Emulators on 3DS
Developer | Nintendo |
---|---|
Type | Handheld game console |
Generation | Eighth generation |
Release date | 2011 |
Discontinued | 2020 |
Predecessor | Nintendo DS |
Emulated | ✓ |
- For software that emulates the 3DS, see Nintendo 3DS emulators.
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 3ds.hacks.guide.
Contents
Multi-Systems[edit]
RetroArch[edit]
There are official 3DS ports:
Core | Game/System | Recommended? (New 3DS) |
Recommended? (Old 3DS) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2048 | 2048 | ✓ | ✓ | |
CrocoDS | Amstrad - CPC | TBD | ✗ | ~15fps o3ds |
Caprice32 | Amstrad - CPC/GX4000 | TBD | ✗ | ~18fps o3ds |
Anarch | Anarch | TBD | ✗ | ~10fps o3ds |
FinalBurn Alpha 2012 CPS-1 | Arcade | ✓ | ✗ | |
FinalBurn Alpha 2012 CPS-2 | ✓ | ✗ | ||
FinalBurn Alpha 2012 CPS-3 | ~ | ✗ | ~35fps/~50fps, most games are too slow to run even on New 3DS, though JoJo runs almost full speed | |
FinalBurn Alpha 2012 Neo Geo | ~ | ✗ | ~40fps/~50fps. A few games are unable to be loaded due to memory constraints | |
FinalBurn Alpha 2012 | ✓ | ✗ |
| |
FinalBurn Neo | ~ | TBD | Some games may crash your 3DS when using it.(Example: Metal Slug X). | |
MAME 2000 | TBD | TBD | ||
MAME 2003 | TBD | TBD | ||
MAME 2003-Plus | TBD | TBD | ||
Ardens | Arduboy | TBD | TBD | |
Arduous | TBD | ~ | ~15fps o3ds | |
Stella 2014 | Atari - 2600 | ✓ | ~ | ~60fps n3ds, 43fps o3ds. Resorting to DS(i) mode, a well performing choice is StellaDS, which is included into TWiLightMenu++. |
a5200 | Atari - 5200 | ✓ | ✓ | ~60fps |
Atari800 | ✓ | ~ | ~60fps n3ds, 40fps o3ds so you might consider other options like the a5200 core or the atari800-3ds standalone emulator, which reachs fullspeed in o3ds. Resorting to DS(i) mode, a well performing choice is A7800DS, which is included into TWiLightMenu++. | |
ProSystem | Atari - 7800 | ✓ | ~ | ~60fps, 25fps o3ds |
Handy | Atari - Lynx | ✓ | ~ | ~50fps o3ds, a bit slow and choppy audio. You'd better use handy3ds standalone emulator. |
Beetle Cygne | Bandai - WonderSwan / Color | ✓ | ~ | ~30-50fps o3ds. Resorting to DS(i) mode, a well performing choice is NitroSwan, which is included into TWiLightMenu++. |
NXEngine | Cave Story | ✓ | ✓ | |
JAXE | CHIP-8/S-CHIP/XO-CHIP | ✓ | ✓ | |
GearColeco | Coleco - ColecoVision | TBD | ~ | ~40fps o3ds. Resorting to DS(i) mode, a generally better performing choice is ColecoDS, which is included into TWiLightMenu++. |
VICE x128 | Commodore - C128 | TBD | ✗ | ~5fps o3ds |
Frodo | Commodore - C64 | TBD | ~ | ~20fps o3ds |
VICE x64 fast | TBD | ✗ | ~15fps o3ds. old3ds users may prefer the standalone vice3ds which has better performance and a clean UI | |
VICE x64sc accurate | TBD | ✗ | ~3fps o3ds | |
VICE xscpu64 | Commodore - C64 SuperCPU | TBD | TBD | |
VICE xcbm5x0 | Commodore - CBM-II 5x0 | TBD | TBD | |
VICE xcbm2 | Commodore - CBM-II 6x0/7x0 | TBD | TBD | |
VICE xpet | Commodore - PET | TBD | TBD | |
VICE xplus4 | Commodore - Plus/4 | TBD | TBD | |
VICE xvic | Commodore - VIC-20 | TBD | TBD | |
PrBoom | Doom | TBD | ~ | unstable framerate on o3ds with many slowdowns |
DOSBox-SVN | DOS | TBD | TBD | |
bk | Elektronika - BK-0010/BK-0011(M) | TBD | TBD | |
FreeChaF | Fairchild ChannelF | ✓ | ✓ | |
Game Music Emu | Game Music Emu | TBD | TBD | |
VecX | GCE - Vectrex | ✓ | ✗ | ~55fps n3ds, 14fps o3ds |
Gong | Gong | ✓ | ✓ | |
GW | Handheld Electronic | ✓ | ~ | ~58fps n3ds, 30fps o3ds |
