The community project nsmbu-recomp has made it possible to run New Super Mario Bros. U natively on Windows, Linux, and macOS computers without traditional emulation, enabling local cooperative play for up to four participants with controllers and keyboard.
This initiative ports the assets and logic of the classic Wii U title directly into native binaries for modern computers. By avoiding the overhead inherent to emulating the entire console architecture, the utility translates original code into C, compiles it, and links it directly with a modern runtime built to leverage host platform capabilities.
How native recompilation works
The nsmbu-recomp software functions as a static recompilation tool. To use it, players must provide their own legally acquired game files, whether through a disc image in .wux or .wud format with appropriate encryption keys, a .wua package, or an extracted game directory containing code, content, and meta folders.
During the initial launch, an automated installer extracts the original files, translates the code to C, and compiles a native executable optimized for the host system. The entire setup is portable, keeping saved games, custom settings, and logs localized within the release directory. On Windows systems, it requires 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 alongside Vulkan support, while Linux requires glibc 2.35 or newer on x86-64 or arm64. On Apple computers, the build runs natively on Apple Silicon chips with macOS 14 or later.
Compatibility and multiplayer features
Regarding game compatibility, the project supports and fully playtests North American and European releases at version 1.3.0, while also supporting version 0 base discs and combo packs bundling New Super Mario Bros. U with New Super Luigi U. Japanese releases remain unsupported for the time being.
Among its most notable features is full local multiplayer and controller support. Up to four controllers can operate as distinct players, with player one able to share input or alternate between keyboard and a gamepad. The control setup allows switching between Wii U GamePad mode and Wii U Pro Controller mode, with granular button remapping per player or a unified layout across all gamepads.
Additional enhancements include save states mapped from F1 through F5, an in-game settings overlay triggered with F12, and specialized audio toggles for TV and GamePad audio feeds. Distributed under an open-source MPL-2.0 license, the repository builds upon earlier work from the Wind Waker HD recompilation without distributing copyrighted game assets or Nintendo keys.