# How to reverse engineer an unknown game file format with universal-modder

Repo: [rehan-remade/universal-modder](https://github.com/rehan-remade/universal-modder) | Difficulty: Advanced | Time: A few hours | Basis: From the README

Have the agent decode a proprietary asset or save format and prove it with a round trip.

**Who it is for:** Tinkerer who wants to swap textures or data in an older game but cannot open its files

**The problem:** Proprietary archives and formats have no documentation, so editing assets is impossible without reading the binary.

**The outcome:** A working reader and writer for the format, proven by unpacking and repacking a file and getting the same game behavior.

## Steps

1. Install the plugin and point the agent at the game folder and the file type.
2. Ask the reverse-engineering skill to analyze the format with its tools such as ILSpy, Ghidra or Cheat Engine as appropriate.
3. Have it write a script that reads the format and a writer that rebuilds it.
4. Verify with a round trip: unpack, repack, and load the result in the game.

## Prompt to paste into your agent

```text
Use universal-modder's reverse-engineering skill on the <file type> files in <path to game>. Work out the format, write a reader and writer, and prove it with a round trip that still loads in the game.
```

## Caveat

Only for games you own and local single-player use. Do not redistribute extracted game assets, and do not use it to defeat anti-cheat or cheat other players.

Dual-use notice: only use this on software, sites and systems you own or are authorized to test.

Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/

URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/rehan-remade-universal-modder/reverse-engineer-game-file-format/