About
Super Mario 64 is the 1996 Nintendo 64 launch title that took the series into 3D, sending Mario through open painting-worlds in Princess Peach's castle to collect Power Stars using an analog-stick moveset of jumps, dives and ground-pounds. It is widely regarded as one of the most influential and acclaimed video games ever made, defining conventions for 3D platforming and camera control.
This recipe targets the community decompilation PC port (sm64ex / Render96ex) rather than any official release, which is what makes it relevant on the Deck. The Render96 enhancement pack layers on widescreen, 60fps, a free camera, HD models/textures and a DynOS mod menu while leaving the original levels and gameplay intact.
Identity
Launch
- Binary
- sm64.us.f3dex2e
- Needs files
- none beyond the binary
Runtime
- Runs as
- Native Linux
- Proton
- not needed
⚙ Setup notes
Build: Native Linux SDL2 build of Super Mario 64 from the community decompilation, with the Render96 enhancement pack — widescreen, 60fps, free camera, new models/textures and a DynOS mod menu.
Proton: Runs directly on the Deck with no Proton (type native).
Install: The real executable is build/us_pc/sm64.us.f3dex2e (US ROM); add it to Steam as a Non-Steam Game. Most Deck users build it in an Ubuntu Distrobox (deps: build-essential, pkg-config, libsdl2-dev, libusb-1.0-0-dev, libglew-dev), or use a community Steam Deck builder/launcher that handles the fork for you.
Controller: Works natively via SDL (libusb) — the Deck gamepad is detected automatically; if anything is off, set a Steam Input Gamepad layout.
Config: First launch generates sm64config.txt (enable Show Hidden in the file manager) for rebinding/resolution.
In-game: pause + R for Options, pause + Z for the DynOS menu.
The one thing to know
Supply your own copy: Requires your own US SM64 ROM (sm64.us.z64) to build/run — none is bundled.
Proton: Native Linux build — no Proton, so no ProtonDB tier applies.
DRM / legality: Built from the Super Mario 64 decompilation, a fan project Nintendo has issued takedowns against; its availability is unstable, so obtain it only from a source you judge legitimate.
Install: Real binary confirmed: build/us_pc/sm64.us.f3dex2e. Easiest path on Deck is a community SM64 builder/launcher or an Ubuntu Distrobox compile; the binary then runs as a Non-Steam Game.
Controller: Supported natively via SDL; a Steam Input Gamepad layout fixes any binding quirks.
Links: deckport links nothing.
Community guides
Write-ups and threads from people who got this (or a similar) game running. deckport links to them — it doesn't reproduce them.
Get the artwork
deckport never hosts game images. Open this game on SteamGridDB, pick
the cover / hero / logo / icon you like, and drop them into the
game folder under .deckport-art/ before you push it to the
Deck. The importer files them under the right names automatically.
Run it on your Deck
Two files: the one-time importer (deckport.py) in your
Deck's home folder, and this game's install helper. Copy the game
into ~/Games and run the helper with Steam closed — it
writes the recipe (binary, launch options)
and registers the shortcut with artwork.