FAQ

After downloading a game, you may need to extract an archive. On Windows, use an up-to-date version of 7-Zip or WinRAR: right-click the file and choose the extraction option. On Mac, double-click a .zip; Keka can extract .rar and .7z files.

For multipart archives (.001, .7z.001, .part1.rar, etc.), download every part into the same folder. Keep the original names and numbering; do not rename extensions. Extract only the first part: the application reads the rest automatically. For older .rar, .r00, .r01 sets, start with the .rar file.

An ISO is a disc image. On Windows, right-click and select Mount, or use virtual drive software such as DAEMON Tools. You can also extract its contents with WinRAR, just like a regular archive. On Mac, double-click a compatible disc image to mount it. Open the mounted disc or extracted folder and follow its installation instructions. Mounting or extracting a Windows ISO does not make the game compatible with macOS.

• 7-Zip · Windows
• WinRAR · Windows
• Keka · macOS

Read the update notes or NFO first: the required version, any earlier updates needed, and the installation procedure. Back up your saves and affected files before replacing anything.

Loose files are complete updated files, so the download can be large. If there is no installer and the notes instruct you to do so, copy or extract them into the game folder, replacing the older files.

xDelta patches apply the differences between old and new files. They are often smaller, but require the correct starting files. Run the supplied installer and point it at the game folder. If validation fails, check the version and files instead of forcing the patch.

If a PatchData folder accompanies the installer, keep it beside the executable as instructed. Do not remove the update files before installation finishes.

First check the system requirements, free space and exact error message. For save issues, make sure the game's save folder is writable. Folder protection or a synchronisation service can also interfere.

On Windows, Properties > Compatibility may help with some older games. Running as administrator is not a universal fix: only test it for a trusted program when you have identified a permissions problem. There is no need to enable it for every game.

Note the exact DLL name to distinguish a missing runtime from a missing game file. Check the prerequisites and any Redist or _CommonRedist folder. Install only the required components from a trusted source: DirectX, Visual C++ Redistributable or the requested .NET version.

Use the version and architecture required by the game. A 32-bit application may need the x86 redistributable even on 64-bit Windows. Do not download individual DLLs from random websites.

If a file was quarantined, inspect the protection history and alert. Do not disable your antivirus or automatically restore it. For an official installation, verifying files through the store can repair a missing game file.

• DirectX
• Visual C++ Redistributable x86
• Visual C++ Redistributable x64
• .NET Framework 4.8
• XNA Framework 4.0

The game must support the language: check its store page. If it requires additional language files, those must be installed too.

1. First look for your preferred language in the game settings or its properties in the store client.
2. Some distributions use a configuration file whose name, format and location vary: steam_emu.ini, CPY.ini, CODEX.ini, force_language.txt or another file, in the game folder or a subfolder. Check the release instructions to identify the file to edit and back it up before making changes.
3. Set your preferred language in the relevant setting, such as Language= in some .ini files, or directly in a text file's contents if the instructions require it. Use the language name or code and the format expected by that file.
4. Save the file (Ctrl + S), close it and restart the game. This change does not provide any missing language files.
5. Depending on the game, the language may also be selected during installation, including in some GOG installers, or through a supplied Language Selector program.

This issue very often means the crack has not been applied, or some of its files have been deleted or quarantined. Check the release's installation instructions, the folder where the files were copied and the shortcut you are using. Mixing files from different versions can also prevent the game from launching.

If your antivirus flagged a file, investigate the alert rather than disabling protection: Arkona cannot guarantee that a file is safe.

Cracks can trigger false positives or be flagged as circumvention tools (HackTool): an alert does not automatically mean a virus is present. Arkona trusts the groups behind the releases listed here and the sites recommended in its resources.

You do not need to disable your antivirus as a routine step. Keep protection enabled and up to date, check that the file comes from the recommended source and review the detection details before restoring or allowing it. Trust in a source does not guarantee the safety of every file; if in doubt, ask the antivirus vendor to review it.

• Virus and threat protection · Microsoft

Search the game's name on HowLongToBeat for estimated times for the main story, extra content or completion. These estimates come from player submissions and are not guarantees.

SteamSpy also provides playtime statistics for Steam games. Average time spent playing is not completion time: it can include multiplayer sessions and players who never finished the game.

• HowLongToBeat
• SteamSpy

It depends on the game and its online features. Some fixes, including those by 0xdeadc0de, require Steam or Epic Games to be running: follow the specific fix's notes and consult its support if something goes wrong.

Compatibility may be limited to players with the same version and fix, or to particular servers. Do not assume you can join owners of the official version. Some games also offer LAN play or dedicated servers without requiring this type of fix.

These methods guarantee neither continued access to online services nor protection against account sanctions.

There is no reliable schedule. Arkona lists published releases and cannot announce a date for a future release. A rumour or estimate is not confirmation.

• Reddit · r/CrackForecast

Compare your CPU, graphics card, memory, operating system and free storage with the minimum and recommended requirements on the game's official page.

Can You Run It also offers a compatibility check: search for the game. The result is a guide, not a guarantee of a particular frame rate. Check the platform as well: Windows requirements do not confirm Mac or Linux compatibility.

• Can You Run It

• Intel article
• Mr.Deviance’s article
• With / without comparison
• Propaganda

A game can have multiple releases: editions, platforms, updates or fixes. The library groups them under a game, while each release retains its original name and its own download information.

Scene and P2P identify the distribution category of a release. GOG archives belong to the P2P catalogue and are labelled with the GOG group. These categories do not describe a game's genre.

When a release has a password, it is shown in its download dialog. Passwords belong to individual releases, not to the game as a whole, and may differ between versions.

All download links are up to date and available. If you encounter a problem with a download, contact me through the Contact page and include the release concerned.

A different version is a separate release. We do not rename an older release to disguise a removed file. The game page brings the available versions together.

The release list shows the date a release was added to Arkona by default. The release page also shows its original date when known. You can sort the list by original date without changing the stored dates.

Release names do not always match game database titles. Records without a reliable match may lack artwork or descriptions. Incorrect matches, dates and duplicates can be reported through Contact.