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OpenCaptive Wiki

Current version: v1.1.126

OpenCaptive is a C/SDL3 reimplementation of Captive (1990) and Liberation: Captive 2 (1993) by Tony Crowther, originally published by Mindscape.

OpenCaptive is an actively verified reimplementation. Disassembly-verified data formats, formulas, audio mappings, rendering paths, and gameplay systems are documented, while full end-to-end parity remains under development. No original game data is distributed: assets are loaded from the player's own media and verified by SHA-256 content identity.

Install by platform

• Install Linux — deb, rpm, AppImage, tarball, building from source
• Install macOS — DMG, Gatekeeper bypass, building from source
• Install Windows — Installer, SmartScreen, portable use
• Install iOS — Sideloading via AltStore, SideStore, Sideloadly, Xcode
• Install Android — APK sideloading, ADB, Obtainium auto-updates

For players

• User Guide — Building, running, CLI flags, graphics settings, controls
• Controls — Complete keyboard and mouse reference
• CLI Reference — All command-line options with examples
• Custom Features — Optional enhancements: HD upscale, widescreen, minimap, lighting, replay
• Start Menu — 8-item start menu layout, game cards, data scanner
• Save and Load — Save slots, quicksave, quickload
• Internationalization — 19 supported languages
• Mission Flow — Game progression, objectives, mission structure
• Energy and Body Parts — Droid energy system, body part mechanics
• Data Identity and Verification — How game data files are identified and verified
• Game Preservation — Platform variants, media formats, and preservation notes

For developers

• Developer Guide — Code layout, build/test contract, contribution workflow
• File Formats — PL5, ANM, RNC, ADF, ISO9660, ArcD, CTV, AmSp, x3g, VGM, Img, FNT, 8SVX, MIDI

Game reference

• Captive Technical — DOS engine analysis, viewport, map generation, runtime
• Captive DOSBox-X Startup — repeatable authentic-data emulator startup and verification
• Captive Game Data — Items, droid materials, skills, music system, name generation
• Liberation Technical — CD32 engine analysis, CityGen, sprite banks, ANIM, asset format decoding
• Liberation Game Data — Procedural cities, shops, bars, NPCs, 3D vectors, sprites, fonts

Reverse engineering reference

• Captive Disassembly — Complete CAPPO.EXE v1.06 reverse engineering: PRNG, combat formulas, XP system, item database, map generation, viewport renderer, OPL2 audio, spawn system
• Liberation Disassembly — Complete CD32 binary reverse engineering: city/plot generation, X3G/VGM/IMG/FNT/ANIM formats, 3D renderer, text expansion engine, NPC/shop/combat systems

Scope and provenance

Original media remains copyrighted and must be supplied by the player. The project verifies content hashes before loading assets. Do not add original game assets to issues, pull requests, release artifacts or this wiki.

Project links

• Repository: github.com/yeager/OpenCaptive
• Releases: GitHub Releases — Linux deb/rpm/AppImage, macOS DMG, Windows installer, Android APK, iOS IPA
• Author: Daniel Nylander
• License: MIT
• External reference: The Ultimate Captive Guide

Verification status

The current Captive verification path starts the player's original DOS files through CAPTIVE.BAT 1 in a normal DOSBox-X window. The real intro, Mission 0001 holomap, keypad input, target selection and FLIGHT PATH SET response are verified. ARRIVED AT DESTINATION, NOW IN ORBIT, LANDING SUCCESSFUL and the first-person dungeon transition remain gated until an original runtime capture proves them. The project does not replace those states with generated game data. Debugger and FIFO sessions are reserved for disassembly and frame inspection, not interactive play.