Nintendo 3DS emulators
The Nintendo 3DS is the latest handheld console by Nintendo, released in 2011. The most notable feature of this console is the use of autostereoscopic (i.e. without glasses) 3D, which can be configured using a slider.
Do not expect the 3DS to be anywhere near fully emulated for a very long time. The system had only started getting hacked for homebrew quite recently, so a full reverse-engineering effort is not going to happen any time soon.
Any site claiming to have a working 3DS emulator is a scam. Anything on that site should be considered malware until proven otherwise.
Emulators
| Name | Operating System(s) | Latest Version | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citra | Windows, Linux | ✓ | ✗ | |
| 3dmoo | Windows, Linux | ✓ | ✗ |
Comparisons
- Citra is an extremely early in development 3DS emulator. It is considered experimental, and cannot play any games besides simple homebrew.
- 3dmoo is another 3DS emulator, made by experienced developers in the DS hacking scene. It is newer than Citra, but progress is quicker. It now has homebrew compatibility on par with Citra, even being slightly better in some aspects.
Emulation issues
The Nintendo 3DS currently has no functional emulators; this is mainly due to the fact that the hardware has yet to be documented. Once the hardware is well known and its functions are well-documented, emulation can begin. When you take into account the fact that the 3DS supposedly has a high amount of security built-in, this may take a while. Be prepared to wait.
Using other emulation scenes as a reference expect to wait 4-6 years for an emulator to play the majority of games, but it could take as long as 8-10. Buy a 3DS if you can't wait.
