Every fact on this page applies to update 1.1.0, the one version tested. Other versions may behave differently.
No emulator needed: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD runs natively on the Apple chip. How nxnative compares with emulators
Running through nxnative
How Donkey Kong Country Returns HD runs
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD plays on the Mac at 60 fps. Testing covered the title screen, a new save, the opening movie, the island and Jungle maps, and the start of 1-1 Jungle Hijinxs, including running, jumping, taking damage, losing a life and the pause menu. An iPhone app has been built at about 11.6 GB, which is large, but it has not been tried on a device yet.
How it runs
The game is built on Unity 6, and nxnative runs it without any changes to the game's own code. On the Mac most frames land right on the 60 fps mark. Memory settled at about 2.7 GB during the first level and stayed flat.
Bring update 1.1.0
Only update 1.1.0 was tested; the base version is not registered. Put the update in the same folder as the base game before you Pack.
Controls
The Packed app starts in the 2D touch layout, which fits a side-scrolling platformer. In the first level's treehouse the game asks you to press X quickly many times; slow presses do not get past the prompt.
Good to know
- Only the start of the first world was played. Later levels, bosses, two-player play and most of the game's movies are untested.
- At about 11.6 GB, the Packed app may be too big for some sideloading setups. nxnative's packing script can keep the game files out of the app with
--romfs separate.
Known issues
- It has not yet been played on iPhone.
Packing command
Run this in your nxnative folder on the Build Mac. Replace the game folder and the keys path with your own. Add --platform mac-app to get a Mac app instead of an iPhone and iPad app.
python3 scripts/build_ipa_from_nsp.py ~/Games/donkey-kong-country-returns-hd -k ~/keys/prod.keysFAQ
Does Donkey Kong Country Returns HD work with nxnative?
Yes. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is tested with nxnative on update 1.1.0.
Which iPhone, iPad or Mac do I need to play Donkey Kong Country Returns HD?
An iPhone 15 Pro or newer (A17 Pro chip or later) or an iPad with an M1 chip or later, on iOS or iPadOS 26 or later, or a Mac with Apple silicon. iPads with the A17 Pro chip (iPad mini) have the iPhone 15 Pro's chip but are untested by nxnative. Packing needs a Mac with macOS 26.6 or later and Xcode 27.1.
Is Donkey Kong Country Returns HD included?
No. Neither this site nor nxnative includes any game. You Pack Donkey Kong Country Returns HD from your own copy of the game, with keys dumped from your own Switch.
Does online play work in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD?
Online play in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is not confirmed to work, so do not count on it.
