How to Use Cheat Engine Memory Scanner PC Games Tutorial

Specification Field	Technical Parameter Details
Package & Title	Cheat Engine Memory Scanner, Debugger & Disassembler Guide
Software Version	v7.5 Official Open-Source Release (x86 & x64 Architecture)
Installer File Size Range	Standalone Binary: ~24 MB | Cheat Tables (.CT): 5 KB - 500 KB
Compatible Platforms & OS	Windows 7, 8, 10, 11 (64-bit Native / Proton Linux)
Developer & Root Security	Eric Heijnen (Dark Byte) / Open-Source MIT License

1. What is Cheat Engine & Virtual Memory?

Developed by Eric Heijnen (known online as Dark Byte), Cheat Engine is the undisputed gold standard for reverse engineering, debugging, and modifying single-player video games on Windows. When an application launches, the Windows OS allocates a block of virtual memory to store active gameplay variables—such as player coordinates, health points, gold quantities, and inventory arrays.

Cheat Engine operates by attaching to this running process using Windows debugging APIs (OpenProcess, ReadProcessMemory, and WriteProcessMemory). It allows you to scan through millions of memory addresses in real-time, filter out changing values, freeze memory registers, and even inject custom x86/x64 assembly instructions to modify how game routines execute.

2. Data Types: 4-Byte, Float, Double & Strings

Selecting the proper data type before initiating a memory scan is critical. Searching for a floating-point number using a 4-Byte integer filter will return zero results.

• 4-Byte Integer (Standard): The default and most common data type in video games. Used for whole numbers such as gold coins, ammunition counts, skill points, and experience points (ranging from 0 to 4,294,967,295).
• Float (Single Precision): Represents 32-bit decimal numbers. Extensively used for health percentages (e.g., 100.0), movement speed multipliers, vehicle physics, and countdown timers.
• Double (Double Precision): A 64-bit floating-point number offering high precision. Popular in simulation titles, grand strategy games, and titles built in the Unity engine.
• Array of Bytes (AoB): A sequence of hexadecimal bytes. Used to locate compiled assembly instructions (such as 29 7B 40 for sub [ebx+40],edi) rather than variable values.

3. Step-by-Step Exact & Unknown Value Scanning

Follow this numbered tutorial to perform exact value and unknown initial value scans on single-player titles.

1. Step 1: Attach Cheat Engine to the Game Process
   Launch your game, load your single-player save, and note your current currency or ammo count (e.g., 500 gold). Open Cheat Engine and click the glowing computer monitor icon at the top-left. In the Process List, select your game executable (e.g., game.exe) and click Open.
2. Step 2: Execute the First Scan
   In the Value box, type 500. Ensure Scan Type is set to Exact Value and Value Type is set to 4 Bytes. Click First Scan. Cheat Engine will populate the left pane with hundreds of thousands of memory addresses containing the number 500.
3. Step 3: Change the Value In-Game
   Switch back to your game. Spend or earn gold so the value changes (e.g., buy an item so your gold drops to 450).
4. Step 4: Execute the Next Scan
   Return to Cheat Engine. Type 450 into the Value box and click Next Scan. Cheat Engine filters out all addresses that did not change to 450. Repeat this process until only 1 to 3 addresses remain in the list.
5. Step 5: Modify and Freeze the Address
   Double-click the remaining address to add it to your bottom address table. Double-click the Value column in the table, type your desired amount (e.g., 999999), and press Enter. Check the active square checkbox beside the address to freeze the value, ensuring the number never decreases in-game.
6. Step 6: Handling Unknown Initial Values (Health Bars)
   If a game displays a graphical health bar without numbers, set Scan Type to Unknown initial value and click First Scan. Take damage in-game, change Scan Type to Decreased value, and click Next Scan. Heal your character, choose Increased value, and scan again. Repeat until the health address is isolated.

4. Resolving Dynamic Memory with Pointer Scans

Modern games utilize Dynamic Memory Allocation (DMA). Every time you close the game or change levels, Windows assigns your player data to a completely new RAM address. Modifying address 0x1A4F0B20 works today, but will fail tomorrow.

To create a permanent cheat that survives restarts, you must find the Base Pointer. A pointer is a static memory address that always points to the dynamic memory structure. Right-click your verified address in the bottom table and select Generate pointermap. Save the map file.

Restart the game, locate the new address using the exact scan method, and generate a second pointermap. In Cheat Engine, right-click the new address and select Pointer scan for this address. Compare the two pointermaps. Cheat Engine will isolate static pointers (displayed in green, such as "game.exe"+00B5A240 -> offset 18 -> offset 40). Saving this pointer inside a Cheat Table (.CT) ensures the cheat works across every game launch.

5. Assembly Code Injection & NOP Modification

Instead of freezing memory numbers, professional modders modify the game's actual executable code. Right-click your memory address and select Find out what writes to this address. Cheat Engine attaches a hardware breakpoint debugger.

Return to the game and perform the action (e.g., shoot a bullet). The debugger window captures the exact assembly code line reducing your ammo, such as dec [eax+14] (decrement) or sub [eax+14],ecx (subtract). Click Show disassembler.

To achieve infinite ammo, select the subtract instruction, click Tools > Auto Assemble > Template > Code Injection, or right-click and choose Replace with code that does nothing (NOP). Cheat Engine replaces the subtract opcode with 90 90 90 (NOP - No Operation). The game now executes the firing animation and sound, but skips subtracting ammunition permanently.

6. PC Memory Scanners Comparison Matrix

Compare Cheat Engine against automated game trainers and alternative debugging suites.

Tool Name	Target Audience	Disassembler / Debugger	Custom Scripting	License & Cost
Cheat Engine	Power Users & Mod Developers	Full x86/x64 Disassembler	Lua & Auto-Assembler	100% Free Open-Source
WeMod	Casual Gamers (Pre-made)	None (Closed Source)	None (Curated Trainers)	Freemium ($8/mo Pro)
ArtMoney Pro	General Gamers	Basic Pointer Search	Limited Formula Support	Commercial ($24.90)

7. Pros and Cons of Cheat Engine Modding

Evaluating the powerful capabilities and learning curve of memory scanning:

8. Anti-Cheat Precautions & Offline Gaming Ethics

Crucial Security Rule: Cheat Engine is engineered exclusively for single-player, client-side video games. Modern online multiplayer titles utilize kernel-level anti-cheats (Easy Anti-Cheat, BattlEye, Riot Vanguard, Ricochet, and Valve Anti-Cheat).

Online anti-cheats continuously scan the Windows process table. Having cheatengine.exe running in the background—even if attached to a completely unrelated offline game—will trigger an immediate permanent account ban on games like Apex Legends, Valorant, or Call of Duty. Always verify that your multiplayer launchers are completely closed before launching Cheat Engine.

For official downloads, source code, and tutorial documentation, consult the Cheat Engine GitHub Repository and official project documentation.