Head-to-head · ROM Hacking Tools
HxD vs DSVEdit
HxD leads on 0 checks, DSVEdit on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreHxD · 7.2/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresDSVEdit · 2 of 3
HxD scores higher on our rubric for rom hacking tools: 7.2 against 6.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #7.
HxD is the better fit for general-purpose Windows hex editing. DSVEdit is the better fit for editing supported NDS and GBA Castlevania ROMs.
- HxD fits best
General-purpose Windows hex editing
- DSVEdit fits best
Editing supported NDS and GBA Castlevania ROMs
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Side by side
| Feature | HxD 7.2/10 Visit ↗ | DSVEdit 6.8/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.2 | 6.8 |
| Ranking | #3 in ROM Hacking Tools | #7 in ROM Hacking Tools |
| Best for | General-purpose Windows hex editing | Editing supported NDS and GBA Castlevania ROMs |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Support | Community | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business | Solo |
| Features HxD 0/3 · DSVEdit 2/3 | ||
| ROM editing | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Tile/sprite editing | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Hex editor | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Patch formats | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Supported platforms | Not checked yet | Windows |
| Game scope | Not checked yet | Multiple games |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | HxD is a Windows desktop hex and disk editor for people who need to inspect or modify binary data. Its scope includes files, raw disks and drives, and main memory, so it suits general-purpose hex editing more than a workflow centered on… Read the review → |
DSVEdit is a free Windows desktop editor for modifying data in five Castlevania games on Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance. It is aimed at solo ROM hackers working with Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, Order of Ecclesia, Aria of Sorrow, or… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
HxD — where it wins
- Search and replace text, hex values, integers, and floats
- Compare files and generate CRC, SHA-1, SHA-512, and MD5 digests
- Offers portable and installable editions with unlimited undo
Where it doesn't
- Windows desktop software only
- File comparison is described as simple
- General-purpose editing lacks a ROM-specific focus
DSVEdit — where it wins
- Edits rooms, maps, entities, graphics, sprites, and text
- Builds modified ROMs from edited game files
- Can launch an emulator for modified-ROM and room testing
Where it doesn't
- Supports only five specified Castlevania games
- Requires Windows
- Does not document patch-format creation or a hex editor
- HxD7.2/10 · Free plan
A broad Windows hex editor for binary work, rather than a ROM-specific hacking suite.
Visit HxDFull verdict → - DSVEdit6.8/10 · Free plan
A free Windows editor for changing game data and testing modified Castlevania ROMs.
Visit DSVEditFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update