SquirrelJME | Java ME | TBD | TBD | |
Jump 'n Bump | Jump 'n Bump | ✓ | ✓ | |
LowRes NX | LowRes NX | ✓ | ✓ | ~50-55fps o3ds, mostly playable |
Lutro | Lua Engine | ✓ | ✓ | |
minivmac | Mac II | TBD | ✗ | ~10fps o3ds |
O2EM | Magnavox - Odyssey ² / Phillips Videopac+ | ✓ | ~ | ~60fps n3ds, 50fps o3ds (playable) |
FreeIntv | Mattel - Intellivision | ✓ | ✓ | some sporadic slowdowns in o3ds but playable |
fMSX | Microsoft - MSX | TBD | TBD | |
MicroW8 | MicroW8 | TBD | TBD | |
Bomberman | Mr. Boom | ✓ | ~ | ~45-60 FPS o3ds, minor slowdowns |
blueMSX | MSX/SVI/ColecoVision/SG-1000 | TBD | TBD | |
Beetle PCE fast | NEC - PC Engine / CD | ✓ | ~ | Old 3ds 30-40 FPS, use standalone temperpce_3ds instead |
QUASI88 | NEC - PC-8000 / PC-8800 series | TBD | TBD | |
Neko Project II Kai (猫Project II改) | NEC - PC-98 | ~ | TBD | Neko Project II Kai requires you to use it's own emulation menu, requiring you to use the "Joy2Mouse" function or the c-stick. These menus are extremely small given the 3DS's screen size, but allow you to run games. Some games will have slowdown, such as the Touhou games. You may prefer to use the standalone NP2 for 3DS, as it uses the touch screen for enlarged menus, keyboard support, and allows you to use both screens. |
Neko Project II | TBD | ✗ | ~15fps old3ds | |
DoubleCherryGB | Nintendo - Game Boy / Color | ✓ | ~ | based on TGBDual so nearly equal performance |
Gambatte | ✓ | ✓ | Old 3ds users may prefer one of the several standalone emulators for GB/GBC. A few resource-intensive GBC games run well only in the DSi (not 3DS) build of GameYob, which is included into TWiLightMenu++. | |
Gearboy | TBD | ✗ | too slow in old3ds even for GB | |
TGB Dual | ✓ | ~ | ~60fps new3ds, unstable GBC framerate in old3ds | |
mGBA | Nintendo - Game Boy Advance | ✓ | ✗ | acceptable with Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire, but some games are slow to use, even on New 3DS, at present. Currently no support for tilt controls (Yoshi's Tilt n' Tumble, Warioware Twisted. |
gpSP | ✓ | ✗ | ~30-60 FPS o3ds with dynarec, some games are playable, but VC injection, mGBA, or open_agb_firm are better choices | |
FCEUmm | Nintendo - NES / Famicom | ✓ | ✗ | Old 3ds 10-20 FPS |
Nestopia UE | ✓ | ✗ | ~55-60 FPS | |
QuickNES | ✓ | ✓ | old3ds users may prefer the standalone virtuanes_3ds which may perform better depending on the game. | |
PokeMini | Nintendo - Pokemon Mini | ✓ | ✓ | |
Snes9x 2002 (PocketSNES) | Nintendo - SNES / SFC | ✓ | ✗ | less compatible than CATSFC, but faster, so can actually run many special chip games at full speed. old3ds users may prefer the continuation of the standalone snes9x_3ds which has better performance, and new 3DS users may also prefer it for SuperFX Chips/Mode 7 games. |
Snes9x 2005 (CATSFC) | ✓ | ✗ | ~55-60 FPS on standard games, ~50 FPS on Super FX games. A bit slower than Snes9x 2002. | |
Snes9x 2005+ (CATSFC Plus) | ✓ | ✗ | Same as Snes9x 2005 but with better sound, at the cost of a few FPS, has more accurate audio, slower | |
Snes9x 2010 (Snes9x Next) | ✓ | ✗ | Most accurate but slowest SNES core (~40 FPS),too slow to use even on New 3DS at present | |
Beetle VB | Nintendo - Virtual Boy | ~ | ✗ | ~25-30 FPS n3ds, 7 FPS o3ds. The Red-Viper standalone emulator has much better performance. |
Mu | Palm OS | TBD | TBD | |
