Two of the best Zelda games ever made just got fan ports better than Nintendo’s own remasters, and community projects are lining up to expand the list. Ship of Harkinian brought Ocarina of Time to PC in 2022. Its sibling 2Ship2Harkinian did the same for Majora’s Mask. Meanwhile decompilation efforts for A Link to the Past and The Minish Cap keep pushing forward.
If you want to play these ports without breaking your Switch or hunting sketchy downloads, here are seven apps that make the modern Zelda fan-port workflow work on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
What to look for in a fan-port launcher
- Whether the port is a full recompilation or an emulator wrapper. Recompilations offer native features (higher framerate, co-op, ultrawide); emulators are more general-purpose
- Whether you need to supply the original ROM. Legal ports typically require you to own the original cart or Virtual Console copy
- Support for texture packs and mods. The best PC ports load community texture packs at runtime
- Steam Deck compatibility. Verified or Playable ratings on Deck
- Cross-platform builds. Windows, macOS, and Linux native are all common now
- Active development. Fan ports without maintenance quietly rot
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Cost | Platforms | Requires ROM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ship of Harkinian | Ocarina of Time on PC | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, Switch, Wii U | Yes |
| 2Ship2Harkinian | Majora’s Mask on PC | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, Switch, Wii U | Yes |
| Sharp Ocarina | Custom-map dev tool for OoT ports | Free | Windows | No, dev tool |
| PortMaster | Retro handheld installer | Free | Retro handhelds, PC | Depends on target |
| RetroArch | All-in-one emulator front-end | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Switch | Depends on core |
| SameBoy | Best-in-class Game Boy emulator | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes |
| Melon DS | Nintendo DS emulator for Phantom Hourglass / Spirit Tracks | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Yes |
1. Ship of Harkinian – Best for Ocarina of Time on PC
Ship of Harkinian is the community’s PC recompilation of Ocarina of Time. It ships as a launcher that reads your original US 1.0 rom, extracts assets, and produces a modern executable. The result runs at unlocked framerate, supports mouse-aim, has HD texture pack loading, gyro aim, and a full mod menu with cheats and quality-of-life options.
Where it falls short: You must provide your own legally acquired rom (dumping a cartridge you own is generally permitted in most regions; distribution of Nintendo ROMs is not). Setup is one extra step compared to an emulator.
Pricing:
- Free, MIT license
- Runs anywhere the launcher builds
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Wii U
Download: Ship of Harkinian | GitHub
Bottom line: The reason to write this article. Best pick for OoT on modern hardware.
2. 2Ship2Harkinian – Best for Majora’s Mask on PC
2Ship2Harkinian is the sibling project for Majora’s Mask. Same team, same recompilation pattern, same modern features (unlocked framerate, texture packs, mod menu). The Majora’s Mask 3D remake divided fans; this port gives you the N64 game with modern rendering and 21:9 support instead.
Where it falls short: Newer project than Ship of Harkinian; some mods are still catching up. Same ROM requirement.
Pricing:
- Free, MIT license
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Switch, Wii U
Download: 2Ship2Harkinian | GitHub
Bottom line: The modern-hardware Majora’s Mask fans have wanted since 2000.
3. Sharp Ocarina – Best custom-content tool for OoT ports
Sharp Ocarina is a Ship of Harkinian-compatible tool that lets modders build custom OoT dungeons, import 3D models, and export them as portable mods. If you want to see what the community is creating beyond graphical tweaks, most custom OoT maps are made with it.
Where it falls short: Windows-only. Steep learning curve. Not something a casual player needs.
Pricing:
- Free, open source
Platforms: Windows
Download: Sharp Ocarina
Bottom line: Useful if you want to make your own OoT dungeons or install community-made ones. Skip if you just want to play the game.
