Game engine recreations and source ports

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Sometimes a full system emulator is overkill. This is especially true when a developer only wants to get one game (or a number of games that use the same engine) working. In that case, reimplementing that game alone would save more time than implementing the platform it runs on. These kinds of projects are common when abandonware has large communities; when the original developer has disbanded and can no longer support or update it, an effort is then made to get it running natively on newer versions of-- and/or entirely different-- operating systems and platforms.

  • When the developer only has a binary to work with (and not the source code), they recreate the engine rather than port it, hence the term game engine recreations (or alternatively game engine re-implementations). How the developers go about this process depends on their philosophy; they may opt to decompile the original executable and have their own program rely on the original until all of its functions have been remade, at which point the original binary is no longer needed. Alternatively, they can be remade based on a clean room design, in which the project implements the abstract features without having to disassemble the original, going by how components are expected to be used rather than how the game uses them. Some engines come about simply because they were inspired by the original game, and the programmer felt confident enough that no reverse engineering was necessary to make an engine that does the same thing.
  • In rare cases, games are released as open-source by the publishers themselves, allowing developers to perform a source port of the code. This skips the step of figuring out how the game works. The most common example that's often used is id Software's release of Doom in 1997. It led to so many ports being released that the community began to joke about what devices haven't gotten it running yet.

Some projects are implemented in ways that the original developer did not intend; for example, for a platform other than which publishers marketed it for. And they're not just limited to game engines either; Webamp is a JavaScript application that reimplements Winamp in the web browser. These projects are almost always open-source which also allows new programmers to fix bugs that could have been difficult to track down during development (alternatively, the bugs may be emulated to allow old mods to continue to safely exploit them). When most of the effort is on programming, the project will usually require the original game's assets (such as files in the installation directory or ROMs) until those ever get remade. This lets the developers claim they aren't infringing the game's copyrights since the player must obtain the original to use it; if the game is still being sold, this could allow the publisher to even earn revenue from the project.

For the sake of brevity, most of these projects often refer to themselves under some variety of fan remakes. The External links section has lists for a number of known and available projects.

On Linux downloading and using game engines is easy with Luxtorpeda - a Steam Play compatibility tool (like Proton) that allows you to run games from Steam using various different game engines and reimplementations.

Multi game engine

Name Operating System(s) Latest Version Libretro Core Active Recommended Supported game(s) Genre
OpenLara[N 1] Windows Linux macOS Android Linux ARM Nintendo 3DS git ~ Tomb Raider 1–4 Action-adventure (3rd-person)
OpenTomb Windows git Tomb Raider 1–5
Tomb Raider Automated Fix Windows TR1

