# Karateka: a byte-matched DOS disassembly

> Karateka reconstructs the 1986 DOS game's MZ executable as modular x86 assembly. Its build assembles the sources with NASM and compares the result byte for byte with a user-supplied KARATEKA.EXE.

- 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/gmegidish/karateka-disassembly>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/gmegidish/karateka-disassembly/blob/67826aed88e5b442e536c353816c274ce6edea24/CLAUDE.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/karateka-dos-disassembly-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/karateka-dos-disassembly-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/karateka-dos-disassembly-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Supply the original disk/KARATEKA.EXE for comparison.
- **Prerequisites:** NASM is required for the build; the project notes also name ndisasm.
- **License:** No licence file in the repository.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/gmegidish/karateka-disassembly/blob/67826aed88e5b442e536c353816c274ce6edea24/CLAUDE.md>
2. <https://github.com/gmegidish/karateka-disassembly/blob/67826aed88e5b442e536c353816c274ce6edea24/Makefile>

## More in Games

- [Kaze no Notam: matching PlayStation decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/kaze-no-notam-ps1-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [kfiv-decomp: matching decompilation of King's Field IV](https://awesomerea.org/resources/kfiv-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters: a Game Boy disassembly](https://awesomerea.org/resources/kid-icarus-omm-disassembly-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix: an in-progress PS2 main-ELF decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/kingdom-hearts-2-final-mix-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days: a matching Nintendo DS decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/kingdom-hearts-days-matching-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories — matching GBA decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/khcom-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study

## 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.