Mastering Cheat Engine: A Comprehensive Guide to Game Hacking
Cheat Engine is a powerful, open-source memory scanner/hex editor/debugger. It is often used to modify single-player games, allowing players to adjust difficulty, unlock hidden content, or simply experiment. While its primary use is game hacking, it can also be used for debugging and even analyzing software. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the basics of Cheat Engine, from installation to advanced techniques, ensuring you understand how to use it safely and effectively. **Disclaimer: Modifying online games is generally against the terms of service and can lead to account bans. This guide focuses solely on single-player game modification for educational and experimental purposes.**
## Table of Contents
1. What is Cheat Engine?
2. Is Cheat Engine Safe?
3. Installing Cheat Engine
4. Cheat Engine Interface Overview
5. Basic Scanning Techniques
* Exact Value Scan
* Unknown Initial Value Scan
* Decreased Value Scan
* Increased Value Scan
* Changed Value Scan
* Unchanged Value Scan
* Float Scan
* Double Scan
* String Scan
6. Finding Addresses with Unknown Values
7. Using Pointers
8. Creating Cheat Tables
9. Advanced Techniques
* Code Injection
* Assembly Editing
* Using Scripts (Lua)
10. Cheat Engine Alternatives
11. Troubleshooting Common Issues
12. Ethical Considerations and Legal Disclaimer
13. Conclusion
## 1. What is Cheat Engine?
Cheat Engine is a free and open-source tool primarily designed for game modification. It works by scanning the memory of a running process (typically a game) to locate specific values, such as health, money, or ammunition. Once found, these values can be altered, effectively “cheating” in the game. Beyond simple value modification, Cheat Engine offers advanced features like disassemblers, debuggers, and scripting capabilities, making it a versatile tool for reverse engineering and software analysis.
Key features of Cheat Engine include:
* **Memory Scanning:** Locates variables in a program’s memory.
* **Hex Editor:** Allows direct modification of memory contents.
* **Debugger:** Enables stepping through code execution.
* **Disassembler:** Converts machine code into assembly language for analysis.
* **Scripting (Lua):** Automates complex tasks and creates custom cheats.
* **Cheat Table Creation:** Saves found addresses and their values for later use.
## 2. Is Cheat Engine Safe?
Cheat Engine itself is generally safe to download and use from its official website (cheatengine.org). However, it’s crucial to be cautious about where you obtain the software. Unofficial sources may bundle malware or viruses with the installer. Always download Cheat Engine from the official website to minimize the risk.
During installation, Cheat Engine may offer to install bundled software. It’s recommended to decline these offers to keep your system clean. Some antivirus programs might flag Cheat Engine as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) due to its ability to modify memory. This is a false positive; however, it reinforces the need to download it from the official site only. If using third party sources, you are running a risk, so only download from the official site.
**Important Safety Tips:**
* **Download from the official website (cheatengine.org).**
* **Decline bundled software during installation.**
* **Be wary of unofficial websites offering Cheat Engine.**
* **Run regular virus scans.**
## 3. Installing Cheat Engine
Follow these steps to install Cheat Engine:
1. **Download the installer:** Go to cheatengine.org and download the latest version of Cheat Engine.
2. **Run the installer:** Locate the downloaded file (usually in your Downloads folder) and double-click it to run the installer.
3. **Accept the license agreement:** Read the license agreement carefully and click “I Agree” to continue.
4. **Choose installation directory:** Select the directory where you want to install Cheat Engine. The default location is usually fine.
5. **Decline bundled software:** Pay close attention during the installation process and decline any offers to install bundled software. Look for checkboxes or buttons that say “Decline,” “Skip,” or “Cancel.”
6. **Complete the installation:** Click “Install” to begin the installation process. Once completed, click “Finish” to close the installer.
## 4. Cheat Engine Interface Overview
Understanding the Cheat Engine interface is crucial for effective use. Here’s a breakdown of the main components:
* **Process List:** This dropdown menu (represented by a computer icon) allows you to select the target process (the game you want to modify). Clicking the icon will show a list of running processes.
* **Address List:** This large area displays the addresses you’ve found and added, along with their current values, descriptions, and other properties.
* **Value Input:** This field allows you to enter the value you’re searching for during memory scans.
* **Scan Type:** This dropdown menu specifies the type of scan you want to perform (e.g., Exact Value, Unknown Initial Value, Increased Value).
* **Value Type:** This dropdown menu specifies the data type of the value you’re searching for (e.g., 4 Bytes, Float, Double, String).
