Changes

Because of the homebrewing scene the 3DS has had, you can install a variety of emulators. Currently, the New 3DS is capable of running much faster than the older models, making it a much more ideal platform for emulation, but despite this there are still some emulators that have issues regardless. For more information on how to homebrew your 3DS, visit [https://3ds.hacks.guide/ 3ds.hacks.guide]. Alternatively, most of these can be found on [https://tinydb.eiphax.tech/ TinyDB] instead.

The 3DS does include native firmware for a GBA mode which was mainly used to run ambassador releases instead of having to develop an emulator for them. So far, the only way to access this firmware is by injecting a GBA ROM as a VC application. This can be achieved through various programs such as [https://gbatemp.net/threads/releasediscussion-ultimatenew-gbasuper-vcultimate-injector-for-3dsnsui.438057500376/ this oneNew Super Ultimate Injector]. Compatibility is high with the exception of cartridges with special hardware. The only downside is it can't provide features that are normally available on other emulators, such as savestates, screen filtering, or sleep mode, since technically it's running a "virtual" GBA. Also, each ROM must inject and install individually including the [https://3ds.hacks.guide/godmode9-usage.html#backup-gba-vc-saves save files]. If you're using an old 3DS/2DS, this is the best option to play GBA games.

* [https://github.com/mgba-emu/mgba/releases mGBA] [https://s3.amazonaws.com/mgba/mGBA-build-latest-3ds.7z (Latest Nightly)] - A port of the popular GBA emulator by the same developer, only a handful of GBA games suffer from slowdowns but are still playable. Also works great for GB(C) games and even support the Gameboy Camera.* [https://github.com/Gericom/GBARunner2 GBARunner2] - a GBA hypervisor made for the DS(i), can also only be used ran through TWiLight Menu and is included by default with the program (see below). Compatiblity can be a hit-or-miss, but is still in active development and plans to play GB/GBC)include interesting features such as gyro control emulation and local wireless multiplayer.

[https://github.com/DS-Homebrew/TWiLightMenu/releases TWiLight Menu++] - Not technically an "emulator", rather it's a frontend for a seperate program, [https://github.com/ahezard/nds-bootstrap nds-bootstrap], which allows for an NDS ROM to be loaded from an SD card. It utilizes the virtual DSi (aka the TWL_FIRM) that the 3DS has for backwards-compatibility, meaning this program can also be installed on the original DSi provided it has CFW installed. Compatibility is high with only a few games having small loading lags, <i>(eg. GTA: Chinatown Wars)</i>, or triggering anti-piracy protections (the latest version now includes later versions comes with AP patches for some most games and will patch them on the flyif needed). It also comes pre-bundled with a variety of emulators used on the DS and a work-in-progress GBA hypervisor, [https://github.com/Gericom/GBARunner2 GBARunner2], that works to some degree.