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It's Decomplicated
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Sources and checks

How this site was made and checked

Every guide rests on real projects. This page lists them, and says plainly what was tested and what was not.

Pick a system

How the guides were made

We did not write these guides from memory. We read what real projects did, then wrote down what worked.

  1. Took the list

    RecompLauncher keeps a public catalog of game ports. In November 2026 it listed 1,699 projects across 31 systems. Each entry has a repo link and a star count.

  2. Picked the projects

    For each system we took the highest-starred project for each game. We took the top 12 games, so every guide reviews ten or more.

  3. Saved the facts

    For each project we saved its README, build notes, build scripts and any instruction files written for AI agents. We also saved its dates, its size and its number of contributors.

  4. Wrote a card for each project

    A reviewer read the saved files and wrote one card. The card lists the method, the tools and the build steps. It also lists how the work is checked, the dates, and the lessons.

  5. Wrote the guide

    A writer read all the cards for one system. The writer also opened each tool's own page to confirm its name and install steps.

  6. Checked the guide

    A second reviewer, who had not seen the writing, checked every tool, link, command and claim. That reviewer fixed what was wrong.

In all, the guides review 432 projects across 31 systems.

The rules for picking projects

  • Highest rated first. "Rated" means GitHub stars, as RecompLauncher lists them.
  • Ten games or more for each system. One project for each game, the top one.
  • When a system has fewer than ten games listed, we reviewed every project on the list. Then we added projects from outside RecompLauncher. Those are marked "From outside RecompLauncher" on the guide.
  • When fewer than ten real projects exist anywhere, the guide says so. We did not pad the list.
  • Two extras. Each system also reviews up to three projects whose developers say they used AI. The PC guide also reviews eight more decomp projects, because its top-starred entries are mostly open-source remakes.

How each kind of claim was checked

Kind of claimHow it was checked
A tool's name, link and install stepsRead on the tool's own page by the writer, then again by the second reviewer. Core tools were also installed and run on a real PC. See the next section.
What a project didTaken from the project's own files: README, build notes, build scripts and agent instruction files.
Claude models, effort levels and commandsTaken from Anthropic's official pages on 13 November 2026. Command flags were also confirmed with claude --help.
What works when agents decompileTaken from write-ups by people who did it, with their measured results.
Time rangesBuilt from dated facts: first commit, first release, and the developers' own words. Each range has a confidence label.
SkillsEach skill's full instruction file was read before it was listed. Risky ones are marked.
Reading levelMeasured by a script on every page. A page fails above grade 7.

What was run on a real PC

These tools were installed and started on a Windows 11 PC with WSL. The table shows the exact command and what happened. A failed test is listed as failed.