Retro8 | Pico-8 | ✓ | ✓ | simple games run fullspeed on o3ds. You might prefer the standalone fake-08 emulator which has better compatibility |
PocketCDG | PocketCDG | ✓ | ✓ | |
TyrQuake | Quake | TBD | ~ | slowdowns everywhere on o3ds even using the. minimal internal resolution, but somewhat playable |
vitaQuake 2 | Quake II | TBD | TBD | |
vitaQuake 2 Rogue | Quake II - Ground Zero | TBD | TBD | |
vitaQuake 2 Xatrix | Quake II - The Reckoning | TBD | TBD | |
vitaQuake 2 Zaero | Quake II - Zaero | TBD | TBD | |
XRick | Rick Dangerous | ✓ | ✓ | |
ScummVM | ScummVM | TBD | TBD | |
SMS Plus GX | Sega - MS/GG | TBD | ~ | 50-60 fps o3ds with noticeable slowdowns |
Genesis Plus GX Wide | Sega - MS/GG/MD/CD | TBD | TBD | |
Genesis Plus GX | ✓ | ✗ | Redbook audio hangs when suspending or pausing RetroArch | |
PicoDrive | Sega - MS/GG/MD/CD/32X | ✓ | ~ | 2D games run full speed, 3D games run about 30 FPS or less. old3ds users may prefer the standalone picodrive_3ds which has better performance. |
Gearsystem | Sega - MS/GG/SG-1000 | TBD | ✗ | ~15fps o3ds |
X Millennium | Sharp X1 | TBD | TBD | |
EightyOne (81) | Sinclair - ZX 81 | TBD | ~ | ~15fps o3ds |
FUSE | Sinclair - ZX Spectrum | ✓ | ✓ | ~60fps. You may prefer the standalone zxds (the 3ds build) which has a way better interface. |
NeoCD | SNK - Neo Geo CD | TBD | TBD | |
Beetle NeoPop | SNK - Neo Geo Pocket / Color | ✓ | ~ | Old 3ds 20-30 FPS, Use Race! Instead |
Race | TBD | TBD | ||
PCSX ReARMed | Sony - PlayStation | ✓ | ✗ | Can go up to ~50-60 FPS n3ds at standard resolution, 20fps o3ds. Later games can have unplayable slowdowns (Gran Turismo 2). |
Super Bros. War | Super Bros. War | TBD | TBD | |
Numero | Texas Instruments TI-83 | TBD | TBD | |
Opera | The 3DO Company - 3DO | ✗ | ✗ | ~8fps (Technically works but is unplayably slow) |
The Powder Toy | The Powder Toy | ✗ | ✗ | ~5fps o3ds, large slowdowns on n3ds, excessively large resolution for the 3DS's screen. |
Theodore | Thomson - MO/TO | ✓ | ✓ | |
TIC-80 | TIC-80 | TBD | ~ | ~35fps o3ds |
Uzem | Uzebox | TBD | ✗ | ~10fps o3ds |
VaporSpec | VaporSpec | ✓ | ✓ | |
WASM-4 | WASM-4 | TBD | ~ | mixed results for o3ds, from too fast to painfully slow and crashes |
Potator | Watara - Supervision | ✓ | ✓ | |
ECWolf | Wolfestein 3D | TBD | ~ | ~15fps o3ds but playable |
Using current exploits, the New 3DS is capable of running many of these cores at or nearly at full speed on most games. The older 3DS is less powerful but can still run some cores at full speed, like 2048, Gambatte, QuickNES, NXEngine, and PicoDrive. Opposed to normal use of RetroArch, these are all self-contained emulators, albeit sharing the same automatic configuration. Screenshot-taking is broken. Upon exiting RetroArch 3DS, press the Start button. If you use retroarch via homebrew launcher, in 3dsx format, please notice that some cores crash upon opening without further action. The loaded core, crashing or not, is saved into sd:/retroarch/retroarch-salamander.cfg file which is where retroarch remembers the core to be first loaded. Therefore, if you mistakenly load a problematic crashing core, you won't be able to launch ReteroArch successfully again until you manually delete that file from the sdcard. Alternatively, you can make set it the readonly attribute, while it's still working. Currently, RetroArch has no support for the 3DS's Gyro controls.
RetroArch (unofficial)[edit]
Unofficial 3DS builds
