Is there a PC port of

Yes. A Link to the Past 3DS v4.0: the SNES Zelda as a native dual-screen 3DS app, now with a randomizer, seven languages and character mods by EstebanPdN. It's playable now, and it runs natively on PC rather than through an emulator.

Is the The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past PC port an emulator?

No. It's a native build of the game's code for PC (a decompilation, static recompilation or native port), so it runs like a PC game.

◀ gamerbrowser.com · Mashup Watch Every game playable on PC Follow @GamerBrowserx for new ports first

PC port · Playable · v4.0

ZELDA: A LINK TO THE PAST GETS A NATIVE 3DS PORT WITH A LIVE MAP SCREEN, V4.0 OUT NOW

Q: Do I need my own copy of

Yes. Your own legally obtained USA, unheadered A Link to the Past SNES ROM, copied to your 3DS SD card, and a 3DS that runs homebrew (.3dsx or .cia). No ROM or game assets are included.

A Link to the Past 3DS v4.0: the SNES Zelda as a native dual-screen 3DS app, now with a randomizer, seven languages and character mods

EstebanPdN's A Link to the Past 3DS puts the SNES classic on the Nintendo 3DS as a native app, not an emulator: it is built on snesrev's reverse-engineered Zelda3 engine, by way of Waterdish's and samyost1's Android ports. The game plays on the top screen at 400×240 with wide, stretched or original views, while the bottom screen holds a live map, your gear, items and touch settings. Version 4.0, released 1 November, adds seven languages, character mods, a built-in randomizer, fifteen quality-of-life options and a reworked dual-screen layout, plus updates you can install on the console itself (a v4.1 pre-release followed the same day). It joins the PC-side ALttP recomp already in our library. The repo holds no ROM or game assets, and the README credits AI help (Codex and Claude Code) in its development.

Super Nintendo (SNES) → Nintendo 3DS · by EstebanPdN · 2026-11-01

You need: Your own legally obtained USA, unheadered A Link to the Past SNES ROM, copied to your 3DS SD card, and a 3DS that runs homebrew (.3dsx or .cia). No ROM or game assets are included.

How to play The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on PC

Download the v4.0 .3dsx or .cia from the creator's GitHub release and check SHA256SUMS.txt.
Copy your own unheadered USA ALttP ROM to your SD card as the README describes.
Launch it from the Homebrew Launcher or HOME Menu and set your view and options.

💬 Stuck setting it up? Ask the people who already got it running, in the gamerbrowser.com Discord. Join free →

▶ v4.0 (GitHub releases)

Get your copy

🛒 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) · Amazon 🎮 Play it on a handheld PC · Amazon

This port needs your own copy of the game. We may earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It never changes what we cover.

More SNES games you can play on PC

See every console game you can play natively on PC →

Open the live wire: every AI mashup, decomp and PC port

💬 Join the gamerbrowser.com Discord Follow @GamerBrowserx on X