CadEditor review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

CadEditor is an open-source desktop editor and ROM-hacking toolkit for people working with configured classic games, including ROM hackers, game researchers, and homebrew developers. It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS according to the project README, though only Windows is reported as tested. Users choose a game configuration and provide their own ROM file; CadEditor’s game coverage is broad, but support can be limited to particular levels or aspects of a game.

Its depth is in structured editing rather than a single universal workflow. Depending on the configuration, users can change screen layouts, level structure, blocks, tiles, palette colors, macroblocks, nested block structures, and lists of objects such as enemies, pickups, and doors. Some games also expose block properties. The toolkit includes a NES CHR tile editor, an animation editor for Capcom games, and a hex editor for ROM-byte changes. Screen data and maps can be exported in image, binary, or TMX formats. Game configurations are written in C#, and plugin modules can add game-specific capabilities. That flexibility suits people prepared to work within configuration-dependent tools; buyers seeking consistent editing features across every supported game should look elsewhere.

CadEditor is free and open source, making it a fit for solo users who want a configurable desktop toolset without a paid plan. Its multi-platform availability may help users who do not work on Windows, but the Windows-only testing note makes that platform the clearest documented choice. ROM images must be obtained separately, so the editor is not a source of game files. Choose CadEditor when your target game’s configuration covers the edits you need and you value access to several specialized editors in one project. Consider a game-specific alternative if you need assured coverage for a particular title or a more uniform feature set.

CadEditor pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Edits layouts, tiles, palettes, macroblocks, and game-object lists
  • Includes NES CHR, Capcom animation, and hex editors
  • Exports screen data and maps as images, binary, or TMX
• Where it doesn't
  • Game support can be partial and varies by configuration
  • Requires users to supply their own ROM files
  • Only Windows is reported as tested

CadEditor fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 21 Oct 2026 · How we research and update