It's Decomplicated

Turn old games back into code.

Plain guides for decompiling games with Claude. One guide for every system, with tested steps, real prompts and honest time estimates.

How it works Pick a system

Start here

Read these in order the first time.

OverviewOverviewThe whole idea in plain words Deep DiveDeep DiveHow it really works Claude SetupClaude SetupModels, effort, tools Stay on TaskStay on TaskNo drift, no detours PromptsPromptsCopy and paste Tools and SkillsTools and SkillsWhat to install TimeTimeHow long each system takes

Platform guides

31 systems. Each guide has the same parts.

N64MIPS chipMature tools15 reviewedNintendo 64Nintendo, 1996151 projects listed GCPowerPC chipMature tools15 reviewedGameCubeNintendo, 200152 projects listed WiiPowerPC chipTools growing13 reviewedWiiNintendo, 200625 projects listed Wii UPowerPC chipTools growing14 reviewedWii UNintendo, 20128 projects listed NSWARM chipTools growing15 reviewedNintendo SwitchNintendo, 201767 projects listed NS2ARM chipEarly tools18 reviewedNintendo Switch 2Nintendo, 202514 projects listed NES6502/65816 chipTools growing14 reviewedNESNintendo, 198326 projects listed SNES6502/65816 chipTools growing17 reviewedSuper NintendoNintendo, 199084 projects listed GBZ80/SM83 chipTools growing12 reviewedGame BoyNintendo, 198913 projects listed GBCZ80/SM83 chipTools growing13 reviewedGame Boy ColorNintendo, 19988 projects listed GBAARM chipMature tools14 reviewedGame Boy AdvanceNintendo, 200129 projects listed DSARM chipTools growing13 reviewedNintendo DSNintendo, 200424 projects listed 3DSARM chipTools growing10 reviewedNintendo 3DSNintendo, 201112 projects listed VBother chipEarly tools10 reviewedVirtual BoyNintendo, 19952 projects listed PS1MIPS chipTools growing15 reviewedPlayStationSony, 1994179 projects listed PS2MIPS chipTools growing15 reviewedPlayStation 2Sony, 200097 projects listed PS3PowerPC chipTools growing16 reviewedPlayStation 3Sony, 200649 projects listed PS4x86 chipTools growing15 reviewedPlayStation 4Sony, 201380 projects listed PS5x86 chipEarly tools14 reviewedPlayStation 5Sony, 20201 projects listed PSPMIPS chipTools growing17 reviewedPSPSony, 200425 projects listed XBOXx86 chipTools growing15 reviewedXboxMicrosoft, 2001140 projects listed 360PowerPC chipTools growing15 reviewedXbox 360Microsoft, 2005269 projects listed DCSuperH chipEarly tools14 reviewedDreamcastSega, 199810 projects listed SATSuperH chipEarly tools13 reviewedSaturnSega, 19942 projects listed GEN68k chipTools growing14 reviewedGenesisSega, 198821 projects listed 32XSuperH chipEarly tools10 reviewed32XSega, 19942 projects listed GGZ80/SM83 chipEarly tools10 reviewedGame GearSega, 19901 projects listed PCx86 chipTools growing23 reviewedPCMany, 1981263 projects listed AMI68k chipEarly tools10 reviewedAmigaCommodore, 198511 projects listed ARCother chipEarly tools12 reviewedArcadeMany, 197124 projects listed CD-i68k chipEarly tools11 reviewedCD-iPhilips, 199110 projects listed

Easiest to get running

Ranked by how hard Path A is.

SNES6502/65816 chipTools growing17 reviewedSuper NintendoNintendo, 199084 projects listed PS1MIPS chipTools growing15 reviewedPlayStationSony, 1994179 projects listed XBOXx86 chipTools growing15 reviewedXboxMicrosoft, 2001140 projects listed NES6502/65816 chipTools growing14 reviewedNESNintendo, 198326 projects listed GBAARM chipMature tools14 reviewedGame Boy AdvanceNintendo, 200129 projects listed GEN68k chipTools growing14 reviewedGenesisSega, 198821 projects listed GBCZ80/SM83 chipTools growing13 reviewedGame Boy ColorNintendo, 19988 projects listed GBZ80/SM83 chipTools growing12 reviewedGame BoyNintendo, 198913 projects listed 3DSARM chipTools growing10 reviewedNintendo 3DSNintendo, 201112 projects listed GGZ80/SM83 chipEarly tools10 reviewedGame GearSega, 19901 projects listed

Most projects to learn from

Ranked by how many projects RecompLauncher lists.

360PowerPC chipTools growing15 reviewedXbox 360Microsoft, 2005269 projects listed PCx86 chipTools growing23 reviewedPCMany, 1981263 projects listed PS1MIPS chipTools growing15 reviewedPlayStationSony, 1994179 projects listed N64MIPS chipMature tools15 reviewedNintendo 64Nintendo, 1996151 projects listed XBOXx86 chipTools growing15 reviewedXboxMicrosoft, 2001140 projects listed PS2MIPS chipTools growing15 reviewedPlayStation 2Sony, 200097 projects listed SNES6502/65816 chipTools growing17 reviewedSuper NintendoNintendo, 199084 projects listed PS4x86 chipTools growing15 reviewedPlayStation 4Sony, 201380 projects listed NSWARM chipTools growing15 reviewedNintendo SwitchNintendo, 201767 projects listed GCPowerPC chipMature tools15 reviewedGameCubeNintendo, 200152 projects listed

The frontier

Few tools and few finished projects. Expect to build things yourself.

NS2ARM chipEarly tools18 reviewedNintendo Switch 2Nintendo, 202514 projects listed VBother chipEarly tools10 reviewedVirtual BoyNintendo, 19952 projects listed PS5x86 chipEarly tools14 reviewedPlayStation 5Sony, 20201 projects listed DCSuperH chipEarly tools14 reviewedDreamcastSega, 199810 projects listed SATSuperH chipEarly tools13 reviewedSaturnSega, 19942 projects listed 32XSuperH chipEarly tools10 reviewed32XSega, 19942 projects listed GGZ80/SM83 chipEarly tools10 reviewedGame GearSega, 19901 projects listed AMI68k chipEarly tools10 reviewedAmigaCommodore, 198511 projects listed ARCother chipEarly tools12 reviewedArcadeMany, 197124 projects listed CD-i68k chipEarly tools11 reviewedCD-iPhilips, 199110 projects listed