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Useful when there is a long gap between releases, like between 2.7.1 and 3.0
 
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A '''wrapper''' is a reimplementation of a [[wikipedia:Library (computing)|library]], where the goal is to substitute the original API with a better-supported interface. It works as a drop-in replacement for the original library, since a lot of software usually bundled it as-is without any fine-tuning. Wrappers are most common for proprietary interfaces that are either abandoned or otherwise platform-specific.
A '''wrapper''' is a reimplementation of a [[wikipedia:Library (computing)|library]], where the goal is to substitute the original API with a better-supported interface. It works as a drop-in replacement for the original library, since a lot of software usually bundled it as-is without any fine-tuning. Wrappers are most common for proprietary interfaces that are either abandoned or otherwise platform-specific.


See [[Emulation Accuracy]] page for more information about terms like "[[Hypervisors|hypervisors]]", "[[Simulators|simulators]]", "[[Compatibility_layer|compatibility layers]]", "[[Wrappers|wrappers]]", "[[FPGA]]" and "[[:Category:Emulators|software emulators]]".
See [[High and low-level emulation]] page for more information about terms like "[[Hypervisors|hypervisors]]", "[[Simulators|simulators]]", "[[Compatibility_layer|compatibility layers]]", "[[Wrappers|wrappers]]", "[[FPGA]]" and "[[:Category:Emulators|software emulators]]".


