Do I need the original game files to run ReC98?

Yes. The project does not include the original game's assets, so you need your own copy. Running the compiled executables requires an existing copy of the original games.

ReC98

DecompilationSporadicPlayableWindows

Source code reconstructed from the original game's compiled binary, so the game can be understood, rebuilt and ported.

Based on Touhou

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Links, repository & details

About

Touhou Project is a long-running bullet hell series created by independent Japanese developer Jun'ya "ZUN" Ōta, who has published 20 mainline games and 13 spin-offs since 1997 under the name Team Shanghai Alice. ReC98 aims to perfectly reconstruct the source code of the first five Touhou Project games (TH01 through TH05), originally released exclusively for the NEC PC-9801. "Perfect" here means the binaries compiled from ReC98's code are indistinguishable from ZUN's original builds, verified on every commit. It does not include any original PC-98 asset data, so running the compiled executables still requires an existing copy of the original games.

How it differs from the original

The main `master` branch reproduces the original executables bit-for-bit, bugs included; separate branches like `debloated` and `anniversary` rearchitect the code for readability and fix bugs while leaving other original quirks intact.

Getting started

Building requires specific vintage tools — Borland Turbo C++ 4.0J and Turbo Assembler, plus bundled helpers (MS-DOS Player and the Tup build system) — and is done by running build.bat. The resulting executables need the original PC-98 game data files placed alongside them to actually run.

History

The project is funded through ongoing crowdfunding and has shifted its focus over time toward detailed documentation of ZUN's original code via a project blog, with TH01's decompilation completed in August 2022.

Known issues & limitations

The master branch keeps ZUN's original code without mods or bugfixes.

What you need to run it

Original game files required. The project ships code only; you provide your own copy of the game (Other version). Running the compiled executables requires an existing copy of the original games.

You need an existing copy of the original games; the project does not include their assets.
DOSBox-X and the Debug edition of Neko Project II are emulators capable of running the games.

Features

The anniversary branch fixes bugs for smoother, flicker-free gameplay on PC-98 while retaining quirks.

Summarised from the project's README.

Media

FAQ

What is ReC98?: ReC98 is an open-source decompilation of Touhou. Source code reconstructed from the original game's compiled binary, so the game can be understood, rebuilt and ported. The original game ran on Other.
Do I need the original game files to run ReC98?: Yes. The project does not include the original game's assets, so you need your own copy. Running the compiled executables requires an existing copy of the original games.