Guides

What a native port is, how the different techniques work and how to play these games legally.

What is a native port?

A native port is a modern re-release of a classic game that runs on today's platforms (PC, Linux, macOS or Android), with no emulator and no compatibility layer in between.
Most of the projects in this catalog are community efforts. The code is written from scratch or converted from the original, then published as open source.
They never ship the game's own files. Music, levels and sound are read from a copy of the original game that you own. That is what keeps the whole scene legal.

How ports are made

Each technique describes how a project recreates the original game. The port's detail page always tells you which one it uses.

Decompilation: The game's source code is rebuilt from the original, function by function. It is slow work.
Recompilation: The console's processor is not emulated: its code is translated ahead of time. The console's system and graphics are replaced by a layer from the project.
Reimplementation: A new engine recreates the game or a family of games. Flexible, but faithfulness depends on each reimplemented asset.
Source port: An engine released by its original developer, updated to keep running on modern systems.
Native runtime: A per-game runtime replaces the console's system libraries; the game's own code runs natively and its graphics are translated to a modern API.

You can browse the catalog by technique from each port's detail page; the technique is always shown in the overview.

Getting your own copy, legally

No project in this catalog distributes the original game's files, and this site links to no downloads of any kind. To play any port you must own the original game. That is the rule I am least willing to bend.
In many countries it is legal to make a copy of a game you own; check your country's law. You extract the data with the tools each project documents. Some games are also sold again officially by their publisher.
Never download third-party bundles: besides being illegal, they are a common way to catch malware. Use only official sources (the ones linked here).

Frequently asked questions

Is a native port the same as an emulator?: No. An emulator simulates the original console and runs the original program. A native port, by contrast, runs directly on the target platform; there is no console in the middle.
Do I need to download files here?: No. OpenPortsGames links only to official project sources. It hosts no downloads or ROMs; cover art is shown only to identify the game.
Why do I see a legal notice on some ports?: A few projects have been paused or removed by their authors due to legal action. We mark them as removed and no longer link to them.
Is there anything for Android?: Yes. Android is one of the catalog's platforms; some projects ship official Android builds, and they are tagged in the catalog.

What is a native port?

A native port is a modern re-release of a classic game that runs on today's platforms (PC, Linux, macOS or Android), with no emulator and no compatibility layer in between.

Most of the projects in this catalog are community efforts. The code is written from scratch or converted from the original, then published as open source.

They never ship the game's own files. Music, levels and sound are read from a copy of the original game that you own. That is what keeps the whole scene legal.

How ports are made

Each technique describes how a project recreates the original game. The port's detail page always tells you which one it uses.

Decompilation

The game's source code is rebuilt from the original, function by function. It is slow work.

Recompilation

The console's processor is not emulated: its code is translated ahead of time. The console's system and graphics are replaced by a layer from the project.

Reimplementation

A new engine recreates the game or a family of games. Flexible, but faithfulness depends on each reimplemented asset.

Source port

An engine released by its original developer, updated to keep running on modern systems.

Native runtime

A per-game runtime replaces the console's system libraries; the game's own code runs natively and its graphics are translated to a modern API.

You can browse the catalog by technique from each port's detail page; the technique is always shown in the overview.

Getting your own copy, legally

No project in this catalog distributes the original game's files, and this site links to no downloads of any kind. To play any port you must own the original game. That is the rule I am least willing to bend.

In many countries it is legal to make a copy of a game you own; check your country's law. You extract the data with the tools each project documents. Some games are also sold again officially by their publisher.

Never download third-party bundles: besides being illegal, they are a common way to catch malware. Use only official sources (the ones linked here).

Frequently asked questions

Is a native port the same as an emulator?

No. An emulator simulates the original console and runs the original program. A native port, by contrast, runs directly on the target platform; there is no console in the middle.

Do I need to download files here?

No. OpenPortsGames links only to official project sources. It hosts no downloads or ROMs; cover art is shown only to identify the game.

Why do I see a legal notice on some ports?

A few projects have been paused or removed by their authors due to legal action. We mark them as removed and no longer link to them.

Is there anything for Android?

Yes. Android is one of the catalog's platforms; some projects ship official Android builds, and they are tagged in the catalog.