# How to find decompilation projects on GitHub

Author: DecompHub
Updated: 2026-10-10
Language: en
Canonical: https://decomphub.com/guides/finding-decompilation-projects-on-github

Start with the game's or program's exact name and one reconstruction term. A search for `decompile` alone mixes target-specific projects with decompiler tools, classroom exercises and unrelated experiments. [DecompHub search](https://app.decomphub.com/explore) can help organize your shortlist, but the upstream repository is where you verify it.

## Three searches to try

- [`"Super Mario" decompilation`](https://github.com/search?q=%22Super+Mario%22+decompilation&type=repositories) combines a recognizable title with the work you want.
- [`topic:decompilation language:C`](https://github.com/search?q=topic%3Adecompilation+language%3AC&type=repositories) finds projects tagged for decompilation with C as a repository language.
- [`org:zeldaret`](https://github.com/search?q=org%3Azeldaret&type=repositories) searches a known project community.

Use the **Repositories** result type. GitHub's [repository-search reference](https://docs.github.com/en/search-github/searching-on-github/searching-for-repositories) documents `in:name,description`, `in:readme`, `topic:`, `org:` and `fork:true`. Topics are voluntary; a missing topic does not make a project irrelevant. Programming-language filters describe code, not the language of its documentation.

## Follow the target, not just the name

Open a promising result and identify its original target, supported build and stated goal. A tool that decompiles arbitrary programs is different from a project reconstructing one program. A mod may build on someone else's reconstruction. Both can be useful, but they belong on different shortlists.

If the title search fails, try the regional name, a common abbreviation and the console name separately. Read the repository's own links for a current home or successor. Do not treat the first search result as official simply because it has many stars.

## Include forks deliberately

Repeat the search with `fork:true` when you want ports or continuation work. Compare the fork's description and documented changes with its parent. Retain both links if they serve different purposes; a native port and a matching reference can complement each other.

Finally, record the official URL, target revision and your next action. Check the license if you need permission to reuse code. Search visibility alone does not establish that permission. Use [the active-project checklist](/guides/finding-active-decompilation-projects) before expecting contribution feedback, and [submit a missing project](https://app.decomphub.com/submit) using its upstream URL.