Windows Zelda: Link's Awakening DX HD (PC) Windows Linux MacOS Android

[CSmith327]

Game Description:​

Port Credits:​

Released by: linksawakeningdxhd, BigheadSMZ
Status: Completed and receiving new improvement updates
Initial Release Date: 13 Dec 2023
Patch Version: v1.7.0
Patch Date: 29 March 2026

Source and details: https://archive.org/details/links-awakening-dx-hd (original itch.io download taken down by Big N)
Patch source and details: https://github.com/BigheadSMZ/Zelda-LA-DX-HD-Updated

Original description from itch.io:

Dive into the enchanting world of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX as you’ve never experienced it before, with this meticulously crafted PC version that breathes new life into this classic adventure. Immerse yourself in the nostalgia of Koholint Island with enhanced graphics and widescreen support, bringing the charming landscapes and characters to vivid detail on your modern PC display.

But that’s not all – we’ve turbocharged the gameplay with high framerate support, ensuring that every sword swing, puzzle solve, and enemy encounter feels smoother and more responsive than ever. Rediscover the magic of this timeless Zelda title with improved performance, letting you explore dungeons, uncover secrets, and engage in epic battles with unparalleled fluidity.

Whether you’re a long-time fan of Link’s Awakening or a newcomer to the series, this PC version offers a fresh take on the beloved classic, combining the essence of the original with cutting-edge enhancements. Embark on a journey across the mysterious island, solve puzzles, meet quirky characters, and relive the adventure with a level of polish and finesse that pays homage to the legendary legacy of The Legend of Zelda.

Besides creating ports for additional systems, the updates done by BigheadSMZ has produced a lot of changes and improvements. Since it's a bit too much to list here check out the changelogs mentioned on the releases page.

Main Features:​

• Ultra-Widescreen Support: The game is expanded to fit modern displays, allowing you to see much more of the map at once.
• Zoom Features: You can zoom the camera all the way out to see the entire active world map, or zoom in closer.
• High Frame Rate: Supports up to 120 fps for smooth scrolling and gameplay.
• Seamless Transitions: Unlike the original, which used screen-by-screen transitions, this version features a continuous, scrolling overworld.
• Improved Legibility: Features HD text with an optional alternate font and menus that are easier to read on high-resolution screens.
• Multi-Language Support: Includes support for various languages beyond the original release.
• Modern Lighting: Includes a new lighting engine for dungeons and visual effects like enemy electrocution.
• Post-processing Effects: Shadow outlines on enemies and characters along with fog effects.
• Expanded Item Slots: Adds extra item slots (mapped to 4 buttons), significantly reducing the need to constantly pause and swap items.
• Customizable Redux and Modifier Settings: Change various properties of the game to suit your preferred playstyle.
• Setting Presets: Easy and quick presets based on Modern, Classic, or Hybrid styles.
• Touch-Screen Controls: Android port has on-screen controls via an overlay but can be played with a controller as well.
• Probably some more I've not thought off

Forget the Switch remake, this here is the definitive experience for the game. It's probably the best way to play the best retro feeling game in the series, offering a stellar retro Zelda experience. Words honestly can't describe how amazing this port is tbh. It's a definite must play for any Zelda fan.

Thanks to BigheadSMZ this can now be played on all the main systems people use these days. So there's no excuse not to play it at this point lol

Original Release Trailer:

Some details about the update patch:

Download Links​

• Zelda: Link's Awakening DX HD (PC) Windows Linux MacOS Android

 

[Majora Fi]

How do save files work on Android if I install a new version? Are they retained, or will I have to start the game from beginning if I wanna update?

 

[AmedeusMaximus]

I may be mistaken, but shouldn't the "AMD64" downloads for macOS and Linux be "ARM64" or just "ARM" instead, given that they both already have "x86_64" versions listed separately?

 

[AWildBanana]

Reworking of the code and assets I guess? I mean, I could be wrong and everything is new and from scratch but that would be kinda crazy. So they probably got the assets and graphics from the original game and reworked everything. I'm not an expert on this sorta stuff. Kinda wish I was tho

'decompilation' meaning that the code was reverse engineered?

