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The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past cover art
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Cover art © Nintendo, via Wikipedia. Unofficial site, not affiliated with the publisher.
PC port · SNES → PC

zelda3 (A Link to the Past PC port)

An unofficial native PC version of Zelda: A Link to the Past, rewritten in C by reverse engineering the SNES game. Playable start to finish, with widescreen and bug fixes; needs your US ROM.

WorkingNeeds your own copyv0.3Updated Oct 19, 2026
What you need

Your own copy of the USA SNES release of A Link to the Past as a ROM file named zelda3.sfc (the asset tool checks it and rejects other versions; European, German, French and Canadian copies are only used to add their translated text). Windows for the ready build; Python and a C compiler to build it yourself.

GitHub repository ↗

We do not host any files. Only download from the project's official source.

Short answer (checked 19 October 2026)

Yes, A Link to the Past runs natively on PC through zelda3, a fan project that reverse-engineered the SNES game and rewrote it in C, with no emulation of the game code. It is playable from start to end, the latest ready build is v0.3 for Windows (August 2023), and it needs your own US copy of the game.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991) was a Super Nintendo game. snesrev rebuilt it as a PC program and published the first beta in October 2022. Engadget (February 2023) and PCGamesN covered it. The code is still maintained: the build scripts were updated in October 2026.

What it is

  • A reimplementation: according to the README, around 70,000 to 80,000 lines of C reimplement every part of the original game. snesrev credits a community disassembly of the Japanese version for many function and variable names.
  • Only the hardware is emulated: the SNES picture and sound chips come from the LakeSnes emulator, heavily optimised.
  • Checked against the original: it can run the original machine code side by side and compare memory after every frame, to prove the C version behaves the same.

It works like the decompilation-based ports in our recompiled games list: the game’s own logic runs as a native program instead of through an emulator.

Current status
State Working, playable from start to end
Latest build v0.3, 17 August 2023 (Windows)
Platforms Windows; Linux, macOS and Switch homebrew if you build it yourself
Licence MIT

New features over the SNES game, per the README:

  • basic widescreen, shaders and a 240-line vertical mode;
  • a high-resolution Mode 7 world map and MSU-1 audio;
  • item switching and over 30 bug fixes;
  • save snapshots, replays and a turbo mode.

There has been no new release since v0.3, so newer fixes are only in the source code. The README still says “you must self-build for now”, although the v0.3 Windows build is ready to run.

What you need

  • Your own copy of the USA SNES release as a ROM file named zelda3.sfc. The asset tool checks its checksum and rejects other versions; German, French, Canadian and European copies are only used to add their translated text on top.
  • For the ready build: Windows. Put the ROM next to the program.
  • To build it yourself: Python and a C compiler (the README uses TCC on Windows), plus SDL2.

The game builds its own asset file from your ROM once; after that, the ROM isn’t needed. We don’t explain how to obtain or copy game data.

  • zelda3 is an unofficial fan project, not affiliated with Nintendo. It ships no game data: the release contains the program and a small patch file, and the levels and graphics come from your own ROM.
  • Use only a copy you own.
  • Get it only from the official GitHub repository; builds on other sites are not snesrev’s.

FAQ

Can you play Zelda A Link to the Past on PC?

Unofficially, yes. zelda3 by snesrev is a fan-made native PC version of the SNES game, rewritten in C. Its README says it is playable from start to end. The latest ready build is v0.3 for Windows (August 2023). You need your own US copy of the game.

Is zelda3 an emulator?

No. The game logic was reverse engineered and rewritten as about 70,000 to 80,000 lines of C. Only the SNES graphics and sound chips are reproduced, using code adapted from the LakeSnes emulator.

What do I need to play zelda3?

Your own copy of the USA SNES release as a ROM file named zelda3.sfc. The game builds its asset file from it once; after that the ROM is no longer needed. Other versions are rejected, except as a source of translated text.

Does zelda3 work on Mac, Linux or Switch?

Yes, but you build it yourself. The only ready-made release is for Windows; the repository has build steps for Linux, macOS and Nintendo Switch homebrew.

What does zelda3 add to the original?

According to the README, basic widescreen, shaders, a 240-line vertical resolution, a high-resolution Mode 7 map, MSU-1 audio, item switching and over 30 bug fixes, plus save snapshots and a turbo mode.

Unofficial. This page is written by an independent directory. It is not made by, endorsed by or affiliated with Nintendo or snesrev (zelda3 (A Link to the Past PC port)'s author). We do not host any files, and we never link to game files, ROMs or ISOs.

Sources

Facts on this page were checked against these official sources on Oct 19, 2026. Versions and steps follow the official project; if they differ, the official source wins.