A new era for a Nintendo 64 classic has begun as Harbour Masters, renowned for their high-quality PC ports of vintage Nintendo titles, has released a modern PC port of Super Mario 64 dubbed 'Ghostship.' This project not only brings fresh life to one of Nintendo's most influential games, but also introduces features long sought after by fans, including support for 60+ frames per second and a robust system for custom textures.
Super Mario 64 is celebrated as a groundbreaking platformer, originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1996.
While Nintendo has made the game available through various official channels, such as the Nintendo Switch Online service and virtual console releases, the PC gaming community has continued to pursue innovative ports that enhance the original experience.
Ghostship builds on the legacy of its predecessors, such as the 2020 fan-made DirectX 12 port and the user-focused Super Mario 64 Plus project from 2021, both of which expanded on the classic title's functionality and customization. Ghostship is primarily developed by Lywx, with Harbour Masters handling the release and presentation.
The group previously earned acclaim for PC ports of other beloved N64 titles, including Star Fox 64, Mario Kart 64, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
During a recent Harbour Masters livestream presentation, the team demonstrated the new port, highlighting its enhanced performance capabilities and the ease of customization available to players. Among Ghostship's key features are unlocked frame rates exceeding 60 FPS, allowing for ultra-smooth gameplay that rivals and surpasses the N64's original hardware limitations.
Players can also incorporate custom textures, giving Super Mario 64 a fresh, modernized look or even a completely new artistic direction as desired.
In addition, the installation process for Ghostship has been simplified compared to previous fan projects, requiring users to simply run the Ghostship.exe file and provide a legitimate Japanese or US ROM of the game—no manual builds or complex setup required. Ghostship is available now for both Windows and Mac platforms, and a Linux version is slated for release in the near future.
Full installation instructions and the download are hosted on the project’s GitHub page, making access straightforward for retro gaming enthusiasts and technical users alike. Harbour Masters continues to exemplify the dedication and technical skill of the fan-driven retro gaming community.
While Nintendo remains protective of its intellectual property, projects like Ghostship demonstrate the enduring appeal and creative potential of its classic catalogue, ensuring that Super Mario 64 can be experienced in new ways for years to come.
While Nintendo has made the game available through various official channels, such as the Nintendo Switch Online service and virtual console releases, the PC gaming community has continued to pursue innovative ports that enhance the original experience.
Ghostship builds on the legacy of its predecessors, such as the 2020 fan-made DirectX 12 port and the user-focused Super Mario 64 Plus project from 2021, both of which expanded on the classic title's functionality and customization. Ghostship is primarily developed by Lywx, with Harbour Masters handling the release and presentation.
The group previously earned acclaim for PC ports of other beloved N64 titles, including Star Fox 64, Mario Kart 64, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
During a recent Harbour Masters livestream presentation, the team demonstrated the new port, highlighting its enhanced performance capabilities and the ease of customization available to players. Among Ghostship's key features are unlocked frame rates exceeding 60 FPS, allowing for ultra-smooth gameplay that rivals and surpasses the N64's original hardware limitations.
Players can also incorporate custom textures, giving Super Mario 64 a fresh, modernized look or even a completely new artistic direction as desired.
In addition, the installation process for Ghostship has been simplified compared to previous fan projects, requiring users to simply run the Ghostship.exe file and provide a legitimate Japanese or US ROM of the game—no manual builds or complex setup required. Ghostship is available now for both Windows and Mac platforms, and a Linux version is slated for release in the near future.
Full installation instructions and the download are hosted on the project’s GitHub page, making access straightforward for retro gaming enthusiasts and technical users alike. Harbour Masters continues to exemplify the dedication and technical skill of the fan-driven retro gaming community.
While Nintendo remains protective of its intellectual property, projects like Ghostship demonstrate the enduring appeal and creative potential of its classic catalogue, ensuring that Super Mario 64 can be experienced in new ways for years to come.