* **First Scan/Next Scan Buttons:** These buttons initiate or continue the memory scanning process.
* **Hex View:** This panel displays the memory contents in hexadecimal format, allowing for more advanced analysis and editing.
* **Memory View:** Lets you view the games memory and inject code.
* **Debugger:** An advanced tool for stepping through the game’s code.
* **Cheat Table:** Allows you to save your cheat addresses.
* **Script Engine:** Allows you to write Lua scripts for more advanced cheat creations.
## 5. Basic Scanning Techniques
The core of Cheat Engine lies in its scanning capabilities. Here are some of the most common and effective scanning techniques:
### *Exact Value Scan*
This is the most basic and straightforward scan. Use it when you know the exact value of the variable you want to find.
1. **Start the game:** Launch the game you want to modify and get to a point where the variable you want to change is visible (e.g., your health bar, money amount).
2. **Attach Cheat Engine to the game:** In Cheat Engine, click the computer icon in the top-left corner and select the game’s process from the list. If the game is not showing, make sure it is actually running and that Cheat Engine has the correct permissions.
3. **Enter the value:** In the Value field, type the current value of the variable you want to find (e.g., your current health points).
4. **Select the Value Type:** Choose the correct data type for the value you’re searching for. Common types include 4 Bytes (for integers), Float (for single-precision floating-point numbers), and Double (for double-precision floating-point numbers). When in doubt, start with 4 Bytes.
5. **Click “First Scan”:** This will initiate the first scan, searching the game’s memory for locations that match the entered value. The results will appear in the address list.
6. **Change the value in the game:** Go back to the game and change the value of the variable you’re tracking (e.g., take some damage to reduce your health). If modifying health, often you can purposely be hit by an enemy in the game.
7. **Enter the new value:** In Cheat Engine, enter the *new* value of the variable in the Value field.
8. **Click “Next Scan”:** This will narrow down the search results to only those addresses that previously held the old value and now hold the new value.
9. **Repeat steps 6-8:** Repeat the process of changing the value in the game and performing a “Next Scan” until you have a small number of addresses (ideally just one) in the address list. The smaller the number, the more likely you have the correct address.
10. **Add the address to the address list:** Double-click the address in the address list to add it to the bottom panel.
11. **Change the value:** In the bottom panel, double-click the Value column next to the address you added. Enter the new value you want for the variable (e.g., a very high health value) and press Enter. The game should now reflect this change.
12. **Freeze the value (optional):** To prevent the value from changing, check the box in the Active column next to the address in the bottom panel. This will “freeze” the value at the specified amount.
### *Unknown Initial Value Scan*
Use this technique when you *don’t* know the initial value of the variable you want to find.
1. **Start the game:** Launch the game and attach Cheat Engine to the game’s process, as described in the Exact Value Scan section.
2. **Select “Unknown Initial Value”** in the Scan Type dropdown menu.
3. **Select a Value Type:** Select the appropriate data type. Start with 4 Bytes if you’re unsure.
4. **Click “First Scan”:** This will scan the entire memory space, looking for any values of the specified data type.
5. **Change the value in the game:** Go back to the game and change the variable you’re tracking (e.g., move your character to increase their experience points, or use up some mana). The goal is to make the variable change by any amount.
6. **Select the appropriate scan type:** Now, select the scan type that matches the change that occurred. The options are:
* **Increased Value:** If the value went up.
* **Decreased Value:** If the value went down.
* **Changed Value:** If the value changed (either up or down).
* **Unchanged Value:** If the value remained the same (useful for filtering out irrelevant addresses).
7. **Click “Next Scan”:** This will narrow down the search results to only those addresses that reflect the type of change you selected.
8. **Repeat steps 5-7:** Continue changing the value in the game and performing “Next Scan” with the appropriate scan type until you have a manageable number of addresses in the address list.
9. **Add and modify the address:** Follow steps 10-12 from the Exact Value Scan section to add the address to the address list, change its value, and optionally freeze it.
### *Decreased Value Scan*
This scan type is useful when you know the variable is decreasing.
1. Start the game and attach cheat engine to it.
2. Select “Unknown Initial Value” in the Scan Type dropdown menu.
3. Select the Value Type.
4. Perform the first scan.
5. Make the value in the game decrease.
6. Select “Decreased Value” in the Scan Type dropdown menu.
7. Perform “Next Scan”
8. Repeat steps 5-7 until you have a manageable number of addresses.
9. Add the address to the address list and modify/freeze the value.
### *Increased Value Scan*
This scan type is useful when you know the variable is increasing.
