Over two weeks have passed since the launch of both the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World, but not everyone is jumping into the newest entry. A group of modders has turned its focus to the past, bringing the iconic Mario Kart 64 to PC with features like 4K resolution, ultrawide displays, high frame rates, and antialiasing. And unlike many fan projects, this one isn’t at risk of being shut down by Nintendo.
As the second title in the series, Mario Kart 64 was a major leap forward when it debuted in 1996, introducing full 3D environments and a lineup of eight racers across sixteen tracks, along with a handful of arenas for Battle mode.
While the original is playable today through Nintendo Switch Online’s N64 library, it’s never had a proper update or official modern port.
That’s where indie team Harbour Masters steps in. Their latest project, SpaghettiKart, is a faithful but upgraded native PC version that includes all original characters and tracks. The trailer shows the game running smoothly with enhanced visuals and support for current hardware.
Like their earlier projects, SpaghettiKart doesn’t include any of Nintendo’s source code. Instead, players need to provide a ROM file of the original game, allowing the team to avoid legal takedowns. Beyond this, the port offers support for custom tracks, letting players create and race on new courses. It also features a custom track importer, a free camera mode, and options to increase CPU difficulty.
Harbour Masters previously developed PC ports of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, two of the Nintendo 64’s most popular titles. Last year, they also released an upgraded version of Star Fox 64 with similar enhancements.