Touhou Linux Guide

By Daichungus

Disclaimer

This guide focuses on using Lutris with vanilla Wine for a simple and consistent experience. It does not cover every setup or edge case.

The goal here is to get most users running their Touhou games quickly and cleanly.

If you're looking for more advanced or alternative methods, other resources may be better suited.

Preparing your Linux environment

Choosing a distro

Most major distros* should work well with this guide.

This guide has been personally tested with:

Fedora 42 with KDE and Nvidia GPU
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with GNOME and integrated Intel graphics

My only recommendation is to choose a well-known, widely-supported, and stable distro, which includes but is not limited to the following:

* This guide does NOT cover Arch Linux!

Installing required software

Before continuing, ensure you have the necessary graphics drivers and system firmware installed.

Consult your distro's documentation or online resources for a proper setup (e.g., RPM Fusion for Nvidia drivers on Fedora).

Update your repository using your distro's included package manager.
Debian/Ubuntu/Linux Mint:
```
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
```
Fedora:
```
sudo dnf update
```

Install Wine and Lutris.

Debian/Ubuntu/Linux Mint:

sudo apt install wine lutris

Fedora:

sudo dnf install wine lutris

Installing THCRAP patches

Skip to this section if you do not want to play with THCRAP patches, or if you already have THCRAP patches installed and do not want to install more.

If your Touhou game folders each have their own thcrap folders and English exe, it is recommended to delete them and follow this section.

Please note the following:

Each /your/path/to/ is a placeholder for where you installed the software.
Each XX represents the numeral of the Touhou game, such as 06. (e.g. th06 for EoSD)

Setting up Wine and Mono for THCRAP

Create a new Wine prefix with the following command: *
```
WINEPREFIX=$HOME/.wine-thcrap WINEARCH=win64 winecfg
```
Download the latest version of Mono.^† Use this guide to find the version you need.
Run the following command to install Mono to your newly-created prefix: ^‡
```
WINEPREFIX=$HOME/.wine-thcrap wine /path/to/wine-mono-VERSION-x86.msi
```
(substitute the actual version number for VERSION)

* winecfg is recommended as you may need to adjust some settings. Otherwise you can just close the GUI window.

^† The THCRAP configuration tool requires .NET, which Mono substitutes on Linux. Otherwise it will display an error saying that .NET is missing.

^‡ Directly installing Mono to the prefix avoids unforseen distro-related issues. If you have wine-mono installed system-wide, THCRAP will only display a pink screen before closing itself. This is usually because of broken packages in many distros (namely Fedora).

Setup of the THCRAP configuration tool

Download the main THCRAP package from thpatch.net
Unzip the package. There are two ways to do this:

Use a GUI-based archive manager. Usually included with your distro. (Ark, File Roller, Engrampa, etc.)
Use the unzip command. You may have to install it with your package manager. An example command in use is shown below:
```
unzip thcrap.zip -d $HOME/yourname/Downloads/thcrap
```

Using Lutris

Open Lutris, click "+" sign in the upper-left corner, then choose "Add locally installed game"
In the Game Info tab:
1. Set a name like "THCRAP configuration tool".
2. Choose Wine as the Runner.
In the Game options tab:
1. Set the executable path to /your/path/to/thcrap/thcrap.exe *
2. Set the working directory path to /your/path/to/thcrap/
3. Set the Wine prefix path to $HOME/.wine-thcrap
Use System wine for the Runner option.
Press the save button and ensure the THCRAP configuration tool runs properly.

* thcrap.exe is the THCRAP configuration tool, which allows you to download new patches and locate the games. Meanwhile, thcrap_loader.exe is the actual program that applies patches to the Touhou games.

Using the command line

Use the Wine prefix you created for THCRAP earlier. Run:

WINEPREFIX=$HOME/.wine-thcrap wine /your/path/to/thcrap/thcrap.exe

Installing patches with the THCRAP configuration tool

Run the THCRAP configuration tool via Lutris.
On the welcome screen, click next. By default, THCRAP will ask you to choose a patch based on your system's default language.
Click on the "All patches" tab* if you want to:
- Install multiple patches at the same time
- Install non-language patches (music, sprite, gameplay)
- More detailed information can be found here.
THCRAP will then ask you for the location of your games^† after you click "next".
1. Select the "Find games in a specific folder" option.
2. Navigate to the folder containing your Touhou games.
3. THCRAP will then load a list of detected Touhou games and their custom.exe programs.
4. Select the games you want to apply the patch to. Click Next.
Choose the most convenient location for the patch's shortcut^‡ to be created in.
You can now run your Touhou game with the installed patch.

* It may take a few seconds for the patch list when you click on the "All patches" tab. This is normal behavior.

^† It is highly recommended that the thcrap folder be placed in the same directory as your Touhou games.

^‡ This shortcut is purely optional, as what actually matters is the config file created for that patch. You can delete the shortcut if desired.