;Before diving in;
;*Lists of Glide games [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=534 here], [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=886 here], and [https://www.zeus-software.com/downloads/nglide/compatibility here]
;*[https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=534 Windows Glide] and [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=886 DOS Glide] games list.
;*List of other proprietary API games [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=279817 here]
;*See other proprietary APIs, cards and supported software - [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=279817], [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=30017]
;*PCGamingWiki's [https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Category:Graphics_API lists] of APIs of games<ref group=Note>As of April 29, 2026, only the Direct3D 12 (except Early Access), 10, 9Ex and 8 lists (and potentially Vulkan, Mantle and Metal) are practically reliable (barring a handful of titles). Note that there are more games using the said APIs which have not yet had the API information added on their pages. The other lists still require validation; it's a WIP. People are encouraged to contribute by directly checking the games with the appropriate tools. The details are on the PCGW editing guide.</ref>
;*See [https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/?f=year~directx_1.0~market_Desktop~igpu_No DirectX 1.0][https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/?f=year~directx_3.0~market_Desktop~igpu_No DirectX 3.0][https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/?f=year~directx_5.0~market_Desktop~igpu_No DirectX 5.0][https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/?f=year~directx_6.0~market_Desktop~igpu_No DirectX 6.0], [https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/?f=year~directx_7.0~market_Desktop~igpu_No DirectX 7.0], [https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/?f=year~directx_8.1~market_Desktop~igpu_No DirectX 8.1], [https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/?f=year~directx_9.0a~market_Desktop~igpu_No DirectX 9.0a], [https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/?f=year~directx_9.0b~market_Desktop~igpu_No DirectX 9.0b], [https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/?f=directx_9.0c~market_Desktop~igpu_No~mfgr DirectX 9.0c], [https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/?f=year~directx_10.0~market_Desktop~igpu_No DirectX 10.0], [https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/?f=year~directx_10.1~market_Desktop~igpu_No DirectX 10.1] cards.
;*See [[Sound and audio|audio API and middleware]] supported games list;
;*See [https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/ pcgamingwiki]'s #API sections on each dedicated game page for what API's used.
;*See [[Shaders,_filters,_and_sound#Audio|audio API and middleware]] supported games list;
::*[https://www.dosdays.co.uk/topics/3daudio_games.php Surround sound] ([https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SyOw7D0H2ecGxzPsCFEFKwupU8LuazUrlkI-gVTpyhc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.nu0xc1c2nmo4 #2], [https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/List_of_games_that_support_surround_sound #3])
::*[https://www.dosdays.co.uk/topics/3daudio_games.php Surround sound] ([https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SyOw7D0H2ecGxzPsCFEFKwupU8LuazUrlkI-gVTpyhc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.nu0xc1c2nmo4 #2], [https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/List_of_games_that_support_surround_sound #3])
::*[[wikipedia:Environmental_Audio_Extensions#Games_with_EAX_Support|EAX]] ([https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/List_of_games_that_support_EAX #2]).
::*[[wikipedia:Environmental_Audio_Extensions#Games_with_EAX_Support|EAX]] ([https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/List_of_games_that_support_EAX #2]).
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! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
|-
|-
| rowspan=15 |Graphics
| rowspan=17 |Graphics
|[http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/ dgVoodoo2]
|[http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/ dgVoodoo2]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2/ {{DgVooDoo2Ver}}]
|[http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2/ {{DgVoodoo2Ver}}]
|Glide 2.11-3.10<br>DirectDraw 1-7<br>Direct3D 2-7
|Glide 2.11-3.10<br>DirectDraw 1-7<br>Direct3D 2-7
|Direct3D 11, 12
