# LEGO Island, portable: a multi-platform port of the decompiled source

> Adapts the LEGO Island decompilation into a portable build for desktop, mobile, console, DOS and Web targets. Windows-only subsystems are replaced with SDL3, miniaudio, iniparser and a custom Direct3D Retained Mode re-implementation, while core gameplay is meant to stay unchanged. It ports reconstructed source rather than checking byte-identical binaries, so it is distinct from the exact-rebuild decompilation case.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-10-18
- Added to the catalog: 2026-10-18
- Original resource: <https://github.com/isledecomp/isle-portable>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/isledecomp/isle-portable/blob/d0bf04fe605d7ec2a291e65df08bf26712452379/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/lego-island-portable-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/lego-island-portable-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/lego-island-portable-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** An existing copy of LEGO Island is required. The guided installer asks for the retail CD-ROM or a disc image made from it and says any 1.0 or 1.1 retail version in any language works; its optional HD audio pack is limited to English 1.1. The installer describes the isle.pizza Web build as streaming the game without a local disc.
- **Prerequisites:** Builds use CMake 3.25+ with a C++17 compiler; by default CMake fetches SDL3 and iniparser, and libsmacker and miniaudio are submodules. README points to the CI workflow instead of a separate build guide; that workflow uses MSVC, MinGW, macOS/Linux toolchains and platform SDKs such as Emscripten, devkitPro, VitaSDK, DJGPP and Android, and the desktop settings tool needs Qt 6. Release downloads are continuous builds of master, which README warns may regress.
- **Scope:** README describes a portable version of English LEGO Island 1.1 built on isledecomp/isle, aiming at platform independence without gameplay changes or rewrites for their own sake, and the contributor guide accepts LEGO1 changes mainly when they serve platform compatibility. Light modding goes through extensions, which in the reviewed tree include multiplayer, a third-person camera and asset loaders. The status table lists Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, DOS, Web, iOS, Android, Xbox One, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS.
- **Testing evidence:** CI checks formatting and configures, builds and packages each platform target; it does not run the game or compare its behavior with the original. The per-platform status entries are CI badges. Kaitai Struct descriptions document save, animation, world-database and texture formats.
- **License:** The repository carries LGPL-3.0; bundled and fetched third-party libraries keep their own terms, and the original game data, LEGO trademarks and the bitmaps the installer takes from the original setup program retain separate rights.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/isledecomp/isle-portable/blob/d0bf04fe605d7ec2a291e65df08bf26712452379/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/isledecomp/isle-portable/blob/d0bf04fe605d7ec2a291e65df08bf26712452379/CONTRIBUTING.md>
3. <https://github.com/isledecomp/isle-portable/blob/d0bf04fe605d7ec2a291e65df08bf26712452379/CMakeLists.txt>
4. <https://github.com/isledecomp/isle-portable/blob/d0bf04fe605d7ec2a291e65df08bf26712452379/.gitmodules>
5. <https://github.com/isledecomp/isle-portable/blob/d0bf04fe605d7ec2a291e65df08bf26712452379/.github/workflows/ci.yml>
6. <https://github.com/isledecomp/isle-portable/blob/d0bf04fe605d7ec2a291e65df08bf26712452379/installer/README.md>
7. <https://github.com/isledecomp/isle-portable/blob/d0bf04fe605d7ec2a291e65df08bf26712452379/installer/index.html>
8. <https://github.com/isledecomp/isle-portable/blob/d0bf04fe605d7ec2a291e65df08bf26712452379/docs/README.md>
9. <https://github.com/isledecomp/isle-portable/blob/d0bf04fe605d7ec2a291e65df08bf26712452379/LICENSE>

## More in Games

- [Lighthouse: a Banjo-Kazooie PC port built on the decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/lighthouse-banjo-kazooie-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [LineWars II: a portable SDL3 reconstruction](https://awesomerea.org/resources/linewars-ii-sdl-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Metaforce: a Metroid Prime engine reimplementation rebuilt on the decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/metaforce-metroid-prime-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Metroid Prime Port: an AI-assisted native port of the PrimeDecomp decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/metroid-prime-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [MikuPan: a native Fatal Frame PC port built on the Himuro decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/mikupan-fatal-frame-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [PaperBoat: a native Paper Mario port built on the decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/paperboat-paper-mario-port-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.
