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Last Updated: 23 October 2026 @ 19:31 CE(S)T

L'Hiver - English Edition

L'Hiver is a very popular mod with a number of different editions, versions and translations which makes matters a bit murky. The English edition is very feature-rich and implements numerous extensions on top of the base game while looking quite beautiful. Note that, despite the name, this can be played in German, if appropriate steps are taken. Like all L'Hiver editions it features an extended world with new areas, many new models and textures as well as a redesign of previously existing areas. If you're a fan of the vanilla game and do not appreciate too many changes to it, I advise you to steer clear of this. The release post with instructions and download links can be found here.

Manual Instructions

  1. Install base game with patches as described here

  2. (Optional) Install Ninja

  3. (Optional) Install D3D11 Renderer (with DLL override)

  4. (Optional) Install German translation (text only)

  5. Important

    Run the game once so that Union can create its files (this can, unfortunately, not be automated)

  6. Install the mod itself

It should be noted that this mod incorporates numerous Union and Ninja mods, all of which can be disabled and/or configured. For a detailed list of everything that's included and how to configure it you can look at the installation guide.

Lutris Install Script

Important

This installation cannot be fully automated, unfortunately, so this script gets you only most of the way there. These are the installation steps:

  1. Run this script with Lutris as normal
  2. Start the game with GothicStarter.exe once to have the game create the necessary Union files. Starting a new game is not needed.
  3. Run the mod installer manually from within Lutris, overwrite files when prompted.
  4. (Optional) Modify Gothic.ini as you wish and/or disable preinstalled mods by removing the respective file from the Data directory. Note: This script includes German translations of in-game text. If you don't want this, remove the relevant sections from the script. You can then also omit the Playerkit and start the game with Gothic2.exe.
description: "Installer for Gothic II - L'Hiver - English Edition, with D3D11 renderer activated and support for Ninja and Union mods"
game_slug: gothic-ii-gold-edition-lhiver-english
gogslug: gothic_2_gold_edition
installer_slug: gothic2-gog
name: "Gothic II: L'Hiver - English Edition"
slug: gothic2-gog
gogid: 1207658718
version: GOG
year: 2003
notes:
  "Hassle free installer of Gothic II: L'Hiver - English Edition. Click \"Continue\" button in\
  \ any pop-up during the installation. Please be patient, some steps take time to\
  \ execute. The mod executable must be downloaded manually and provided to the installer at \
  \ install time."
runner: wine
script:
  files:
    - setup: N/A:Select the GOG game setup file
    - lhiver: https://cloud.bfloeser.de/s/43bNpX3Pwt4GBet/download/LHiverEngEdition_v1_6_installer.exe
    - german_trans: https://cloud.bfloeser.de/s/e6CY4BPZTsmBC6z/download/lhiver_1.6_script_de.zip
    - report_version:
        filename: gothic2_fix.exe
        url: https://www.worldofgothic.de/download.php?id=833
    - primary_patch:
        filename: Union_Primary_Universal.exe
        url: https://cloud.bfloeser.de/public.php/dav/files/siWrzBPkwYqPKQF
    - union:
        filename: Union.exe
        url: https://www.worldofgothic.de/download.php?id=1625
    - ninja: https://github.com/szapp/Ninja/releases/download/v4.1.16/Ninja-4.1.16.exe
    - ninja_toolkit:
        filename: Toolkit.vdf
        url: https://www.worldofgothic.de/download.php?id=1861
    - gd3d11: https://github.com/kirides/GD3D11/releases/download/v17.9.7/GD3D11-v17.9.7.zip
    - intro_video:
        filename: intro.zip
        url: https://www.worldofgothic.net/download.php?id=1718
  system:
    env:
      UNIONPATH: $GAMEDIR/drive_c/ProgramData/Union/System/
  variables:
    gamedatapath: drive_c/GOG Games/Gothic 2 Gold/Data
    gamepath: drive_c/GOG Games/Gothic 2 Gold
    gamesystempath: drive_c/GOG Games/Gothic 2 Gold/system