Understanding and editing the config files

Config files tell thcrap_loader.exe which patches to load in order. These are located in the config folder of the thcrap folder ending with .js

Here are some examples of config files for various patches:

If you have already have installed a few patches, this can be very useful for patch stacking.

About games.js

games.js is a special config file. This file tells THCRAP all the known locations of your Touhou games.

An example with explanation comments is provided here.

If you have vpatch.exe in any of the games' folders (see "Running Touhou with Vsync patches"), you can refer to that exe instead of the regular game exe within games.js

Installing Vsync patches (vpatch)

Information about the vsync patches is located here

Download the vpatch archive (old download)
Unzip the vpatch archive. There are two ways to do this:
- Use a GUI-based archive manager. Usually included with your distro. (Ark, File Roller, Engrampa, etc.)
- Use the unzip command. An example command in use is shown below:
```
unzip vpatch.zip -d $HOME/yourname/Downloads/vpatch
```

In the extracted vpatch folder, locate the appropriate vpatch_thXX.dll file for your game.

Provided below is a table for which vpatch folder to find your game's vpatch

                    
                        
                            
                                Name
                                thXX
                                vpatch version
                                .dll filename
                            
                            
                                Embodiment of Scarlet Devil
                                th06
                                vpatch_rev4
                                vpatch_th06.dll
                            
                            
                                Perfect Cherry Blossom
                                th07
                                vpatch_rev4
                                vpatch_th07.dll
                            
                            
                                Imperishable Night
                                th08
                                vpatch_rev4
                                vpatch_th08.dll
                            
                            
                                Phantasmagoria of Flower View
                                th09
                                vpatch_rev4
                                vpatch_th09.dll
                            
                            
                                Shoot the Bullet
                                th095
                                vpatch_rev7
                                vpatch_th095.dll
                            
                            
                                Mountain of Faith
                                th10
                                vpatch_rev7
                                vpatch_th10.dll
                            
                            
                                Subterranean Animism
                                th11
                                vpatch_rev7
                                vpatch_th11.dll
                            
                            
                                Undefined Fantastic Object
                                th12
                                vpatch_rev7
                                vpatch_th12.dll
                            
                            
                                Double Spoiler
                                th125
                                vpatch_rev7
                                vpatch_th125.dll
                            
                            
                                Great Fairy Wars
                                th128
                                vpatch_th12.8
                                vpatch_th128.dll
                            
                            
                                Ten Desires
                                th13
                                vpatch_th13
                                vpatch_th13.dll
                            
                            
                                Double Dealing Character
                                th14
                                vpatch_th14
                                vpatch_th14.dll
                            
                            
                                Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom
                                th15
                                vpatch_th15
                                vpatch_th15.dll

Copy or move the appropriate vpatch_thXX.dll*, vpatch.exe, and vpatch.ini files into your Touhou game's folder.
Rename the Touhou game's exe^† to thXX.exe.

Name	`thXX`	vpatch version	.dll filename
Embodiment of Scarlet Devil	th06	vpatch_rev4	vpatch_th06.dll
Perfect Cherry Blossom	th07	vpatch_rev4	vpatch_th07.dll
Imperishable Night	th08	vpatch_rev4	vpatch_th08.dll
Phantasmagoria of Flower View	th09	vpatch_rev4	vpatch_th09.dll
Shoot the Bullet	th095	vpatch_rev7	vpatch_th095.dll
Mountain of Faith	th10	vpatch_rev7	vpatch_th10.dll
Subterranean Animism	th11	vpatch_rev7	vpatch_th11.dll
Undefined Fantastic Object	th12	vpatch_rev7	vpatch_th12.dll
Double Spoiler	th125	vpatch_rev7	vpatch_th125.dll
Great Fairy Wars	th128	vpatch_th12.8	vpatch_th128.dll
Ten Desires	th13	vpatch_th13	vpatch_th13.dll
Double Dealing Character	th14	vpatch_th14	vpatch_th14.dll
Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom	th15	vpatch_th15	vpatch_th15.dll

* For EoSD, use vpatch_th06_unicode.dll instead if you want to play with THCRAP.

^†For EoSD, you must rename the exe to 東方紅魔郷.exe for vpatch to be applied.

Running the Touhou games

Please note the following:

Each /your/path/to/ is a placeholder for where you installed the software.
Each XX represents the numeral of the Touhou game, such as 06. (e.g. th06 for EoSD)

Running with Lutris

Skip to this section if you don't want to use Lutris.

If you are running vanilla or vpatch EoSD:

While adding it, go to the "Systems options" tab
Scroll to "Locale"
Set it to Japanese

Vanilla Touhou (no patches)

Follow this section if you want to play without THCRAP patches or vpatch.

