TL;DR: A SummerCart64 flash cart is worth it if you own an N64 and want your own game backups and homebrew on one cartridge: it boots a menu from a microSD card, keeps EEPROM, SRAM and FlashRAM saves on that card, and is an open-source design. From around $123 it beats a budget 16MB/128MB board, which needs a Windows PC and command line to load games and only fits NTSC consoles.
Somewhere in a closet there is an N64, four controllers and a shoebox of cartridges with labels peeling at the corners. A flash cart is how a lot of players bring that setup back without swapping carts or worrying about a dead save battery. Here is what the SummerCart64 flash cart actually does, how to set one up, and whether it is worth paying for over a cheaper board.
What Is a SummerCart64 Flash Cart and How Does It Work?
A flash cart is a cartridge that loads game files from storage instead of a fixed chip, so one cart can hold your whole library of legally dumped backups and homebrew. The SC64 SummerCart64 is built on an open-source design, published under the GPL-3.0 license, and plugs into the N64's cartridge slot like any game.
According to the SummerCart64 project documentation, the cart loads its menu from a microSD card each time the console powers on. You pick a game from that menu, play, and the cart writes EEPROM, SRAM and FlashRAM saves back to the card automatically, so they don't depend on an old coin battery. The project also lists a battery-backed real-time clock, 64DD add-on emulation, automatic region switching and a USB interface for loading files from a computer.
Our listing comes as the cart alone or with a 64GB card, from around $123.
SummerCart64 vs a Budget N64 Flash Board: What Do You Give Up?
The cheaper option is our 16MB/128MB N64 flash card, from around $64. It works differently: games aren't loaded from a memory card; you write them into its built-in memory from a Windows 10 PC, in command line mode, and the listing says that takes some computer skills. The 128MB version uses an MX66L1G45GMI memory chip and holds as many games as fit in that space, with a menu to pick from, EEPROM and SRAM saves kept separately for each game, and a custom menu background.
The catches are real. It is listed for NTSC consoles only, meaning Japanese and US machines, and the 16MB and 128MB versions are bare boards; only the "128MB With Shell" option adds a 3D-printed shell.
So the trade is simple: the budget board saves around $59 but costs you convenience every time you want to change games.
| What matters | SC64 SummerCart64 | 16MB/128MB N64 flash card |
|---|---|---|
| How games load | From a microSD card, through a menu | Written from a Windows 10 PC |
| Storage | Your microSD card | 16MB or 128MB built in |
| Saves | EEPROM, SRAM, FlashRAM, written to the card | EEPROM and SRAM, per game |
| Consoles | Automatic region switching (per project docs) | NTSC consoles only |
| Shell | Complete cartridge, as pictured | Bare board, shell optional |
| Skill needed | Copy files to a card | Command line on a PC |
| Price from | Around $123 | Around $64 |
| Best for | Most N64 owners | Tinkerers on a tight budget |
How Do You Set Up a SummerCart64 for the First Time?
Setup takes about as long as a cup of coffee. You don't need a huge card: the biggest N64 cartridges held 64MB, so even a small microSD card fits a whole shelf of your own games with room to spare. If the menu doesn't appear at power-on, check the card's format first, then make sure the menu file sits in the root of the card rather than inside a folder. The steps below follow the project's quick start guide:
- Format a microSD card as FAT32 or exFAT.
- Download the latest
sc64menu.n64from the N64FlashcartMenu releases page and copy it to the root of the card. - Add your own legally dumped game backups or homebrew to the card.
- With the N64 switched off, insert the card into the cart and the cart into the console, then power on. The menu loads automatically.
SummerCart64 Flash Cart FAQ
What is a flash cart and how does the SummerCart64 work with an N64?
A flash cart is a cartridge that loads game files from storage instead of one fixed chip. The SummerCart64 plugs into the N64's cartridge slot, loads its N64FlashcartMenu from a microSD card when the console powers on, and lets you pick from your own legally dumped backups or homebrew. It then writes EEPROM, SRAM and FlashRAM saves back to the card automatically.
Does a SummerCart64 need a microSD card to work?
A SummerCart64 needs a microSD card for normal play, because its menu file and your games are loaded from the card each time the N64 starts. The project supports FAT32 and exFAT cards. Developers can also send a game over USB from a computer with the project's sc64deployer tool, but for everyday play from the couch, plan on a microSD card.
Can the SummerCart64 save games?
The SummerCart64 can save games, and it handles the save types N64 cartridges used: EEPROM 4k and 16k, SRAM and FlashRAM, according to the project documentation. Saves are written back to the microSD card automatically, so they don't rely on an aging coin battery the way many original cartridges do. Back up the card now and then to keep them safe.
Is the SummerCart64 worth it over a cheaper N64 flash cart?
The SummerCart64 is worth the extra money for most N64 owners, because swapping games means copying files to a microSD card instead of reflashing a board from a Windows PC. The budget 16MB/128MB flash card costs around $64 against around $123, but it is listed for NTSC consoles only and comes as a bare board unless you pick the shell option.
How do you update the SummerCart64 firmware?
SummerCart64 firmware is updated from a computer over USB with the project's sc64deployer tool, using its firmware update command and the firmware file from the project's releases. The project strongly recommends keeping firmware current, because the deployer tool reports an error when it detects an unsupported firmware version. The menu itself is updated by replacing sc64menu.n64 on the card.
Is an N64 Flash Cart Worth It?
If you still own an N64 and play it more than once a year, yes. A SummerCart64 turns a shelf of cartridges and fragile saves into one cart and a backed-up microSD card, and its menu is open source too. Choose the budget 128MB flash card only if you own an NTSC console, are comfortable on a command line and rarely change games.
Browse the rest of our game cards collection for flash carts that fit other consoles. And if your N64 controller stick has seen better days, our Hall effect vs TMR joysticks explainer covers the magnetic stick tech used in many modern pads.