Check the Linux prerequisites

Use an x86-64 Linux PC with glibc 2.35 or newer and AVX2. Vulkan 1.3 and mesh shaders must be supported by the installed Mesa or NVIDIA driver. Allow about 60 GB for building and aim for at least 16 GB RAM.

The README reports AppImage use on several distributions, including Fedora and SteamOS. This is not a guarantee for every distribution, GPU or handheld.

Download and allow execution

  1. 1

    Download Hookshot-<version>-x86_64.AppImage from the official GitHub release.

  2. 2

    Keep one matching AppImage in a permanent folder and open a terminal in that folder.

  3. 3

    Run the command below, or enable Allow executing file as program in the file’s Properties.

  4. 4

    Double-click the AppImage to open Hookshot Builder.

Terminal
chmod +x ./Hookshot-*-x86_64.AppImage
Download, build, play: Windows · Linux · Updating

Original tutorial illustration · AI-assisted

Download, build, playSourceLicense and attribution
Text description
  • Windows: HookshotBuilder.exe · Download → Open → Build → Play
  • Linux: .AppImage · chmod +x · Allow execution → Build → Play
  • Updating: Back up saves → launcher Update

Choose your files and compile

  1. 1

    Under Game files, choose .nup file or romfs and exefs, then Browse to your own files.

  2. 2

    Wait for the version check. Only the documented program, update and build are accepted.

  3. 3

    Under Save the game to, keep ~/Games/Hookshot or select another writable location. Select Language.

  4. 4

    Press Build. The documented estimate is 10–45 minutes, depending on CPU and memory.

  5. 5

    At Your game is ready, press Play. On later runs, use the Hookshot applications-menu entry or hookshot in the game folder.

After the first build

The first start prepares shaders. Linux saves live at ~/.local/share/hookshot; back them up before updating. The launcher offers Update when a newer release is available.

A permission error calls for checking execution permission and the folder you launched from. A black screen or broken picture calls for checking the Vulkan driver and mesh shaders. Installing the AppImage does not supply a missing host GPU driver.