TR2

~ ~ Tomb Raider 1 & 2 + their expansions
OpenGOAL Linux Windows git Jak and Daxter[N 2]
ScummVM Multi-platform [3]2.8.0 Adventure games and RPGs (LucasArts, Sierra, Activision, Humongous & more. Over 250 games.) Adventure
BuildGDX Windows Linux macOS Website Blood, Duke Nukem 3D, Shadow Warrior, Powerslave/Exhumed, Redneck Rampage, Redneck Rampage Rides Again, Witchaven, Witchaven II, TekWar, Legend of the Seven Paladins FPS
EDuke32
VoidSW [N 3]
Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD Website EDuke32: Duke Nukem 3D, Ion Fury, NAM, World War II GI
VoidSW: Shadow Warrior
Metaforce Windows Linux macOS Dev builds
git
(WIP) Retro Games
(Metroid Prime 1–3 & Donkey Kong Country Returns)
openDarkEngine Windows Linux git Thief 1-2, System Shock 2
Raze Windows Linux macOS git Duke Nukem 3D, Blood, Redneck Rampage, Shadow Warrior and Exhumed/Powerslave, Nam, WW2 GI
RedNukem Windows Linux git Duke Nukem 3D, Duke Nukem 64, Redneck Rampage, Redneck Rampage Rides Again, NAM, World War II GI
XLEngine Windows Linux git Star Wars: Dark Forces, Daggerfall
Later: Outlaws, Blood, Shadow Warrior
ZDoom Windows Linux macOS 2.81 [N 4] Doom I–II, Final Doom, Heretic, Hexen: Beyond Heretic, Chex Quest I–III, Strife: Quest for the Sigil, Hacx: Twitch 'n Kill
Commander Genius Windows Linux macOS Switch 3.0.0 Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons, Commander Keen in Keen Dreams, Commander Keen in Goodbye Galaxy, Commander Keen in Aliens Ate My Babysitter Platform
OpenNFS Windows Linux macOS git ~ Need for Speed I–III, Need for Speed: High Stakes, Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 Racing
EasyRPG Multi-platform [4]0.8 RPG Maker 2000/2003 games RPG
Falltergeist Windows Linux git (WIP) Fallout 1-2
GemRB Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD Android git Infinity Engine
(Baldur's Gate series (1998–2001), Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale series (2000–2002))
JoiPlay Android 1.01.701 RPG Maker XP/VX/VA/MV/MV games/Ren'Py/TyranoBuilder/HTML based games
Neko RPGXP Player Android 2.01 ~ RPG Maker XP/VX/VA/MV games
xoreos Windows Linux macOS 0.0.6 (WIP) BioWare's Aurora engine & derivatives
(BioWare's 7 PC/console RPGs, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, The Witcher)
openage Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git ~ Genie Engine
(Age of Empires, AoE II (HD), Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds)
RTS
OpenRA Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD Vita git Early Westwood games (Command & Conquer, C&C: Red Alert).
Soon: 2nd-gen C&C (C&C: Tiberian Sun).
OpenSAGE Windows Linux macOS git (WIP) EA's Command & Conquer games
(C&C: Generals, C&C: Generals - Zero Hour)
Soon: The Battle for Middle-earth series (2004–2006), C&C 3 & expansion.
Stratagus[N 5] Windows Linux macOS Android 3.2.0 [N 6] [N 7] Wargus (v3.2.0): Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness + Beyond the Dark Portal, Aleona's Tale
War1gus (v3.2.0): Warcraft: Orcs & Humans
Stargus (v2.4.1): StarCraft (partially playable)
Games natively made on the Stratagus engine: Aleona's Tale (Wargus), Astroseries, Bos Wars, Wyrmsun
Vanilla Conquer Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git Early Westwood games (Command & Conquer, C&C: Red Alert, Dune 2000).
Based on the official source code release by EA, with the goal of serving as a portable drop-in replacement for the original executables as well as a platform for mod developers.
ReC98 Multi-platform git (WIP) Touhou 1–5 (PC-98) Shoot 'em up
Impacto Windows Linux macOS Android Switch git (WIP) MAGES. Engine (Science Adventure games) Visual Novel

