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Ask HN: How can I recover and run my old mobile game from the 2010s?

56 points diasks2 | 10 comments | 25 Aug 25 06:41 UTC | HN request time: 0.291s | source | bottom

I developed a game called "Putter King Adventure Golf" for iOS and Android back in the 2010s. It's long since disappeared from the app stores, but my son recently asked if he could play it, which got me thinking about whether it might be recoverable.

I'm wondering if there's any way to find a copy of it somewhere on the web (I assume it was probably pirated at some point during its lifetime). And if I could find it, what would be the best approach to get it running again?

Has anyone here successfully recovered and revived their old mobile apps? I'd appreciate any suggestions on:

* Where to look for archived APKs or IPAs * How to sideload/run old mobile apps on modern devices * Whether emulators might be a viable option

1. torunar ◴[25 Aug 25 07:09 UTC] No.45011135[source]▶
I found an Android version of your game on 4pda, Russian forum about devices and apps: https://4pda.to/forum/index.php?showtopic=290300#entry102680...
replies(1): >>45022219 #
2. sandreas ◴[26 Aug 25 04:16 UTC] No.45022219[source]▶
Amazing! Now you need to find a device that can still run it :-)
replies(4): >>45026075 #>>45026419 #>>45026664 #>>45027475 #
3. vintermann ◴[26 Aug 25 13:13 UTC] No.45026075[source]▶
Probably safest to run it in an emulator with no internet access, given where it was found.
replies(1): >>45026529 #
4. ImPrajyoth ◴[26 Aug 25 13:40 UTC] No.45026419[source]▶
Emulator with gen ai tool! That's it! Sanitize it then fix.
5. mschuster91 ◴[26 Aug 25 13:48 UTC] No.45026529{3}[source]▶
APKs are signed so assuming OP can verify his own certificate he might be lucky enough to not have to dig that deep.
replies(1): >>45028699 #
6. ok123456 ◴[26 Aug 25 13:57 UTC] No.45026664[source]▶
jadx can probably disassemble it pretty thoroughly. I think you can give it the APK directly, or just unzip it and give it the classes.dex.

Assuming everything goes smoothly, you could potentially resurrect a compilable project in about a man-week, or two, or three...

7. toomuchtodo ◴[26 Aug 25 14:56 UTC] No.45027475[source]▶
The Internet Archive already has some emulation support, perhaps Android support is needed? If OP is willing to transfer the copyright to the Archive for $1, I'm happy to facilitate so it has a permanent home.

https://archive.org/details/howtodoupload

(i have archived the APK in Wayback just in case the source in this thread disappears)

replies(1): >>45028993 #
8. diggan ◴[26 Aug 25 16:22 UTC] No.45028699{4}[source]▶
If it's being distributed by a piracy site, and the game had any sort of protection to make sure people actually bought it, then probably they're storing/offering a pre-cracked version, which certainly shouldn't (or wouldn't) be signed by anyone.
replies(1): >>45041427 #
9. diasks2 ◴[26 Aug 25 16:41 UTC] No.45028993{3}[source]▶
That would be great. Is there a way I can reach out to you by email for more info? (my email is my hn username at gmail)
10. mid-kid ◴[27 Aug 25 15:59 UTC] No.45041427{5}[source]▶
This sort of protection is rather rare for android apps.