ToolWhereResultCommand that was runWhat happened
splat
0.50.1		WindowsWorkspython -m venv venvs\splat; venvs\splat\Scripts\python.exe -m pip install -U "splat64[mips]"Help runs, and a real split of splat's own MIT-licensed test ROM (test/basic_app) wrote asm, C and a linker script in under a second. No compiler was needed for the install.
splat
0.50.1		WSLWorkspython3 -m venv ~/decomplicated-sandbox/venvs/splat; ~/decomplicated-sandbox/venvs/splat/bin/python -m pip install -U 'splat64[mips]'Install took 13 s; the same test-ROM split ran in 0.19 s with the same result as on Windows.
objdiff-cli
3.8.3		WindowsWorksDownload release asset objdiff-cli-windows-x86_64.exe (v3.8.3) into its own folder; no installerVersion and help run. Two small C files compiled with Clang 23 (ARM target) were diffed: the changed function scored 45%, the identical one 100%.
objdiff-cli
3.8.3		WSLWorksDownload release asset objdiff-cli-linux-x86_64 (v3.8.3); chmod +xVersion and help run. The same two C files compiled with GCC 13 were diffed: changed function 65%, identical function 100%.
decomp-toolkit (dtk)
1.8.4		WindowsWorksDownload release asset dtk-windows-x86_64.exe (v1.8.4); no installer--version and --help run instantly. No real run, because that needs a GameCube or Wii game.
decomp-toolkit (dtk)
1.8.4		WSLWorksDownload release asset dtk-linux-x86_64 (v1.8.4); chmod +x--version and --help run. No real run, because that needs a GameCube or Wii game.
m2c
git c632946 (2026-10-22)		WindowsWorksgit clone https://github.com/matt-kempster/m2c.git; python -m venv venvs\m2c; venvs\m2c\Scripts\python.exe -m pip install "graphviz~=0.20.1"; run python m2c.py from the clone folderHelp runs, and a real run on a MIPS function from the splat test output produced correct C (a switch statement read from the jump table). It must be run as a script from its own folder; Python's -I mode breaks it.
decomp-permuter
git 860b6d9 (2026-11-10)		WindowsWorks with a notegit clone https://github.com/simonlindholm/decomp-permuter.git; python -m venv venvs\permuter; venvs\permuter\Scripts\python.exe -m pip install pynacl toml Levenshteinpermuter.py --help runs. Real jobs are driven by a compile.sh shell script and permuter@home does not work on native Windows, so use WSL for actual permuting.
decomp-permuter
git 860b6d9 (2026-11-10)		WSLWorks with a notegit clone --depth 1 https://github.com/simonlindholm/decomp-permuter.git; python3 -m venv venvs/permuter; venvs/permuter/bin/python -m pip install pynacl toml Levenshteinpermuter.py --help and import.py --help run. No real permutation was run because it needs a matching-decomp project and its compiler.
asm-differ
git 0dd09af (2026-09-06)		WindowsWorks with a notegit clone https://github.com/simonlindholm/asm-differ.git; python -m venv venvs\asmdiffer; venvs\asmdiffer\Scripts\python.exe -m pip install colorama watchdog levenshtein cxxfiltdiff.py --help runs when started from a folder holding diff_settings.py; from anywhere else it stops with 'Unable to find diff_settings.py in the same directory.' A real diff needs a project build.
wibo
1.2.0		WSLWorksDownload release asset wibo-x86_64 (1.2.0); chmod +x--version, --help and a no-argument run print the usage. wibo is Linux/macOS only and is not needed on Windows, where the old compilers run natively.
N64Recomp
git 598ce20 (2026-11-03)		WindowsWorksgit clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/N64Recomp/N64Recomp.git; cmake -S N64Recomp -B build\N64Recomp-win-default; cmake --build build\N64Recomp-win-default --config ReleaseBuilt with Visual Studio Build Tools 2022 from a plain PowerShell window; N64Recomp.exe with no arguments prints 'Usage: ... <config file> [--dump-context]'. The first build was interrupted and finished on a second run of the same command (31 s).
N64Recomp
git 598ce20 (2026-11-03)		WSLWorksgit clone --recurse-submodules --shallow-submodules --depth 1 https://github.com/N64Recomp/N64Recomp.git; cmake -S N64Recomp -B build/N64Recomp -G Ninja -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release; cmake --build build/N64RecompClone 8 s, configure 4 s, build 16 s with GCC 13 and Ninja; all six tools built and N64Recomp prints its usage line with no arguments.
XenonRecomp
git ddd128b (2025-08-04)		WindowsWorksgit clone --recursive https://github.com/hedge-dev/XenonRecomp.git; in a VS 2022 x64 environment (vcvars64.bat): cmake -S XenonRecomp -B build\XenonRecomp-win -G Ninja -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang-cl -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang-cl; cmake --build build\XenonRecomp-winConfigured and built in 15 s with clang-cl 23.1.3; XenonAnalyse.exe and XenonRecomp.exe print their usage lines. It needs the Visual Studio developer environment around the clang-cl build.
XenonRecomp
git ddd128b (2025-08-04)		WSLWorksgit clone --recursive https://github.com/hedge-dev/XenonRecomp.git; cmake -S XenonRecomp -B build/XenonRecomp -G Ninja -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++; cmake --build build/XenonRecompConfigured in 8 s and built in 8 s with Ubuntu clang 18.1.3; both tools print their usage lines.
gb-recompiled
0.1.0		WindowsWorksgh release download v0.1.0 -R arcanite24/gb-recompiled -p gb-recompiled-windows-x64.zip -p SHA256SUMS.txt; check the SHA-256; Expand-ArchiveThe checksum matched; gbrecomp.exe --version prints 0.1.0 and --help prints its options. Generating and building a game was not tested because it needs a ROM.
PS2Recomp
git e563698 (2026-10-22)		WindowsWorksgit clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/ran-j/PS2Recomp.git; cmake -S PS2Recomp -B build\PS2Recomp-win; cmake --build build\PS2Recomp-win --config DebugThe documented build finished with Visual Studio Build Tools 2022 in about 8 minutes (configure 165 s, build 322 s), because configure downloads 13 libraries and a prebuilt FFmpeg. ps2_recomp.exe and ps2_analyzer.exe print their usage with no arguments.
skills installer (npx skills)
skills CLI 1.8.1		WindowsWorksnpx --yes skills add trailofbits/skills-curated --skill ghidra-headless -a claude-code (in a new empty folder); npx --yes skills list; npx --yes skills remove ghidra-headlessOn Windows it copied the skill (no symlink, no .agents folder), asked no questions, and created only skills-lock.json and .claude\skills\ghidra-headless\ (SKILL.md, 2 shell scripts, 6 Ghidra Java scripts) in the project folder; list showed it and remove deleted it, leaving an empty .claude\skills folder and an empty lock file. ~/.claude/skills was unchanged.
Claude Code CLI
2.1.325		WindowsWorksalready installed (C:\Users\<user>\.local\bin\claude.exe); ran claude --version, claude --help, claude mcp --helpAll three read-only commands ran; claude mcp offers add, add-json, get, list, remove, login, logout, serve and more.
Environment
Python 3.13.13, Node 24.20.0, npm 11.19.0, Git 2.54.0, gh 2.94.0, CMake 4.4.4, Ninja 1.13.2, Clang 23.1.3, VS Build Tools 2022 (MSVC 19.44), Java 21; no GCC, no make		WindowsWorksnothing installed; versions read with --versionGhidra 12.1.4 is installed at C:\Tools\ghidra_12.1.4_PUBLIC (not on PATH). Windows has no GCC or make, so GCC/make-based N64 projects belong in WSL.
Environment
Ubuntu 24.04.5; Python 3.12.3, Git 2.43.0, CMake 3.28.3, Ninja 1.11.1, Clang 18.1.3, GCC 13.3.0, GNU Make 4.3, MIPS binutils 2.42; no node, no gh		WSLWorkssudo apt-get install -y build-essential cmake ninja-build clang lld python3-venv python3-pip git unzip binutils-mips-linux-gnusudo worked without a password, so the standard build packages were installed in 38 s. No Ghidra or Java in WSL.

