Banjo Kazooie and Banjo Tooie are getting newly reworked Evercade versions that add higher resolution, improved performance, revised controls and additional quality of life features, with early impressions describing the 60 FPS presentation as a major improvement.
The games are being released together as the Banjo Kazooie Double Pack cartridge alongside the Evercade Nexus handheld. Evercade specializes in officially relicensed retro games distributed on physical cartridges that work across its handhelds, home systems and arcade style hardware.
The Double Pack goes beyond simply packaging the original Nintendo 64 releases. Both titles have been converted into native Evercade versions with technical and control changes designed for modern hardware.
60 FPS Is the Biggest Upgrade
One of the most notable improvements is support for 60 FPS on compatible Evercade hardware.
Comparisons with the Nintendo 64 and Xbox editions suggest the Xbox releases still have advantages in certain areas, but the smoother framerate substantially changes how the games feel in motion. The Xbox versions remain limited to 30 FPS.
| Evercade Banjo feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Games included | Banjo Kazooie and Banjo Tooie |
| Format | Physical Evercade cartridge |
| Performance | Up to 60 FPS on supported hardware |
| Visual improvements | Higher resolution |
| Controls | Updated and enhanced |
| Camera | Free camera control |
| Extra feature | Return to Gruntilda's Lair in Banjo Kazooie |
| UK price | £24.99 |
| Compatible hardware | Evercade and Super Pocket devices |
The updated versions also include enhanced controls and free camera movement, both of which make the original games easier to play on modern hardware.
Another quality of life addition allows players to return directly to Gruntilda's Lair in the first game.
These changes are particularly useful because the original Nintendo 64 releases were designed around hardware and control conventions from the late 1990s.
Some Xbox Features Are Still Missing
The Evercade editions do not include every improvement found in the Xbox versions.
One comparison specifically notes the absence of the Xbox releases' note and Jinjo saving systems.
That means Banjo Kazooie retains its original high score based approach to some collectibles, which can feel less convenient than the later Xbox implementation.
For some players, that makes the Xbox releases preferable despite their lower framerate.
Both games are already available through Xbox Game Pass and are also included in Rare Replay, giving Xbox owners an easy way to access them without purchasing another device or cartridge.
The Evercade release therefore does not replace the Xbox versions outright. Instead, it offers a different balance of features.
Banjo Tooie Comes to Evercade for the First Time
Banjo Kazooie has previously appeared on Evercade through the Rare Super Pocket, but the Double Pack marks the first Evercade release of Banjo Tooie.
Both titles have been optimized as native Evercade games rather than being presented as straightforward emulated copies.
The combination of better performance, revised controls and physical cartridge distribution makes the collection one of the more substantial retro releases on the platform.
The Double Pack is priced at £24.99 in the UK and works across currently available Evercade and Super Pocket hardware.
There is one important limitation for players interested specifically in 60 FPS.
According to the available comparison, that framerate is only supported on the Evercade Nexus, Evercade Alpha and Super Pocket systems. Other compatible Evercade devices can still run the cartridge, but without the same 60 FPS presentation.
For players who value smoother performance, physical media and updated controls, the Evercade version offers a distinct way to revisit both N64 classics while preserving their original structure.
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