# recherno: investigating Chernobyl: The Legacy Continues in a custom virtual machine

> recherno investigates Chernobyl: The Legacy Continues by running its original Fortran/Win32 engine inside a custom virtual machine. It uses Unicorn to execute the engine and Capstone for debugging. Engine API reconstruction and a Qt GUI for controlling game functions are in progress, with removal of the original binary blobs planned later.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Binary · Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-08
- Original resource: <https://github.com/vlasta-labsky/recherno>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/vlasta-labsky/recherno/blob/6d998ba06afcf222caab39413d306b71003190a4/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/recherno-chernobyl-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/recherno-chernobyl-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/recherno-chernobyl-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** The user's original chrnob_32.dll and shutdown.icd files must be placed beside the executable.
- **Prerequisites:** Qt Widgets, Unicorn and Capstone are build dependencies.
- **Limits:** Engine API recovery and removal of original blobs remain unfinished.
- **License:** WTFPL version 2.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/vlasta-labsky/recherno/blob/6d998ba06afcf222caab39413d306b71003190a4/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/vlasta-labsky/recherno/blob/6d998ba06afcf222caab39413d306b71003190a4/CMakeLists.txt>

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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.