{
 "schema_version": 1,
 "generated": "2026-10-19",
 "id": "rehan-remade-universal-modder--reverse-engineer-game-file-format",
 "repo": "rehan-remade/universal-modder",
 "repo_url": "https://github.com/rehan-remade/universal-modder",
 "repo_slug": "rehan-remade-universal-modder",
 "title": "Reverse engineer an unknown game file format",
 "page_title": "How to reverse engineer an unknown game file format with universal-modder",
 "summary": "Have the agent decode a proprietary asset or save format and prove it with a round trip.",
 "who": "Tinkerer who wants to swap textures or data in an older game but cannot open its files",
 "problem": "Proprietary archives and formats have no documentation, so editing assets is impossible without reading the binary.",
 "outcome": "A working reader and writer for the format, proven by unpacking and repacking a file and getting the same game behavior.",
 "steps": [
  "Install the plugin and point the agent at the game folder and the file type.",
  "Ask the reverse-engineering skill to analyze the format with its tools such as ILSpy, Ghidra or Cheat Engine as appropriate.",
  "Have it write a script that reads the format and a writer that rebuilds it.",
  "Verify with a round trip: unpack, repack, and load the result in the game."
 ],
 "agent_prompt": "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.",
 "agents": [
  "any"
 ],
 "difficulty": "Advanced",
 "time": "A few hours",
 "basis": "readme",
 "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.",
 "category": "Games & Hobbies",
 "tags": [
  "Games & Hobbies"
 ],
 "lang": "python",
 "requirements": [
  "A coding agent such as Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot or OpenCode",
  "A PC game you own, run single-player or offline",
  "Git, Python 3.10+ and ffmpeg (uv recommended)",
  "A fal API key for generated art, 3D and audio (or a local ComfyUI server for images)",
  "Blender for 3D to sprite renders",
  "Windows games run natively or from WSL"
 ],
 "risk": "dual-use",
 "seen_in_the_wild": false,
 "best": false,
 "score": 0.483,
 "evidence": [],
 "url": "https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/rehan-remade-universal-modder/reverse-engineer-game-file-format/",
 "md": "https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/rehan-remade-universal-modder/reverse-engineer-game-file-format/index.md",
 "disclaimer": "Deduped lists open-source repositories that belong to other people. We do not own, maintain, audit, or vouch for any of them, and a repo appearing here is not an endorsement or a safety check. The use cases, steps, and prompts are written by AI and may be incomplete, outdated, or just wrong. Where a use case is marked \"Seen in the wild\", we link to public posts where someone described something similar, but we have not verified those posts and the use case itself is still our AI's own write-up. Use all of this at your own risk. Only run code, commands, or agents on systems and accounts you are authorized to use, and read the code and every command before you run it, especially anything that touches credentials, files, or the network. Nothing here is professional, security, legal, or financial advice. All trademarks and project names belong to their respective owners, and their use here does not imply affiliation. Content is provided as is, without warranties of any kind. Found a mistake, a safety problem, or something you want removed? Email hello@dedupedai.com and we will look at it promptly."
}