# Clockwork: native Yo-kai Watch 3DS games by static recompilation

> Clockwork builds native PC versions of the Yo-kai Watch Nintendo 3DS games by translating each game's ARM code to C ahead of time. Its SDL3 runtime replaces console hardware and services, while the launcher unpacks and builds modules from a player's decrypted cartridge dumps. The repository also documents findings from Yo-kai Watch 2: Psychic Specters.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/watchmakerers/clockwork>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/watchmakerers/clockwork/blob/9292b5492b4cd2fdb7e607f723a6db6aa0cee203/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/clockwork-yo-kai-watch-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/clockwork-yo-kai-watch-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/clockwork-yo-kai-watch-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Decrypted dumps of owned Yo-kai Watch 3DS cartridges are required.
- **Prerequisites:** Building requires Rust, CMake 3.24+, a C/C++ compiler, SDL3, libcurl and libarchive.
- **Testing evidence:** USA releases and Busters 2 are the tested versions; Psychic Specters has received the most playtesting.
- **License:** MIT License.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/watchmakerers/clockwork/blob/9292b5492b4cd2fdb7e607f723a6db6aa0cee203/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/watchmakerers/clockwork/blob/9292b5492b4cd2fdb7e607f723a6db6aa0cee203/docs/PHASE0.md>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.