Uncapped Framerate
Plays at 60, 120, 144 Hz or beyond. Game logic is fully decoupled from frame rate — smooth motion with no compromises.
v1.0.1 — Now Available
Banjo: Recompiled
Play Banjo-Kazooie on PC exactly as it should be — no emulation. Uncapped framerates, widescreen support, and full mod support out of the box.
GPL-3.0 · Free & Open Source·Windows · Linux · macOS·Built with N64: Recompiled
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Under the hood
Not an Emulator
Banjo: Recompiled uses static recompilation — a fundamentally different approach to running N64 games on modern hardware.
N64 Emulation
How emulators work
- Simulates N64 hardware at runtime
- Interprets game code instruction by instruction
- Performance overhead of a virtual CPU
- Accuracy requires game-specific workarounds
- Requires per-game compatibility fixes
Static Recompilation
How Banjo: Recompiled works
- Game MIPS assembly compiled to native C at build time
- Runs as a standard native executable — no interpreter
- No N64 hardware simulation whatsoever
- Full access to modern APIs: Direct3D 12, Vulkan, Metal
- Maximum performance on any modern CPU and GPU
What you get
Built for Modern Hardware
Everything you need, and features the original N64 hardware couldn't provide.
Widescreen & Ultrawide
Full 16:9, 21:9, and custom aspect ratios. Every graphical effect is properly recalculated — no stretching or cropped HUD.
Dual Analog Camera
Use the right stick to freely control the camera — a feature the original game never had. Works with any modern controller.
In-Game Settings
All graphics, audio, and control options are accessible from a dedicated in-game menu. No config files, no restarts.
One-Click Mod Support
Install mods directly through Thunderstore. Gameplay overhauls, visual upgrades, and dev tools — all community-made.
Instant Loading
N64 cartridge load times are gone. On a modern SSD, all level transitions are nearly instantaneous.
Low Input Lag
A modern input pipeline eliminates the delay that plagued N64 hardware. Controls feel immediate and precise.
Note Persistence
Musical notes you collect in a level stay collected across sessions — fixing one of the most frustrating quirks of the original.
Getting started
Three Steps to Play
Setup takes just a few minutes. The only thing you need to provide is a ROM from your own cartridge.
- 01
Download the release
Download the latest v1.0.1 build from GitHub — Windows, Linux, and macOS are supported. No installer: just unpack the archive. On Windows, you'll run BanjoRecomp.exe directly from the folder.
Free · No installer required - 02
Get the right ROM
You need a Banjo-Kazooie ROM from a North American cartridge — specifically the USA v1.0 revision, in .z64 format. European, Japanese, and v1.1 ROMs are not supported and will be rejected. Dump it legally from a cartridge you own.
USA v1.0 · .z64 format · your own cartridge - 03
Launch and play
Run BanjoRecomp.exe (Windows) or the platform equivalent and select your ROM file when prompted. The first launch does a one-time setup that takes about 30 seconds.
One-time setup · ~30 sec
Compatibility
System Requirements
Compatible with any mid-range GPU from 2012 onwards.
GPU · Windows / Linux
Direct3D 12 or Vulkan 1.2
Min: GeForce GT 630 · Radeon HD 7750 · Intel HD 510
GPU · macOS
Metal Argument Buffers Tier 2
Apple Silicon or Intel Mac with Metal support
CPU
x86-64 with SSE4.1
Any modern desktop or laptop processor
ROM Required
Banjo-Kazooie (USA) v1.0
.z64 format · dump legally from your own cartridge
Platform support
Play Anywhere
Native builds for all major desktop platforms — one codebase, everywhere.
Windows
Native build. Direct3D 12 and Vulkan. Windows 10 or later.
Linux
Native Flatpak via Flathub. Vulkan required. Works on all major distributions.
Steam Deck
Great out-of-the-box experience via the Linux Flatpak. No extra configuration needed.
macOS
Native Metal build for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. macOS 12 or later.
Mods
Moddable by Design
Banjo: Recompiled ships with a full modding API. Install mods in one click via Thunderstore, or build your own using the mod template.
The library grows every week — gameplay overhauls, visual restorations, quality-of-life tweaks, and more.
Browse Mods on ThunderstoreQuestions
Frequently Asked
Common questions about setup, compatibility, and troubleshooting.
Is this legal to download and use?
Banjo: Recompiled is 100% legal — open-source under GPL-3.0, zero copyrighted game content. You supply your own Banjo-Kazooie ROM, which you can legally dump from a physical cartridge you own.
How is this different from an emulator?
Emulators simulate N64 hardware at runtime, interpreting every instruction on the fly. Banjo: Recompiled uses static recompilation — the game's original MIPS assembly was converted to native C code at compile time. The result is a standard native executable: no interpreter, no hardware simulation, no emulation overhead.
How do I launch the game on Windows?
Unpack the downloaded archive to any folder, then run BanjoRecomp.exe directly — there is no installer. On first launch the app will ask you to locate your ROM file. After the one-time setup (~30 seconds) the game opens instantly on every subsequent run.
Which ROM do I need exactly?
The North American (USA) Banjo-Kazooie ROM, revision v1.0, in .z64 (big-endian) format. European, Japanese, or v1.1 ROMs are not supported and will be rejected. If your ROM is .n64 or .v64 format, convert it to .z64 first using a free tool like Tool64.
The app says my ROM is not valid — what do I do?
Check three things: (1) Is it the USA version? PAL ROMs won't work. (2) Is it v1.0? The v1.1 revision is a different file. (3) Is it .z64? The .n64 and .v64 formats are byte-swapped — convert to .z64 first.
Can I transfer saves from an emulator or original N64?
Yes. Banjo: Recompiled uses a standard .eep save format compatible with most emulators. Saves from Project64, Mupen64Plus, and RetroArch can be copied directly into the saves folder. For N64 cartridge saves, use a save extractor tool first.
My antivirus flagged the download. Is it safe?
Yes — a well-known false positive. Statically recompiled binaries contain patterns that generic antivirus heuristics flag. The full source code is on GitHub and is publicly auditable. You can also build from source yourself.
The game crashes on startup — what should I check?
Most startup crashes have three causes: (1) Outdated GPU driver — update to the latest. (2) GPU doesn't meet minimum requirements (D3D12 or Vulkan 1.2). (3) Corrupted ROM — try re-dumping. On Windows, also check you have the Visual C++ Redistributable installed.
I'm getting microstutter. How do I fix it?
First-play shader compilation stutters are normal and disappear after the first hour as shaders are cached. If it persists: disable background apps, enable exclusive fullscreen in settings, or switch between D3D12 and Vulkan in the graphics menu.
My gamepad isn't working or has wrong button mappings.
Remap everything from the in-game Controls menu. If the controller isn't detected, connect it before launching the app. XInput-compatible controllers (Xbox, PlayStation via Steam Input) work best.
My mods aren't loading.
Confirm mods are in the correct folder next to BanjoRecomp.exe. Check they aren't blocked by antivirus. Mods built for older versions may need author updates — check the mod's page on Thunderstore or its GitHub repository.
Will my saves survive updates?
Yes. Save data is stored in a separate folder and is never touched during updates. Your progress is completely safe.
Still have a question? Open an issue on GitHub