Nintendo Game Engines
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Nintendo has created multiple game engines that have been used for various games on the GameCube, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Most of which are unnamed and have been given names based on their internal names. These officially-unnamed engines include Jsystem (also known as JSys), LunchPack, LunchPack 2, ActionLibrary, and ModuleSystem. The only Nintendo-developed game engine whose name is currently known is the NintendoWare Bezel Engine, a proprietary game engine and middleware that has been used in many first and third party Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 games. Nintendo has also created middleware, such as NintendoWare (with assistance from HAL Laboratory).
These game engines and middleware share a lot of the same file formats with each other, such as BFLIM, BCLIM, BRRES, BFRES, CGFX, BRSTM, BCSTM, BFSTM, BRSAR, BCSAR, and BFSAR files.
File Formats
These lists are not complete, feel free to add any missing file formats
Common
BFRES
BFRES is a common model and texture container file used in many different Wii U, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 games. These files can be opened with Switch Toolbox.
GameCube
BMD
BMD is a model and texture container file used in various GameCube and Wii games, such as Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy and 2.
THP
THP files are movie files used in various GameCube and Wii games. These can be played with BrawlBox and BrawlCrate.
Wii
BRRES
BRRES is a common model and texture container file that is used in many different Wii games. BrawlBox and BrawlCrate can open these.
TLP
TPL is a texture container file used in many different Wii games. These can be opened with BrawlBox, BrawlCrate, or Switch Toolbox.
BRSAR
BRSAR is a sound archive that is used in various Wii games.
BRSTM
BRSTM is a sound stream file that is used in various Wii games.
THP
THP files are movie files used in various GameCube and Wii games. These can be played with BrawlBox and BrawlCrate.
Wii U
BFLIM
BFLIM is a texture file used in many different Wii U games.
BFSAR
BFSAR is a sound archive used in many Wii U and Nintendo Switch games.
BFSTM
BFSTM is a sound stream file found in many different Wii U and Nintendo Switch games.
Nintendo 3DS
CGFX
CGFX (also known as BCMDL and BCRES) is a model and texture container file used in various Nintendo 3DS games. These files can be opened with SPICA, Ohana3DS, and Ohana3DS-Rebirth (Switch Toolbox can open CGFX files, but model rigs are broken).
BCSAR
BCSAR is a sound archive used in Nintendo 3DS games.
BCSTM
BCSTM is a sound stream file used in Nintendo 3DS games.
Nintendo Switch
BNTX
BNTX is a texture container file used in various Nintendo Switch games. These files can be opened with Switch Toolbox.
Lists of games using Nintendo's game engines
Most of these lists are not complete and future Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 games may use any of the following game engines; feel free to add any game that use any the engines below.
JSystem
| Name | Developer | Platform(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Crossing | Nintendo EAD | GameCube | |
| Donkey Kong Jungle Beat | Nintendo EAD Tokyo | GameCube | |
| Link's Crossbow Training | Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No. 3 | Wii | |
| Luigi's Mansion | Nintendo EAD | GameCube | The Nintendo Switch 2 version was released via Nintendo Switch Online - Nintendo Classics via emulation. |
| Mario Kart: Double Dash!! | Nintendo EAD | GameCube | |
| Mario Kart Wii | Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No. 1 | Wii | |
| Nintendo GameCube System BIOS | Nintendo EAD | GameCube | |
| Pikmin 2 | Nintendo EAD | GameCube, Wii | |
| Pokémon Box: Ruby and Sapphire | Nintendo EAD | GameCube | |
| Super Mario Galaxy | Nintendo EAD Tokyo | Wii | The Nintendo Switch version was released as a standalone game and through Super Mario 3D All-Stars partially via emulation. |
| Super Mario Galaxy 2 | Nintendo EAD Tokyo | Wii | |
| Super Mario Sunshine | Nintendo EAD | GameCube | The Nintendo Switch version was released via Super Mario 3D All-Stars while the Nintendo Switch 2 version was released via Nintendo Switch Online - Nintendo Classics via emulation. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword | Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No. 3 | Wii | |
| The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | Nintendo EAD | GameCube | The Nintendo Switch 2 version was released via Nintendo Switch Online - Nintendo Classics via emulation. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No. 3 | GameCube, Wii |
LunchPack
| Name | Developer | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Land | Nintendo EAD | Wii U |
| Splatoon | Nintendo EAD | Wii U |
| Super Mario Maker | Nintendo EAD | Wii U |
LunchPack 2
| Name | Developer(s) | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons | Nintendo Switch | |
| ARMS | Nintendo Switch | |
| Game Builder Garage | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo Switch |
| Nintendo Labo 01: Variety Kit | Nintendo Switch | |
| Nintendo Labo 02: Robot Kit | Nintendo Switch | |
| Nintendo Labo 03: Vehicle Kit | Nintendo Switch | |
| Nintendo Labo 04: VR Kit | Nintendo Switch | |
| Ring Fit Adventure | Nintendo Switch | |
| Splatoon 2 | Nintendo Switch | |
| Super Mario 3D All-Stars | Nintendo EPD, Nintendo European Research & Development, 1-Up Studio | Nintendo Switch |
| Super Mario Maker 2 | Nintendo Switch |
ActionLibrary
| Name | Developer(s) | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker | Wii U, Nintendo Switch (does the 3DS version also use ActionLibrary?) | |
| F-Zero 99 | Nintendo Switch | |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong | Nintendo Switch | |
| Super Mario 3D Land | Nintendo 3DS | |
| Super Mario 3D World | Nintendo EAD Tokyo, 1-Up Studio | Wii U |
| Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury | Nintendo EPD Tokyo, Nintendo Software Technology Corporation, 1-UP Studio, Panic Button | Nintendo Switch |
| Super Mario Odyssey | Nintendo Switch |
ModuleSystem
| Name | Developer | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest Program | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo Switch | Please do not submit anything from this game to the main sites |
| Nintendo Switch Sports | Nintendo Switch | ||
| Splatoon 3 | Nintendo Switch | ||
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | Nintendo Switch | ||
| The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | Nintendo Switch |
Bezel Engine
| Middleware | |
|---|---|
| Middleware | Acroarts - Bezel Engine - Bink Video - Box2D - Bullet Physics - Coherent Gameface - Criware - FMOD - Granny 3D - Havok - Miles Sound System - NintendoWare - PhysX - Scaleform GFx - Simplygon - Smacker Video Technology - Sysdolphin - Wwise |
