Extract text from Hardcore quest data files (HQM)
To convert HQM Quest files to another format, you need Minecraft or other Game software.
To convert other file formats to the "Minecraft Mod Data File" file type, you need software like Minecraft or a similar tool.
The .hqm file format is a proprietary data container used exclusively by the Hardcore Questing Mode mod for Minecraft. These files store customized quest lines, player progression rules, inventory rewards, and narrative text for modpacks. Modpack developers use these files to structure sandbox gameplay into guided experiences.
The current format has major disadvantages. It is completely proprietary and heavily reliant on specific game versions. Files often break if loaded into a mismatched version of the mod. Because the file contains internal game logic and proprietary serialization, it is useless outside of the Minecraft Java Edition ecosystem. Standard text editors usually cannot parse the binary data, making external editing frustrating.
Converting .hqm files to standard formats like JSON or TXT is highly requested by developers who want to manage quest text outside the game engine. However, this file format is difficult to open or convert. Often, only the original Minecraft mod can properly read or export the data. Standard online converters fail because they do not understand Minecraft mod serialization. We can inspect the file and show text or internal content. If our analysis detects a supported underlying or embedded format, viewing or conversion may still be possible.
Convert.Guru analyzes your HQM file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
If you want to convert HQM file to EXE, ISO, BIN, CUE, PAK, WAD, PK3, PK4, BSP, MAP, SAV or DAT, you can use Minecraft or similar software from the "Minecraft Mod Quest Data" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert MOD, BIN, CFG, SCX, DAT, MPQ, LOG, CUE, INI, EXE, SCM or ISO files to HQM, try Minecraft or another comparable tool in the "Minecraft Mod Quest Data" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our HQM converter.