BFFNT File – What is .bffnt file and how to open it?

What is a BFFNT File?

A BFFNT file is a binary file format used by Nintendo Switch games to store font data. It is a compressed format that stores glyphs, kerning information, and other font-related data. BFFNT files are typically embedded within the game’s executable or data files and are loaded into memory at runtime to be used for rendering text and user interface elements.

Technical Details of BFFNT Files

BFFNT files have a specific structure that allows the Nintendo Switch to efficiently load and parse font data. The file header contains information about the font, such as its name, size, and glyph count. This is followed by a series of tables that store the glyph data, kerning information, and other font-related data. The glyph data is stored in a compressed format, which reduces the file size and improves loading performance. The kerning information is stored in a separate table, which allows for precise positioning of glyphs to improve the readability of text.

Opening BFFNT Files on Windows

BFFNT files can be accessed on Windows with software that can read Nintendo Switch game data, such as HxD. HxD is a freeware hex editor that allows users to inspect and modify the raw data within a file. Once HxD is installed, users can open the BFFNT file by selecting “File” > “Open” from the HxD menu bar and navigating to the file’s location.

Within HxD, users can view the file’s contents as both hexadecimal data and ASCII text. The hexadecimal data represents the raw binary data of the font, while the ASCII text displays any text characters that are present in the font. Users can also use HxD to edit the font data, although this is not recommended for users who are unfamiliar with binary data manipulation.

Opening BFFNT Files on Mac and Linux

On Mac and Linux systems, users can use the Bless tool to open BFFNT files. Bless is a command-line tool that allows users to extract and view the contents of Nintendo Switch game files. To use Bless, users must first install it on their system using the appropriate package manager for their operating system.

Once Bless is installed, users can extract the contents of a BFFNT file by opening a terminal window and navigating to the directory where the file is located. Then, users can run the following command:


bless unpack <bffnt_file_name>


This will extract the contents of the BFFNT file to a subdirectory within the current directory. Users can then open the extracted files with the appropriate software to view or edit the font data.

BFFNT File Format

BFFNT (Binary Switch Game Font) is a proprietary file format used by Nintendo for storing font data in Nintendo Switch games. It is a binary format that contains information about the font’s glyphs, including their shape, size, and position. BFFNT files are typically packaged within the game’s data files and are used to display text on the Switch’s screen.

The BFFNT file format is similar to the BCFNT (Binary Wii U Font) format used on the Wii U console. However, the BFFNT format has been updated to support additional features such as variable-width fonts and ligatures. It also uses a more efficient compression algorithm, resulting in smaller file sizes.

Other Extensions