  wine:
    overrides:
      ddraw: n,b
      dinput: n,b
      dsound: b,n
  game:
    arch: win64
    exe: $gamesystempath/GothicStarter.exe
    args: -game:LHiver_1.6_de -start
    prefix: $GAMEDIR
  installer:
    - task:
        arch: win64
        description: Creating 64-bit Wine prefix
        install_gecko: false
        install_mono: true
        name: create_prefix
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        app: win10
        arch: win64
        description: "winetricks: win10"
        name: winetricks
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        arch: win64
        args: /SP- /SUPRESSMSGBOXES /LOG /SILENT
        description: Installing Gothic II
        executable: setup
        name: wineexec
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        app: "directmusic dotnet48 vcrun2022 dxvk"
        arch: win64
        description: Install wine dependencies. This will take some time.
        name: winetricks
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
    - execute:
        command: mkdir -p $UNIONPATH
    - execute:
        command: printf "\r\nC:\GOG Games\Gothic 2 Gold\\\\\\r\n" > $UNIONPATH/history_d.cs
    - execute:
        command: echo "ENG" > $UNIONPATH/Language.cs
    - task:
        arch: win64
        args: /S /D"C:\GOG Games\Gothic"
        description: Installing Primary Universal patch
        executable: primary_patch
        name: wineexec
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
        working_dir: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        arch: win64
        args: /S /D=C:\\GOG Games\\Gothic 2 Gold
        description: Installing playerkit
        executable: playerkit
        name: wineexec
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
        working_dir: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        arch: win64
        args: /S /D"C:\GOG Games\Gothic 2 Gold"
        description: Install Union patch
        executable: union
        name: wineexec
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
        working_dir: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        arch: win64
        args: /S /D=C:\\GOG Games\\Gothic 2 Gold
        description: Installing Ninja mod
        executable: ninja
        name: wineexec
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
        working_dir: $GAMEDIR
    - copy:
        src: ninja_toolkit
        dst: $GAMEDIR/$gamedatapath
    - extract:
        dst: $GAMEDIR/$gamesystempath
        file: gd3d11
    - extract:
        file: german_trans
        dst: $CACHE
    - merge:
        src: $CACHE/Data
        dst: $GAMEDIR/$gamedatapath
    - merge:
        src: $CACHE/System
        dst: $GAMEDIR/$gamesystempath
    - extract:
        dst: $GAMEDIR/$gamepath/_work/Data/Video
        file: intro_video
    - write_config:
        data:
          Display:
            Brightness: 1.0
            Rain: 1
            RainEffects: 1
            TextureQuality: 16384
            UIScale: 1.0
            VSync: 1
          FontRendering:
            Enable: 1
          General:
            AllowNormalmaps: 1
            AnimateStaticVobs: 1
            DrawWorldSectionIntersections: 1
            EnableDebugLog: 0
            EnableGodRays: 1
            EnableInactiveFpsLock: 1
            FpsLimit: 60
            SunLightStrength: 1.5
          HBAO:
            Bias: 0.5
            BlurSharpness: 4.0
            EnableBlur: 1
            Enabled: 0
            PowerExponent: 3.0
            Radius: 1.0
            SsaoBlurRadius: 1
            SsaoStepCount: 0
          SMAA:
            Enabled: 1
            SharpenFactor: 0.2
          Shadows:
            EnableDynamicLighting: 1
            EnableShadows: 1
            EnableSoftShadows: 1
            PointlightShadows: 2
            ShadowAOStrength: 0.5
            ShadowMapSize: 2048
            ShadowStrength: 0.4
            SmoothCameraUpdate: 1
            WorldAOStrength: 0.5
            WorldShadowRangeScale: 8.0
        description: Updating GD3D11 config
        file: $GAMEDIR/$gamesystempath/GD3D11/UserSettings.ini