27 Years Later, A 10/10 N64 Classic Has Landed On PC

1 hour ago 15

Published Sep 5, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT

Lee D’Amato is a writer born, raised, and based in Queens, New York. With collective thousands of hours in games like Final Fantasy, Metal Gear, Elden Ring, and The Legend of Zelda, he's now writes game features, guides, and reviews for Screen Rant, but has covered a wide range of topics, including ancient history, affordable travel, and overall health.

A Nintendo 64 classic is available on PC today thanks to the efforts of a dedicated fan community. First released in 1996, the N64 was Nintendo's first home console capable of rendering 3D graphics, and played host to numerous masterpieces of its generation, including Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, and its even better direct sequel.

While many of these N64 classics remain playable through remasters and the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service, some fans have taken matters into their own hands, making them available on other platforms. The latest game to get that treatment is a beloved N64 platformer that's now playable on PC.

Per Dark Side of Gaming, an unofficial port of Donkey Kong 64 is now available to PC gamers worldwide. Called Donkey Kong 64: Recompiled, this is, unsurprisingly, a recompiled version of the original DK64.

In other words, this PC port doesn't use emulation; it's actually converted to code that's readable by your PC, and can run natively on your computer. Of note, these recomps rarely include the full game files, so, at least in this case, you'll need a legitimately obtained copy of Donkey Kong 64 to play.

As a result, the DK64 recompilation comes with a plethora of modern graphical settings: you can play it in widescreen or at high resolution, all the way up to native 4K. It also supports unlocked frame rates, so, as long as your PC can handle it, you can run it at well over 60 FPS for a buttery-smooth experience. In addition, DSOG notes that the recomp has very low input delay, which should result in some snappy controls.

DK64 Recompiled also supports mods, so there's potential for a custom content community to spring up around this port. DSOG also notes that a randomizer mod is in the works, which will allow you to scramble up the layout of DK64 for a different experience every time. Similar tools already exist for numerous Zelda games, including Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.

Donkey Kong 64 marked the franchise's transition to 3D graphics, bringing banana-collecting, puzzle-solving gameplay to a whole new dimension. It was widely praised by contemporary critics for its graphical style and varied mini-games.

Other voices expressed dislike for the collect-a-thon gameplay, which had become a trend in Rare's output since the success of Banjo-Kazooie. And of course, DK64 includes the widely mocked "DK Rap" title sequence. That said, it's a classic of its era, and is worth experiencing for yourself in recompiled form.

This is only the latest in a long line of games to get the recompilation treatment. Unofficial PC ports of Harvest Moon 64, Zelda: The Minish Cap, and even The Simpsons Game are either already available or works in progress, as of the time of writing. Recomps like these help bring long-dormant games, like this Nintendo 64 classic, to a new audience with a fresh coat of paint.