How to Download and Play Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow in 3D with Gen1Recomp on Windows and Mac
A step-by-step guide to installing Gen1Recomp and setting up VoxelMod for the ultimate 3D Pokemon experience on PC & Mac. Full instructions for Red, Blue & Yellow.
Play Pokemon Red, Blue or Yellow in 3D on Windows and Mac
Gen1Recomp is an open-source reverse-engineering and static recompilation engine that transforms original Game Boy Pokemon titles into real-time 3D environments. By pairing Gen1Recomp with the VoxelMod asset pack, flat 2D sprites are reconstructed as vibrant 3D voxel models complete with dynamic lighting, custom camera tilt controls, and enhanced HD UI overlays.
Whether you are running 64-bit Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon or Intel), or Linux, Gen1Recomp delivers native performance without traditional emulator overhead.
Note: You must provide your own legally obtained Pokemon Red, Blue, or Yellow ROM file (.gb). No copyrighted game files or ROMs are bundled or provided with Gen1Recomp.
Step 1: Download the Required Files
- 1. Download Gen1Recomp: Grab the latest pre-compiled binary build for your operating system (Windows x64 or macOS ARM64/Intel).
- 2. Download VoxelMod Asset Pack: Download the latest
VoxelMod_v1.4.2.zippack containing full 3D models and terrain geometry from the official release page. - 3. Extract Files: Extract both zip archives into a dedicated folder location on your computer (e.g.
C:\Games\Gen1Recompor~/Games/Gen1Recomp).
Tip: Always make sure both Gen1Recomp and VoxelMod are updated to matching build versions to prevent asset mismatch or missing texture errors.
Step 2: Add Your Pokemon ROM to Gen1Recomp
2.1 Choose the correct game ROM
Gen1Recomp supports original English release Game Boy ROMs for Pokemon Red, Pokemon Blue, and Pokemon Yellow (.gb format). Ensure your ROM matches standard SHA-1 hash integrity check.
✓ Renderer: Vulkan 1.3 / OpenGL 4.5
✓ Voxel Engine: VoxelMod active
✓ Audio: Stereo 44.1kHz
Select a valid Pokemon Red (.gb) or Blue (.gb) ROM file to begin.
2.2 Click to Import ROM
Click the Select ROM File button in the launcher and navigate to your local .gb game file. Once selected, Gen1Recomp automatically verifies the hash and enables the green Start 3D Play launch button.
2.3 Check for the Game Play Window
Once imported, click Start 3D Play. The 3D viewport window will launch, rendering the Pallet Town starting area with full voxel geometry, 3D camera rotation, and dynamic lighting.
Quick Fixes If Something Does Not Work
Audio Sync option under Settings -> Audio Output. If you are experiencing micro-stutters, set the audio buffer size to 1024 samples or 48000Hz.
voxels/ directory is placed directly inside the main Gen1Recomp root directory alongside Gen1Recomp.exe. The folder structure should be Gen1Recomp/voxels/*.vox.
Gen1Recomp.app, select Open, and click Open in the confirmation dialog to bypass Gatekeeper.
Settings -> Controls.
Need further help? Join our official Discord community or submit a bug report on GitHub Issues.
Updating Gen1Recomp or VoxelMod
Updates are released regularly with performance enhancements and model refinements. To update, simply overwrite the existing Gen1Recomp executable and voxels/ folder with the newest release files.
✓ Your save files, badges, and settings stored in saves/ will remain untouched and fully compatible.
Official Sources and Archive
Warning: Only download Gen1Recomp binaries and VoxelMod packs from official GitHub releases. Never download pre-packaged ROM bundles or executables from third-party distribution sites.