1. Start the game and attach cheat engine to it.
2. Select “Unknown Initial Value” in the Scan Type dropdown menu.
3. Select the Value Type.
4. Perform the first scan.
5. Make the value in the game increase.
6. Select “Increased Value” in the Scan Type dropdown menu.
7. Perform “Next Scan”
8. Repeat steps 5-7 until you have a manageable number of addresses.
9. Add the address to the address list and modify/freeze the value.
### *Changed Value Scan*
This scan type is useful when you know the variable is changing, but don’t know if it is increasing or decreasing.
1. Start the game and attach cheat engine to it.
2. Select “Unknown Initial Value” in the Scan Type dropdown menu.
3. Select the Value Type.
4. Perform the first scan.
5. Make the value in the game change.
6. Select “Changed Value” in the Scan Type dropdown menu.
7. Perform “Next Scan”
8. Repeat steps 5-7 until you have a manageable number of addresses.
9. Add the address to the address list and modify/freeze the value.
### *Unchanged Value Scan*
This scan type is useful for filtering out irrelevant results. Especially useful when there are a ton of results in your address list after performing a first scan.
1. Start the game and attach cheat engine to it.
2. Select “Unknown Initial Value” or “Exact Value” in the Scan Type dropdown menu.
3. Select the Value Type.
4. Perform the first scan.
5. Wait a few seconds, without changing the value of the variable that you are tracking.
6. Select “Unchanged Value” in the Scan Type dropdown menu.
7. Perform “Next Scan”
8. Repeat steps 5-7 until you have a manageable number of addresses.
9. Add the address to the address list and modify/freeze the value.
### *Float Scan*
This scan type is used when searching for floating-point numbers.
1. Start the game and attach cheat engine to it.
2. If you know the exact value, select “Exact Value” in the Scan Type dropdown menu. Otherwise select “Unknown Initial Value”.
3. Select “Float” in the Value Type dropdown menu.
4. Enter the value (if known) and perform the first scan.
5. If the value is unknown, change it in the game and select “Increased Value”, “Decreased Value”, or “Changed Value” in the Scan Type dropdown menu and perform “Next Scan”.
6. Repeat steps 5 until you have a manageable number of addresses.
7. Add the address to the address list and modify/freeze the value.
### *Double Scan*
This scan type is used when searching for double-precision floating-point numbers.
1. Start the game and attach cheat engine to it.
2. If you know the exact value, select “Exact Value” in the Scan Type dropdown menu. Otherwise select “Unknown Initial Value”.
3. Select “Double” in the Value Type dropdown menu.
4. Enter the value (if known) and perform the first scan.
5. If the value is unknown, change it in the game and select “Increased Value”, “Decreased Value”, or “Changed Value” in the Scan Type dropdown menu and perform “Next Scan”.
6. Repeat steps 5 until you have a manageable number of addresses.
7. Add the address to the address list and modify/freeze the value.
### *String Scan*
This scan type is used when searching for text strings. For example, finding the player’s name. This is useful when the players name can be modified and you want to find your name in the memory.
1. Start the game and attach cheat engine to it.
2. Select “Text” in the Value Type dropdown menu.
3. Enter the exact text that you are looking for.
4. Perform the first scan.
5. If there are too many values and the value can be changed, then change the value in the game and perform the next scan.
6. Repeat step 5 until you have a manageable number of addresses.
7. Add the address to the address list and modify/freeze the value.
## 6. Finding Addresses with Unknown Values
Sometimes, you might not know the initial value of a variable, or it might be constantly changing. In these cases, you can use the “Unknown Initial Value” scan type, combined with the “Increased Value,” “Decreased Value,” or “Changed Value” scan types, as described above.
## 7. Using Pointers
Often, the addresses you find through direct scanning are dynamic, meaning they change each time you restart the game. Pointers provide a way to find the *static* address that *points* to the dynamic address you’re looking for. Pointers are essentially addresses that hold the memory address of another variable. This other variable could also point to another address and so on. Finding pointers is the most reliable way to modify variables in games that constantly shift the memory locations used.
Here’s a simplified overview of how to find pointers:
1. **Find the dynamic address:** Use the techniques described above (e.g., Exact Value Scan) to find the address of the variable you want to modify.
2. **Find what writes to the address:** Right-click the address in the address list and select “Find out what writes to this address.” This will open a debugger window and pause the game when something attempts to write to that memory location. Alternatively, you can “Find out what accesses this address”.
