Do I need the original game files to run The Sims 2?

Yes. The project does not include the original game's assets, so you need your own copy.

The Sims 2

DecompilationSporadic

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

Based on The Sims 2

compare all 3 clones

Image of the original game, The Sims 2. This project has no screenshots of its own yet.

The Sims 2 (original game, not this project) — Image of the original game, The Sims 2. This project has no screenshots of its own yet.

Links, repository & details

About

Sims2DECOMP is a matching decompilation of The Sims 2 for Nintendo GameCube (G4ZE69, build F.09.12.0, 2005-09-12). It is early-stage: the DOL links and is byte-identical to the retail disc, but mostly through byte-injection of the original binary, with only a fraction of functions hand-decompiled to real C++. Clean byte-matched game code stands at 12.40% of game .text, and 9,215 of 16,890 game functions (54.56%) are matched.

Getting started

Building requires devkitPro with devkitPPC, Python 3.10+, Ninja and a legally obtained copy of the GameCube game, whose main.dol, ELF and map files go into an extracted folder. Download the compilers with the included tool script, then run configure.py and ninja diff to compare against the retail DOL.

What you need to run it

Original game files required. The project ships code only; you provide your own copy of the game (GameCube version).

A legally obtained copy of the GameCube game is required to use the project.

Additional notes

Disc artifacts: The retail disc contains a full ELF with symbols, a symbol map with 39,169 named symbols and the original build log, so function and class names are recoverable.
Compiler: The retail build used SN Systems ProDG (GCC 2.95.3, SN BUILD v1.76); devkitPPC is a fallback for functions hit by scheduling or register-allocation walls.
Match rules: A function only counts as matched when hand-written C++ compiles to byte-identical output with no asm-processor mutation, NON_MATCHING markers or byte injection.

FAQ

What is The Sims 2?: The Sims 2 is an open-source decompilation of The Sims 2. Source code reconstructed from the original game's compiled binary, so the game can be understood, rebuilt and ported. The original game ran on GameCube.
Do I need the original game files to run The Sims 2?: Yes. The project does not include the original game's assets, so you need your own copy.