What is The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Recompilation?

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Recompilation is an open-source recompilation of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. The original game's compiled code translated into a native program for a new platform, usually a PC port. The original game ran on GameCube.

Do I need the original game files to run The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Recompilation?

Yes. The project does not include the original game's assets, so you need your own copy.

How is The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Recompilation licensed?

project: GNU GPL, version 3 or later (Wind Waker Recomp). The repository itself is the authoritative source.

A ready-made Windows build is available from BlueWake’s Releases page; Mac, iPhone, and iPad users build their own from their disc.

Why does it need my disc?

The game’s graphics, sound, world data, executable, and modules are read from the disc; none are included.

Which version of the game works?

Only the GameCube USA release GZLE01 revision 0 works; the app refuses other discs, and Wind Waker HD cannot be used as the game disc.

The game code is translated to native code ahead of time with no JIT; rare instructions can fall back to an interpreter, and the hardware runtime is Dolphin-derived.

Yes. Windows and Mac support Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro, and other controllers; iPhone and iPad support controllers compatible with iOS.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Recompilation

RecompilationActive

The original game's compiled code translated into a native program for a new platform, usually a PC port.

Based on The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

compare all 3 clones

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Recompilation screenshot

Links, repository & details

About

A static recompilation of the GameCube version of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker that runs natively on Windows, Mac, iPhone and iPad. It translates the game's PowerPC code into native x86-64 or arm64 ahead of time and uses a Dolphin-derived runtime for the GameCube hardware, with an interpreter fallback for a few rare instructions. It needs your own disc image of the USA release (GZLE01, revision 0); no game data is included. The project is licensed under GNU GPL version 3 or later, and the README says it is moving to a project called BlueWake.

How it differs from the original

Adds options such as Smooth Motion frame interpolation (60, 120 or up to 240 FPS shown while the game runs at its own 30), widescreen, higher render resolution, save states, a climb-any-wall mode, controller vibration, touch controls on iPhone and iPad, and support for HD texture packs. Wind Waker HD's quality-of-life changes are available through a Better Wind Waker mod.

Getting started

On Windows, download the build from BlueWake's releases, run the executable and choose your disc image at first launch. On Mac, build it yourself from your own disc. On iPhone and iPad, build and sideload your own app on a Mac with a single build script, then copy your disc image to the device. Settings open with F1.

Known issues & limitations

New scenes may hitch briefly the first time as rendering pipelines compile; later launches reuse them.
Changing areas can briefly stall.
Save states are tied to the app version that created them and may be refused by a later version; they do not include the memory card.
Laptops with integrated graphics may run slowly; turning off Smooth Motion and setting render resolution to 1x may help.
Windows 60 Hz game logic is experimental and not recommended; some parts run too fast.
Later dungeons and boss fights remain largely untested.
The experimental 60 Hz game logic option on Windows is not recommended because parts of the game run too fast.

What you need to run it

Original game files required. The project ships code only; you provide your own copy of the game (GameCube version).

You need your own legally obtained GameCube USA disc, GZLE01 revision 0; the app checks the disc image.
Mac requires an Apple Silicon Mac with macOS 15 or later.
The iPhone or iPad must use an A13-or-newer chip and iOS or iPadOS 17 or later, with Developer Mode enabled.
An Apple ID is needed for signing; free accounts work, but their apps expire after seven days.

Features

Use Dolphin-format HD texture packs for GZLE01; you provide the pack.
Save and reload the entire running game with save states on Windows and Mac.
Better Wind Waker adds selectable quality-of-life changes, including Swift Sail and instant text.
On iPhone and iPad, the game has on-screen touch controls with an editor, and supports controllers and keyboards.
On iPhone and iPad, import Dolphin .gci saves and back up or restore saves.

How to install

For Windows, download the ready-made build from BlueWake’s Releases page, unpack the folder, and run BlueWake.exe. If Windows blocks it, choose More info, then Run anyway.
For Mac, ready-made apps are no longer published; build BlueWake from your own disc on your Mac.

Controls

Use J, K, U, I for A, B, X, Y, or the controller’s face buttons.
Jump with Space or the controller’s left bumper.
Sprint with Shift or click the controller’s left stick.

Summarised from the project's README.

Media

AI assistance

The README states the project is developed with substantial AI assistance for code, testing, documentation and debugging.

Additional notes

Tested areas: Tested so far: the opening and prologue, Outset Island, sailing the Great Sea, Windfall, a late-game Hyrule save, menus, and saving and reloading; later dungeons and boss fights are largely untested.

FAQ

What is The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Recompilation?: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Recompilation is an open-source recompilation of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. The original game's compiled code translated into a native program for a new platform, usually a PC port. The original game ran on GameCube.
Do I need the original game files to run The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Recompilation?: Yes. The project does not include the original game's assets, so you need your own copy.
How is The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Recompilation licensed?: project: GNU GPL, version 3 or later (Wind Waker Recomp). The repository itself is the authoritative source.
Can I download it?: A ready-made Windows build is available from BlueWake’s Releases page; Mac, iPhone, and iPad users build their own from their disc.
Why does it need my disc?: The game’s graphics, sound, world data, executable, and modules are read from the disc; none are included.
Which version of the game works?: Only the GameCube USA release GZLE01 revision 0 works; the app refuses other discs, and Wind Waker HD cannot be used as the game disc.
Is this an emulator?: The game code is translated to native code ahead of time with no JIT; rare instructions can fall back to an interpreter, and the hardware runtime is Dolphin-derived.
Do controllers work?: Yes. Windows and Mac support Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro, and other controllers; iPhone and iPad support controllers compatible with iOS.