Game engine recreation is a type of video game engine remastering process wherein a new game engine is written from scratch as a clone of the original with the full ability to read the original game's data files. The new engine reads the old engine's files and, in theory, loads and understands its assets in a way that is indistinguishable from the original. The result of a proper engine clone is often the ability to play a game on modern systems that the old game could no longer run on. It also opens the possibility of community collaboration, as many engine remake projects tend to be open source.
In most cases a clone is made in part by studying and reverse engineering the original executable, but occasionally, as was the case with some of the engines in ScummVM, the original developers have helped the projects by supplying the original source code—those are so-called source ports.
based on FreeCNC and FreeRA
ScummVM [2]
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An open source re-implementation of the C&C Red Alert engine. Written from scratch in C++, using SDL2 and OpenAL
An open source re-implementation of the C&C Red Alert engine. Written from scratch in C++
[XL Engine] [...] it's a custom-built framework to run old games. Essentially, it totally overhauls them, with all sorts of visual enhancements and improved modding support, so it's almost as if they are being ported onto modern systems.
The next major goal for OpenRA is to add support for the second generation of Command & Conquer games, starting with Tiberian Sun.
GemRB is quite complete, especially regarding BG2, BG1 and IWD1 which can be played through. The whole Baldur's Gate saga is completable. There is of course still stuff to be done.
Exult is a project to recreate Ultima 7 for modern operating systems, using the game's original plot, data, and graphics files.