How to Play Japanese N64 Games on a North American N64
Have a Japanese Nintendo 64 game but only have a North American N64 console? Good news, you don’t need an expensive modification or a special adapter to play it.
There are a couple of easy ways to play Japanese N64 games on a North American console. The easiest option is simply to swap the back half of the cartridge shell.
Option 1: Swap the Cartridge Back (Easiest Method)
This is the easiest option if you only have a few Japanese N64 games.
Japanese and North American N64 cartridges use the same cartridge board, but the plastic shells are shaped differently. The North American N64 cartridge slot has plastic tabs that prevent a Japanese cartridge from fitting.
Fortunately, you don’t need to modify the game or the console.
You can simply remove the back half of the Japanese cartridge shell and replace it with the back half of a North American N64 cartridge.
What you need
- A Japanese N64 game
- A North American N64 game
- A 3.8mm GameBit screwdriver
How to do it
- Remove the screws from the Japanese cartridge.
N64 cartridges use special security screws. A 3.8mm GameBit screwdriver is designed to remove them. (This is a tool every collector needs, we sell them for $5 if you don’t have one). - Open the cartridge.
Once the screws are removed, separate the front and back halves of the cartridge. - Keep the Japanese front half.
You don’t need to change the label or the front of the cartridge. - Swap the back half.
Put the back half of a North American N64 cartridge onto the Japanese cartridge board. - Reinstall the screws.
- Insert the cartridge into your North American N64 and play!
That’s all there is to it.
The Japanese game remains completely original on the inside, and you haven’t made any permanent modification to either the game or your console.
Don’t want to do it yourself?
We can do it for you!
We can swap the back half of any cartridge for $10.
Need the tool?
If you’d rather do it yourself, all you need is a 3.8mm GameBit screwdriver.
We sell 3.8mm GameBit tools that are perfect for opening N64 cartridges and other Nintendo hardware.
Option 2: Modify the N64 Cartridge Slot
If you have a large collection of Japanese N64 games, you may prefer to modify the console instead.
The plastic cartridge slot in a North American N64 has two tabs that prevent Japanese cartridges from fitting. These tabs can be removed so that both Japanese and North American cartridges will physically fit in the console.
This means you can leave your Japanese cartridges completely original.
The downside
This modification requires opening the N64 and physically modifying the cartridge slot. It’s more permanent than simply swapping a cartridge shell.
If you’re comfortable working on consoles, it’s a relatively simple modification. If you don’t want to modify your console, the cartridge shell method above is the better choice.
If you are buying a console from us, we offer this service.
Do Japanese N64 Games Work on a North American N64?
Yes — Japanese and North American N64 consoles and games are both NTSC systems, so the main issue is the physical shape of the cartridge and cartridge slot.
Once the physical restriction is removed, a Japanese N64 cartridge can be played on a North American console.
However, keep in mind that the game itself will still be in Japanese. Changing the cartridge shell or modifying the cartridge slot does not translate the game into English.
Which Method Should I Use?
If you only have a few Japanese games:
Swap the cartridge shells. It’s inexpensive, easy, and doesn’t require modifying your console.
If you have a large Japanese N64 collection:
Modifying the console may be more convenient because you can insert Japanese cartridges directly.
If you want to keep your games completely original:
Modify the console rather than changing the cartridge shells.
Looking for Japanese N64 Games?
We regularly have Japanese N64 games available at Calgary Games. Japanese versions can also be a great way to find games that are less expensive than their North American counterparts, or titles that were never released in North America.
Check our current N64 inventory to see what we have available.
And if you need a 3.8mm GameBit screwdriver to open your N64 cartridges, we have those too.
