EstebanPdN/zelda-alttp-3ds

What is it?

Key features

• 01Dual-screen layout with 400x240 gameplay on top and maps, gear and touch settings below.
• 02Display modes for wide, stretched and original aspect ratios, saved per ROM.
• 03Turbo speed options from x2 to x5, with ZL or C-stick hold on New 3DS.
• 04In-game updater with Stable and Pre-release channels.
• 05Diagnostic dump via L + R + A that captures memory, screens and a load-state checkpoint.
• 06Fixed-step 60 Hz gameplay timing with parallel PPU rendering across cores.

Use cases

• Playing A Link to the Past on a Nintendo 3DS with a second screen for the map.
• Running a homebrew SNES-era Zelda port on handheld hardware using your own ROM.
• Studying how a classic SNES game engine is adapted to a dual-screen handheld.

Quick start

1. 1

   Download the CIA installer from the releases page and install it on your 3DS

2. 2

   Create the directory sdmc:/3ds/Zelda 3DS/ on the SD card and place your legally obtained USA ROM there

3. 3

   Launch the game and press A to validate the ROM and extract assets

Things to know

• !You must supply your own legally obtained USA ROM; no ROM or game assets are included.
• !Audio requires a dspfirm.cdc file dumped from your own console firmware.
• !Runs only on Nintendo 3DS hardware, not on other platforms.
• !The repository has no license file at the top level; component licenses apply and do not grant rights to Nintendo content.

Topics

FAQ

What is zelda-alttp-3ds?

A native Nintendo 3DS port of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past that uses the top screen for gameplay and the bottom screen for maps and menus. This project brings A Link to the Past to the Nintendo 3DS as a native dual-screen build based on the zelda3 engine and its Android ports. The 400x240 gameplay runs on the top screen, while the bottom screen shows a live map, dungeon map, gear view, item selection and touch settings.

Is zelda-alttp-3ds free to use? What license does it have?

zelda-alttp-3ds has no declared license. Its code is public, but without a license you have no explicit permission to reuse it; ask the author before relying on it.

Is zelda-alttp-3ds still maintained?

Actively maintained. The last commit to zelda-alttp-3ds was on Nov 5, 2026.

What can I use zelda-alttp-3ds for?

Playing A Link to the Past on a Nintendo 3DS with a second screen for the map. Running a homebrew SNES-era Zelda port on handheld hardware using your own ROM. Studying how a classic SNES game engine is adapted to a dual-screen handheld.

How do I install zelda-alttp-3ds?

Download the CIA installer from the releases page and install it on your 3DS Create the directory sdmc:/3ds/Zelda 3DS/ on the SD card and place your legally obtained USA ROM there Launch the game and press A to validate the ROM and extract assets

Where can I get zelda-alttp-3ds?

The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/EstebanPdN/zelda-alttp-3ds