default: 0 = first joystick)
--language	-q	Selects language (en, de, fr, it, pt, es, jp, zh, kr, se, gb, hb, ru, cz)
--list-audio-devices		Lists all available audio devices
--list-saves --game=TARGET		Displays a list of saved games for the game (TARGET) specified
--list-targets	-t	Displays list of configured targets and exits
--list-themes		Displays list of all usable GUI themes
--logfile=PATH	-l	Uses alternate path for log file (SDL backend only).
--midi-gain=NUM		Sets the gain for MIDI playback. 0-1000 (default: 100). Only supported by some MIDI drivers
--multi-midi		Enables combination AdLib and native MIDI
--music-driver=MODE	-e	Selects preferred music device
--music-volume=NUM	-m	Sets the music volume, 0-255 (default: 192)
--native-mt32		True Roland MT-32 (disables GM emulation)
--no-filtering		Forces unfiltered graphics mode
--no-fullscreen	-F	Forces windowed mode
--opl-driver=DRIVER		Selects AdLib (OPL) emulator
--output-rate=RATE		Selects output sample rate in Hz
--path=PATH	-p	Sets path to where the game is installed
--platform=STRING		Specifes platform of game. Allowed values: 2gs, 3do, acorn, amiga, atari, c64, fmtowns, nes, mac, pc pc98, pce, segacd, wii, windows.
--recursive		In combination with --add or ``--detect recurses down all subdirectories
--render-mode=MODE		Enables additional render modes
--save-slot=NUM	-x	Specifies the saved game slot to load (default: autosave)
--savepath=PATH		Specifies path to where saved games are stored
--sfx-volume=NUM	-s	Sets the sfx volume, 0-255 (default: 192)
--soundfont=FILE		Selects the SoundFont for MIDI playback.. Only supported by some MIDI drivers.
--speech-volume=NUM	-r	Sets the speech volume, 0-255 (default: 192)
--subtitles	-n	Enables subtitles
--talkspeed=NUM		Sets talk speed for games (default: 60)
--tempo=NUM		Sets music tempo (in percent, 50-200) for SCUMM games (default: 100)
--themepath=PATH		Specifies path to where GUI themes are stored
--version	-v	Displays ScummVM version information and exits