Portal demake shows the game running on "real N64 hardware"

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A blast from the past

Portal
(Image credit: James Lambert / Valve)

A Portal fan has demade the game for Nintendo 64, and it runs on the actual hardware. 

While one Portal fan recently treated us to a glimpse of what Valve's beloved puzzle-platformer would look like if it were made using the modern technical might of Unreal Engine 5, another has given the game a retro make-over. 

"In this update, I got the portal gun working with recursive portal rendering," reads the video's description. "I also made some huge strides behind the scenes on the game engine." And as you can see in the video below, the portals and the portal gun are working impressively well.

The project is still in development, and according to Lambert, "there's still a lot of polish to be done around these portals." One YouTube user commended them on the impressive feat saying, "I can't believe the N64 can actually run this". Lambert is also surprised by the performance of the aged hardware and nervous about how it will hold up as the project continues. "I was surprised how well it runs, too," says Lambert. "I'm hoping the performance doesn't fall off a cliff as the levels get more complex, though." 

The latest version of this incredible Portal Nintendo 64 demake is available to download now on GitHub.

If mind-bending puzzles are your jam, take a look at our pick of the best games like Portal and Portal 2.

Anne-Marie Ostler
Anne-Marie Ostler
Freelance Writer

Originally from Ireland, I moved to the UK in 2014 to pursue a Games Journalism and PR degree at Staffordshire University. Following that, I've freelanced for GamesMaster, Games TM, Official PlayStation Magazine and, more recently, Play and GamesRadar+. My love of gaming sprang from successfully defeating that first Goomba in Super Mario Bros on the NES. These days, PlayStation is my jam. When not gaming or writing, I can usually be found scouring the internet for anything Tomb Raider related to add to my out of control memorabilia collection.