Homebrew developer estebanpdn has released native Nintendo 3DS ports of The Minish Cap and A Link to the Past, giving both Zelda classics features built around the handheld’s dual-screen design.
As Polygon reports, the projects are unauthorized fan releases based on reverse-engineering and decompilation work. They do not represent new official Nintendo versions.
The Minish Cap puts its map on the lower screen
Nintendo previously offered The Minish Cap through the 3DS Virtual Console, but that release did not use the newer system’s second screen as a dedicated interface. The native port moves the map and other UI elements to the bottom display while keeping gameplay on the upper screen.
The project also adds widescreen support and touch-control compatibility. A built-in randomizer gives returning players a way to vary parts of later playthroughs.
- Dual-screen layout: The map and other interface elements use the bottom display.
- Control options: The port supports touch controls alongside its wider presentation.
- Randomizer: The feature changes elements of future playthroughs.
Polygon also reports performance-oriented additions, including boosted clock speeds, improved upscaling, and higher frame rates than the original hardware could deliver. The report does not give measured figures, so the confirmed player-facing benefit is the broader set of presentation and replay options rather than a specific performance target.
A Link to the Past adds turbo and screenshots
The native 3DS version of A Link to the Past brings its own set of handheld-focused options. Alongside the expected 3DS features, it includes turbo speeds and screenshot functionality.
The port was uploaded shortly before Polygon’s report, while the developer’s recent native Mario Kart 64 3DS project shows that the work extends beyond Zelda. That related port includes a bottom-screen HUD and touch controls, but it does not currently support multiplayer; Polygon reports that the developer plans to add it in a future update.
What the fan ports require
The projects do not include game ROMs or Nintendo assets. Players must provide a legally obtained, compatible ROM for the relevant port.
The developer has also shared a Patreon link while stating that support is optional and development will continue regardless. The projects join a wider group of fan-made Nintendo ports built from reverse-engineered or decompiled games, a practice that has drawn Nintendo’s disapproval in cases involving projects such as Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
For 3DS owners, the appeal is practical: these ports give two classic Zelda games interfaces that make direct use of the handheld’s second screen, while The Minish Cap adds a randomizer for repeat runs. That makes them distinct from simply playing an older release on newer hardware.
Would you play these enhanced 3DS ports, or do you prefer Nintendo’s original releases? Share your choice and favorite Zelda memories in the comments.
