Skip to main content GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love Search GamesRadar+ View Profile Entertainment Tabletop Gaming Toys & Collectibles Retro Gamer Total Film Gaming Magazines Why subscribe? Subscribe from just £3 Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love Try a single issue or save on a subscription Issues delivered straight to your door or device From£9.99View Nintendo Switch 2 Elden Ring Nightreign Oscars 2025 I've fallen down a Zelda ROM hack rabbit hole, and this nifty N64 flash cart is to blame Phil Hayton 14 March 2025 The SummerCart64 has given my Nintendo 64 a new quest. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) I'm a massive Nintendo 64 nerd, so it's weird that it's taken me till 2025 to properly mess around with Zelda ROM hacks. It's even weirder since I've been craving more outings like Ocarina of Time: Master Quest since getting my grubby tween paws on the disk that came with Wind Waker. So, why now? Well, it's largely because there's now a flash cart for the '90s console that has a more approachable price tag and is readily available. Enter the SummerCart64 (SC64 for short), a new open source N64 flash cart that arrived on the scene late last year. The version I picked up last month is the $89.99 Kaico edition, and it's pretty much a rival to the existing Everdrive64 options out there that been helping retro console fans run their ROM hacks and their own backups for over a decade. However, the main reason I resisted picking one of those up was the price, as we're talking $125 at Amazon for the cheapest X5 version. I basically suppressed my desires to dive into all the various Zelda ROM hacks out there for years before grabbing the SummerCart64. Yes, I know I could have just used an emulator and either my PC or a gaming handheld, but for whatever reason, I had decided at some point that the only way to do was using a real Nintendo 64 and an 8-inch Panasonic CRT from the 80s. What can I say? I'm a brat. You may like I spent the PlayStation 30th anniversary using a mini PS1 that nobody liked, but modding has turned it into something special I secretly love using this retro handheld for Sega games, but don't tell the Genesis in my living room Kaico Summercart64 (SC64) | $89.99 at Amazon There are a few different versions of the SC64 floating around the internet, but this one by Kaico comes with an 8gb microSD card and is readily available at Amazon. I've picked up a few accessories by this brand in the past for my own personal use, so while there are other custom options out there, I decided to stick with a familiar name and retailer. UK: £79.99 at Amazon I want to be clear - I'm not dunking on the Everdrive X5 by any means, and I'm sure it's a mean piece of kit. That said, I would have wanted to grab the $214 X7 model to get properly into playing strange Zelda ROMs since that model will store your game saves without resetting the console and has a real-time clock for expanded game compatibility. Coincidentally, the SummerCart64 boasts both of those features at a lower price point, and that's partly why I've now taken the plunge. Roaming through uncanny Hyrule with ease Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) I know some of you out there will be unfamiliar with the concept of a N64 flash cart, so allow me to fill you in using the SC64. The accessory effectively uses a microSD card to store more than one game ROM and allow you run them on original hardware like you would with a real cartridge. Kaiko's release specifically already comes armed with firmware by Polprzewodnikowy, the creator of the open source project, an 8GB microSD card, and an adapter that'll allow you to dump files using a PC. The cart itself also has a USB-C port built in for updates, something that's going to help the accessory age like a fine wine. Provided you've got an original Nintendo 64 and your own backup of Zelda: Ocarina of time, playing ROM hacks on SC64 only requires one exercise. You'll basically need to patch your copy with your mod of choice (I used this tool at romhacking.com), as that will create a modified file you can run on the flash cart. Other than that, the whole thing is practically plug and play, and you'll be able to run a bunch of new adventures using the accessory's integrated menu system. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) I'm only just starting my journey, so I haven't explored all the custom firmware options out there the likes of the SC64. But, even if you just use the cart straight out the box, you'll have everything you need to get stuck right in. I decided to kick things off with just a few Zelda OoT hacks, namely Ultimate Trial and The Sealed Palace, as both of those completely transform Link's 3D debut into an entirely new adventure. Remember how I said I was being awkward and sticking to a CRT TV? That almost ended up complicating my initial attempts to play through ROM hacks before simply highlighting how efficient the SC64 actually is. In case you're unaware, I live in Scotland, and we used to exclusively use PAL color-encoding rather than NTSC. This usually causes old screens to have issues with displaying games from different regions, but since the SummerCart64 can force ROMs to run in either format, I was swiftly able to get round related issues with the hacks I was using. It's still early days when it comes to me playing through every Zelda ROM hack out there, but here's what I can say for my time with the SC64 so far. Right now, I'm playing through Ultimate Trial, a custom adventure that has Link awaken in the Lost Woods with no memories. This leads the hero of time to find a SoulsBorne-inspired fortress featuring other lost characters and a guardian named Shiba. (Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton) That's basically the setup for a series of trials that will have Link face off against a bunch of new foes and challenges. I don't know about you, but even just typing that sentence has me absolutely hyped to pick up a real N64 controller and play through what feels essentially like Ocarina of Time DLC, and I love how easy the SC64 makes the whole process. I'm planning having a night in where I switch off my phone, kill the power to my router, and bask in the glow of my tiny CRT as I wade through custom Zelda adventures. I'm completely in love with the fact I can bring experience new outings on what is now a 28-year-old console without with effort, expense, or need to faff around with anything too complicated. I get a feeling this won't be the last time I talk about the SummerCart64, and I'm going to be spending a lot of time with this handy little cart in 2025. Today's best retro gaming deals HyperMegaTech! Super Pocket £49.99View See all prices Atari 2600+ £49.99View See all prices Atari 7800+ £99.99Preorder See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Using Valve's handheld to play retro games? Swing by the best Steam Deck accessories and best Steam Deck dock for excellent add-ons. Phil Hayton Social Links Navigation Hardware Editor I’ve been messing around with PCs, video game consoles, and tech since before I could speak. Don’t get me wrong, I kickstarted my relationship with technology by jamming a Hot Wheels double-decker bus into my parent’s VCR, but we all have to start somewhere. I even somehow managed to become a walking, talking buyer’s guide at my teenage supermarket job, which helped me accept my career fate. So, rather than try to realise my musician dreams, or see out my University degree, I started running my own retro pop culture site and writing about video games and tech for the likes of TechRadar, The Daily Star, and the BBC before eventually ending up with a job covering graphics card shenanigans at PCGamesN. Now, I’m your friendly neighbourhood Hardware Editor at GamesRadar, and it’s my job to make sure you can kick butt in all your favourite games using the best gaming hardware, whether you’re a sucker for handhelds like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch or a hardcore gaming PC enthusiast. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. 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