Open Lutris, then add "locally installed game".
In the Game info tab:
1. Set the name to be the Touhou game's name.
2. Choose Wine as the Runner.
In the Game options tab:
1. Set the executable path to /your/path/to/Touhou/thXX/thXX.exe
2. Set the working directory path to /your/path/to/Touhou/thXX/
3. Set the Wine prefix path to $HOME/.wine
In the Runner options tab, use System wine.
Press the save button and ensure your game is running.*

Touhou with Vsync patch (vpatch)

Install vpatch for your Touhou game.
Repeat the same first few steps as running vanilla Touhou.
Set the executable path to /your/path/to/Touhou/thXX/vpatch.exe
Continue with the same steps as running vanilla Touhou.
Press the save button and ensure your game is running with vpatch.*

Touhou with THCRAP patches

Follow this section if you have installed THCRAP patches.

Repeat the first few steps as running vanilla Touhou, but for the executable path in "Game options", locate thcrap_loader.exe
In the Arguments field, enter the .js file of your patch* and the game^† you want to run it with.
Examples of arguments:
- EoSD with the English patch: en.js th06
- PCB with Skipgame: skipgame.js th07
- MoF with user-made config: yourpatch.js th10
Ensure the working directory is the folder that contains thcrap_loader.exe
Press the save button and run your game for testing.
- There should be a small window that has the name "Touhou Community Reliant Automatic Patcher".
- If your game loads with your desired patch, you've succeeded.

* You can find all of your installed patches in the config folder in the thcrap folder.

^† Game names are located in games.js within the config folder of the thcrap folder

Running from the Command Line

Vanilla Touhou (no patches) *

Replace thXX.exe with the executable for your specific game:

LANG=ja_JP.UTF-8 wine start /unix /your/path/to/Touhou/thXX/thXX.exe

Touhou with Vsync patches (vpatch) *

Same as above, but use vpatch.exe instead:

LANG=ja_JP.UTF-8 wine start /unix /your/path/to/Touhou/thXX/vpatch.exe

Touhou with THCRAP patches

Replace example.js with your patch config, and thXX with your game's ID:

wine /your/path/to/thcrap/thcrap_loader.exe example.js thXX

* Due to how EoSD (th06) handles encoding and locale, running it directly from the command line requires LANG=ja_JP.UTF-8 wine start /unix before the path to it.

Backing up your save data

Older Windows (th06 - th12)

All relevant files are located in the same folder as the game. *

* Or techically, wherever the game's .exe was last ran.

Newer Windows (th12.5 - )

Starting with DS (th125), all save data is stored in AppData/Roaming/ShanghaiAlice

Locate the Wine prefix you used to run the game (usually located in your home folder as .wine)
Navigate to drive_c/users/yourname/AppData/Roaming/ShanghaiAlice in your Wine prefix
Open the thXX folder that corresponds with your Touhou game(s), then copy or move all relevant files to a safe place. *

* It is recommended to copy the files to the location of the actual game for organizational purposes.

Relevant files

Make sure to keep these files safe.

score.dat*: Your saved scores and unlocks
thXX_XX.rpy: Replay files, located in the replay folder
thXX.cfg^†: Your game settings (e.g. fullscreen vs windowed)
Screenshots taken in-game with the Home key are located in the snapshot folder.

* scorethXX.dat starting with StB (th095)

^† It's normal for the cfg file of EoSD to appear as “Œ•ûg–‚‹½.cfg

Common Issues

For more information, refer to this guide.

EoSD displays error windows at startup

Refer to this guide for help

Fullscreen Issues

These two issues usually happen when running the Touhou games with regular/system Wine. A good alternative runner is GE-Proton, which should have little to no issues with the Lutris setup as outlined in this guide.

Not upscaling/in corner

This mainly affects desktop environments that use Wayland. Currently there are no solutions besides switching to an Xorg session in the login screen.

Stretched out

Typically happens when you enable DXVK in original Wine. Fixes the non-up-scaling issue but also causes stretched visuals with that runner.

Strange text

Missing text/tofu (⍰⍰⍰⍰)

Install cjkfonts using winetricks:

wine winetricks cjkfonts

Mojibake (“Œ•û)

Verify that your system has a suitable Japanese locale
- This will list all existing Japanese locales:
```
locale -a | grep ja_JP
```
- If you don't see ja_JP.utf8 on this list, look up how to install new locales on your OS/distro.

Use the Japanese locale whenever you run Touhou games and installers through Wine via command line.
Add this at the start of your command:
```
LANG=ja_JP.UTF-8
```

Additional Resources and References

Touhou Wiki | Running in Linux and macOS
Touhou Patch Center: Wine tips | THCRAP's Linux guide
ArchWiki | Guide for Arch users
General THCRAP installation and usage guide
scriptkitties guide | Uses Arch and PlayOnLinux
Touhou Hisoutensoku Wiki | Guide to running Touhou Hisoutensoku on Linux
lilyremigia's guide | Text walkthrough on how to get just English
Thrysus Enterprises (don't bother them) | How To Ask Questions the Smart Way

Special thanks to C0LDfinch, Yova, and the THCRAP community for their feedback and guidance!