Hookshot vs NX2navi
With Ocarina Recomp pausing standalone runtime releases and directing players to Hookshot, the two active Switch 2 PC ports are NotRexed/Hookshot and tangerineturtle1/NX2navi. Here is how their builders, upscalers, GPU support and Linux packages compare.
- Switch 2 v1.1.1
- Hookshot v2.1.0
- NX2navi v0.8.0
- Windows + Linux
Why choose Hookshot or NX2navi?
Three native PC static recompilations of the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (game version 1.1.1, program 0400486024DEC000) launched within days of one another in November 2026: Ocarina Recomp (sostenesfreitas/ocarina-recomp), Hookshot (NotRexed/Hookshot), and NX2navi (tangerineturtle1/NX2navi).
With Ocarina Recomp v0.3.4 (November 11, 2026), author sostenesfreitas paused standalone runtime releases after testing both ports on an RTX 5090 with the same save (#212), recommending that players migrate to Hookshot for its higher internal resolution at 60 fps, denser Kokiri and Hyrule foliage, and clean Temple of Time courtyard rendering. To make switching painless, v0.3.4 added two scripts inside its jogar folder (#216): jogar\hookshot-preparar-jogo.bat (which unpacks build\romfs\romfs.bin into a ready build\hookshot folder containing romfs and exefs, even if you already deleted your .nup) and jogar\hookshot-copiar-save.bat (which copies your perfil\save progress straight into Hookshot).
That shift leaves two actively shipping Switch 2 PC ports for Windows and Linux: Hookshot (8,137 GitHub stars, 1,987,656 release downloads) and NX2navi (3,350 stars, 375,674 release downloads as of November 12, 2026).
Builder, installer and license model
Both projects translate the Switch 2 edition’s ARM64 binary ahead of time into native x86-64 code and replay NVN 2 graphics calls on Vulkan 1.3, so neither is an emulator and neither ships any Nintendo code or assets. Under the hood, their packaging and licensing take different paths:
- Hookshot (
NotRexed/Hookshot): free open-source software underGPL-3.0-or-later(combining MIT-licensed third-party components such as AMD FidelityFX SDK 1.1.4 shaders, Sirit, VMA and SDL with patches from 40+ contributors). On Windows, you download a compact 186 KB bootstrapper (HookshotBuilder.exe; see Is Hookshot safe? for SHA-256 verification and SmartScreen details) that fetches ~460 MB of compiler tools (llvm-mingw, Python,a64emit,lld-link,zbic) checked againsthookshot-setup.txt, lifts ARM64 instructions to C vianx2/lift.py, and compilesbin\hookshot.exelocally in about 10 to 45 minutes (~40 minutes typical, ~60 GB free disk while building). On Linux,Hookshot-v2.1.0-x86_64.AppImagebundles the entire compiler and runtime inside one AppImage. - NX2navi (
tangerineturtle1/NX2navi): a public-source repository whose base import carries anMITlicense (LICENSE), while all NX2navi additions and changes reserve rights underLICENSE-ADDITIONS. On Windows,NX2navi-Setup-0.8.0.exe(136.9 MB) installs the NX2navi launcher next to your.nupdump, verifies textures, compiles native x86-64 code (tools/make_game.py), and pre-prepares all 42,177 shader programs in 10 to 25 minutes using ~30–34 GB for the game plus 1.5 GB for the launcher (earlier v0.5.0 installs even used a generic pre-configured x86-64 build path before adding optional per-CPU Rebuild the Game). On Linux,NX2navi-Linux-0.8.0-x86_64.AppImage(101.1 MB) provides an install, update and play window.
