Nintendo has kept many of its biggest games tied to its own consoles, but that has not stopped fans from finding new ways to play them. The latest example is The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, whose Nintendo Switch remake now has an unofficial native PC port. The project also marks a notable step for game preservation, although its extensive use of AI has already made it a talking point.
The project, known as LAS Recomp, was created by developer Peiikai. Instead of running the game through a traditional emulator, it uses static recompilation to make the Switch title run as a native application. This is the first fully playable static recompilation project—and also the first native PC port—for a Nintendo Switch game.
Originally released for the Game Boy in 1993, Link’s Awakening takes Link away from Hyrule and places him on the mysterious Koholint Island. Players must explore dungeons, solve puzzles, collect equipment, and discover how to escape the island.
Nintendo released a remake for the Switch in 2019, replacing the original pixel art with colorful environments and toy-like character designs. The remake retained the core adventure while giving the game a fresh visual style.
And now, LAS...
