Reader Mailbag · Straight Answers
The Controller
Pak FAQ
N64 Controller Pak Reader · All Your Questions
What is an N64 Controller Pak?
The Controller Pak is the Nintendo 64’s memory card. It plugs into the bottom of the controller and stores game saves on a 32 KB filesystem of 128 pages. It is often called a memory pak or memory card.
What save files does this reader open?
Raw .mpk Controller Pak dumps and DexDrive .n64 backup files, up to the full 32 KB card image.
Does my save file get uploaded anywhere?
No. The reader runs entirely in your browser using typed arrays, so the file never leaves your device.
Can it fix a corrupted Controller Pak save?
Yes. It recomputes the ID-block and note-table checksums and repairs most corrupted or desynced backups in one click.
How do I get a .mpk file from my real Controller Pak?
Export the 32 KB card image with a Controller Pak dumper such as a DexDrive, a flashcart save tool, or a compatible adapter, then drop the file here.
How are the game values estimated?
Each value is a rough collector range for a loose cartridge and a complete-in-box copy, rounded from recent public sales on eBay and PriceCharting and refreshed periodically. The eBay and PriceCharting links show the live numbers.
- Pages
- 128
- Size
- 32 KB
- Formats
- .mpk, .n64
- Upload
- Never
Which games used the Controller Pak?
About 150 titles supported it, mostly sports, racing, and fighting games that needed more save space than the cartridge ROM could hold.
Get Your Save Off Real Hardware
To read a real Controller Pak you first dump it to a .mpk or .n64 file. These are the devices that do it (links open eBay).
- N64 Controller PakA genuine memory card if yours is lost or worn out. Find on eBay
- DexDrive (N64)The classic PC adapter for backing up Controller Pak saves to .n64 files. Find on eBay
- EverDrive 64 flashcartModern flashcart that can dump and restore Controller Pak saves. Find on eBay
- USB Controller Pak adapterPlug-and-play adapters that read paks over USB. Find on eBay
eBay links are affiliate links; purchases may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.