Setup, installer & licensing compared
Every figure below is read from the repositories’ release JSON, READMEs and patch notes on November 12, 2026:
| Category | Hookshot (v2.1.0) | NX2navi (v0.8.0) |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub repository | NotRexed/Hookshot | tangerineturtle1/NX2navi |
| License & code model | GPL-3.0-or-later open source (with MIT/BSD third-party libraries such as FidelityFX SDK 1.1.4 shaders, Sirit, VMA & SDL; 40+ contributors) | Public-source repo: base import under MIT (LICENSE), project additions all rights reserved (LICENSE-ADDITIONS) |
| Latest release & traction | v2.1.0 (November 11, 2026) · 8,137 stars · 1,987,656 downloads | v0.8.0 (November 11, 2026) · 3,350 stars · 375,674 downloads |
| Windows installer | HookshotBuilder.exe (186 KB bootstrapper; fetches ~460 MB toolchain once) | NX2navi-Setup-0.8.0.exe (136.9 MB standalone setup + launcher) |
| Linux / SteamOS package | Hookshot-v2.1.0-x86_64.AppImage (242.1 MB) | NX2navi-Linux-0.8.0-x86_64.AppImage (101.1 MB) |
| First-run setup & disk space | ~10 to 45 min (~40 min typical) local C translation & Clang build; ~60 GB free while building (~4 GB build objects auto-cleaned) | 10 to 25 min setup preparing native x86-64 code & all 42,177 shader programs; ~30–34 GB for game + 1.5 GB launcher |
| Update cadence & tracks | 56 releases since November 5, 2026; Play/Update launcher with Release, RC & Nightly tracks (#2061) | 7 releases since November 7, 2026; background launcher updater keeping compiled game & prepared shaders |
Graphics, GPU & input compared
How the two Vulkan 1.3 renderers, upscalers, controller stacks and Linux AppImages stack up feature for feature:
| Category | Hookshot (v2.1.0) | NX2navi (v0.8.0) |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling | Opt-in NVIDIA DLSS & DLAA (Win & Linux, Transformer K/M/L presets, #841), built-in AMD FSR 3.1, opt-in AMD FSR 4, Catmull-Rom, Lanczos | NVIDIA DLSS (DLAA to Ultra Performance), AMD FSR 4 on RX 6000/7000/9000 (fsr4 = 1, Win driver 26.10.1+), AMD FSR 3.1, FSR 1, Bilinear |
| Frame generation & pacing | Auto (matches display refresh rate, #1121), 2x–8x built-in interpolation, opt-in FSR 3.1 FG, NVIDIA Reflex | NVIDIA DLSS MFG 2x–4x on RTX 40/50 with Reflex (2x–6x on Linux), AMD FSR 3.1 FG, experimental FSR 4 FG (fsr4_fg = 1), pace_smooth = 1 (~3 ms variance) |
| GPU compatibility & VRAM | Vulkan 1.3 + mesh shaders; write-back diff on by default (~48–52 fps RTX 4060 Ti); 45% VRAM cap on 8 GB GPUs; 2.5 GB iGPU cap; GTX 10 / RX 5000 compute fallback restored in v2.0.6 (#779) + Pascal fixes in v2.1.0 | Vulkan 1.3 + VK_EXT_external_memory_host; wb_lazy = 1 on NVIDIA (~90–109 fps Hyrule Field RTX 5090; off on AMD Win in v0.8.0); auto texture_detail (6–10 GB+) + 50% 6 GB buffer reserve; untested mesh_fallback = auto in v0.8.0 |
| Input, audio & tuning | Insert / Home tabbed menu, SDL3 6-axis gyro (#1114), Switch Pro & Joy-Con HD rumble (#1213), 5.1 surround (#1240), dynamic controller prompts (#1321), hookshot_options.ini & hookshot_env.txt | F1 menu, F10 VRAM/FPS overlay, F9 debug menu (debug_menu = 1), nx2navi.ini switches, build-time Xbox/PS/Steam Deck/keyboard prompts, 6-axis gyro, DualShock 3 (ds3 = 1), 5.1 surround, Discord Rich Presence |
| Aspect ratios & HDR | 16:9, real 21:9 & 32:9 ultrawide, 16:10, 4:3 & 5:4 (#1224); Expanded & Native HDR (#1613) | 16:9, 21:9 & 32:9 ultrawide up to 5K; Native HDR + 10,000-nit SDR-to-HDR tone mapper |