Decompilation is the reverse of compilation. But what is Compilation? Well, it's simple, it's taking the source code of a program and turn him into the finished product you'll run on your machine. For Windows that mean, for exemple, using VStudio and the result is the famous .exe.
Decompilation mean the opposit, you take the finished product and reverse is to its original source code version.
There are two advantages at doing that:
- First, you got complete access to the source code of the game, which open the possibility to do extended modification to it.
- Second, that mean you can Recompile it to make it run natively on a different hardware, like, for exemple, oh I don't know, a PC on windows for exemple. This has the advantage to avoid some emulation hurdle, but also to push a game way beyond what he was capable to do originally.

And that's basically what that thing is.

 

[KSRetro]

The Linux x86-64 one. You'll have to mark it as an executable like what was shown in a screenshot I mentioned in a previous comment

The second download link; OpenGL, says that the File is Missing when I click it.

 

[Gyro_5000]

Has anyone else played the android version and gotten past the second dungeon? I ran into an issue where I can't get the boss key because it doesn't spawn when you defeat all the enemies in that one room like it should.

*This was on v1.7.1

you must defeat in any order

1.pols voice (a rabbit) this first (attack it using power bracelet not using a sword)
2.keese (a bat) a second
3.stalfos (a human) third

that nightmare key will spawn after you defeat in any order, i was wrong many times the key doesnt spawn you must defeat in any order.

this is puzzle section.

if you want a guide check it zelda dungeon website or gamefaqs first time playing zelda game.

 

[Rocket2049]

This is a lot better than I thought it was going to be. I just got stuck in a town area and can't figure out how to get to the first dungeon. I love how every last thing is adjustable including the size of the controls and the zoom level. If anybody gets frustrated with the touch screen dpad just switch over to the analog its much nicer. There's so many nice little modifications and tweaks and the built-in tool tips are great for figuring out what does what.

you go to the forest to the top left,
maron tells you her uncle went to the forest looking for mushrooms (or something of those lines)
the owl shows up as you go to the forest saying you need the key for the dungeon south of town
find a mushroom in the forest area (past cave with bats and pushing blocks)
head to top right of forest, find the witch house, give her mushroom, receive magic powder
use magic powder on that racoon that makes the forest loop, return them to normal form.
proceed into forest section they blocked off, find the dungeon key.
dungeon south of town (near beach) has a keyhole, now you're in dungeon #1!

to be fair this IS a game you can (and likely will) go to places out of order, realize you can't do anything and just go elsewhere till you can!
absolutely no harm in using a guide it's very much a time saver lol.

 

[CSmith327]

'decompilation' meaning that the code was reverse engineered?

Reworking of the code and assets I guess? I mean, I could be wrong and everything is new and from scratch but that would be kinda crazy. So they probably got the assets and graphics from the original game and reworked everything. I'm not an expert on this sorta stuff. Kinda wish I was tho

 

[tog891]

Has anyone else played the android version and gotten past the second dungeon? I ran into an issue where I can't get the boss key because it doesn't spawn when you defeat all the enemies in that one room like it should.

*This was on v1.7.1

 

[AlucarD]

Hi Spike,

I’ve been really enjoying the romhack—great work! I just wanted to let you know that the game consistently crashes during the ending on the Android version.

Would you mind taking a look when you have a chance? I’d really appreciate it. Thanks a lot for your effort!

The crash issue you mentioned is already fixed in [v1.7.2].

[v1.7.2] Changelog:

The "I Wish I Didn't Have to Make this Update" Update​

• Chinese dialog fixes + implement placeholder tags around the script (credit @uplush).
• Leaves spawned from grass textures are now semi-transparent to match the original game.
• Add support for LAHDMods to adjust both the transparency of BowWow chain and leaf textures.
• Fix a crash during the ending sequence that happened just before the credits appeared.
• Fix Bow Wow forcing a redraw of Layer 0 textures which was deforming grass textures when nearby.

Later, if you find/have/discovered any new issue with the game (in the latest version).

You can directly visit BigheadSMZ Github page posted in the descriptions above and create issue reports there, so the guy in charge know and fixed it (check the opened issue there before creating a new issue report to avoid double reports).