|Direct3D 11, 12
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|[[Wine|WineD3D]]
|[[Wine|WineD3D]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|[https://wiki.winehq.org/Download {{WineVer}}] <small>(Linux, macOS)</small><br/>[https://fdossena.com/?p=wined3d/index.frag {{WineDevVer}}] <small>(Windows)</small><ref group=N name=XPcompatibility>DxWnd 2.05.70, WineD3D 1.7.52 or 1.9.7-staging(partially) versions are the latest compatible versions with Windows XP (if [https://github.com/Skulltrail192/One-Core-API-Binaries OneCoreAPI] is '''not''' installed to OS), for getting these old "WineD3D for Windows" builds use [https://www.vogonsdrivers.com/wrappers/files/DirectX/OpenGL/WineD3D/2000+/ this link]. Also you can use [https://github.com/JHRobotics/wine9x?tab=readme-ov-file#wined3d-port-for-windows-9x JHRobotics port for using WineD3D on Windows 9x or Windows XP].</ref>
|[https://wiki.winehq.org/Download {{WineVer}}] <small>(Linux, macOS)</small><br/>[https://fdossena.com/?p=wined3d/index.frag {{WineDevVer}}] <small>(Windows)</small><ref group=N name=XPcompatibility>DxWnd 2.05.70, WineD3D 1.7.52 or 1.9.7-staging(partially) versions are the latest compatible versions with Windows XP (if [https://github.com/Skulltrail192/One-Core-API-Binaries OneCoreAPI] is '''not''' installed to OS), for getting these old "WineD3D for Windows" builds use [https://www.vogonsdrivers.com/wrappers/files/DirectX/OpenGL/WineD3D/2000+/ this link]. Also you can use [https://github.com/JHRobotics/wine9x?tab=readme-ov-file#wined3d-port-for-windows-9x JHRobotics port for using WineD3D on Windows 9x (Wine9x) or Windows XP].</ref>
|DirectDraw 1-7<br>Direct3D 2-7
|DirectDraw 1-7<br>Direct3D 2-7
|Vulkan<br>OpenGL
|Vulkan<br>OpenGL
|[https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&sTitle=Browse%20Applications&sOrderBy=appName&bAscending=true ?] ||{{Green}} {{License|LGPLv21}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|[https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&sTitle=Browse%20Applications&sOrderBy=appName&bAscending=true ?] ||{{Green}} {{License|LGPLv21}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://github.com/WinterSnowfall/d7vk D7VK]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|[https://github.com/WinterSnowfall/d7vk/releases/latest 1.7]
|Direct3D 2-6 (experimental)<br/>Direct3D 7
|Vulkan
| ||{{Green}} {{License|zlib}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|-
|[https://sourceforge.net/projects/dxwnd DxWnd]
|[https://sourceforge.net/projects/dxwnd DxWnd]
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|<small>no API conversion</small>
|<small>no API conversion</small>
| ||{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
| ||{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://github.com/ata4/glrage glrage]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://github.com/ata4/glrage/releases/latest r10]
|ATI3DCIF<br>DirectDraw 2
|OpenGL 3.3
| ||{{Green}} {{License|LGPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9NRCQJ8VLGTK?hl=en-us&gl=US RReady (Rendition Verite wrapper)]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9NRCQJ8VLGTK?hl=en-us&gl=US RReady Rendition Verité]
|RRedline<br>Speedy3D
|OpenGL
| ||{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=104456 S3d wrappers]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=104456 S3d wrappers]
|S3D<br>MSI95
|Software
| ||{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|-
|[http://www.zeus-software.com/downloads/nglide nGlide]
|[http://www.zeus-software.com/downloads/nglide nGlide]
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|[https://github.com/elishacloud/dxwrapper DxWrapper]
|[https://github.com/elishacloud/dxwrapper DxWrapper]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://github.com/elishacloud/dxwrapper/releases v1.4.7900.25]
|[https://github.com/elishacloud/dxwrapper/releases {{DxWrapperVer}}]
|DirectDraw 1-7<br>Direct3D 2-7
|DirectDraw 1-7<br>Direct3D 2-7
|Direct3D 9<ref group=N name=dxwrapper>Through '''dd7to9'''.</ref><br>Direct3D 7 (for Direct3D 2-6)<br>DirectDraw 7 (for DirectDraw 1-6)
|Direct3D 9<ref group=N name=dxwrapper>Through '''dd7to9'''</ref><br>Direct3D 7 (for Direct3D 2-6)<br>DirectDraw 7 (for DirectDraw 1-6)
|[https://github.com/elishacloud/dxwrapper/wiki/DirectDraw-to-Direct3D9-Conversion#table-key ?] ||{{Green}} {{License|zlib}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
|[https://github.com/elishacloud/dxwrapper/wiki/DirectDraw-to-Direct3D9-Conversion#table-key ?] ||{{Green}} {{License|zlib}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