Core | Game/System | Working? | Old 3ds | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Virtual Jaguar | Atari Jaguar | ✗ | ✗ | ~10fps (Technically works but is unplayably slow) |
Yabause | Sega Saturn | ✗ | ✗ | ~5fps (Technically works but is unplayably slow) |
Ultimate 3DS emupack[edit]
Name | Latest version | License | Recommended | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ultimate 3DS emupack | git | MIT (Permissive) | ✓ | ✓ |
Supported Emulators | |
---|---|
|
Apple[edit]
Macintosh and Mac II[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mini vMac 3DS | git | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Mini vMAC 3DS: emulates Macintosh Plus and other early variants, like 128K, 512K, 512Ke, SE, Classic, and SE FDHD. Includes experimental and very slow support for Macintosh II.
Atari inc.[edit]
Atari 2600[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Z26 3DS | 2.0git | Low | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✓ | ~ |
Atari 5200 / 800[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atari800 3DS | 0.3.10 cia | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Atari Lynx[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Handy 3DS | 1.1bgit | Mid | zlib License (Permissive) | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Commodore[edit]
Commodore 64 / 128[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bread Box | 1/06/16 | Low-Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ | ~ |
VICE3DS | git | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
VICE3DS-C128 | 0.1 | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (New3DS) |
Commodore Amiga[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UAE3DS | git | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ~ | ✓ | ~ |
UAE3DSsng | git | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ~ | ? | ✗ |
GCE[edit]
Vectrex[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vex3DS (based on vecx) | 0.4git | Mid | ? | ✗ | ✓ | ~ |
Microsoft[edit]
DOS[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3DOS | 1.0 | Low | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
DOSBox-3DS | 0.0.3 | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ? | ✗ |
3DOS | |
---|---|
|
MSX[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
fMSX3DS | 1.41 | Mid | MIT (Permissive) | ✓ | ? | ✓ |
NEC[edit]
PCE / CD / SuperGrafx[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TemperPCE for 3DS | git | Mid | ? | ✗ | ✓ (New3DS) | ✓ |
PC9801[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NP2/21 3DS | 0.1.3 | Mid | ? | ✗ | ✓ | ~ |
Nintendo[edit]
Amiibo[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wumiibo | git | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Wumiibo | |
---|---|
|
DS[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DeSmuME | git | Low | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✗ |
Flashcart | N/A | High | Proprietary | ✓ | ✓ |
TWiLight Menu++ | git | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ |
DeSmuME | |
---|---|
|
Flashcart | |
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|
TWiLight Menu++ | |
---|---|
Includes a bunch of popular emulators, and can be found in The list includes:
|
DSiWare[edit]
Because the firmware that the 3DS uses for backwards-compatibility is actually the same as the DSi, it's possible to inject DSiWare as an installable .cia
file.