3. **Trigger the write:** In the game, perform an action that changes the value of the variable you’re tracking (e.g., take damage, spend money). This will trigger the debugger window to show the instruction that wrote to the address.
4. **Examine the instruction:** Analyze the assembly instruction in the debugger window to understand how the address is being calculated. Look for register offsets or other memory locations used in the calculation.
5. **Use the Pointer Scan:** The pointer scan helps you find static addresses that point to your dynamic address. It tries to find a chain of pointers that eventually leads to the address you want to modify.
6. **Add the pointer to the address list:** Once you find a pointer path, add it to the address list and verify that it correctly points to the variable you want to modify. A valid pointer will allow you to modify the games memory even after the game is restarted, although not always.
Finding pointers can be complex and requires some understanding of assembly language and memory management. There are many detailed tutorials and resources available online that can guide you through the process.
## 8. Creating Cheat Tables
A cheat table is a file (with the extension `.CT`) that stores the addresses and values you’ve found in Cheat Engine. This allows you to quickly reload your cheats the next time you play the game, without having to rescan for the addresses. Cheat tables can also contain scripts, descriptions, and other information.
To create a cheat table:
1. **Add the addresses to the address list:** Find the addresses you want to save and add them to the bottom panel of Cheat Engine.
2. **Save the cheat table:** Click the “Save” icon (usually a floppy disk icon) in the top toolbar. Choose a filename and location for your cheat table.
3. **Load the cheat table:** To load a cheat table, click the “Open” icon and select the `.CT` file you want to load. The addresses and values will be loaded into the address list.
## 9. Advanced Techniques
Cheat Engine offers several advanced techniques for more sophisticated game modification:
### *Code Injection*
Code injection involves inserting your own code into the game’s process. This can be used to create custom cheats, modify game behavior, or even bypass anti-cheat systems (though this is generally unethical and can lead to account bans).
### *Assembly Editing*
Assembly editing allows you to directly modify the game’s code by changing the assembly instructions. This requires a strong understanding of assembly language and the game’s internal workings.
### *Using Scripts (Lua)*
Cheat Engine’s scripting engine allows you to automate complex tasks and create custom cheats using the Lua scripting language. Lua scripts can be used to scan for addresses, modify values, create GUI elements, and much more.
## 10. Cheat Engine Alternatives
While Cheat Engine is a popular and powerful tool, several alternatives exist:
* **ArtMoney:** A simpler and more user-friendly memory editor.
* **Tsearch:** Another memory scanner and hex editor.
* **OllyDbg:** A powerful debugger for reverse engineering and software analysis (more complex than Cheat Engine).
* **x64dbg:** An open-source x64/x32 debugger for Windows.
The best alternative depends on your specific needs and technical skills.
## 11. Troubleshooting Common Issues
* **Cheat Engine can’t find the game process:** Make sure the game is running and that Cheat Engine has the necessary permissions (run as administrator). Some games may use anti-cheat systems that prevent Cheat Engine from attaching to the process. Also make sure you are selecting the correct process. Sometimes games have a launcher process and an actual game process, and you want to select the game process.
* **Addresses change after restarting the game:** This indicates that the addresses are dynamic. You need to find pointers to the static addresses.
* **Game crashes after modifying a value:** You may be modifying the wrong address or entering an invalid value. Try using different scanning techniques or narrowing down the search results.
* **Antivirus flags Cheat Engine:** This is often a false positive. Make sure you downloaded Cheat Engine from the official website and add an exception in your antivirus software.
* **Cheat Engine is not working with a specific game:** Some games employ anti-cheat measures that actively block or hinder Cheat Engine’s functionality. Modifying these games may require advanced techniques or may not be possible at all.
## 12. Ethical Considerations and Legal Disclaimer
It’s crucial to understand the ethical and legal implications of using Cheat Engine. **Modifying online games is generally against the terms of service and can lead to account bans.** This guide focuses solely on single-player game modification for educational and experimental purposes.
**Do not use Cheat Engine to gain an unfair advantage in online games or to modify software without permission.** Such activities can be considered cheating, hacking, and may violate copyright laws.
This guide is for informational purposes only. The author is not responsible for any consequences resulting from the use of Cheat Engine.
## 13. Conclusion
Cheat Engine is a powerful tool that can be used to modify single-player games, analyze software, and learn about memory management. By understanding the basic scanning techniques, pointer manipulation, and scripting capabilities, you can unlock a new level of control over your gaming experience. Remember to use Cheat Engine responsibly and ethically, and always respect the terms of service of online games.