XDA covered how a launcher can turn the mess of retro game recompilations and decompilations into something you’d actually want to browse, and they’re right that this is the right moment for it. Recompilation projects (Zelda: Majora’s Mask on PC, Animal Crossing GameCube on PC, Star Fox 64 native) shipped in a rush across 2025 and 2026, and each of them landed with a different build process and a different config file. The best apps for retro game recompilations on desktop hide that mess behind a library view that looks a bit like Steam.
We tested seven launchers and support tools on Windows 11, macOS Sonoma, and Bazzite Linux. Some run only on Windows, some are cross-platform. If you’re already using RetroArch or Launchbox to organize emulator ROMs, this is a different problem: recompilations are native ports, no emulator needed.
What to look for in a recompilation launcher
Look for a library view that lists available recompilations and shows what’s on your OS. A one-click install that grabs the latest build from GitHub Releases. A place to drop in the ROM (you legally provide) so the launcher can extract assets. Configuration for controllers, framerates, and mods on a per-title basis. And metadata pulled from the community, so unfinished ports are marked as such. Bonus: mod support, since a lot of these ports exist because someone wanted to run Ocarina of Time with ray tracing.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Cost | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N64Recomp Launcher | Browsing every current N64 recomp | Windows, Linux | Yes | Free | Editor’s pick |
| Portmaster | Handhelds and Steam Deck | Linux, Windows | Yes | Free | Very positive |
| N64Recomp CLI | Building your own ports | Windows, Linux | Yes | Free | For power users |
| sm64ex-coop | Super Mario 64 online co-op | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Free | Very positive |
| Ship of Harkinian Launcher | Ocarina of Time PC port | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Free | Very positive |
| 2Ship2Harkinian | Majora’s Mask PC port | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Free | Very positive |
| PortMaster (Steam Deck build) | Steam Deck sideload | Linux | Yes | Free | Positive |
The apps
1. N64Recomp Launcher, best for browsing every current recompilation project
N64Recomp Launcher is the app from SirDiabo on GitHub, and it’s basically a Steam library for native retro ports. Open it, and you see the current list of active recompilations (Zelda: Ocarina of Time via 2Ship, Majora’s Mask, Star Fox 64, Perfect Dark, Animal Crossing GameCube). Click one, and it downloads the launcher for your OS. Recent versions cover ports on other consoles too, including Dragon Ball Z Budokai on Xbox 360 recompiled to PC.
Where it falls short: Community-maintained metadata, so pre-release ports occasionally show up as “installable” before they’re stable. Doesn’t ship the ROMs themselves, you still supply those.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free and open source
Platforms: Windows, Linux (macOS support via source build)
Download: github.com/SirDiabo/N64RecompLauncher
Bottom line: The first tool most people should install. It solves the “which of thirty GitHub repos do I clone” question in one screen.
2. Portmaster, best for handhelds and Steam Deck
Portmaster is a companion tool that catalogs ports and recompilations aimed at Linux handhelds. If you own a Steam Deck, a ROG Ally, or a Legion Go, this is the layer that gets Sonic Robo Blast 2, VVVVVV, and dozens of other ports running with proper controller mapping.
Where it falls short: Portmaster on desktop is less useful than on a handheld because a full keyboard and mouse cover most workflow gaps. Setup on Windows takes a bit more work.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free
Platforms: Linux (SteamOS, EmuDeck, ArkOS), Windows
Download: portmaster.games
Bottom line: Portmaster for a Steam Deck is close to a must-install. Skip on a desktop with plenty of screen space.
3. N64Recomp CLI, best for building your own recompilations
N64Recomp CLI is the underlying tool the launcher wraps. Point it at a ROM plus a config file that lists the game’s entry points, and it produces native C code you can compile into a Windows or Linux binary. If you want to port Diddy Kong Racing yourself, this is where you’d start.
