Zelda: Majora’s Mask now runs natively on iPhone and iPad

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask can now run as a native app on iPhone and iPad through MaskPad, a new port built around the 2 Ship 2 Harkinian project. This isn’t a standard Nintendo 64 emulator. MaskPad rebuilds the game to run directly on Apple hardware and uses Metal, Apple’s graphics system, to handle the visuals. That means players can use widescreen mode, higher resolutions and frame rates of up to 60 fps. It also comes with touchscreen controls designed for mobile devices.

A native version for Apple hardware

MaskPad runs in landscape mode on 64-bit iPhones and iPads using iOS or iPadOS 14 and later. The project uses version 4.0.2 of 2 Ship 2 Harkinian as its base. That source port was created from Majora’s Mask’s decompiled game code and originally targeted desktop platforms.

Bringing it to Apple devices required extra work. The developers had to adapt the graphics system, controls, file handling and the way the app behaves when users switch apps, lock the device or return to the game. Metal handles the graphics directly.

Because the app doesn’t have to recreate the full Nintendo 64 hardware in software, it can offer features the original release never supported. These include widescreen output, sharper internal resolutions and smoother frame rates. Performance still depends on the device. Busy scenes may run differently from smaller indoor areas, especially on older iPhones and iPads.

Touch controls that users can customise

MaskPad includes a full set of virtual controls. There’s an analogue stick, a directional pad, A and B buttons, the C buttons, shoulder buttons, Start and Z. Users can move each control around the screen, resize it, hide it or return it to its default position. Button size can range from 70 to 150 per cent.

Transparency can also be changed without reducing the active touch area. That’s useful when players want a cleaner screen but don’t want to make the buttons harder to press. The app stores separate layouts for phones and tablets. A compact layout can work on an iPhone, while an iPad can use larger controls with more space between them.

MaskPad also supports keyboards, mice and compatible controllers through the underlying source port. That makes the iPad version more flexible. Players can use the touchscreen, pair a gamepad or connect the tablet to a keyboard and monitor setup. Some controller features still need more testing. These include vibration, motion controls and the way controllers reconnect after being disconnected.

Installation takes a few extra steps

MaskPad isn’t available through the App Store. The first release comes as an unsigned IPA file, so users need to sign it with an Apple account before installing it. That requires a sideloading tool that supports iPhone and iPad apps. Users can also compile the project themselves on an Apple Silicon Mac. That setup requires Xcode, CMake and the related development tools. The app doesn’t include Majora’s Mask.

Players must provide their own legally obtained ROM and copy it into the MaskPad folder through the Files app. The port supports Z64, N64 and V64 ROM formats. On the first launch, MaskPad processes the game files directly on the device and creates the archive it needs to run. Nothing needs to be uploaded to an outside server. Save files, generated data and configuration settings stay inside the app’s local storage.

Why Majora’s Mask still stands out

Nintendo first released The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask for the Nintendo 64 in 2000. It followed Ocarina of Time, but it changed the usual Zelda structure in a major way. Instead of moving through a straightforward adventure, Link becomes trapped inside a repeating three-day cycle. The moon is falling towards Termina.

Players have to explore the world, learn character routines, complete tasks and return to the first morning before time runs out. Progress often comes from understanding where people will be and what they’ll do at specific moments. Masks play a central role.

Some give Link new abilities. Others transform him into different forms, each with its own movement, combat style and access to certain areas. Smaller masks open side missions, conversations and optional rewards. The game asks players to pay attention to timing. That makes smooth controls and stable performance especially useful on a mobile device, where missed inputs can quickly become frustrating.

MaskPad is still an early release

The first public version of MaskPad is numbered 0.1.0. The developers have tested it in iPhone and iPad simulators and on a sixth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro. ROM importing, file creation, gameplay, touch input, saves, signing and app updates have all been tested. There’s still work to do.

The team is looking at frame pacing when new areas load, occasional audio skips, support for headphones and other audio routes, and longer thermal tests. Physical iPhone testing also remains limited.

Even at this early stage, MaskPad already offers a clear alternative to traditional Nintendo 64 emulation on iOS. It runs as a native app, uses Apple’s graphics hardware directly and gives players more control over resolution, frame rate and input. For anyone prepared to sideload the app and provide the required game file, it’s a practical way to run Majora’s Mask on modern Apple hardware.

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