Every fact on this page applies to update 1.0.2, the one version tested. Other versions may behave differently.
No emulator needed: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze runs natively on the Apple chip. How nxnative compares with emulators
Running through nxnative
How Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze runs
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze runs on the Mac at 60 fps. Its iPhone app has been built (about 7.3 GB), but the project developers have not yet tested it on a device.
How it runs
On the Mac, it was tested from boot through the title and mode select, the intro cinematic and the first level, Mangrove Cove: running, jumping, the waterfall slide, swimming, and losing a life and restarting. It held 60 fps, with occasional longer frames the first time a new graphics pipeline is used.
Controls
The Packed app starts in the 2D touch layout (left stick, face buttons, shoulders, minus and plus). The layout button at the top centre switches layouts in game, and the app remembers your choice.
Good to know
- Only about two minutes at the start of the first level have been played so far. Later levels, the world map, bosses and the game's movies are untested.
- The iPhone app is untested, so treat this Game as Mac-only for now.
- Tested on update 1.0.2. Other versions may behave differently.
Known issues
- The iPhone app is built but has not yet been tested on a device.
- Only the start of the first level has been played; later levels, the world map, bosses and movies are untested.
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-tropical-freeze -k ~/keys/prod.keysFAQ
Does Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze work with nxnative?
Yes. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is tested with nxnative on update 1.0.2.
Which iPhone, iPad or Mac do I need to play Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze?
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: Tropical Freeze included?
No. Neither this site nor nxnative includes any game. You Pack Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze from your own copy of the game, with keys dumped from your own Switch.
Does online play work in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze?
Online play in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is not confirmed to work, so do not count on it.
