Game Hacking Course

Lesson 1 • Setting Up a Safe Lab Environment

Configures isolated VMs and sandboxed game targets for safe experimentation. Prevents unintended consequences and establishes repeatable test conditions.

Lesson 2 • Memory Layout of a Game Process

Examines stack, heap, and static regions as used by game processes. Provides the spatial map needed to locate and modify game data.

Lesson 3 • How Games Execute at Runtime

Covers the game loop, frame timing, and how engines manage state each tick. Establishes the execution model all later hacking techniques depend on.

Lesson 4 • Executable Formats and Modules

Explains PE and ELF formats, sections, and how modules load into a process. Enables students to navigate binaries before disassembly.

Lesson 1 • Process Memory Access Fundamentals

Introduces OS APIs for opening processes and accessing their memory regions. Forms the technical basis for all external memory manipulation tools.

Lesson 2 • Writing a Basic External Trainer

Guides students through coding a simple external process that reads and writes game memory. Produces a working tool that reinforces all prior memory concepts.

Lesson 3 • Scanning for Values with Memory Scanners

Teaches value scanning, filtering, and narrowing techniques using memory scanner tools. Directly enables finding unknown addresses for target game variables.

Lesson 4 • Handling Anti-Tamper Memory Protections

Identifies common memory protection schemes that block external reads and writes. Prepares students to work around basic protections encountered in real targets.

Lesson 1 • Static Analysis with Disassemblers

Introduces disassembler workflows for navigating functions, cross-references, and strings. Enables offline analysis of game logic without running the target.

Lesson 2 • x86 and x64 Assembly Essentials

Covers registers, calling conventions, and common instruction patterns found in compiled games. Provides the minimum assembly literacy required for disassembly work.

Lesson 3 • Reconstructing Game Data Structures

Rebuilds struct definitions from disassembly field access patterns. Produces typed structure headers usable in memory reading and code injection tools.

Lesson 4 • Locating Key Game Functions

Applies pattern matching and string-based heuristics to find damage, health, and movement functions. Connects reverse engineering output to actionable hack targets.

Lesson 1 • Dynamic Instrumentation Frameworks

Introduces scriptable instrumentation tools for non-invasive runtime analysis. Extends debugging capability beyond what traditional debuggers support.

Lesson 2 • Breakpoints and Execution Control

Teaches software, hardware, and memory breakpoints to pause execution at precise moments. Enables inspection of register and memory state at any instruction.

Lesson 3 • Attaching a Debugger to a Game

Covers attaching user-mode debuggers to running game processes and handling exceptions. Establishes the live analysis workflow used throughout this chapter.

Lesson 4 • Finding Code That Accesses Data

Applies memory breakpoints to identify which instructions read or write a target variable. Bridges memory scanning results to the responsible game code.

Lesson 1 • Writing an Internal DLL Module

Guides construction of a DLL that initialises, runs a main thread, and cleans up on eject. Produces the reusable internal module template used in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Inline Hooking and Trampolines

Implements inline hooks by patching function prologues and routing execution through trampolines. Enables interception and modification of any game function.

Lesson 3 • Import Address Table Hooking

Redirects imported function calls by patching the IAT entries of a loaded module. Provides a stable, low-complexity hook point for API-level interception.

Lesson 4 • Virtual Function Table Hooking

Exploits C++ vtable pointers to redirect virtual method calls to custom handlers. Targets object-oriented game engines where virtual dispatch is pervasive.

Lesson 1 • Behavioural and Timing Evasion

Addresses detection based on anomalous timing, input patterns, and statistical outliers. Teaches humanisation and rate-limiting strategies to reduce behavioural signals.

Lesson 2 • Anti-Cheat Architecture Overview

Maps the components of kernel-mode and user-mode anti-cheat systems and their detection methods. Provides the threat model that shapes all evasion design decisions.

Lesson 3 • Hiding Injected Modules

Explores manual mapping and PEB unlinking to conceal loaded modules from enumeration. Prevents module-list-based detection used by most anti-cheat scanners.

Lesson 4 • Kernel-Level Detection Concepts

Examines how kernel drivers monitor system calls, handle tables, and memory access. Informs students of the detection ceiling they must design beneath.

Lesson 1 • ESP and World-to-Screen Rendering

Implements entity detection and projects 3D positions onto the 2D screen overlay. Produces a functional ESP that displays player and object information.

Lesson 2 • Resource and Stat Manipulation

Targets health, ammo, currency, and cooldown values for real-time modification. Reinforces pointer resolution and freeze techniques on diverse data types.

Lesson 3 • Aimbot Logic and Smoothing

Builds target acquisition logic using bone positions and FOV filtering with smoothing. Demonstrates applied use of memory reading and input manipulation.

Lesson 4 • Automation and Bot Scripting

Automates repetitive game actions using memory reads to drive input simulation. Introduces decision-loop design for bots that react to game state.

Lesson 1 • Encryption and Obfuscation in Protocols

Identifies encryption and obfuscation layers protecting game traffic and locates key material. Prepares students to work with protected protocols encountered in modern games.

Lesson 2 • Game Networking Fundamentals

Covers UDP and TCP usage in games, tick rates, and client-server authority models. Establishes the network context required for traffic analysis and manipulation.

Lesson 3 • Packet Interception and Modification

Hooks send and receive functions to intercept packets before encryption or after decryption. Enables real-time modification of outgoing and incoming game messages.

Lesson 4 • Reverse Engineering Custom Protocols

Applies static and dynamic analysis to map undocumented game protocol message types. Enables construction of valid custom packets from first principles.