Frequently asked questions
What we get asked most about the catalog.
Why are there no direct download links?
We always send you to the project’s official repository. It’s the legitimate source and the safest one, since it avoids tampered binaries and fake copies, and it always has the latest version. Recompendium doesn’t host or re-host binaries: it only catalogs and links.
Do I need the original game?
Yes. These projects are code only: you have to supply your own legal copy of the game (your ROM or disc image). The recomp or port uses it, but doesn’t include it.
What’s the difference between a recomp, a port, and a decompilation?
A recomp translates the original binary into native code, and the result is already an executable. A port or remake reaches the same game by another route. A decompilation rebuilds the game’s source code from the binary: we show its progress percentage, but on its own it isn’t a game you can run.
How is the data kept up to date?
From three sources: the official repository (stars, version, and date, daily through the GitHub API), decomp.dev (each decompilation’s percentage), and community contributions, which we review by hand.
How do I add or fix a project?
Use the Contribute form or the Edit button on any entry. You fill in the fields in your language; your submission arrives as a proposal, and we review it before publishing it.
What happens if a project is taken down by a DMCA claim?
Sometimes a decompilation or a port gets a copyright claim and its repository disappears. Since we only link and host nothing, we mark the entry as Taken down, remove the repository link, and keep the entry as a record of the scene. Are you a rights holder who wants an entry removed? Open an issue.
Is this legal?
These projects’ code is open source. What requires a legal copy is the game: you provide the ROM or disc image. Recompendium doesn’t distribute copyrighted material (see the Terms).