# A Link to the Past 3DS: a dual-screen Zelda3 port

> A Link to the Past 3DS adapts the reverse-engineered Zelda3 engine for Nintendo 3DS with gameplay on the upper screen and maps, inventory and settings on the lower screen. It extracts assets locally from the user's USA ROM and adds 3DS rendering, controls and per-ROM settings.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/EstebanPdN/zelda-alttp-3ds>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/EstebanPdN/zelda-alttp-3ds/blob/c85d243923febf9930b254a937c399784dc977ff/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/a-link-to-the-past-3ds-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/a-link-to-the-past-3ds-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/a-link-to-the-past-3ds-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** A Nintendo 3DS and a legally obtained USA, unheadered ROM are required; audio also needs dspfirm.cdc.
- **Prerequisites:** Building requires devkitARM, libctru, 3ds-cmake, makerom and bannertool.
- **Limits:** Gameplay hacks are not guaranteed to be compatible.
- **License:** The Zelda3 engine retains the MIT licence; other components retain their own licences.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/EstebanPdN/zelda-alttp-3ds/blob/c85d243923febf9930b254a937c399784dc977ff/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/EstebanPdN/zelda-alttp-3ds/blob/c85d243923febf9930b254a937c399784dc977ff/platform/3ds/README.md>

## More in Games

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- [ALTTP-DX: rebuilding A Link to the Past for native PC play](https://awesomerea.org/resources/alttp-dx-case/index.md) · Case study
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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.