RPY File – What is .rpy file and how to open it?

RPY File Format

An RPY file is a replay file format used in the Touhou Project series of bullet hell video games developed by Team Shanghai Alice. It contains a recording of the player’s actions and game state during a gameplay session, allowing users to replay or share their gameplay. RPY files typically store information about the player’s position, movement, and actions, as well as the game’s progress and settings.

RPY files are essential for sharing and analyzing gameplay in the Touhou Project community. They enable players to showcase their skills, demonstrate techniques, or compare strategies with others. Replay files are also valuable for game developers, as they provide a means to test and debug gameplay mechanics and address performance issues. RPY files are typically saved in a proprietary format that is not publicly available, but there are third-party tools available that can convert RPY files to other formats or extract their contents for analysis.

Using a Replay Viewer

One of the most common ways to open RPY files is to use a dedicated replay viewer. These programs are specifically designed to playback replays of Touhou Project games, allowing you to review your gameplay or witness the replays of other players. Two popular replay viewers are Touhou Replay Viewer and Himawari, both of which are compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems.

To open an RPY file using a replay viewer, simply launch the program and click on the “Open” or “Load” button. Navigate to the location of the RPY file and select it. The replay viewer will then load the replay and allow you to playback the game, control the playback speed, and rewind or fast-forward to specific points in the replay.

Extracting Replay Data

In addition to replay viewers, there are also tools available that allow you to extract the replay data from RPY files. This can be useful for analyzing your gameplay or creating custom replays. One such tool is RPY Extractor, a command-line tool that allows you to extract the replay data in various formats, such as JSON or XML.

To use RPY Extractor, open a command window and navigate to the directory where the tool is installed. Then, enter the following command:


rpy-extractor [options] input.rpy output.json


Replace “input.rpy” with the path to the RPY file and “output.json” with the desired output path and format. RPY Extractor will then extract the replay data and save it to the specified output file.

File Format and Structure

The RPY file format, short for Touhou Project Replay File, is a proprietary format used exclusively for storing gameplay replays in the Touhou Project series of games. Developed by Team Shanghai Alice, the RPY format encapsulates recorded player inputs, game state data, and other relevant information necessary to recreate the exact gameplay sequence. The structure of an RPY file typically consists of a header followed by a series of data blocks, each representing a specific aspect of the replay, such as player actions, character positioning, and game events. The header contains information about the replay’s version, game mode, and duration, while the data blocks provide a detailed record of player inputs, enemy behavior, and the progression of the game over time.

Compatibility and Usage

RPY files are primarily used within the Touhou Project community for sharing replays and studying gameplay techniques. They are compatible with various replay playback tools, allowing users to view and analyze replays in detail, identify areas for improvement, and compare strategies against other players. The ability to share and access replays has fostered a thriving competitive scene within the Touhou Project community, enabling players to showcase their skills, learn from experienced players, and engage in competitive challenges. Additionally, replays can serve as valuable resources for developers in analyzing gameplay patterns and identifying potential areas of improvement for future game updates.

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