|-
|-
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|OpenGL
|OpenGL
| ||{{Green}} {{License|LGPLv21}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
| ||{{Green}} {{License|LGPLv21}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
|-
|[https://mesa3d.org/ Mesa3D]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|[https://downloads.fdossena.com/Projects/Mesa3D/Builds/index.frag {{MesaVer}}]
|OpenGL 1.x
|Software (CPU)
| ||{{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|-
|[http://www.glidos.net/ Glidos]
|[http://www.glidos.net/ Glidos]
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|Direct3D 9
|Direct3D 9
| ||{{Green}} {{License|LGPL}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
| ||{{Green}} {{License|LGPL}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|[https://github.com/ata4/glrage glrage]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://github.com/ata4/glrage/releases/latest r10]
|ATI3DCIF<br>DirectDraw 2
|OpenGL 3.3
| ||{{Green}} {{License|LGPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9NRCQJ8VLGTK?hl=en-us&gl=US RReady (Rendition Verite wrapper)]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9NRCQJ8VLGTK?hl=en-us&gl=US RReady Rendition Verité]
|RRedline<br>Speedy3D
|OpenGL
| ||{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=104456 S3d wrappers]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=104456 S3d wrappers]
|S3D<br>MSI95
|Software
| ||{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|-
| rowspan=2 |Input
| rowspan=2 |Input
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|[https://github.com/elishacloud/dxwrapper DxWrapper]
|[https://github.com/elishacloud/dxwrapper DxWrapper]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://github.com/elishacloud/dxwrapper/releases v1.4.7900.25]
|[https://github.com/elishacloud/dxwrapper/releases {{DxWrapperVer}}]
|DirectInput 1-7
|DirectInput 1-7
|DirectInput 8
|DirectInput 8
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|[https://github.com/kcat/dsoal DSOAL]
|[https://github.com/kcat/dsoal DSOAL]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://github.com/kcat/dsoal/actions git]
|[https://github.com/kcat/dsoal/actions git]<br/>[https://github.com/pachuco/dsoal-XP dsoal-XP]
|DirectSound
|DirectSound
|OpenAL
|OpenAL
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===Comparisons===
===Comparisons===
;nGlide
:Currently the best Glide wrapper, supporting all three public versions (2.11, 2.60 and 3.10) but it's closed-source. It originally only used Direct3D 9 until Vulkan output was added in 2.0, allowing it to work under Linux using [[Wine]] 2.10.0 and newer.<ref name="nglidevulkan">http://www.zeus-software.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2044</ref> nGlide also supports high resolution modes. See the [http://www.zeus-software.com/downloads/nglide/compatibility compatibility list].
;dgVoodoo2
;dgVoodoo2
:Supports Glide 2.11, 2.45, 3.10, 3.1 Napalm, all versions of DirectDraw, and Direct3D up to version 7. Outputs Direct3D 11 and Direct3D 12 with different device types as wrapping output, such as hardware or software rendering.
:Supports Glide 2.11, 2.45, 3.10, 3.1 Napalm, all versions of DirectDraw, and Direct3D up to version 7. Outputs Direct3D 11 and Direct3D 12 with different device types as wrapping output, such as hardware or software rendering.
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;[[Wine|WineD3D]]
;[[Wine|WineD3D]]
:Wine's internal wrapper. Wraps DirectDraw and Direct3D up to 7 into Vulkan and OpenGL. It works pretty well for running older Direct3D games, though it does not come with a Glide implementation of its own. A custom build is available for Windows [https://fdossena.com/?p=wined3d/index.frag here].
:Wine's internal wrapper. Wraps DirectDraw and Direct3D up to 7 into Vulkan and OpenGL. It works pretty well for running older Direct3D games, though it does not come with a Glide implementation of its own. A custom build is available for Windows [https://fdossena.com/?p=wined3d/index.frag here].
;nGlide
:A great Glide wrapper, supporting all three public versions (2.11, 2.60 and 3.10) but it's closed-source. It originally only used Direct3D 9 until Vulkan output was added in 2.0, allowing it to work under Linux using [[Wine]] 2.10.0 and newer.<ref name="nglidevulkan">http://www.zeus-software.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2044</ref> nGlide also supports high resolution modes. See the [http://www.zeus-software.com/downloads/nglide/compatibility compatibility list].


