The MediEvil recomp has hit version 1.0, which means the original 1998 PS1 MediEvil now runs natively on Windows, macOS and Linux, with a proper mod hub, shader support and a big stability overhaul, and its developers are making a point of the fact that no generative AI was used anywhere in the project.
It comes from derpPrincess and flaffymg, the pair behind the RecompOne PS1 recompilation tool, and it lands about a month after a public beta that already had people very excited. So is it time to dust off Sir Daniel Fortesque, and is this genuinely the best way to play MediEvil in 2026? Let me explain.
What Is the MediEvil Recomp, and Why Isn’t It Just an Emulator?
An emulator pretends to be a PlayStation, whereas a static recompilation takes the game’s original code and translates it into native code that can be compiled again for modern systems, which is how derpPrincess described the approach to Time Extension, in a lot more technical detail than my brain can comfortably hold.
The practical upshot is a PC port that can do things the original never could, like proper widescreen, higher draw distances and smoother motion, without your computer pretending to be a grey box from 1994. Clever stuff, and a very different beast to just loading a disc image into an emulator and hoping for the best!
What’s New in MediEvil Recomp 1.0?
The official v1.0 release notes on GitHub are pleasingly long, and here are the highlights:
- Camera control on the right analogue stick, which the original very much did not have
- Mod Hub for browsing and installing mods, asset packs and shaders from inside the game
- ShaderMod support for slang and libretro shader presets, so you can get your CRT filters just right
- Asset Pack Editor built into the game for making and editing your own packs
- True 24-bit colour option, plus a toggle for dithering
- Improved interpolation and a full stability overhaul
- Fixes for analogue input, widescreen transitions, FMV glitches, audio timing and crashes at high draw distance
There’s one breaking change worth knowing about, because the settings system has been rewritten, so anything you tweaked in the beta will reset to defaults, which is mildly annoying but hardly the end of the world… unlike, you know, Zarok raising the dead all over Gallowmere!
Quick TipThe recomp needs the .NET 10 runtime installed or it simply won’t open, and OpenAL is recommended for audio, so grab both before you start wondering why nothing happens when you double-click.
Do You Need Your Own Copy of MediEvil?
Yes, and this is important, because the recomp doesn’t include any of Sony’s copyrighted files, so you need to supply your own copy of the game to extract the assets, and the repository specifically describes it as a recompilation of the US PS1 release, so that’s the version to have on hand.
Naturally, everyone reading this will be using a disc they own and have lovingly kept for nearly 30 years, and absolutely nobody will be “sailing the open sea” for a disc image, will they? Good, I’m glad we cleared that up!
InterestinglySony already remade MediEvil for PS4 in 2019, but that’s a full remake with new visuals, so if you want the original game exactly as it was in 1998, just with modern comforts, this recomp is a very different and arguably more authentic experience.
Why Does the “No AI” Bit Matter So Much?
Fan-made PC ports have exploded this year, and with that has come a wave of suspicion about AI-generated code and assets, so projects like this one and others are increasingly making a point of saying they were built by humans, with derpPrincess telling Time Extension, “We have the skills to bring love to these old games for modern devices.”
Whether or not you care about the AI debate, it does mean you’re getting something people carefully crafted, and that tends to show in the little touches, like a mod hub and an asset editor that most official re-releases wouldn’t bother with.
Should You Play the MediEvil Recomp?
If you own the original US PS1 disc and you love MediEvil, then yes, absolutely, this is a free, native, moddable way to play it on PC, Mac or Linux, and version 1.0 fixes the rough edges that made the beta feel like a beta, so there’s honestly no reason to wait any longer.
If you don’t own the disc, a used copy of the original is the only fully above-board way in, so weigh that up against the PS4 remake, which is the easier official option. And if recomps are your thing, our piece on Smash 64 Recompiled proves Sir Dan isn’t the only one getting a glow-up this year!
FAQs
Is the MediEvil recomp free?
Yes, the MediEvil recomp is free to download from GitHub, but you need your own copy of the original US PS1 game to extract the assets.
What platforms does the MediEvil recomp run on?
The MediEvil recomp runs natively on Windows, macOS and Linux, and it needs the .NET 10 runtime to launch.
Does the MediEvil recomp use AI?
No, the developers say the MediEvil recomp uses no generative AI and was built entirely by hand.
About The Author
