Country-Box
Country-Box is a native Linux port of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD and Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze that builds the game from your own copy.
- Type: PC port
- Game: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
- Runs on Linux
- By Walt
- Latest release v1.0.3, 2026-11-12
- Source: https://github.com/zWalt01/Country-Box
README
Country-Box
Native Linux and Steam Deck ports of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, built on your machine from your own copy.
Español · Install guide · Install with an AI agent · Known issues · About · Changelog
The launcher — its art is our own, drawn in code. Out of respect for the games' owners, this repository shows no screenshots or video of the games themselves.
I wanted to play these two games natively on my Steam Deck — simple to set up, and smooth once running — and I couldn't find a recompilation of either. So I made one. The game's code is converted to C and compiled into a native Linux program on your own computer.
Country-Box includes nothing from the games. You bring your own copy; the launcher checks it, builds the game and runs it. Nothing here extracts or decrypts anything, and this project never says where to obtain a game.
Requirements
Your own copy of the game — Nintendo Switch, no update applied, extracted into a folder with exefs/ and romfs/:
| Game | Version | Region tested | Title ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donkey Kong Country Returns HD | 1.0.0 | US | 01009D901BC56000 |
| Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze | 1.0.0 | US | 0100C1F0051B6000 |
Other regions usually ship the same files on Switch; the launcher checks your copy and tells you if it matches.
A computer to build it on:
- Linux on x86-64 with a CPU that has AVX2 (Intel Haswell / AMD Zen or newer) and a Vulkan GPU.
- Build tools (
clang,lld,ninjaand a few libraries) — if one is missing, the launcher tells you the exact command for your distribution. - Steam Deck: it runs the game, but it can't build it. Build on a Linux PC, then use Import a build on the Deck.
Install
- Download the AppImage from Releases and make it executable.
- Open it, choose Add your copy, and point it at your game folder.
- Press PREPARE — about 9 minutes for Returns HD and 2½ for Tropical Freeze on an 8-core PC, once.
- Press PLAY.
Updates install themselves and rebuild only what changed. Using an AI agent? Give it AGENT-INSTALL.md. Full details: docs/INSTALL.md.
Status — version 1.0.4
| Returns HD | Tropical Freeze | |
|---|---|---|
| Playable | ✅ whole game, PC and Steam Deck | ✅ PC and Steam Deck |
| Frame rate | 60 fps in all 81 levels; 99.9 % of frames without a hitch | 60 fps on the levels measured |
| Steam Deck | 60 fps with the APU at 8–9 W | plays well |
| Shaders | all prepared before you play | some still compile while a level loads — short pauses (known issue) |
| 16:10 screen | 16:9 | ✅ native 16:10 |
| Save states | 🧪 experimental, not deeply tested: F5 / F6, or Select+Start → menu (feedback wanted) | 🧪 experimental, not deeply tested: F5 / F6, or Select+Start → menu |
How each number was measured: docs/TESTING.md.
About
I'm Walter, a data science student who wanted to find out how hard a project like this really is. I built it by directing AI coding agents and checking every result against real runs — the story is in ABOUT.md. Questions and bugs: Issues.
Built on the recompilation core of Metroid Prime 4 Recomp by Jeff Aigner and the projects behind it — full credits in docs/CREDITS.md.
License and legal
MIT — see LICENSE. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD and Tropical Freeze belong to Nintendo, Retro Studios and Forever Entertainment; Country-Box is an independent, non-commercial project, not affiliated with them. You need your own legally obtained copy. Full statement: LEGAL.md.