;DXGL
;DXGL
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Modern Windows games will likely need one of these wrappers to work on other platforms. Usually these are not separate downloads, and will come packaged into [[compatibility layers]] like [[Proton]], [[Wine]], or [https://www.codeweavers.com/crossover CrossOver].
Modern Windows games will likely need one of these wrappers to work on other platforms. Usually these are not separate downloads, and will come packaged into [[compatibility layers]] like [[Proton]], [[Wine]], or [https://www.codeweavers.com/crossover CrossOver].
The term "wrapper" is not entirely accurate for some software listed in this table, such as OpenAL Soft. Unlike a true wrapper, which translates or redirects API calls to another system (e.g., DSOAL mapping OpenAL to DirectSound3D), OpenAL Soft is a complete, open-source software implementation of the OpenAL 3D audio API. It directly provides full functionality, including positional audio, distance attenuation, Doppler effects, and environmental audio processing, through software-based rendering. Operating independently of hardware acceleration, OpenAL Soft supports multiple platforms (e.g., Linux, Windows, macOS) and audio backends (e.g., ALSA, PulseAudio, WASAPI), making it a standalone audio engine rather than a wrapper layer.


{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
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|[http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/ dgVoodoo2]
|[http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/ dgVoodoo2]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2/ {{DgVoodoo2Ver}}]
|[http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2 {{DgVoodoo2Ver}}]
|Direct3D 8-9
|Direct3D 8-9
|Direct3D 11, 12
|Direct3D 11, 12
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|[https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk DXVK]
|[https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk DXVK]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|[https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk/releases {{DXVKVer}}]
|[https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk/releases {{DXVKVer}}]<br>[https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk/actions/workflows/artifacts.yml?query=branch%3Amaster git artifacts]
|Direct3D 8-11
|Direct3D 8-11
|Vulkan
|Vulkan
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|{{Green}} {{License|LGPLv21}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|{{Green}} {{License|LGPLv21}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|-
|vkd3d
|[https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/mesa/mesa/-/blob/main/docs/drivers/zink.rst Zink]
|align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|[https://source.winehq.org/git/vkd3d.git/ {{Vkd3dVer}}]
|[https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/mesa/mesa/-/tree/main/src/gallium/drivers/zink git] <br/>[https://github.com/pal1000/mesa-dist-win pal1000's Windows builds]<ref group=N name=Zink>Requires setting environment variable GALLIUM_DRIVER=zink</ref>
|Direct3D 12
|OpenGL 2.1-4.6
|Vulkan
|Vulkan
|{{Green}} {{License|LGPLv21}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
|{{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|-
|[https://github.com/crosire/d3d8to9/ d3d8to9]
|[https://github.com/crosire/d3d8to9/ d3d8to9]
Line 251: Line 265:
|Software
|Software
|{{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|{{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/mesa/mesa/-/blob/main/docs/drivers/zink.rst Zink]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|[https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/mesa/mesa/-/tree/main/src/gallium/drivers/zink git] <br/>[https://github.com/pal1000/mesa-dist-win pal1000's Windows builds] <small>(requires setting environment variable GALLIUM_DRIVER=zink)</small>
|OpenGL 2.1-4.6
|Vulkan
|{{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/mesa/mesa/-/blob/main/docs/drivers/d3d12.rst GLon12]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Xbox}}
|[https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/mesa/mesa/-/tree/main/src/gallium/drivers/d3d12 git] <br/>[https://github.com/pal1000/mesa-dist-win pal1000's Windows builds]
|OpenGL
|Direct3D 12
|{{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
|-
|-
|[https://github.com/libcg/grvk grvk]
|[https://github.com/libcg/grvk grvk]
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|[https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK MoltenVK]
|[https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK MoltenVK]
|align=left|{{Icon|macOS|iOS}}
|align=left|{{Icon|macOS|iOS}}
|[https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK/releases 1.3.268]
|[https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK/releases {{MoltenVKVer}}]
|Vulkan
|Vulkan
|Metal
|Metal
|{{Green}} {{License|Apache2}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|{{Green}} {{License|Apache2}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|-
|[https://github.com/AlpyneDreams/d8vk D8VK]
|KosmicKrisp
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|align="left"|{{Icon|macOS}}
|[https://github.com/AlpyneDreams/d8vk/releases 1.0]
|
|Direct3D 8
|Vulkan 1.3/1.4
|Vulkan
|Metal
|{{Green}} {{License|zlib}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}<ref group=N name=d8vk>Merged to DXVK. Use that instead</ref>
|{{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}})
|{{✓}}
|{{TBD}}
|-
|[https://github.com/kcat/openal-soft OpenAL Soft]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://github.com/kcat/openal-soft/releases 1.24.3]
|OpenAL
|<small>no API conversion</small>
|{{Green}} {{License|LGPL}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|-
|[https://github.com/iXit/wine-nine-standalone Gallium Nine]
|[https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/mesa/mesa/-/blob/main/docs/drivers/d3d12.rst GLon12]
|align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Xbox}}
|[https://github.com/iXit/wine-nine-standalone/releases v0.10] <small>(WIP)</small>
|[https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/mesa/mesa/-/tree/main/src/gallium/drivers/d3d12 git] <br/>[https://github.com/pal1000/mesa-dist-win pal1000's Windows builds]
|Direct3D 9
|OpenGL
|Gallium
|Direct3D 12
|{{Green}} {{License|LGPLv21}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}<ref group=N name=galliumnine>Deprecated in favor of more portable translation layers, such as DXVK or WineD3D</ref>
|{{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
|-
|-
|[https://github.com/microsoft/D3D9On12 D3D9On12]
|[https://github.com/microsoft/D3D9On12 D3D9On12]
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|<small>no API conversion</small>
|<small>no API conversion</small>
|{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
|{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
|-
|[https://github.com/ValveSoftware/ToGL ToGL]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|
|Direct3D 9.0c
|OpenGL
|{{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|-
|[https://github.com/darlinghq/indium Indium]
|[https://github.com/darlinghq/indium Indium]
Line 336: Line 338:
|{{Green}} {{License|0BSD}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{~}} ||{{~}}
|{{Green}} {{License|0BSD}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{~}} ||{{~}}
|-
|-
|[https://github.com/kcat/openal-soft OpenAL Soft]
|vkd3d
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}
|[https://source.winehq.org/git/vkd3d.git/ {{VKD3DVer}}]
|Direct3D 12
|Vulkan
|{{Green}} {{License|LGPLv21}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|[https://github.com/AlpyneDreams/d8vk D8VK]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|[https://github.com/AlpyneDreams/d8vk/releases 1.0]
|Direct3D 8
|Vulkan
|{{Green}} {{License|zlib}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}<ref group=N name=d8vk>Merged to DXVK. Use that instead</ref>
|-
|[https://github.com/iXit/wine-nine-standalone Gallium Nine]
|align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}
|[https://github.com/iXit/wine-nine-standalone/releases v0.10]  <small>(WIP)</small>
|Direct3D 9
|Gallium
|{{Green}} {{License|LGPLv21}} ({{License|Copyleft}}) ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}<ref group=N name=galliumnine>Deprecated in favor of more portable translation layers, such as DXVK or WineD3D</ref>
|-
|[https://github.com/ValveSoftware/ToGL ToGL]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|
|
|OpenAL
|Direct3D 9.0c
|Software
|OpenGL
|{{Green}} {{License|LGPLv21}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|{{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|}
|}
<references group=N />
<references group=N />
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==See also==
==See also==
* [[Compatibility layers]] - Allows software written for one platform to run on another.
* [[Compatibility layers]] - Allows software written for one platform to run on another.
==Notes==
<references group=Note />