 

[fmsynthetic]

Spike has no involvement with this post. I posted it without mentioning it to him. I imagine he knows it's on the site, but I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't downloaded or tried it. The versions for other systems like Android and MacOS will be fixed and improved in further updates. This gets updated like almost every 2 days or so. It was mad crazy for me to add it to the repo knowing that fact but I've wanted to see this game on here for years. Also fyi we have a team of "Repo Curators" and most of the content that has been added to the site in the past several months has been added by them and not Spike in particular. He still occasionally posts translation patches and hacks tho. Just make sure to note the "game shared by:" thing when looking at a game on here to know who to ask if you'd like to ask the user who posted it for help. You can create a new apk file of the recent update to this using the patcher exe from github and the v1.0.0 copy from here. Just tell it to make one for Android in the patcher. I'm not going to be able to constantly keep this post up to date even tho I really want to. I'll have to get moderators like Rage Burner to help with it.

Also this isn't a romhack. It's a decompilation project to port the game to Windows and other systems with a ton of improvements. A romhack would have used the original .gbc rom. Just thought I should point that out

'decompilation' meaning that the code was reverse engineered?

 

[CSmith327]

Hi Spike,

I’ve been really enjoying the romhack—great work! I just wanted to let you know that the game consistently crashes during the ending on the Android version.

Would you mind taking a look when you have a chance? I’d really appreciate it. Thanks a lot for your effort!

Spike has no involvement with this post. I posted it without mentioning it to him. I imagine he knows it's on the site, but I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't downloaded or tried it. The versions for other systems like Android and MacOS will be fixed and improved in further updates. This gets updated like almost every 2 days or so. It was mad crazy for me to add it to the repo knowing that fact but I've wanted to see this game on here for years. Also fyi we have a team of "Repo Curators" and most of the content that has been added to the site in the past several months has been added by them and not Spike in particular. He still occasionally posts translation patches and hacks tho. Just make sure to note the "game shared by:" thing when looking at a game on here to know who to ask if you'd like to ask the user who posted it for help. You can create a new apk file of the recent update to this using the patcher exe from github and the v1.0.0 copy from here. Just tell it to make one for Android in the patcher. I'm not going to be able to constantly keep this post up to date even tho I really want to. I'll have to get moderators like Rage Burner to help with it.

Also this isn't a romhack. It's a decompilation project to port the game to Windows and other systems with a ton of improvements. A romhack would have used the original .gbc rom. Just thought I should point that out

 

[RetroZen]

Hi Spike,

I’ve been really enjoying the romhack—great work! I just wanted to let you know that the game consistently crashes during the ending on the Android version.

Would you mind taking a look when you have a chance? I’d really appreciate it. Thanks a lot for your effort!

 

[yuzura]

Update version 1.7.2 please

Post automatically merged: Apr 5, 2026

Udate 1.7.2 is out

 

[CSmith327]

this is the best fan made game zelda ever i've been played, much better than original need some cheats like no damage to link for casual for me first time playing zelda game.

Go to Modifiers in the settings and change the damage multiplier from 1x to 0x and Link will be completely invincible. Just press left on the setting a few times till it gets to 0x

 

[Gyro_5000]

this is the best fan made game zelda ever i've been played, much better than original need some cheats like no damage to link for casual for me first time playing zelda game.

 

[CSmith327]

Which version should i grab for the steam deck ?

The Linux x86-64 one. You'll have to mark it as an executable like what was shown in a screenshot I mentioned in a previous comment

 

[Nuclear3D]

Which version should i grab for the steam deck ?

 

[NameXD]

I downloaded this off itch.io back when it first released before it got taken down by nintendo. This thing lasted a whole 2 weeks before it was swallowed by the CnD machine.

Same too.

 

[roundtree]

I must have walked past the forest path in the Northwest part of town like 30 times and didn't even see it. So I went to the walkthrough on YouTube I'm so glad someone put that up there. I just don't like looking past the point where I get stuck:

 

[NecroBanana]

I downloaded this off itch.io back when it first released before it got taken down by nintendo. This thing lasted a whole 2 weeks before it was swallowed by the CnD machine.

 

[roundtree]

This is a lot better than I thought it was going to be. I just got stuck in a town area and can't figure out how to get to the first dungeon. I love how every last thing is adjustable including the size of the controls and the zoom level. If anybody gets frustrated with the touch screen dpad just switch over to the analog its much nicer. There's so many nice little modifications and tweaks and the built-in tool tips are great for figuring out what does what.

 

[Rocket2049]

I notice you didn't list Zelda 2 which is weird since it's the best Zelda game I guess you forgot that friendo

Fortunately they already made one for Zelda 2:

GitHub - ZA-LiA/ZALiA: The ZALiA GameMaker:Studio project including the source code, and most, if not all, of its contents

The ZALiA GameMaker:Studio project including the source code, and most, if not all, of its contents - ZA-LiA/ZALiA

github.com

yeah that's because i can't stand that game lol
i do appreciate it though, since mine was out of date quite a lot and they add more cool stuff.

