arcdEx vs OpenKh
arcdEx
github.comOpenKh
github.comSide by side
| Figure | arcdEx | OpenKh |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Asset Extractors | 8.5 (#1) | 7.8 (#10) |
| License | The README identifies arcdEx as licensed under AGPL v3. | The repository states that its content is protected by the Apache 2.0 license, which permits copying, modification, distribution, private use, and commercial use subject to license terms. |
| Purpose | arcdEx is a tool to work with .arcd files generated by the Defold game engine. | OpenKH aims to centralize technical knowledge about the Kingdom Hearts series through documentation, tools, code libraries, and a foundation for modding the commercial games. |
| Support | The original README says feature requests and bug reports are intentionally disabled and that patches are welcome. | The Mod Manager guide directs users who need help to its FAQ or to the OpenKH Discord community. |
Plans
In their own words
arcdEx
arcdEx is a free Linux tool for listing and extracting files from .arcd archives made by the Defold game engine. It handles compressed files and can decrypt files only when they use Defold's default encryption key. The tool can inspect .texturec resources and extract their contained textures, as well as inspect compiled .luac files and extract Lua source code. To work with an archive, provide the .arcd file; arcdEx guesses paths to the associated .arci index and .dmanifest manifest files. The repository says this version supports manifest version 5, while the README also lists versions 1 through 4. Multiple .arcd files from a Defold web game must be combined before use. The README distinguishes desktop applications, which contain compiled Lua bytecode, from web projects through Defold 1.3.4, which contain Lua source code. It supports command-line and batch extraction, and runs as a Java JAR. The project is licensed under AGPL v3, and its author is credited as Christian Weiske. Archive repacking is not supported.
OpenKh
OpenKH brings together technical documentation, tools, code libraries, and modding support for the Kingdom Hearts series. Its documentation covers games and remasters, shared assets, tools, and the OpenKH Game Engine. The Mod Manager installs and manages mods for supported PC ports and PS2 versions of several games. Mods can come from GitHub repositories or archive files, and collections can group assets for multiple titles. Panacea lets users switch mods on and off without overwriting original game files. The guide lists Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II, Re:Chain of Memories, Birth by Sleep, and Dream Drop Distance as legacy-class games, and says PC releases from Epic Games Store and Steam are supported. OpenKH also includes an Image Viewer for common and Kingdom Hearts-specific formats, including IMD, IMZ, and Birth by Sleep font ARC files; it exports images, while import functions are in development. The engine has basic Kingdom Hearts II support on Windows, Linux, and macOS, including Raspberry Pi. Tools require the.NET 8.0 Runtime. The engine requires the user's original Kingdom Hearts II PlayStation 2 or PlayStation 4 copy. OpenKH is free; the listed plan is free.