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 12:40, 20 August 2026

A wrapper is a reimplementation of a library, where the goal is to substitute the original API with a better-supported interface. It works as a drop-in replacement for the original library, since a lot of software usually bundled it as-is without any fine-tuning. Wrappers are most common for proprietary interfaces that are either abandoned or otherwise platform-specific.

See High and low-level emulation page for more information about terms like "hypervisors", "simulators", "compatibility layers", "wrappers", "FPGA" and "software emulators".

'90s APIs

[edit | edit source]

(Glide, DirectDraw 1-7, Direct3D 2-7[N 1], OpenGL 1.x)

During the 90s, many IBM-Compatible PC game developers used 3dfx's Glide API for hardware accelerated 3D games, which is compatible only with 3dfx Voodoo cards. Neither NVIDIA nor ATI supported Glide, hence a wrapper is needed to play Glide games on non-Voodoo hardware.

Games using older versions of DirectDraw or Direct3D can also benefit from wrappers, since their interfaces may not work properly on newer systems. Wrappers can also enable various overrides and enhancements, such as ReShade.

Type Name Platform(s) Latest version Translates Into Compatibility License Active Recommended
Graphics dgVoodoo2 Windows 2.87.5 Glide 2.11-3.10
DirectDraw 1-7
Direct3D 2-7 		Direct3D 11, 12 ? Proprietary ✓ ✓
WineD3D Windows Linux macOS 11.0 (Linux, macOS)
11.10 (Windows)[N 2] 		DirectDraw 1-7
Direct3D 2-7 		Vulkan
OpenGL 		? LGPLv2.1 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓
D7VK Windows Linux 1.7 Direct3D 2-6 (experimental)
Direct3D 7 		Vulkan zlib License (Permissive) ✓ ✓
DxWnd Windows 2.06.15[N 2] DirectDraw 1-7
Direct3D 2-7 		no API conversion GPLv2 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓
glrage Windows r10 ATI3DCIF
DirectDraw 2 		OpenGL 3.3 LGPLv3 (Copyleft) ✗ ✓
RReady (Rendition Verite wrapper) Windows RReady Rendition Verité RRedline
Speedy3D 		OpenGL Proprietary ✓ ✓
S3d wrappers Windows S3d wrappers S3D
MSI95 		Software Proprietary ✓ ✓
nGlide Windows 2.10 Glide Vulkan
Direct3D 9 		Proprietary ✗ ✓
DxWrapper Windows 1.7.8400.25 DirectDraw 1-7
Direct3D 2-7 		Direct3D 9[N 3]
Direct3D 7 (for Direct3D 2-6)
DirectDraw 7 (for DirectDraw 1-6) 		? zlib License (Permissive) ✓ ~
DDrawCompat Windows 0.7.1 DirectDraw 1-7
Direct3D 2-7
GDI (Partially) 		no API conversion BSD-0-Clause (Permissive) ✓ ~
cnc-ddraw Windows
Linux macOS [N 4] 		6.6 DirectDraw 1-7 GDI
OpenGL
Direct3D 9 		MIT (Permissive) ✓ ~
DXGL Windows 0.5.27 DirectDraw 1-7 OpenGL LGPLv2.1 (Copyleft) ✓ ~
Mesa3D Windows Linux 26.1.0 OpenGL 1.x Software (CPU) MIT (Permissive) ✓ ✓
Glidos Windows 1.59 Glide (DOS) ? ? ✓ ✗
dgVoodoo Windows v1.50b2 Glide 2.11-2.45 Direct3D 7, 9 Proprietary ✗ ✗
OpenGlide Windows 0.09 Alpha Glide OpenGL Apache 2.0 (Permissive) ✗ ✗
psVoodoo Windows 0.17 Glide Direct3D 9 LGPL (Copyleft) ✗ ✗
Input XOutput Windows 3.32 DirectInput XInput MIT (Permissive) ✓ ✓
DxWrapper Windows 1.7.8400.25 DirectInput 1-7 DirectInput 8 zlib License (Permissive) ✓ ~
Sound DSOAL Windows git
dsoal-XP 		DirectSound OpenAL LGPLv2.1 (Copyleft) ✓ TBD
  1. ↑ Direct3D 1 is not listed, since DirectX 1 did not have a Direct3D component. The first release was Direct3D 2. The internal numbers of Direct3D pre-7 actually differ from the corresponding DirectX, but they were not referred to as such, outside of low-level dev material, possibly to avoid confusion.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 DxWnd 2.05.70, WineD3D 1.7.52 or 1.9.7-staging(partially) versions are the latest compatible versions with Windows XP (if OneCoreAPI is not installed to OS), for getting these old "WineD3D for Windows" builds use this link. Also you can use JHRobotics port for using WineD3D on Windows 9x (Wine9x) or Windows XP.
  3. ↑ Through dd7to9
  4. ↑ Linux and macOS are supported through wine.

