Nocturne Decompilation
Source code reconstructed from the original game's compiled binary, so the game can be understood, rebuilt and ported.
Based on Nocturne
Original game imageAbout
A work-in-progress reverse engineering and decompilation project for the 1999 game Nocturne, using Ghidra plus a hand-written compatibility layer so the decompiled code can run. It is not a byte-for-byte matching decompilation: it aims to reproduce the game's functionality as faithfully as possible in readable, portable C/C++. The README says the decompiled game builds and plays on Linux, with SDL2-backed shims and an OpenGL 3.3 renderer.
How it differs from the original
Deliberate departures from the shipped binary, such as bug fixes, a window mode and HUD scaling past 640x480, sit behind NOCTURNE_AUTHENTIC_* flags that restore the original behaviour. The code is portable C/C++ with no inline assembly and builds as 64-bit.
Getting started
The README says no game data is included and none is needed to build. Building uses a build script and a run script, with a default native 64-bit build; prerequisites and presets are in the docs. A 64-bit Windows executable can be cross-compiled from Linux or built under MSYS2.
What you need to run it
Features
- The project builds and runs as 64-bit.
- Sound, music, and FMV play.
- Both the hardware renderer path and software rasteriser work.
- Windowed and borderless modes are available.
- Modern controller support is available.
- The menu can reach a resolution list.
Summarised from the project's README.
Licensing & legal
- Original work (shims, build system, tooling, docs) is 0BSD; the reconstructed source of the game is stated to be not covered by it.
Additional notes
- Features
- Work beyond getting it running includes windowed and borderless modes, modern controller support, netplay and fixes for defects in the original.
FAQ
- What is Nocturne Decompilation?
- Nocturne Decompilation is an open-source decompilation of Nocturne. Source code reconstructed from the original game's compiled binary, so the game can be understood, rebuilt and ported.
- How is Nocturne Decompilation licensed?
- project: 0BSD (original work (shims, build system, tooling, docs and research)); project: not covered (reconstructed source under annotations/*/pseudocode/src/). The repository itself is the authoritative source.