 

[fmsynthetic]

dude i want remakes like this for all the 2d zelda games, zelda 1 NES, LTTP SNES, maybe even 4 swords GBA.


testing it more, DX11 uses less CPU (like 6% at most), and boots up instantly
openGL i have to wait like 6 seconds to skip the intro (loading on bottom right), uses slight more CPU (11%) and a small amount more ram usage (too small to be worth mentioning like 200mb)
noting this is on a Ryzen 8700f CPU, 32gb ram, RTX5060 so i wouldn't expect any issues anyways lol

I notice you didn't list Zelda 2 which is weird since it's the best Zelda game I guess you forgot that friendo

Fortunately they already made one for Zelda 2:

GitHub - ZA-LiA/ZALiA: The ZALiA GameMaker:Studio project including the source code, and most, if not all, of its contents

The ZALiA GameMaker:Studio project including the source code, and most, if not all, of its contents - ZA-LiA/ZALiA

github.com

 

[CSmith327]

I don't want to be that guy but: no.
the widescreen RUINS the game. Like you do not know what lurks around the corner, there is always that surprise and you are like: holy shit there are monsters. here you already see everything. so seriously that ruins it.

also I bet it is based on the DX version. I hate the DX version so much. The OG version is great and has all those jokes and everything. With the DX version nintendo noticed those jokes are not okay for a nintendo game because you know they are prude fucks so they removed all the great jokes and great lines the OG version has. so no I will never play the DX version, fuck the colour dungeon.

what jokes you ask? Mermaid lost her *sexy bikini top* and you have to get it back and Link makes a pervy comment about it. They replaced it with pearl necklace in the DX version.
The crocodile does a nude drawing of the Hippo in the OG version, removed in the DX version.
and here are some lines from the ORIGINAL German version and no I am NOT kidding. IF you apply that sleeping powder over some enemies they say: 1) never without a condom 2) give me your juices and I will give you mine
To this very day it beats me how they got away with this but I can see why they removed it in the DX version. Still the giggles we had as kids because of such lines in an original Nintendo title.
Also I got the OG version on that Game Boy Micro thing that only has Zelda games and those lines are lucky still in there because they did not use the DX version even though the thing is capable of colour since it has those NES games as well. I am wondering why they didnt do it.

1. You can change to classic camera mode and set the zoom to 1x and use a SGB border or just black border to get rid of it being widescreen and have it be original one GB screen worth of screen at a time.
2. You can alter the levels of censorship to revert everything to match the Japanese uncensored version completely (like all the ones you just mentioned)
3. This game has a "Purist Mode" to make it as close to original as possible.
4. This has more translations than the official one and even has 2 extra alternate translations for the English language one. It has the German translation but I dunno which versions of it it offers.

All in all this is the definitive fully customizable experience for Link's Awakening. It makes all prior versions obsolete on several levels

 

[MaxKopf]

I don't want to be that guy but: no.
the widescreen RUINS the game. Like you do not know what lurks around the corner, there is always that surprise and you are like: holy shit there are monsters. here you already see everything. so seriously that ruins it.

also I bet it is based on the DX version. I hate the DX version so much. The OG version is great and has all those jokes and everything. With the DX version nintendo noticed those jokes are not okay for a nintendo game because you know they are prude fucks so they removed all the great jokes and great lines the OG version has. so no I will never play the DX version, fuck the colour dungeon.

what jokes you ask? Mermaid lost her *sexy bikini top* and you have to get it back and Link makes a pervy comment about it. They replaced it with pearl necklace in the DX version.
The crocodile does a nude drawing of the Hippo in the OG version, removed in the DX version.
and here are some lines from the ORIGINAL German version and no I am NOT kidding. IF you apply that sleeping powder over some enemies they say: 1) never without a condom 2) give me your juices and I will give you mine
To this very day it beats me how they got away with this but I can see why they removed it in the DX version. Still the giggles we had as kids because of such lines in an original Nintendo title.
Also I got the OG version on that Game Boy Micro thing that only has Zelda games and those lines are lucky still in there because they did not use the DX version even though the thing is capable of colour since it has those NES games as well. I am wondering why they didnt do it.