Comparisons

[edit | edit source]
dgVoodoo2
Supports Glide 2.11, 2.45, 3.10, 3.1 Napalm, all versions of DirectDraw, and Direct3D up to version 7. Outputs Direct3D 11 and Direct3D 12 with different device types as wrapping output, such as hardware or software rendering.
WineD3D
Wine's internal wrapper. Wraps DirectDraw and Direct3D up to 7 into Vulkan and OpenGL. It works pretty well for running older Direct3D games, though it does not come with a Glide implementation of its own. A custom build is available for Windows here.
nGlide
A great Glide wrapper, supporting all three public versions (2.11, 2.60 and 3.10) but it's closed-source. It originally only used Direct3D 9 until Vulkan output was added in 2.0, allowing it to work under Linux using Wine 2.10.0 and newer.[1] nGlide also supports high resolution modes. See the compatibility list.
DXGL
Reimplements DirectDraw using OpenGL. It is considered alpha software despite many applications working.
glrage
Reimplements ATI3DCIF, an API from ATI used in a handful of games, and DirectDraw 2 over OpenGL. Originally designed specifically for Tomb Raider 1/UB patched with ATIRage patch, currently also supports Assault Rigs and Wipeout. Additionally, it applies some improvements, fixes and QoL changes to the games.

2000s and later APIs

[edit | edit source]

(Direct3D 8 and higher, OpenGL 2.x and higher, Vulkan)

Modern Windows games will likely need one of these wrappers to work on other platforms. Usually these are not separate downloads, and will come packaged into compatibility layers like Proton, Wine, or CrossOver.

The term "wrapper" is not entirely accurate for some software listed in this table, such as OpenAL Soft. Unlike a true wrapper, which translates or redirects API calls to another system (e.g., DSOAL mapping OpenAL to DirectSound3D), OpenAL Soft is a complete, open-source software implementation of the OpenAL 3D audio API. It directly provides full functionality, including positional audio, distance attenuation, Doppler effects, and environmental audio processing, through software-based rendering. Operating independently of hardware acceleration, OpenAL Soft supports multiple platforms (e.g., Linux, Windows, macOS) and audio backends (e.g., ALSA, PulseAudio, WASAPI), making it a standalone audio engine rather than a wrapper layer.