Where it falls short: Serious project. Requires familiarity with C and MIPS assembly. Not for casual use.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free and open source
Platforms: Windows, Linux (macOS builds from source)
Download: github.com/N64Recomp/N64Recomp
Bottom line: For the community members building the next round of native ports. Skip if you just want to play.
4. sm64ex-coop, best for Super Mario 64 online co-op
sm64ex-coop is a modification of the sm64ex decompilation that adds online multiplayer. Two to sixteen players can drop into the same castle courtyard, chase Bowser, and race star grabs. Mods add characters, levels, and mechanics.
Where it falls short: Not a launcher, a single-game runtime. You still need a legally dumped ROM to extract assets during first setup.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free and open source
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Download: github.com/coop-deluxe/sm64coopdx
Bottom line: The single best reason to keep your Super Mario 64 cart. Turns a 30-year-old game into a party.
5. Ship of Harkinian Launcher, best for Ocarina of Time PC
Ship of Harkinian Launcher wraps the SoH port of Ocarina of Time. Native 4K, 60 fps, ultrawide support, mods, and a controller config that treats a modern gamepad the way it should be treated.
Where it falls short: Version compatibility between the launcher and the game engine occasionally slips after a big SoH update.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (including Steam Deck)
Download: github.com/HarbourMasters/Shipwright
Bottom line: The definitive way to replay Ocarina of Time on a modern display. Every retro fan should have this.
6. 2Ship2Harkinian, best for Majora’s Mask PC
2Ship2Harkinian is the same team’s Majora’s Mask port. Same treatment: 4K, 60 fps, controller mapping, mod loader. If you played Ocarina on Ship of Harkinian, you’ll finish Majora on this and forget it isn’t running on a cart.
Where it falls short: Same version-drift risk as SoH.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Download: github.com/HarbourMasters/2ship2harkinian
Bottom line: The Majora companion piece to Ship of Harkinian. Install both.
7. PortMaster (Steam Deck build), best for Steam Deck sideload flow
PortMaster on Steam Deck is a specific build that hooks into SteamOS’s game mode. Ports install into the same library as your Steam games and launch from Big Picture without dropping to the desktop.
Where it falls short: Steam Deck only. The desktop build is the general Portmaster from the second slot on this list.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free
Platforms: Linux (SteamOS specifically)
Download: portmaster.games
Bottom line: If you own a Deck, this changes how you play half a dozen games instantly.
How to pick the right one
If you want the newest ports as they land, install N64Recomp Launcher and check it monthly.
If you own a Steam Deck, install Portmaster on top of everything else.
If you’re specifically here for the Zelda titles, go straight to Ship of Harkinian and 2Ship2Harkinian.
If you want to build your own port from a favourite ROM, N64Recomp CLI is where you start.
If you want to play Super Mario 64 with your friends, sm64ex-coop is it.
FAQ
Are retro game recompilations legal?
The recompilation code itself is legal. Playing the resulting binary requires you to own the original ROM you extract assets from. If you own a legitimate cartridge or copy, you’re operating in a legal grey area at worst.
What’s the difference between a recompilation and an emulator?
An emulator translates the original console’s instructions in real time. A recompilation converts the game’s code into native binary once, so the result runs at native speed with no emulation overhead. Native recompilations can hit 4K/60fps on modest hardware.
Do I need to dump my own ROMs?
Yes. None of the tools above ship ROMs. Legally, you extract assets from cartridges or discs you own.
Can these run on Steam Deck?
Yes. Portmaster is designed for Steam Deck, and Ship of Harkinian, 2Ship2Harkinian, and most recomps have native Linux builds that install cleanly on SteamOS.
Are there recompilations of games other than N64 titles?
Yes. Animal Crossing (GameCube), Star Fox 64, Perfect Dark, and Dragon Ball Z Budokai (Xbox 360) all have active recompilation projects in 2026. The N64Recomp Launcher tracks the current list.
