Built on others' work
GameFrame learns from projects that kept games playable long before it existed. Each project below needs the player's own copy of the game and links to a store that sells it.
Projects
| Project | Game | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| ScummVM | over 325 adventure games | Rewrites the games' engines in new code. It began in 2001 and celebrated 25 years in 2026 |
| OpenRCT2 | RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 | Replaced the original program one function at a time while the game kept running |
| OpenTTD | Transport Tycoon Deluxe | Began from a disassembly. It has since added many features the original lacked. Since March 2026, the Steam and GOG versions need a bought copy of the original game |
| DevilutionX | Diablo | Runs the player's own Diablo data on current systems. GOG lists it as a free add-on for its copy of Diablo |
| The Force Engine | Dark Forces, Outlaws | Rebuilds LucasArts' Jedi engine from reverse engineering |
| dethrace | Carmageddon | Replaces the original's code one function at a time. Each new function is checked against the original |
| MAME | thousands of arcade machines | Its code documents each machine. Playing the games tests that documentation |
The taxonomy of games lists many more for each kind of game.
Rights holders who helped
- Electronic Arts released the source code of Command & Conquer and Red Alert in 2020, and of more Command & Conquer games in February 2025. Players still buy the game data.
- GOG started its Preservation Program in late 2024. It keeps about 100 classic games working on current systems. It has added more since (GOG).
- Atari re-released Transport Tycoon Deluxe in March 2026 and contributes to OpenTTD's server costs (OpenTTD).
Further reading
- Video Game History Foundation, including its digital library of magazines and documents.
- The Strong National Museum of Play, which holds hardware, documents and source code.
- Software Heritage, an archive of source code.
- Digital Preservation Coalition.