# Golden Balloon

> Golden Balloon is a native source port of Diddy Kong Racing built from its decompilation, with widescreen, high frame rates and co-op Adventure mode.

Web page: https://emulationking.com/nintendo/n64/games/diddykongracing/ports/goldenballoon/
Page updated: 2026-10-13

- Developer: akratch
- Port type: Decompilation (The game's code was rewritten by hand as source code that builds back into the same game, then made to run natively on PC.)
- Game: [Diddy Kong Racing](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/n64/games/diddykongracing/index.md)
- AI use: AI-assisted. The repository has AGENTS.md, a file of instructions for AI coding tools.
- Source code: https://github.com/akratch/goldenballoon
- Runs on: Windows, Linux, macOS

What you need: A ROM of Diddy Kong Racing, either the US 1.1 or the European 1.1 release, dumped from your own cartridge. US 1.0, European 1.0 and Japanese ROMs are recognised and refused.
SHA-1 of a correct dump:
- US 1.1: `6d96743d46f8c0cd0edb0ec5600b003c89b93755`
- EU 1.1: `b7f628073237b3d211d40406aa0884ff8fdd70d5`

Golden Balloon is a source port of Diddy Kong Racing for Windows, macOS, Linux and web browsers, built from the community decompilation. The game is compiled for your machine rather than emulated.

It adds widescreen with the original field of view, frame limits up to uncapped with optional motion smoothing, local multiplayer for up to four players including a shared Adventure Party mode, beta online races for two players, Taj, Wizpig and Terry as playable racers, and texture and music replacement packs. The European release keeps its original timing.

The download contains no game data. It needs Diddy Kong Racing US 1.1 or European 1.1, dumped from your own cartridge.

## How to set it up

1. Download the build for your platform: a Windows zip, a macOS DMG, or a Linux AppImage or tarball.
2. Launch it. On macOS and Windows a file picker opens; on Linux, drag the ROM onto the launcher or paste its path. `.z64`, `.v64` and `.n64` all work.
3. macOS: the app is unsigned, so if macOS blocks it use System Settings, Privacy & Security, Open Anyway. Windows: if SmartScreen warns, choose More info, Run anyway.
4. Press F1 in game to pause and open settings.
5. Optional: create an empty `portable.txt` next to the executable to keep settings and saves beside it.

## Latest builds

Download these from the web page: https://emulationking.com/nintendo/n64/games/diddykongracing/ports/goldenballoon/#download

- for Windows: 1.8.0 (2026-10-13)
- for Linux (AppImage): 1.8.0 (2026-10-13)
- for macOS (Apple Silicon): 1.8.0 (2026-10-13)