Zelda Link's Awakening runs natively on PC, Mac and Linux
By Tgames · · 2 min read
The Switch remake of Zelda Link's Awakening runs natively on PC, Mac, Linux and Steam Deck thanks to LAS Recomp, with a full built-in randomizer.
Not an emulator
Opened on October 8, 2026 by peiikai, LAS Recomp is nearing 2,000 stars on GitHub. It is a static recompilation: the code of the 2019 remake is translated into a program for Windows, macOS and Linux, instead of being emulated. On first launch, the app builds the game's code on your machine, from your own files. Same idea as Kirikae or the recompilation of Breath of the Wild.
The project makes no secret of it: it was written almost entirely by an AI, Claude, with Claude Code; a person directs it, tests it and reviews the work.
What you need
What it brings
Widescreen and ultrawide, higher or dynamic resolution, upscaling (FSR 1, or MetalFX on Mac), SMAA anti-aliasing, and shaders prepared ahead of time to reduce stutter. Controls can be fully remapped, on keyboard as well as controller. Optional extras: 360-degree movement, mirror mode, tunic colours, Game Boy filters and a LiveSplit timer.
A built-in randomizer
This is the project's great strength. Each playthrough can shuffle items, the trading quest, seashells, shops, keys, enemies, entrances and even dungeon rooms. A Triforce Hunt mode asks you to collect 3, 12, 24 pieces or more, a hint sheet points you to your next important item, and seeds can be shared to race with friends.
Still a beta
The author warns that bugs and crashes are still possible, some randomizer seeds may be impossible to finish, and dungeon room shuffle is the most experimental part. Graphics glitches are also reported in ultrawide. Test builds come out almost every day.
The repository contains no game files and states that it has no ties to Nintendo. Questions belong in the Switch & Wii U Questions/Help.
Sources: LAS Recomp (GitHub) · Beta 5.3 (GitHub) · XDA Developers
Not an emulator
Opened on October 8, 2026 by peiikai, LAS Recomp is nearing 2,000 stars on GitHub. It is a static recompilation: the code of the 2019 remake is translated into a program for Windows, macOS and Linux, instead of being emulated. On first launch, the app builds the game's code on your machine, from your own files. Same idea as Kirikae or the recompilation of Breath of the Wild.
The project makes no secret of it: it was written almost entirely by an AI, Claude, with Claude Code; a person directs it, tests it and reviews the work.
What you need
- Your own game, extracted (exefs and romfs folders), in version 1.0.0, 1.0.1 or 1.1.0. The project does not say how to obtain it.
- On PC: Windows 10 or 11, or Linux, an x86-64 processor with AVX2, a Vulkan 1.3 graphics card, 8 GB of memory (16 recommended) and about 12 GB free for setup.
- On Mac: an Apple chip (M1 or newer) and macOS 15. Intel Macs are not supported.
- On Steam Deck: the AppImage is added as a non-Steam game. Since Beta 5.3, from October 26, it holds 60 frames per second in the overworld, instead of 30.
What it brings
Widescreen and ultrawide, higher or dynamic resolution, upscaling (FSR 1, or MetalFX on Mac), SMAA anti-aliasing, and shaders prepared ahead of time to reduce stutter. Controls can be fully remapped, on keyboard as well as controller. Optional extras: 360-degree movement, mirror mode, tunic colours, Game Boy filters and a LiveSplit timer.
A built-in randomizer
This is the project's great strength. Each playthrough can shuffle items, the trading quest, seashells, shops, keys, enemies, entrances and even dungeon rooms. A Triforce Hunt mode asks you to collect 3, 12, 24 pieces or more, a hint sheet points you to your next important item, and seeds can be shared to race with friends.
Still a beta
The author warns that bugs and crashes are still possible, some randomizer seeds may be impossible to finish, and dungeon room shuffle is the most experimental part. Graphics glitches are also reported in ultrawide. Test builds come out almost every day.
The repository contains no game files and states that it has no ties to Nintendo. Questions belong in the Switch & Wii U Questions/Help.
Sources: LAS Recomp (GitHub) · Beta 5.3 (GitHub) · XDA Developers
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