Single game engine

Name Platform(s) Latest Version Libretro Core Active Recommended Supported game(s) Genre
Open Ocarina Windows git The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64) Action-adventure
OpenJK Windows Linux macOS Build
git
~ Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
Ship of Harkinian Windows Linux macOS Wii U Switch Build, git
macOS fork
Wii U fork
Switch fork
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (GameCube's N64 debug or PAL version)
OpenRakis Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD [5] (WIP) Dune (Cryo) Adventure
The Ur-Quan Masters Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 0.8.0 Star Control II
Ikemen GO Windows Linux macOS git Remake of the Ikemen engine that supports Mugen resources. Fighting
Aleph One Windows Linux macOS 1.4 Marathon 1–2, Marathon Infinity FPS
BStone Windows Linux macOS git Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold, Blake Stone: Planet Strike
Crispy Doom
Crispy Heretic
Windows Linux git Crispy Doom: Doom I–II, Final Doom
Crispy Heretic: Heretic
D2X-XL
DXX-Rebirth
Windows Linux macOS 1.18.76
git
Descent, Descent II
dhewm3 Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git Doom 3 (Original)
Doom64 EX Windows Linux macOS 2.5 Doom 64 (Original)
Descent Wii Wii 1.12
git (forked)
Descent
DXX-3DS[N 8] Nintendo 3DS git Descent, Descent II
DXX-Retro[N 8] Windows macOS git Descent, Descent II
DXX-Switch[N 8] Switch git ? Descent, Descent II
ECWolf Windows Linux macOS Android 1.3.3 Wolfenstein 3D, Spear of Destiny, Super 3D Noah’s Ark
EDuke32 Wii Wii Website Duke Nukem 3D
Freespace 2 Wii Wii beta 3 ? Freespace 2
Hammer of Thyrion Windows Linux macOS 1.5.9 Hexen II
Heretic Wii[N 9] Wii 0.5 ? Heretic
Hexen Wii
HHexen (Wii)[N 10]
Wii 1.0
0.5
? Hexen
HHeretic[N 9] Linux 0.2.3 ? Heretic
HHexen[N 10] Linux 1.6.3 ? Hexen
ioquake3 Windows Linux macOS 1.36 Quake III: Arena
iortcw Windows Linux macOS git ~ Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Linux Hexen[N 10] Linux 0.6.0 Hexen
NBlood Windows Linux git Blood
OpenMoHAA Windows Linux [6] Medal of Honour: Allied Assault
OpenXRay Windows Linux git S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
PCExhumed Windows Linux [7] Powerslave (PC)
Powerslave EX Windows Linux macOS git Powerslave (Console)
PrBoom Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git ~[N 11] Doom 1–2, Final Doom
Quake GameCube/QuakeGX[N 12] GameCube Wii 0.0.5-2 (GX) ? Quake 1
Quake Rev PAK[N 13] Wii release 4 ? Quake 1–2, ThreeWave CTF mod for Quake 2, QuakeWorld
Quakespasm
vkQuake[N 14]
Windows Linux macOS 0.94.2
git
Quake 1
RBDOOM-3-BFG Windows Linux git Doom 3 (BFG Edition)
Rise of the Triad for Linux Windows 7 Linux Dreamcast git Rise of the Triad: Dark War
rottexpr Windows Linux git Rise of the Triad: Dark War
Shockolate Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git System Shock 1
The Force Engine Windows 0.02.001 (WIP) Star Wars: Dark Forces, Outlaws
Tyrquake Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git Quake 1
vitaQuake II Windows Linux macOS Vita git, PS Vita Quake 2
WiiDoom
WiiDoom-Fork (music support)
Wii 0.4.5
Fork
Doom I–II, Final Doom, Chex Quest I–II (forked version only but with some conversion issues)
Wii-DOOM
Wii-HERETIC
Wii-HEXEN
Wii-STRIFE
Wii r33 Wii-DOOM: Doom I–II, Final Doom
Wii-HERETIC: Heretic
Wii-HEXEN: Hexen
Wii-STRIFE: Strife: Quest for the Sigil
Wolfenstein 3D Wii Wii 1.31 Wolfenstein 3D, Spear of Destiny
Xash3D Windows Linux Android 0.99 ~ Half-Life 1
Yamagi Quake II Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 8.00 Quake 2
FNaF 1 3DS -old/obsolete-
FNaF 1 3DS -remastered-[N 15]
Nintendo 3DS 0.2.3
0.3.1-pre1
Five Nights at Freddy's Horror
FNaF 1 PSP[N 15] PSP 1.3.1 Fix 1 Five Nights at Freddy's
FNaF 2 3DS[N 15] Nintendo 3DS beta 1.0 Five Nights at Freddy's 2
FNaF 3 3DS[N 15] Nintendo 3DS beta 0.1.3 Five Nights at Freddy's 3
FNaF 4 3DS[N 15] Nintendo 3DS beta 0.3 ~ Five Nights at Freddy's 4
SpacePinballCadet Multi-Platform git ? 3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet Pinball
Abe's Amazing Adventure Wii Wii r3 ? Abe's Amazing Adventure Platform
Abuse Wii Wii 0.8.684.2 ? Abuse
Cave Story Engine 2 Windows Linux macOS Nintendo 3DS Wii U Wii Nintendo DS git
archive
Wii, NDS
[8] [N 16] Cave Story
Jazz² Resurrection Windows Linux macOS Android git Jazz Jackrabbit 2
Jump 'n Bump Wii 0.3.1 ? Jump 'n Bump
Maze of Galious 3DS Nintendo 3DS 1.0 ? The Maze of Galious remake
MazeOfGaliousWii Wii 0.63.3 ? The Maze of Galious remake
NXEngine
nxengine-evo
Windows Linux macOS 1.0.0.6
git
Cave Story
OpenHCL PSP Wii Nintendo 3DS Vita git ~ Hydra Castle Labyrinth
OpenJazz Windows Linux macOS Pandora GP32 DreamcastWii git ~ Jazz Jackrabbit 1
R.E.L.I.V.E. Windows Linux git Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee, Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus
rawgl Windows Linux macOS git Another World/Out of This World
REminiscence Windows Android 0.4.9 Flashback (Another World's spiritual sequel)
Rigel Engine Windows Linux macOS Linux ARM git Duke Nukem II
