# Serial Experiments Lain: matching PlayStation decompilation and native port

> Serial Experiments Lain is reconstructed as C source for the PlayStation release and ported to Windows, macOS and Linux through a reimplementation of PlayStation SDK calls. The author reports that the rebuilt executable matches the retail binary byte for byte; the native client reads media and data from the user's two original discs.

- 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/Y0oshi/lain-psx-decompiled>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/Y0oshi/lain-psx-decompiled/blob/205c1977e2aa8d26128fcdbab19170c2c2bbde0e/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/lain-psx-decompiled-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/lain-psx-decompiled-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/lain-psx-decompiled-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Two original Japanese PlayStation discs dumped as Redump .cue and .bin images are required for the native client.
- **Prerequisites:** The decompilation build requires Python 3, Docker, and the disc images; the native build requires CMake, a C/C++ compiler, SDL2, and OpenAL.
- **Scope:** The author reports a byte-identical executable and 321 matching game functions.
- **License:** MIT license.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/Y0oshi/lain-psx-decompiled/blob/205c1977e2aa8d26128fcdbab19170c2c2bbde0e/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/Y0oshi/lain-psx-decompiled/blob/205c1977e2aa8d26128fcdbab19170c2c2bbde0e/docs/findings/README.md>

## More in Games

- [SF1DISASM: a reassemblable Shining Force disassembly](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sf1disasm-case/index.md) · Case study
- [SF2RE: reconstructing Shining Force II disassembly in IDA](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sf2re-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Shadow of the Colossus: matching decompilation of the PS2 release](https://awesomerea.org/resources/shadow-of-the-colossus-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Shadow the Hedgehog: a matching GameCube decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/shadow-gc-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Shadow the Hedgehog: a three-region GameCube decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/shadow-the-hedgehog-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder: a PS2 decompilation and format study](https://awesomerea.org/resources/shaun-palmers-pro-snowboarder-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.