Name Platform(s) Latest Version Translates Into License Active Recommended
dgVoodoo2 Windows 2.87.5 Direct3D 8-9 Direct3D 11, 12 Proprietary ✓ ✓
DXVK Windows Linux 3.0.2
git artifacts 		Direct3D 8-11 Vulkan zlib License (Permissive) ✓ ✓
WineD3D Windows Linux macOS 11.0 (Linux, macOS)
11.10 (Windows) 		Direct3D 8-11 Vulkan
OpenGL 		LGPLv2.1 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓
VKD3D-Proton Windows Linux 3.0.1 Direct3D 12 Vulkan LGPLv2.1 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓
Zink Windows Linux git
pal1000's Windows builds[N 1] 		OpenGL 2.1-4.6 Vulkan MIT (Permissive) ✓ ✓
d3d8to9 Windows 1.12.0 Direct3D 8 Direct3D 9 BSD-2-Clause (Permissive) ✓ ✓
Mesa3D for Windows + MesaInjector Windows 20.1.8
lightningterror's builds
vogonsdrivers builds 		OpenGL Software MIT (Permissive) ✓ ✓
grvk Windows 0.5.0 Mantle Vulkan 1.2 zlib License (Permissive) ✓ ✓
MoltenVK macOS iOS 1.4.2 Vulkan Metal Apache 2.0 (Permissive) ✓ ✓
KosmicKrisp macOS Vulkan 1.3/1.4 Metal MIT (Permissive) ✓ TBD
OpenAL Soft Windows 1.24.3 OpenAL no API conversion LGPL ✓ ✓
GLon12 Windows Xbox git
pal1000's Windows builds 		OpenGL Direct3D 12 MIT (Permissive) ✓ ~
D3D9On12 Windows git Direct3D 9 Direct3D 12 MIT (Permissive) ✓ ~
D3D11On12 Windows git Direct3D 11 Direct3D 12 MIT (Permissive) ✓ ~
3Dmigoto Windows 1.3.16 Direct3D 11 (Stereo3D) no API conversion GPLv3 (Copyleft) ✓ ~
VorpX ($) Windows v21.3.2 Direct3D 11 (Stereo3D) no API conversion Proprietary ✓ ~
Indium Linux Metal Vulkan BSD-0-Clause (Permissive) ~ ~
vkd3d Linux 2.0 Direct3D 12 Vulkan LGPLv2.1 (Copyleft) ✓ ✗
D8VK Windows Linux 1.0 Direct3D 8 Vulkan zlib License (Permissive) ✗ ✗[N 2]
Gallium Nine Linux v0.10 (WIP) Direct3D 9 Gallium LGPLv2.1 (Copyleft) ✗ ✗[N 3]
ToGL Windows Linux Direct3D 9.0c OpenGL MIT (Permissive) ✗ ✗
  1. ↑ Requires setting environment variable GALLIUM_DRIVER=zink
  2. ↑ Merged to DXVK. Use that instead
  3. ↑ Deprecated in favor of more portable translation layers, such as DXVK or WineD3D

Comparisons

[edit | edit source]
dgVoodoo2
Supports Direct3D 8-9. Outputs Direct3D 11 and Direct3D 12 with different device types as wrapping output, such as hardware or software rendering.
DXVK
It was originally designed to accelerate support for Direct3D 11 games running under Wine since a native implementation seemed unlikely. Today it is bundled with Proton. D9VK was later merged to add Direct3D 9 support, and D8VK was also merged to add Direct3D 8 support.
WineD3D
Wine's internal wrapper. Wraps Direct3D 8-11 into Vulkan and OpenGL. For newer APIs it has more bugs than DXVK. A custom build is available for Windows here.
VKD3D-Proton
A fork of VKD3D funded by Valve, which is more developed and has experimental support for DXR via VK_KHR_ray_tracing. Requires DXVK's dxgi.dll file to work on Windows.
vkd3d
Wine's work-in-progress Direct3D 12 to Vulkan wrapper.
d3d8to9
Not as versatile as dgVoodoo2, however it's the only wrapper that can wrap Direct3D 8 into 9. Its main advantage is Windows XP support, which dgVoodoo2 lacks. It's specifically useful for Windows XP running in VMware, since VMware's Direct3D 8 acceleration has graphical and/or performance issues.
Indium
A implementation of Metal on top of Vulkan, originally devolped by iglunix and later by Darling the open-source macOS compatibility layer.
MoltenVK
Developed by the Brenwill Workshop under the Khronos Group, it re-implements Vulkan for Metal. Emulators like Dolphin and DuckStation use MoltenVK instead of a native Metal renderer to support Apple devices.
Gallium Nine
An implementation of the Direct3D 9 library on top of the Gallium driver for Linux. By using calls native to Linux, applications running under Wine run "at near-native speeds" according to the maintainers. The caveat is that it only works on Mesa, not NVIDIA's proprietary driver.
Zink
A "just-in-case" implementation of OpenGL on top of Vulkan first introduced in 2018 by Collabora for the Mesa driver.[2]

See also

[edit | edit source]

Notes

[edit | edit source]
  1. ↑ As of April 29, 2026, only the Direct3D 12 (except Early Access), 10, 9Ex and 8 lists (and potentially Vulkan, Mantle and Metal) are practically reliable (barring a handful of titles). Note that there are more games using the said APIs which have not yet had the API information added on their pages. The other lists still require validation; it's a WIP. People are encouraged to contribute by directly checking the games with the appropriate tools. The details are on the PCGW editing guide.

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ↑ http://www.zeus-software.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2044
  2. ↑ Erik Faye-Lund (October 31, 2018). Introducing Zink, an OpenGL implementation on top of Vulkan. Collabora.
[edit | edit source]
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