What was not tested

Read this before you rely on a guide

No guide was run from start to end on a real commercial game. We used no commercial game files at all.

  • The steps come from projects that did finish. But your game, your version and your PC may differ.
  • The prompts follow a method that worked for others. They were not each run against a real game.
  • We did not test how Claude reacts to decomp requests. Claude Code has a rule against building a recreation of a specific existing game. No source says how that rule applies to decomp work. Claude may say no to some requests.
  • We did not test whether decomp work makes Claude switch to an older model. Anthropic says its safety checks can do that for work that looks like security research.
  • Each guide ends with its own list of things that could not be checked.

Reading level of every page

The whole site aims for a 6th-grade reading level. A script measures each page with the Flesch-Kincaid grade formula. It counts words in each sentence and syllables in each word. Tool names and commands are left out of the count. Here is the score for every page.

PageReading gradeWords of prose
Nintendo 64 guide4.55,013
GameCube guide4.05,487
Wii guide4.15,433
Wii U guide4.65,813
Nintendo Switch guide4.65,649
Nintendo Switch 2 guide4.75,839
NES guide4.65,601
Super Nintendo guide4.25,311
Game Boy guide4.35,098
Game Boy Color guide4.65,997
Game Boy Advance guide4.45,401
Nintendo DS guide4.65,429
Nintendo 3DS guide4.35,493
Virtual Boy guide4.35,376
PlayStation guide4.04,715
PlayStation 2 guide4.75,761
PlayStation 3 guide4.05,380
PlayStation 4 guide4.16,002
PlayStation 5 guide3.86,273
PSP guide4.35,494
Xbox guide4.35,358
Xbox 360 guide4.25,343
Dreamcast guide4.56,511
Saturn guide4.75,184
Genesis guide5.25,951
32X guide5.55,800
Game Gear guide4.45,620
PC guide4.25,308
Amiga guide4.75,724
Arcade guide4.85,806
CD-i guide4.96,513
Claude Setup3.43,415
Deep Dive3.33,991
Glossary2.4102
Overview2.01,276
Prompts2.63,838
Sources4.4837
Stay On Task2.63,061
Time3.41,009
Tools2.83,664

Every project reviewed

These are all the projects behind the guides, by system. Each link goes to the project's own page.

Nintendo 64 (15 projects)

GameCube (15 projects)

Wii (13 projects)

Wii U (14 projects)

Nintendo Switch (15 projects)

Nintendo Switch 2 (18 projects)

NES (14 projects)

Super Nintendo (17 projects)

Game Boy (12 projects)

Game Boy Color (13 projects)

Game Boy Advance (14 projects)

Nintendo DS (13 projects)

Nintendo 3DS (10 projects)

Virtual Boy (10 projects)

PlayStation (15 projects)

PlayStation 2 (15 projects)

PlayStation 3 (16 projects)

PlayStation 4 (15 projects)

PlayStation 5 (14 projects)

PSP (17 projects)

Xbox (15 projects)

Xbox 360 (15 projects)

Dreamcast (14 projects)

Saturn (13 projects)

Genesis (14 projects)

32X (10 projects)

Game Gear (10 projects)

PC (23 projects)

Amiga (10 projects)

Arcade (12 projects)

CD-i (11 projects)

Credit and licences

  • The project list comes from the public catalog at RecompLauncher. This site is not tied to RecompLauncher.
  • The look of this site follows RecompLauncher and RecompStore by elripalda. Their styles are open source under GPL-3.0. This site's code and styles are GPL-3.0 too.
  • The fonts are Figtree and Archivo, under the SIL Open Font License.
  • The artwork is original. The posters and diagrams are drawn by this site's own build script. No game art is used.
  • The projects belong to their developers. Thank them, star them, and follow their rules for contributions.

Main research sources