# Golden Balloon: native and browser port of Diddy Kong Racing

> Golden Balloon is a native and browser port of the 1997 Nintendo 64 kart racer, built on the Diddy Kong Racing decompilation. The README says the game is compiled for the machine and runs from a ROM you already own.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-07
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/akratch/goldenballoon>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/akratch/goldenballoon/blob/2b69e748ec04f87a4dc6f032c598726de1b0e813/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/goldenballoon-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/goldenballoon-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/goldenballoon-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- Provide a US 1.1 or European 1.1 ROM as .z64, .v64, or .n64. The browser build needs a WebGPU browser such as current Chrome or Edge, and reads the ROM locally.
- The README identifies the first-party license as MIT and points to NOTICE.md for other components.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/akratch/goldenballoon/blob/2b69e748ec04f87a4dc6f032c598726de1b0e813/README.md>

## More in Games

- [Golden Sun Recompiled for Android: an on-device recompilation port](https://awesomerea.org/resources/golden-sun-recompiled-android-case/index.md) · Case study
- [GoldenEye 007: a Nintendo 3DS port from decompiled source](https://awesomerea.org/resources/goldeneye-3ds-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [GoldenEye 007: an agent-assisted native port from a decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/goldeneye-pc-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Gran Turismo 2 PC, VR & Browser: a native multiplatform port](https://awesomerea.org/resources/gran-turismo-2-pc-vr-browser-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Gravity Rush 2: a PS4 runtime port for PC](https://awesomerea.org/resources/gravity-rush-2-pc-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Gravity Rush Remastered: a native PC port of the PS4 game](https://awesomerea.org/resources/gravity-rush-remastered-pc-case/index.md) · Case study

## 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.