4. PortMaster – Best for retro handheld players
PortMaster is the shim that installs open-source ports (Ship of Harkinian included) onto retro handhelds like the Anbernic RG35XX, Miyoo Mini Plus, and PC-based emulation OSes like Bazzite. It hides the assembly-line work; you tap Install, and it fetches the correct binary for your device.
Where it falls short: Handheld hardware limits which ports run well. Not a Windows-first tool.
Pricing:
- Free, GPL-3
Platforms: Retro handhelds, Linux desktop, Steam Deck
Download: PortMaster | GitHub
Bottom line: Best pick if you want Ship of Harkinian on a $70 handheld instead of your laptop.
5. RetroArch – Best all-in-one emulator front-end
RetroArch is the front-end that bundles cores for every classic console (N64, GBA, SNES, DS, Game Boy, DOS, PSX, Saturn). If a fan port does not exist yet for the Zelda game you want (A Link to the Past, Oracle games, Wind Waker), an accurate emulator is the alternative.
Where it falls short: Interface is famously dense. Every core has its own quirks. Higher performance overhead than a native recompilation like Ship of Harkinian.
Pricing:
- Free, GPL-3
- Sold as a paid app in some mobile stores (avoid; use direct download)
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Switch, Wii U, Vita, and many more
Bottom line: Best pick for Zelda titles that do not yet have a PC recompilation.
6. SameBoy – Best for Game Boy Zelda titles
SameBoy is a highly accurate Game Boy and Game Boy Color emulator maintained by Lior Halphon. Perfect for Link’s Awakening DX, the Oracle titles, and the Four Swords Adventures. Runs a full color-correct display and supports link-cable functionality between two instances.
Where it falls short: Windows binary is technically supported but macOS is the primary target. Fewer features than RetroArch’s Sameboy core in some ways.
Pricing:
- Free, MIT license
Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux
Bottom line: The most accurate Game Boy emulator, ideal for Zelda’s GB titles.
7. Melon DS – Best for the DS Zelda games
Melon DS is a Nintendo DS emulator with strong 3D accuracy, Wi-Fi emulation, and RAM save state support. It is the best modern way to play Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks with touch controls mapped to mouse or gamepad.
Where it falls short: Wi-Fi emulation for multiplayer is experimental. Some 3D effects still lag behind hardware. Setup includes providing DS firmware you own.
Pricing:
- Free, GPL-3
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
Bottom line: Best pick for Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks.
How to pick the right one
- If you want Ocarina of Time on PC: Ship of Harkinian
- If you want Majora’s Mask on PC: 2Ship2Harkinian
- If you want to install ports on a retro handheld: PortMaster
- If you want to play A Link to the Past, Wind Waker, or any game without a PC recompilation yet: RetroArch
- If you want the Game Boy Zelda titles at their most accurate: SameBoy
- If you want Phantom Hourglass or Spirit Tracks: Melon DS
- If you want to mod OoT itself: Sharp Ocarina, but only if you enjoy building maps
FAQ
Are fan ports legal? The compiled port binary is free of Nintendo copyright, but running it requires a ROM. Most jurisdictions allow you to dump a game you legally own for personal use. Distributing ROMs is not permitted.
Which is the best Zelda fan port? Ship of Harkinian for Ocarina of Time is the most complete. 2Ship2Harkinian is close behind. Neither replaces the original release; both improve on it for modern hardware.
Do fan ports run on Steam Deck? Yes. Ship of Harkinian and 2Ship2Harkinian have community-tested Steam Deck launcher configurations. RetroArch is Verified on Deck. PortMaster targets Deck-adjacent handhelds too.
Do these ports support mods? Ship of Harkinian and 2Ship2Harkinian both support texture packs at runtime and custom map loading via community tooling like Sharp Ocarina. RetroArch’s soft-patching feature applies mods to legally owned ROMs.
What about A Link to the Past and The Minish Cap? Both games have decompilation projects underway. Playable community forks exist and are getting closer to feature parity with the originals. Until a stable release ships, RetroArch with the Snes9x and mGBA cores is the recommended path.