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DSiWare Conversion Script | Script | Mid | ? | ✗ | ~ |
FBI | 2.6.1 | Native | MIT (Permissive) | ✗ | ✓ |
GodMode9 | git | Native | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ |
TWiLight Menu++ | git | High | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ |
DSiWare Conversion Script | |
---|---|
|
FBI | |
---|---|
|
GodMode9 | |
---|---|
|
TWiLight Menu++ | |
---|---|
|
Game Boy / Color[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cinoop | git2015 | Mid | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
GameYob 3DS | 1.0.8 | Mid | MIT (Permissive) | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
GnuBoy 3DS | git | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
mGBA | git | Mid | MPL 2.0 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (New3DS. Old3ds runs well GB but may be slow at GBC) |
PlutoBoy | git | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (New3DS) |
GameYob | |
---|---|
|
Game Boy Advance[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CitrAGB (based on gpSP) | 1.0git | Low | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
GBARunner2 | git | Mid | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ~ |
GBARunner3 | git | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
mGBA | git | Mid | MPL 2.0 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (New3DS is ok except for only a few resource-intensive titles. Old3ds is too slow anyways) |
GBARunner2 | |
---|---|
|
Native firmware[edit]
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. Because it's technically running a "virtual" GBA, it can't provide features that are normally available on other emulators, such as savestates, screen filtering, or sleep mode, however it does have high compatibility with the exception of cartridges with special hardware, for example, WarioWare Twisted, which has a gyroscope built in. If you're using an old 3DS/2DS, this is the best option to play GBA games. There are two ways to take advantage of this firmware:
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Super Ultimate Injector (NSUI) | Beta 27 | Native | Proprietary | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
open_agb_firm | git | Native | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
NSUI | |
---|---|
|
Open agb firm | |
---|---|
|
Game & Watch[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Game & Watch 3DS | V1 | Low-Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ~ | ✗ |
This is an early core build. GW is already included in the latest retroarch builds, use it instead.
NES[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3DNES | git0.2 | Low-Mid | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
FCEUmm3DS | 2015/05/07 | Low | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
VirtuaNES for 3DS | git | Mid | ? | ~ | ✓ (New3DS) | ✓ |
Nintendo 64[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DaedalusX64 3DS | gitupdated fork | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ~ | ✗ | ~ |
DaedalusX64 | |
---|---|
|
Pokémon Mini[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PokeMini 3DS | git | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
SNES[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
blargSNES | 1.4git | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
Snes9x for 3DS | git | Mid | Non-commercial | ✓ | ✓ (New3DS) | ✓ |
Snes9x for 3DS Stable Version | 1.30 | Mid | Non-commercial | ✓ | ✓ (New3DS) | ✓ |
blargSNES | |
---|---|
|
SNES9x for 3DS | |
---|---|
|
Virtual Boy[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
r3Ddragon | git | Low | Custom[1] Non-commercial MIT |
✗ | ~ (slow) | ✗ |
Red Viper | 0.9.6 | Mid | Custom[1] Non-commercial MIT |
✓ | ? | ✓ |
r3Ddragon | |
---|---|
|
Red Viper | |
---|---|
|
Virtual Console Injection[edit]
Some have tried injecting alternate ROMs in the available Virtual Console releases (MD, GG, NES, GBA Ambassador, GBC, Japanese emulated SFC compilations) with varying degrees of success. The emulators used for Virtual Console are not as accurate as other emulators so compatibility isn't perfect (the only exception is GBA since it runs it natively, not emulation), Sega systems in particular have high compatibility however.
There's an easy tool that will convert and inject any supported ROM file as its associated VC application called New Super Ultimate Injector. It's an all in one tool and can even remotely install the injection provided your 3DS is connected to the same network. It's currently in beta, but it's still really useful.
