The tools behind recomps, decomps and ports
Every port in the database was built with tools like these. None of them is a game you can play on its own: a recompiler turns a game's machine code into source that compiles for PC, a decompilation tool helps volunteers rebuild the original code function by function, and a launcher or patcher gets a finished port or ROM hack running from your own copy. This page lists the common ones, with links to their official pages.
Which tool does what
- Recompilers translate the original program automatically, so a port can appear in weeks. The result runs natively but is hard to change, which is why recomps add features through their runtime and renderer.
- Decompilation tools support the slow route: matching C code written by hand and checked byte for byte against the original. Matching decomps take years, but give readable source that ports and mods build on.
- Launchers and patchers are what players use: they install ports, check that your game files match, or apply a ROM hack's patch to your own ROM.
- Modding tools change games that already run on PC, from VR injectors to AI toolkits.
Our guides go deeper: decomp vs recomp and judging AI-assisted projects.
Recompilers and runtimes
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| N64Recomp | Static recompiler that turns N64 game code into C. Behind Zelda 64: Recompiled, Banjo: Recompiled and most N64 recomps. |
| N64ModernRuntime | Replaces the N64's operating system for recompiled games, so they run as normal PC programs. |
| RT64 | Renderer that draws N64 graphics on modern GPUs, with widescreen and high frame rates. Used by most N64 recomps. |
| XenonRecomp | Recompiler for Xbox 360 PowerPC code, made for Unleashed Recompiled. |
| ReXGlue SDK | Toolkit for Xbox 360 recomps, behind ports such as Skate 2 PC, Ridge Racer 6 and Fable II. |
| PS2Recomp | Static recompiler for PlayStation 2 games, used by Def Jam Vendetta, NBA Street V3 and Budokai Tenkaichi 3 ports. |
| psxrecomp | Static recompiler for PlayStation games, behind a wave of PS1 recomps. |
| recomp-ui | Shared launcher many PS1 recomps use to check your disc and BIOS and start the game. |
| ps2-web-recomp MIT licence | Static recompiler that turns a PS2 disc image you own into a web page that runs in the browser through WebAssembly and WebGPU. Used for God of War II and other PS2 games. No game data is included. |
| Retro Porting Toolkit Open ecosystem | Open collection of static recompilers, runtimes, game projects and community ports for turning console games into modern apps. You provide your own game files. |
| ps3recomp (fork) MIT licence | Static recompilation runtime libraries for PlayStation 3 titles: turns PS3 binaries into native executables without an emulator. This is a fork used by the Demon's Souls port; it builds on Windows, macOS, Linux and in CI. |
Decompilation tools
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| decomp.dev | Progress tracker for matching decompilations; the source of our decomp tracker's percentages. |
| decomp.me | Website where contributors match one function at a time against the original compiler, in the browser. |
| objdiff | Compares compiled code with the original, byte for byte. The pass-or-fail check behind matching decomps. |
| splat | Splits a game's binary into code and data so a decompilation project can start. |
| decomp-toolkit | Project setup and analysis tools for GameCube and Wii decompilations. |
| decomp.wtf AI MIT licence, archived | Local tool that lets AI coding agents such as Claude Code or Codex decompile games you own one function at a time, checking each function byte for byte against the original compiler. Covers N64, GameCube, Wii, PlayStation 1 and 2, GBA and DS. Its author has discontinued and archived it, and notes that many community decomps don't accept AI-written contributions. |
Launchers and patchers
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Quiver Launcher | Installs, updates and launches hundreds of community ports from one app, with player reports on how well each runs. Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. |
| PortMaster | Installs ports on Linux handhelds such as Anbernic, TrimUI and Retroid devices running custom firmware. |
| Rom Patcher JS | Applies IPS, UPS and BPS patches to your own ROM in the browser. What most ROM hacks ask you to use. |
| xrevive Open source | Desktop launcher for Xrecomp games, with xb.live online services. You add your own ISO or extracted game folder; it downloads the matching executable and adds the game to Steam. Windows x64, with Linux through Wine or Proton (experimental). |
Modding and VR injectors
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| UEVR | Universal VR injector for Unreal Engine 4 and 5 games, adding stereo 3D and head tracking. |
| Universal Modder AI | Skills, a CLI and a knowledge base that let AI coding agents such as Claude Code, Codex or Cursor mod PC games you own, with playbooks for Unity, Unreal, Godot, Source, GameMaker, RPG Maker and more. For single-player games and servers you host: it refuses to inject into online games with anti-cheat, backs up saves and never ships game files. |
Tools marked AI are built for or with AI coding agents, by their own description. Download tools only from the official pages linked here; like the ports, none of them should come with game files.