Tomb Raider N64 Port Footage Surfaces: Work-in-Progress Built from TRX Decompilation

Footage of a work-in-progress Tomb Raider port for the Nintendo 64 has appeared online, showing a near-complete homebrew build running on modern reproduction hardware.

The video, uploaded to YouTube on April 13, 2026 by a user called Snake, demonstrates menu navigation, Croft Manor exploration, and early levels such as the opening caves and Palace Midas.

Developer and platform context

Tomb Raider was developed by Core Design and originally released in 1996 across multiple platforms.

The series later became closely associated with Sony’s PlayStation lineup in the late 1990s.

Over the years fans and hobbyists have attempted ports to alternate hardware; the newly surfaced footage is the most substantial N64 build to appear publicly in recent memory.

What the video shows and how it was built

According to the uploader, the project is based on Lost Artefacts’ TRX decompilation (reported at version 1.5), an open-source reimplementation of Tomb Raider I and II that adds fixes and enhancements to the original codebase.

The build in the video runs on an Analogue 3D console with the device’s “Unleashed” overclock setting enabled.

The creator says the code is implemented using Tiny3D — described as a 3D microcode and library for the N64 that uses libdragon — and that the current build includes game music and most FMVs.

Reported limitations and development status

The uploader stated the port is largely implemented but not finished, noting that numerous rendering and performance issues remain.

Specifically, they reported frame-rate drops and reduced performance in larger, more open levels, indicating further optimization work is required.

They also indicated the build will fit on an N64 cartridge, but did not provide any timeline or plans to distribute the project publicly.

Historical notes

Former Core Design developers have previously said an official N64 version was considered during Tomb Raider’s original development, but did not reach completion.

The newly surfaced homebrew footage does not change the official release history, but it does underscore continued community interest in bringing classic PC and console titles to retro hardware.

Takeaway

The April 13, 2026 footage offers a rare look at what a Tomb Raider N64 port could have resembled and highlights the work of decompilation projects and homebrew libraries like TRX, Tiny3D, and libdragon.

For now, the build remains a hobbyist project with unresolved technical issues and no confirmed public release.