Devilution is a reconstructed source code repository that makes the 1996 computer game Diablo available as open-source C++ code for study, modification, and porting.
The original Diablo was abandoned after 2001 and became difficult to run on modern hardware. Devilution solves this by reconstructing the game's source code from symbolic information accidentally left on a Japanese PlayStation port and debug tools hidden in the PC release. By piecing together these debugging artifacts and symbol files that mapped functions, structures, and variables, the project recovered the original codebase and made it available to the community rather than leaving modding efforts fragmented across isolated reverse-engineering projects.
Devilution is suited for developers interested in game preservation, modding, and porting classic games to modern platforms. The project deliberately preserves the original code as-is, including bugs and poorly written sections, to serve as an accurate historical record and stable foundation for modifications. Anyone adopting it should understand that it requires an original copy of the game assets and aims to document both the finished game and its cut or unfinished content, offering insight into rushed development decisions and abandoned features like early multiplayer implementations.
The project maintains active community engagement through a Discord channel. Development activity shows ongoing work to keep the codebase compatible with both original tools from the Visual C++ era and modern compilers, adhering to standards from the original development environment while supporting contemporary platforms.
