A native Donkey Kong 64 Switch port has arrived as homebrew, called DK64Recomp-NX, and it’s built on the excellent Donkey Kong 64: Recompiled PC project, so instead of emulating the N64 it runs the game as actual Switch code, with widescreen, saves, mods and even a stab at 60fps.
GBAtemp spotted the newest version, 1.1.2, over the weekend, and it follows hot on the heels of the Wind Waker port we’ve been banging on about, so is the Switch quietly turning into the best N64 machine Nintendo never sold? Let’s find out!
What Is This Donkey Kong 64 Switch Port, Exactly?
It’s a homebrew port by GBAtemp user Trinalord777, based on Donkey Kong 64: Recompiled by Rainchus and team, which itself is a static recompilation, meaning the original N64 code has been translated into native code rather than run through an emulator. According to the project’s GitHub page, the game logic is the same as the PC release, but the renderer, OS layer and threading have all been reworked for the Switch.
The big swap is the graphics, because the PC version’s renderer needs Vulkan, so the Switch build uses GLideN64 on OpenGL instead, which is the sort of sentence that makes my brain hurt but makes the game run, so I’ll allow it!
Worth NotingThe README says the port was made with the help of Anthropic’s Claude AI and tested on real hardware, which will no doubt reignite the AI-assisted recomp debate that’s been raging in the retro scene lately.
What Does Version 1.1.2 Actually Add?
Here’s the feature list from GBAtemp’s write-up, and honestly it’s a lot more than I expected from a homebrew port:
- The full game running from boot, with working saves
- 16:9 widescreen with the HUD pushed to the screen edges, plus clean 48 kHz audio
- Native 960×720 at 30fps, plus an interpolated 60fps mode (now the default) and an experimental “true” 60fps mode
- A new experimental 1080p option
- An in-game options menu (press minus and plus together) and an A/B button swap
- Support for PC-version .nrm mods, including Tag Anywhere
- GameShark cheats grouped by Kong, an FPS counter, input viewer and timer
- An optional 1785 MHz CPU boost profile if you’re running Horizon OC
Tag Anywhere alone is worth the price of admission, which is free, because anyone who’s trekked back to a Tag Barrel just to swap to Chunky knows DK64’s backtracking could test the patience of a saint.
Is the 60fps Mode Any Good?
It’s a mixed bag, trust you me. The true 60fps option makes lots of animations, enemies and timers run too fast, so the developer says to avoid it, while the interpolated mode can feel slower at times because of frame buffering, which is why the current recommendation is to set the FPS to 50 for now.
There are a couple of other known niggles too, with brief hitches when a room’s textures first load, especially at 60fps without the CPU boost, and about ten seconds of black screen when you launch it, so don’t panic and pull the plug thinking it’s crashed!
What Do You Need to Run It?
You’ll need a Switch running Atmosphère custom firmware, and you have to launch the Homebrew Menu by holding R while starting a game, because launching from the Album doesn’t give it enough memory. The author tested it on firmware 22.0.0, and there’s no word on which Switch models are officially supported.
You’ll also need your own Donkey Kong 64 USA ROM, which you will of course have dumped from a cartridge you “legally” own, like a good citizen, definitely not sourced from the open seas. No game assets are included, which is exactly how these projects stay on the right side of things.
Quick TipOnly the USA version of the ROM is supported, and the GitHub page lists the exact hash to check against, so verify your dump before you start blaming the port for a crash.
Should You Install It?
If you’ve already got a modded Switch, this is an easy yes, because it’s free, it’s surprisingly feature-packed, and DK64 with widescreen, mods and a proper options menu is a better way to play than Nintendo has ever offered. If you’re not modded, this alone isn’t a reason to start, but it’s another sign of how good recompilation projects are getting.
And if you want more proof that fans are doing Nintendo’s job for it, check out how Wind Waker landed on Switch as native homebrew before Nintendo could be bothered!
FAQ
Is the Donkey Kong 64 Switch port an emulator?
No, the Donkey Kong 64 Switch port is a static recompilation, so the game runs as native Switch code rather than through N64 emulation.
Does the Donkey Kong 64 Switch port run at 60fps?
It offers interpolated and experimental true 60fps modes, but the developer currently recommends setting it to 50fps to avoid speed issues.
Do I need a modded Switch for DK64Recomp-NX?
Yes, you need a Switch running Atmosphère and your own Donkey Kong 64 USA ROM, as no game files are included.
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