1. Download the HempMS Launcher above and put it in an empty folder of its own (for example C:\HempMS).
2. Open HempMS Launcher.exe. It downloads all game files for you and keeps them up to date.
3. Click the DEFENDER button in the launcher, so Microsoft Defender doesn't remove game files as a false positive.
4. When the download is done, the grey PLAY button turns colorful. Click it to start the game.

Screenshots and more tips are in the Starter Guide → Download & installation.

You may see a Windows Defender SmartScreen warning the first time you run the launcher. This happens because it's a new, unsigned application — Windows hasn't built up trust in it yet. The more people download and run it, the sooner Microsoft will recognize it as legitimate.

For now, just click More info, then Run anyway.

Our launcher is completely clean — you can verify it yourself on VirusTotal.

Both of these mean your PC is missing a Microsoft runtime library the game needs to run — nothing wrong with your download, just something missing on your system.

Missing vcruntime140.dll: download it here and place it in the game's folder (or your Windows System32 folder):
https://www.dll-files.com/vcruntime140.dll.html

Error 0xc000007b: install one (or both) of the following, then restart your PC:

• Visual C++ Redistributable Packages (official, from Microsoft): https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48145
• AIO Runtimes (installs every common runtime library at once): https://www.mediafire.com/file/quoqbcuhctpp0uy/aio-runtimes.exe/file

Still stuck after trying both? Reach out on Discord and we'll help you out.