| Linux & Steam Deck | Self-contained AppImage with GUI builder & --play, 1 worker per 2 GB RAM cap, RADV depth fix, RX_VK_MESH_NOCULL, 16:10 | AppImage with install/update/play window, dedicated Steam Deck 4-core BC3 profile (prompts = steamdeck), Add to Steam shortcut |
Upscaling, frame gen and GPU support
Both ports converged rapidly on modern upscalers, but they tune frame pacing and GPU memory differently:
- NVIDIA RTX GPUs: NX2navi integrates DLSS Super Resolution (DLAA through Ultra Performance) alongside DLSS Multi Frame Generation (2x on RTX 40/50, 3x and 4x on RTX 50 paced with Reflex, and 2x–6x on Linux) plus lazy GPU write-back (
wb_lazy = 1, reaching 90–109 fps in Hyrule Field on an RTX 5090 at 1440p in v0.8.0). Hookshotv2.1.0added opt-in NVIDIA DLSS and DLAA on both Windows and Linux (#841, fetching NVIDIA’s NGX SDK only when you tick the license box) with selectable Transformer models (K,M,L), NVIDIA Reflex,Frame generation: Automatching your monitor’s refresh rate (#1121), and write-back diffing (~48–52 fps median in Kokiri and Hyrule walks on an RTX 4060 Ti). - AMD Radeon RDNA 2, RDNA 3 & RDNA 4: NX2navi
v0.8.0added AMD FSR 4 upscaling (fsr4 = 1on Radeon RX 6000, RX 7000 and RX 9000 with Windows driver 26.10.1+) and batched visibility queries (~20% higher open-area fps on RX 7900 XT: 53 vs 45 fps in Hyrule Field), while turningwb_lazyand RDNA 2 graphics pipeline libraries (gpl) off by default on Windows to prevent code 71 combat crashes. Hookshot ships MIT-licensed FSR 3.1 shaders in every build, offers opt-in FidelityFX SDK 2.4 FSR 4 tested on an RX 6700 XT, handles RDNA 1 wave32/wave64 stages (#1657), and caps 8 GB cards to a 45% VRAM texture budget so 8 GB GPUs do not spill into system RAM. - GTX 10-series & non-mesh GPUs: Because Switch 2 uses task and mesh shaders, cards without
VK_EXT_mesh_shader(GTX 1060/1070/1080, RX 580, RX 5000) need a compute fallback. Hookshot restored its compute fallback inv2.0.6(#779, #1001) and fixed four NVIDIA Pascal compute crashes inv2.1.0, whereas NX2navi’sv0.8.0mesh_fallback = autowas not yet tested on physical non-mesh cards before release.
Which Switch 2 PC recomp should you pick?
- Choose Hookshot if: you are migrating an existing Ocarina Recomp install and save via
jogar\hookshot-preparar-jogo.bat; you play on Steam Deck or Linux (where Hookshot’s 16:10 display mode, 2.5 GB iGPU VRAM cap, RADV depth-texture fix andRX_VK_MESH_NOCULLshine); you use Switch Pro or Joy-Con controllers with HD rumble and SDL3 gyro aiming; you have a 4–8 GB VRAM card or a GTX 10-series GPU needing the Pascal-patched compute fallback; or you want aGPL-3.0community project with selectableRelease,RCandNightlyupdate tracks. - Choose NX2navi if: you want the quickest 10–25 minute initial build and smaller ~30 GB install footprint; you own an RTX 40 or RTX 50 card and want 2x–4x DLSS Multi Frame Generation; you want built-in Xbox, PlayStation, Steam Deck or dynamic keyboard prompts baked into dialogue and HUD text; or you enjoy granular
nx2navi.inituning (pace_smooth = 1for ~3 ms frame-time variance, 10,000-nit SDR-to-HDR tone mapping, save-slot ZIP export, and theF9debug menu).
Tip: Both builders read your legally obtained Switch 2 .nup dump (version 1.1.1) in read-only mode. If you have the disk space, you can build both into separate folders and test which renderer your GPU driver prefers. Verify every installer first on the downloads & SHA-256 page.
