A new, fully native PC port of Donkey Kong 64 has been released, bringing the classic Nintendo 64 title to Windows, Linux, and Mac systems with modern features like ultrawide monitor support, uncapped framerates, and near-zero input latency. The project, called DK64 ReKONGpiled, was built by the same veteran programmers behind the DK64 Randomizer: Rainchus, Ballaam, Killklli, 2dos, and Umedtakes. It relies on the open-source N64: Recompiled framework from a developer known as Wiseguy, with rendering handled through the RT64 engine.
Instead of emulating the original console, the team reverse-engineered the game’s N64 machine code and recompiled it into C, allowing x86- and ARM-based computers to run the game natively. This approach means the port runs without the performance overhead of an emulator, which enables features that were previously difficult to achieve. Players can now use modern control schemes mapped to keyboard and mouse or a standard controller, and the game includes quality-of-life improvements such as near-instant load times, cutscene skipping, better camera controls, and the ability to switch between playable characters at any time.
The visual presentation of Donkey Kong 64 remains largely untouched, preserving the original low-poly 3D art style and pristine audio. Enhancements are limited to practical changes, such as an improved in-game menu that lets players adjust settings on the fly, including increasing the draw distance and managing save files. The port also includes built-in mod and multiplayer support, expanding the game’s capabilities without altering its core design.
Users must supply their own legally acquired ROM, as the project does not include any game assets. Testers downloaded the port from GitHub and paired it with a ROM from Vimm’s Lair, reporting that the game ran flawlessly. They were able to switch between keyboard and mouse and a 2.4 GHz wireless controller in real time, with everything scaling correctly and cutscenes rendering in ultrawide within a standard 16:9 window.
The developers have also positioned the project as a rejection of generative AI in game preservation work. They reportedly called out competing projects for relying on “vibecoding” and claimed that DK64 ReKONGpiled uses zero AI-generated code. According to the team, its hand-written approach avoids the maintainability problems and bugs that can come with AI-assisted development, and the finished product reflects the passion of human programmers. The port is available now for download on GitHub, marking a significant milestone for fans of the 1998 platformer.
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