Nintendo Switch
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
ドンキーコング リターンズ HD · 咚奇剛 歸來 HD
- Perfect: No noticeable issues start to finish
- Playable: Can be finished; minor glitches or slowdowns
- In-game: Gets in-game, but issues get in the way
- Menus: Reaches the title screen or menus only
- Boots: Starts, then hangs on a black screen or intro
- Nothing: Does not start
Yes, and it runs well on PC and Android. Citron lists it as Perfect; Ryubing could only get past the intro after a January 2025 Canary added a missing HID service, and lists it as In-game; Eden v0.1.0 is reported at 4K/60fps on an RTX 3060 Ti, though older builds had reports of getting stuck in the intro or crashing on first launch. On Android, Eden and Citron mostly hit 55-60fps on Snapdragon 865 or newer, with some drivers freezing at the end of levels. As of November 1, 2026, nxnative on iPhone (a native port tool, not an emulator; needs update 1.1.0) is reported at 60fps through the first World 1 levels on an iPhone 15 Pro; there are no public Mac tests yet.
Settings & known issues
- Use a Ryubing Canary from after 2025-01-16 or newer; it added the HID service needed to get in-game.
- On Android, freezes at level end or on load were fixed by older Turnip drivers (e.g., 22/24) (user report).
- If Eden crashes on first launch, a second launch usually works (user report).
Compatibility reports
| Platform | Emulator | Result | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Citron Neo | Perfect | github.com 2026-05-17 | |
| Windows | Eden 0.0.4-rc2 | Perfect | Resolution 1x; docked mode · Intel Core i5-6500 | emuready.com 2025-11-24 |
| Windows | Eden v0.1.0 | Playable | 4K 60fps · Ryzen 5 7600 | reddit.com 2026-02-04 |
| Windows | Eden 0.0.3 | Playable | Avg 60 FPS; resolution 1x 720/1080; handheld mode · AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | emuready.com 2025-10-03 |
| Windows | Ryubing | In-game | github.com 2025-02-16 | |
| Windows | Eden 0.0.3 | Nothing | Avg 60 FPS; resolution 1x (720p/1080p); docked mode · AMD Ryzen 3 3100 | emuready.com 2025-09-27 |
| Linux / Steam Deck | Eden 0.0.3-rc2 | Nothing | Resolution 720p; docked mode · Intel Core i5-10400 | emuready.com 2025-08-04 |
| iPhone / iPad | nxnative | Playable | 60 FPS; game 1.1.0 · iPhone 15 Pro | github.com 2026-10-27 |
| Android | Eden 0.2.0 | Perfect | User-reported avg: 60 fps · RedMagic 11 Pro | emuready.com 2026-05-19 |
| Android | Citron Citron Neo (28644) | Perfect | User-reported avg: 60 fps · RedMagic 11 Pro | emuready.com 2026-05-19 |
| Android | Eden 0.2.0-Rc1 (Standard) | Perfect | User-reported avg: 60 fps · AYANEO KONKR Pocket FIT (G3 Gen 3) | emuready.com 2026-03-05 |
| Android | Citron 0.10.0 | Perfect | User-reported avg: 60 fps · AYN Odin 2 Max | emuready.com 2025-12-02 |
| Android | Kenji-NX 2.0.3 | Perfect | Not stated · Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (SD) | emuready.com 2025-09-29 |
| Android | Eden 0.0.3 rc3 | Perfect | User-reported avg: 56 fps · Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | emuready.com 2025-08-28 |
| Android | nxnative nx2android v0.1.3, game update 1.1.0 | Playable | 60fps · Lenovo Legion Y700 (Snapdragon 8 Elite / Adreno 830) · Self-reported by nx2android (a community Android fork of nxnative, not part of the official project), listed in its README's game table | github.com 2026-10-29 |
| Android | Kenji-NX 2.1.0-pr.2 (sd8eg5) | Playable | User-reported avg: 55 fps · RedMagic 11 Pro | emuready.com 2026-05-19 |
| Android | Eden Eden Nightly Optimized | Playable | User-reported avg: 60 fps · Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (SD) | emuready.com 2026-04-14 |
| Android | Citron 2026.2.1 | Playable | Not stated · RedMagic 11 Pro | emuready.com 2026-04-01 |
| Android | Kenji-NX 2.1.0 | Playable | Not stated · RedMagic 11 Pro | emuready.com 2026-04-01 |
| Android | Citron 2026.2.1 | Playable | User-reported avg: 50 fps · AYANEO KONKR Pocket FIT (G3 Gen 3) | emuready.com 2026-03-05 |
| Android | Kenji-NX 2.1.0 Pr1 | Playable | User-reported avg: 20 fps · AYANEO KONKR Pocket FIT (G3 Gen 3) | emuready.com 2026-03-05 |
| Android | Eden | Playable | Title: 60fps · Retroid Pocket 5（Snapdragon 865） | youtube.com 2026-01-21 |
Game info
- Developer
- Forever Entertainment
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Released
- 2025-01-16
- Genre
- Platformer
- Title ID
- 01009D901BC56000
- Updated
- 2026-11-05
FAQ
Can I play Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on Windows with an emulator?
The best reported result on Windows is "Perfect" with Citron Neo (report from 2026-05-17). Results vary by device and emulator version.
Can I play Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on Mac with an emulator?
We haven't found a public compatibility report for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on Mac yet.
Can I play Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on iPhone / iPad with an emulator?
The best reported result on iPhone / iPad is "Playable" with nxnative, 60 FPS; game 1.1.0 (report from 2026-10-27). Results vary by device and emulator version.
Can I play Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on Android with an emulator?
The best reported result on Android is "Perfect" with Eden, User-reported avg: 60 fps (report from 2026-05-19). Results vary by device and emulator version.
Where can I find the Donkey Kong Country Returns HD ROM?
Switch emulators load games as XCI (cartridge) or NSP (digital) files; this game's Title ID is 01009D901BC56000. You also need prod.keys and firmware; what they are and which folder they go in is covered in our "prod.keys, title.keys and Firmware Explained" guide. →
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