RSDK Windows Linux macOS Android Vita Switch Sonic 1 & 2
Sonic CD
Sonic the Hedgehog 1–2, Sonic CD
SDLPoP Windows Linux macOS git Prince of Persia (1989)
Sonic the Hedgehog Forever Windows 1.4.1 Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Absolute Windows 1.1.1 Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic 3 A.I.R. (Angel Island Revisited) Windows Linux macOS Android Vita Switch git Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
Super Mario 64 Port Multi-platform Depends on port Super Mario 64 (N64)
xrick Windows Linux GameCube BeOS GP32 #021212 Rick Dangerous
Jewels Wii 1.01 ? gljewel Puzzle
Lemmini Windows macOS git Lemmings
CannonBall Windows Linux macOS Pandora Linux ARM git OutRun Racing
CannonBall (Wii) Wii git OutRun
NFSIISE Windows Linux macOS Android git Need for Speed II: SE
OpenC1 Windows Linux macOS 1.4
git
Carmageddon
OpenLGR Windows Linux macOS git Lego Racers
OpenMC2 Linux macOS (via Wine) git Midnight Club II
OpenSWE1R Windows Linux macOS git (WIP) Star Wars Episode 1: Racer
RoadFighterWii Wii 1.0 Road Fighter
RVGL Windows Linux Android Linux ARM Pandora 21.0930a-1 Re-Volt
REDriver2 Windows Linux git Driver 2
stuntcarremake[N 17] Windows 7 Linux Pandora Build 08 Stunt Car Racer (Amiga / AtariST)
Arx Libertatis Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git Arx Fatalis RPG
Daggerfall Unity Windows Linux macOS Beta 0.13.2
git
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
DevilutionX Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD Haiku Switch git Diablo
OpenGothic Windows Linux git Gothic II
OpenVIII Windows Linux git Final Fantasy VIII
OpenDiablo2 Windows Linux macOS git Diablo II
OpenMW Windows Linux macOS 0.47.0 The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
OpenTESArena Windows Linux macOS git (WIP) The Elder Scrolls I: Arena
REGoth Windows Linux git Gothic, Gothic II
reone Windows Linux git (WIP) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 1-2
Riiablo Windows Linux macOS Android git ? Diablo II
Undertale Mobile Mod for iOS and Android Android iOS [9] Undertale
Dune Dynasty Windows Linux [10] Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty RTS
Dune II: The Maker Windows [11] Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty
Dune Legacy Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD [12] Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty
OpenDUNE Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty
TA3D Windows Linux macOS git ~ Total Annihilation
FreeSynd Windows Linux macOS 0.7.5 Syndicate (1993) RTT
Syndicate Wars Port Windows Linux macOS 0.3 Syndicate Wars
Minecraft PSP PSP 3.3.0 Minecraft Sandbox
OpenRW Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git ~ Grand Theft Auto III
PSP Minecraft PSP 3.0.0 Minecraft
re3[N 18] Windows Linux macOS [13]
reVC
Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
RE3 3DS[14] Nintendo 3DS wip ~ ~[N 19] Grand Theft Auto III
re3-nx[N 18]
reVC-nx[N 18]
Switch ? ? Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
re3-vita[N 18]
reVC-vita[N 18]
Vita 1.4
1.1
? Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
re3-wiiu[N 18]
reVC-wiiu[N 18]
Wii U 2021-02-01
?
? Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
San Andreas Unity Windows Linux macOS Android git ~ Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Wiicraft (2020) Wii git ? ? Minecraft v1.2.5
WoxelCraft Wii git ? 3D Voxel Engine (Minecraft)
OpenTyrian Windows Linux Android git Tyrian Shoot 'em up
OpenTyrianWii Wii 1.7 ? Tyrian
CaesarIA Windows Linux macOS Android Haiku 0.5 (2016) Caesar III Sim - City-building
Julius
Augustus (Gameplay changes)
Windows Linux macOS Vita Switch 1.7
3.0.1
Caesar III
CorsixTH Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git Theme Hospital Sim - Construction/Management
OpenLoco Windows Linux macOS git Chris Sawyer's Locomotion
OpenRCT2 Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD OpenBSD Android git RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, with RollerCoaster Tycoon and expansions from both games being importable
OpenTTD Windows Linux macOS git Transport Tycoon Deluxe
OpenTTD (Wii) Wii 1.3.2 ? Transport Tycoon Deluxe
terminal-recall Windows Linux macOS git
Nightly Builds
Terminal Velocity, Fury3 Sim - Flight Combat
civctp2 Windows Linux Pandora Dragonbox Pyra git
(ctp2 for Linux/Pandora/Pyra)
~ Call to Power II TBS
CivOne Windows Linux macOS git (WIP) Sid Meier's Civilization
DopeWars Windows Wii [N 20] 1.1 ? DopeWars (Palm OS)
fheroes2 Windows Linux macOS Switch Vita git Heroes of Might and Magic II
OpenXcom Windows Linux macOS git UFO: Enemy Unknown (X-Com: UFO Defense), X-COM: Terror From the Deep
VCMI Windows Linux macOS Android git Heroes of Might and Magic III
max_vita Vita git Max Payne TPS
DDLC-LOVE PSP PlayStation 3 Nintendo 3DS Vita Switch 1.2.3 (PSP, Vita)
1.1.9 (PS3, 3DS, Switch)
[N 21] Doki Doki Literature Club! Visual Novel
Doki-Doki-Literature-Club-Vita Vita git ~ Doki Doki Literature Club!
NitroSharp Windows Linux git ~ (WIP) ChäoS;HEAd NoAH