SEGA[edit]
Name | Latest version | MD/Gen | SMS/GG | 32X | CD | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3DSSMS | 0.3 | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✓ | ~ |
PicoDrive for 3DS | git | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Mid | MAME license (Non-commercial) | ✗ | ✓ (New3DS) | ✓ |
Sinclair[edit]
ZX Spectrum[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3DS Spectrum | 0.1 | Low-Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ | ~ |
ZXDS 3DS | 2.2.2 | Mid | Proprietary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
SNK Playmore[edit]
Neo Geo Pocket / Color[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NeoPop 3DS | 0.2git | Low | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
NeoPop-SDL 3DS | git0.4 | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ (New3DS) |
Sony[edit]
PlayStation[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3DStation | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
CTRX | git0.9 Alpha | Low | Beerware (Permissive) | ✗ | ✗ |
PCSX-ReARMed (RetroArch) | Nightly | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ (New 3ds) |
PCSX-ReARMed | |
---|---|
|
Uzebox[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cuzebox 3DS | 0.0.1 | Low | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✓ | ~ |
Wenquxing[edit]
CC800 Simulator[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sim800CTR | git | Low | ? | ✗ | ? | ? |
Game engines[edit]
Name | Latest Version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended | Supported game(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ScummVM 3DS | 2.8.0 | High | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ? | ✓ | Adventure point and click games, ex. LucasArt games |
OpenBOR 3DS | git | Mid | BSD-3-Clause (Permissive) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Beats of Rage and other beat'em up games in .pak format |
MegaZeux | 2.93b | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ? | ✓ | Caverns of Zeus and other zzt-like ascii games |
CtrµLua 3DS | 1.0 | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ~ | LUA Engine |
LÖVE Potion 3DS | git | Mid | MIT (Permissive) | ✓ | ? | ~ | |
Lua Player Plus 3DS | git | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ~ | |
CPyMO | v1.1.9 | Mid | AGPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ? | ? | PyMO Visual Novel / AVG Game Engine |
EasyRPG 3DS | 0.8 | High | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ? | ✓ | RPG Maker 2000, 2003 and EasyRPG games |
RPG Maker | git | Low | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ✗ | |
OpenLara | git | Mid | BSD-2-Clause (Permissive) | ✓ | ? | ~ | Tomb Raider 1–4 |
Source ports[edit]
Name | Latest Version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended | Old 3DS | Supported games |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Action | ||||||||
C-Dogs3DS | git | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ✓ | ✓ | Cyberdogs |
Minicraft - 3DS Homebrew Edition (original) |
git | Low | ? | ✗ | ? | ✗ | ✓ | Minicraft |
Minicraft3DS (fork based on The Multiplayer Update) |
git | Low | ? | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | Minicraft |
Minicraft3DS - The Multiplayer Update (fork based on the original) |
git | Low | ? | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | Minicraft |
Action-Adventure | ||||||||
ZeldaOLB | git | ? | ? | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | The Legend of Zelda: Oni-Link Begins |
ZeldaROTH | git | ? | ? | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | The Legend of Zelda: Return of the Hylian |
Zelda3T | git | ? | ? | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | The Legend of Zelda: Time to Triumph |
FPS | ||||||||
ctrDoom2D | git | Low | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | Doom 2D |
ctrHexenII | git | Low | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | Hexen II |
ctrQuake | git | ? | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ✓ | ✓ | Quake |
ctrWolfen | git | Low | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | Wolfenstein 3D, Spear of Destiny |
