Properties of RES Files and How to Open a File with .res Extension

RES files exist as 6 different types. Please find information about each of them below.

Type 1: Valve Resource File

Developers compile RC files to RES files using Microsoft Resource Compiler. RES files contain compiled RC file content and compiled versions of all RC referenced resources. Developers can also use Mic...

General Information

Title	RES File Extension
Extension	.res
Full Form	Valve Resource File
File Type	Resource File
Developer	Valve Corporation
MIME Type	application/octet-stream

File Function

Primary Function	Store data
Additional Functions	Game resources
Features	Binary format

File Characteristics

Quality	High, Game quality
Supports Layers	N/A
Supports Transparency	Yes, Game textures
Editable	Yes, With tools

Use Cases

Video Games	Yes
Modding	Yes
Resource Management	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Low, Game data
Best Practices	Verify sources, Backup

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	Late 1990s
Latest Version	Depends on game

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.bsp, .vpk, .gcf

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
Valve Hammer Editor	Free	Windows
Half-Life SDK	Free	Windows
GCFScape	Free	Windows

Type 2: C++ Complied Resource Script

General Information

Title	RES File Extension
Extension	.res
Full Form	C++ Compiled Resource Script
File Type	Compiled Binary
Developer	Microsoft
MIME Type	application/octet-stream

File Function

Primary Function	Store resources
Additional Functions	Embedded graphics, Localization

File Characteristics

Quality	Binary compiled
Supports Layers	N/A
Supports Transparency	Depends on resource
Editable	With suitable software

Use Cases

Application Development	Yes
UI Customization	Yes
Software Localization	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Executable embedding
Best Practices	Validate, Secure storage

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	Early Windows
Notable Changes	Evolved with Windows SDK

Associated Types

Source Extension	.rc
Compiled Extension	.dll, .exe

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
Microsoft Visual Studio	Paid, Free Community	Windows
Resource Hacker	Free	Windows
XN Resource Editor	Free	Windows

Type 3: Windows Resource File

This section describes format of binary resource file created by resource compiler based on resource-definition file contents. File usually has .res extension. Linker reformats into resource object fi...

General Information

Title	RES File Extension
Extension	.res
Full Form	Windows Resource File
File Type	Binary File
Developer	Microsoft
MIME Type	application/octet-stream

File Function

Primary Function	Store resources
Additional Functions	Embed icons, bitmaps, cursors
Features	Binary format, Compiled resources

File Characteristics

Quality	High efficiency
Supports Layers	N/A
Supports Transparency	Depends on content
Editable	Yes

Use Cases

Software Development	Yes
Application Customization	Yes
Localization	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Executable embedding
Best Practices	Resource validation, Source verification

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	Early Windows versions
Latest Version	Varies with development tools

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.rc, .dll, .exe

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
Microsoft Visual Studio	Free, Paid versions	Windows
Resource Hacker	Free	Windows
XN Resource Editor	Free	Windows

Type 4: Star Wars KotOR Save Resources File

The free online .RES apps allow viewing, editing, converting, merging, splitting, and comparing RES files without installing anything. Click the links to see details for each feature. The RES file ext...

General Information

Title	.RES File Extension
Extension	.res
Full Form	Star Wars KotOR Save Resources File
File Type	Game Save File
Developer	BioWare
MIME Type	application/octet-stream

File Function

Primary Function	Store game resources
Additional Functions	Store game data, game state information
Features	Binary format, portable, modifiable

File Characteristics

Quality	Game-specific
Supports Layers	N/A
Supports Transparency	N/A
Editable	With tools

Use Cases

Game Modding	Yes
Save Transfer	Yes
Save Editing	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Modified file execution
Best Practices	Backup saves, modding awareness

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	2003
Latest Version	Dependent on game updates

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.utc, .uti, .utw, .utp, .dlg

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic	Purchase required	Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
KotOR Savegame Editor (KSE)	Free	Windows, Linux, Mac

Type 5: Godot Engine Resource File

The TRES format allows developers control resource versions easily. When exporting the game, Godot Engine converts the TRES files to RES binary files. This reduces their size and increases the game package’s efficiency. Programs open or reference RES files. The ResourceSaver class lets Godot Engine correctly save the player data. var result equals ResourceSaver.save the file name, player. assert result equals OK. To save as text, use the .tres extension. To save in compact binary format, use the .res extension. Also, save to user://file_name.res to save in the OS-specific user folder. The save call returns a status code. But mistakes with this are easy, causing bugs. So use Resource files instead.

The RES file is Godot Engine Binary Resource Data. Godot Engine creates open-source, cross-platform 2D and 3D games. The RES format description is unavailable. RES files belong in the Development files category. Godot Engine is the application. The mime-type is application/octet-stream.

Category: Development files. Application: Godot Engine. Program name: -. Mime-type: application/octet-stream.

Typically, Godot objects like Nodes and Resources export properties. Properties’ types include strings, integers, Vector2s, etc. One type can be a resource. This means nodes and resources can contain resources as properties. If a path property is erased or lacked a path, the resource is built-in. For example, erasing “res://robi.png” from the path and saving makes the resource save inside the .tscn file. The scene no longer references the external “robi.png”. However, even if saved built-in, the resource always loads only once despite scene instancing.

While a popular RES-file type is Windows Compiled Resource, we know 17 RES file uses. Different software uses the same extension for different data types. We know one type is .NET Framework Resource Data but have not analyzed these files’ contents and uses yet. We know one type is Alchemy Mindworks Resource Data but have not analyzed these files yet. We know one type is ArtCraft Resource but have not analyzed these files yet.

General Information

Title	RES File Extension
Extension	.res
Full Form	Godot Engine Resource File
File Type	Binary Resource File
Developer	Godot Engine Community
MIME Type	application/octet-stream

File Function

Primary Function	Store resources
Additional Functions	Game assets, Scripts, Data
Features	Binary format, Reusable

File Characteristics

Quality	Depends on resource
Supports Layers	N/A
Supports Transparency	Depends on asset
Editable	Yes

Use Cases

Game Development	Yes
Asset Management	Yes
Scene Storage	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Minimal
Best Practices	Version control, Backup

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	2014
Latest Version	Godot 3.5 (2023)

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.tres, .gd, .tscn, .scn

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
Godot Engine	Free	Windows, Mac, Linux

Type 6: Centauri Production Resource File

I've managed another file format from Centauri Production. The file format has the header "Centauri Production Resource File 3.00" and my tool handles files only with this header. The game "Evil Days ...

General Information

Title	.RES File Extension
Extension	.res
Full Form	Centauri Production Resource File
File Type	Game Resource File
Developer	Centauri Production
MIME Type	application/octet-stream

File Function

Primary Function	Store game resources
Additional Functions	Contain graphics, audio
Features	Binary format, Packaged content

File Characteristics

Quality	Varies by content
Supports Layers	No
Supports Transparency	Depends on image data
Editable	With specialized tools

Use Cases

Video Games	Yes
Game Modding	Yes
Resource Extraction	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Low risk
Best Practices	Validate integrity, Backup files

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	Associated with game release
Latest Version	Varies by game

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.pak, .dat, .bin

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
Mafia	Commercial	Windows
Pterodon Software	Commercial	Windows
Dragon UnPACKer	Free	Windows