Notes

  1. OpenLara was inspired by OpenTomb
  2. The project de-compiled the game into GOAL code. The project also developed a general-purpose GOAL compiler. Ports of Jak 2 & 3 may be viable because they were made in GOAL too.
  3. VoidSW is included with EDuke32
  4. ZDoom has been discontinued. However the development of its replacements, GZDoom and LZDoom, is still active.
  5. Stratagus is an open-source real-time strategy game engine. Some standalone games like Aleona's Tale (included in Wargus's installation), Astroseries, Bos Wars, and Wyrmsun were built on the Stratagus game engine. Source ports for Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (War1gus), Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness + Beyond the Dark Portal (Wargus), and StarCraft (Stargus) were also built on the Stratagus engine.
  6. Stargus is in pre-alpha but development has been halted. Stratagus, Wargus, and War1gus are being updated regularly.
  7. StarCraft is only partially playable in Stargus in Stargus's current stage. Warcraft games for Wargus & War1gus work well if installed correctly.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 DXX-Retro, also known as DXX-Rebirth-Retro, requires files from DXX-Rebirth version 0.58.1 to be able to use. DXX-Switch is a port of DXX-Retro for Nintendo Switch and DXX-3DS is a Nintendo 3DS port of DXX-Switch, but they have technical issues that make them less playable.
  9. 9.0 9.1 HHeretic is an open source game engine of Heretic for Linux. Heretic Wii is a Wii port is based on HHeretic 0.2.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 HHexen, also known as Hacked Hexen, is a Hexen source port was created by Dan Olson and maintained by the Hammer of Thyrion (Hexen II). It is a more advanced and portable version of the Linux Hexen source port and effectively replaced it. Hexen Wii and HHexen (Wii) are both Wii ports of Hexen based on HHexen 1.6.1.
  11. PrBoom-plus is still active
  12. QuakeGX is a Wii port of Peter Mackay's GameCube Quake port. Both are available on the same website. A forked version of QuakeGX called Quake Wii was later merged with QuakeGX.
  13. Quake Rev PAK (or QRevPack for short) is a collection of game engines of the Quake series that merges Q1Rev (Quake 1), [1] (Quake 2), Q2CTFRev (ThreeWave Capture the Flag mod for Quake II), and QWRev (QuakeWorld) in one. All by the same developer Izhido.
  14. vkQuake is based on Quakespasm, but uses Vulkan instead of OpenGL for rendering
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Five Nights at Freddy's 1 3DS -remastered- is an updated version of Five Nights at Freddy 1's 3DS by the same developer FreDev, also known as BumboDEV and BaseDEV. The developer also attempted Nintendo 3DS ports of Five Nights at Freddy's 2, 3, and 4 but development stopped after the developer lost the source code for Five Nights at Freddy's 2 and would have to reverse engineer it again.[2] Those ports were only in a state of demonstration and were not fully playable, having incomplete A.I., gameplay, and missing screens. Download links to the latest version of these 3DS ports and the PS Vita port can be found on the old Discord server.
  16. Cave Story Engine 2, or CSE2 for short, received a DMCA cease and desist notice from Nicalis, the current IP owner of Cave Story, despite the original Cave Story being a freeware developed by Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya.
  17. Based on Stunt Car Racer Remake for Windows
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 re3 and reVC have been taken down by Take-Two again. This also includes GaryOderNichts's Wii U ports, Graber's Switch ports, and the PS Vita ports of re3 and reVC.
  19. RE3 3DS is only playable on New Nintendo 3DS/2DS but even then, there will be occasionally graphical issues and frame drops.
  20. DopeWars PC port's download link is currently not working.
  21. DDLC-LOVE is a DDLC! port programmed in Lua. Even in its final release, there may be issues DDLC-LOVE may not have been able to fix but it's still playable. The developer recommends PS Vita users to use Doki-Doki-Literature-Club-Vita for the full DDLC! desktop experience including mod support.

See also

Game engine recreations and source ports specifically for:

External links

Curated Lists:

Specific gaming systems

News:

  • GamingOnLinux.com (For the latest news on releases and updates of game recreations and source ports that work on Linux)
  • Reddit feed (Aggregation quality is a little bit spotty. You have to wade through the news posts a bit for the relevant software.)
  • List of Open Source Games on Reddit (Thread by u/AMD_CEO. Wed Jul 1, 2020. Had added recommendations to links also seen above.)