Recommended controllers for PC & Deck
All four Ocarina of Time PC ports use SDL3/SDL2 controller input. A gamepad with 6-axis gyro or drift-free TMR sticks gives the best experience for bow/slingshot aiming, Ocarina notes and Z-targeting:
| Controller | Best For | Why It Fits Ocarina on PC | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth | Switch A/B/X/Y layout + charging dock | Matches Nintendo C-button / action layout, TMR sticks, Bluetooth & 2.4 GHz | View on Amazon → |
| Sony DualSense | Bow & slingshot gyro aiming | Native SDL3 6-axis gyro + rumble on Windows & Linux (Hookshot & ReTuned) | View on Amazon → |
| GameSir Cyclone 2 | Zero-drift 60+ fps PC play | TMR electromagnetic sticks, Hall triggers, 1000 Hz wireless dongle + gyro | View on Amazon → |
| Xbox Wireless Controller | Plug-and-play Windows XInput | Works immediately in Ocarina Recomp, Hookshot (`bin\SDL3.dll`) & TriAevum | View on Amazon → |
As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Full button mappings and dead-zone tips: Controller setup guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which sets up faster on Windows: Hookshot or NX2navi?
NX2navi sets up faster on a fresh install: running NX2navi-Setup-0.8.0.exe next to your Switch 2 .nup dump takes 10 to 25 minutes, prepares all 42,177 shader programs up front, and needs about 30–34 GB of disk space. Hookshot’s HookshotBuilder.exe downloads about 460 MB of compiler tools once and takes roughly 10 to 45 minutes (~40 minutes typical, ~60 GB peak disk during compilation) to translate ARM64 to C and compile bin\hookshot.exe. Both update incrementally through their launchers afterwards.
Why did Ocarina Recomp recommend migrating to Hookshot?
On November 11, 2026, the author of sostenesfreitas/ocarina-recomp compared Ocarina Recomp v0.3.4 and Hookshot on an RTX 5090 using the same save (#212), noting that Hookshot held 60 fps at higher internal resolution, rendered fuller foliage, and avoided green squares in the Temple of Time courtyard. Upstream paused standalone runtime releases, shifted future fixes to Hookshot, and added jogar\hookshot-preparar-jogo.bat and jogar\hookshot-copiar-save.bat (#216) so players can move an existing install and save over even after deleting their original .nup.
Which port has better upscaling and frame generation on NVIDIA RTX and AMD Radeon GPUs?
On RTX 40 and RTX 50 cards, NX2navi includes native DLSS Super Resolution plus 2x, 3x and 4x DLSS Multi Frame Generation with Reflex pacing (2x–6x on Linux), while Hookshot v2.1.0 added opt-in NVIDIA DLSS, DLAA (with Transformer presets K, M and L), Reflex, and Frame generation: Auto matching your monitor refresh rate. On AMD RX 6000/7000/9000 cards, both offer built-in FSR 3.1 and optional AMD FSR 4 upscaling (fsr4 = 1 in NX2navi v0.8.0 on Windows driver 26.10.1+, or Hookshot’s opt-in FidelityFX SDK 2.4 runtime tested on RX 6700 XT).
Can GTX 1060, GTX 1080 or RX 580 cards without mesh shaders run Hookshot or NX2navi?
Neither project supports non-mesh-shader GPUs as a primary target because the Switch 2 edition draws geometry with task and mesh shaders. However, Hookshot restored its compute-shader fallback for GTX 10-series and RX 500/5000 cards in v2.0.6 (#779, tracked in #1001) and landed four Pascal driver compute fixes in v2.1.0, making it the better-tested fallback today. NX2navi added an experimental mesh_fallback = auto path in v0.8.0 that had not yet been played on physical non-mesh hardware at release.
Which is better on Steam Deck and Linux: Hookshot or NX2navi?
Both provide native x86_64 AppImages. Hookshot has accumulated extensive SteamOS and Mesa RADV fixes across v2.0.6–v2.1.0 (1 translation process per 2 GB free RAM to stop 16 GB OOM kills, RADV depth-texture compute fix, 2.5 GB unified-VRAM texture cap, RX_VK_MESH_NOCULL task-shader hang fix, 16:10 aspect ratio, and SDL3 gyro). NX2navi’s AppImage offers a fast build and an automatic 4-core Steam Deck profile with BC3 textures and steamdeck prompts, though its developers note that Linux builds are CI cross-compiled from contributor PRs. See our Steam Deck & Linux guide.
Can I install both Hookshot and NX2navi from the same Switch 2 game dump?
Yes. Neither builder modifies your legally obtained Switch 2 .nup file (version 1.1.1, program 0400486024DEC000). Each writes its compiled executable and shader cache into its own folder, so you can test both ports side by side on the same PC.