DXX-3DS | git | Low | Custom (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ✗[N 1] | ? | Descent, Descent II |
EDuke3D | git | Mid | GPLv2 BUILD SOURCE CODE LICENSE |
✗ | ? | ✓ | ? | Duke Nukem 3D |
JFShadowWarrior | git | Mid | GPLv2 BUILD SOURCE CODE LICENSE |
✗ | ? | ✓ | ? | Shadow Warrior[N 2] |
PrBoom 3DS | git | ? | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | Doom I–II, Final Doom |
PrBoom3DS | git | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ✓ | ? | Doom I–II, Final Doom |
Quake2CTR | git | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ✓ | ? | Quake II |
Wolf4SDL-3DS | git | Mid | Non-commercial GPLv2 |
✗ | ? | ✓ | ? | Wolfenstein 3D |
Horror | ||||||||
FNaF 1 3DS -old/obsolete- FNaF 1 3DS -remastered-[N 3] |
0.2.3 0.3.1-pre1 |
Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ? | ✓ | ✓ | Five Nights at Freddy's |
FNaF 2 3DS[N 3] | beta 1.0 | Low | Proprietary | ✗ | ? | ✗ | ~ | Five Nights at Freddy's 2 |
FNaF 3 3DS[N 3] | beta 0.1.3 | Low | Proprietary | ✗ | ? | ✗ | ? | Five Nights at Freddy's 3 |
FNaF 4 3DS[N 3] | beta 0.3 | ? | Proprietary | ✗ | ? | ~ | ? | Five Nights at Freddy's 4 |
Pinball | ||||||||
SpaceCadetPinball | git | Mid-High | MIT (Permissive) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | 3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet |
Platform | ||||||||
Abbaye Des Morts 3DS | git | ? | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | L'Abbaye Des Mort |
Amphetamine | git | ? | ? | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | Amphetamine |
Cave Story Engine 2 | git archive |
? | Proprietary[2] | ✗[N 4] | ~[N 5] | ✓[N 4] | ? | Cave Story |
ccleste | git | Mid | ? | ✓ | ? | ✓ | ✓ | Celeste Classic |
OpenJazz 3DS | git | ? | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ? | Jazz Jackrabbit |
MazeOfGalious-3DS | git | ? | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | The Maze of Galious remake |
OpenTitus 3DS | git | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ✓ | ✓ | Titus the Fox/Moktar |
Sonic 1 and 2 3DS | git | Mid | Non-commercial | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ | Sonic the Hedgehog 1 (2013)[N 6], Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2013)[N 6] |
Sonic CD 2011 3DS | git | Mid | Non-commercial | ✓ | ✗ | ~ | ✓(HW) | Sonic the Hedgehog CD (2011)[N 6] |
Sonic CD 2011 3DS Redux | git | Mid | Non-commercial | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | Sonic the Hedgehog CD (2011)[N 6] |
Sonic Mania 3DS | git | Mid | Non-commercial | ✓ | ✗ | ~[N 7] | ✗[N 8] | Sonic Mania (Encore DLC optional but the user must compile the port to access it) |
Super Mario 64 Port | gitfix | Mid | ? | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~[N 9] | Super Mario 64 |
Puzzle | ||||||||
Hex-a-Hop | git | ? | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | Hex-a-Hop |
OpenSupaplex | git | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ? | ✓ | ? | Supaplex |
RPG | ||||||||
DevilutionX | git | Mid | Unlicense (Public domain) | ✗ | ? | ✓ | ~[N 10] | Diablo, Diablo: Hellfire |
Meritous | git | ? | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | Meritous |
RSC-C | git | ? | AGPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ~[N 5] | ✓[N 11] | ? | RSC Preservation (OpenRSC) |
Sandbox | ||||||||
RE3 3DS | wip | Low | ? | ✗ | ? | ~[N 12] | ✗ | Grand Theft Auto III |
Visual novel | ||||||||
DDLC-LOVE | git | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ~[N 5] | ✓ | ✓ | Doki Doki Literature Club! |
- ↑ Controls are unstable, causing the player to uncontrollably bank to the right after moving.
- ↑ Versions of Shadow Warrior supported for JFShadowWarrior include: Shadow Warrior Registered Version 1.2 (MS-DOS), Shadow Warrior Shareware Version (MS-DOS), Shadow Warrior Classic (GOG.com, Steam), and Shadow Warrior Classic Redux (GOG.com, Steam, Humble).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Five Nights at Freddy's 1 3DS -remastered- is an updated version of Five Nights at Freddy 1's 3DS by the same developer FreDev, also known as BumboDEV and BaseDEV. The developer also attempted Nintendo 3DS ports of Five Nights at Freddy's 2, 3, and 4 but development stopped after the developer lost the source code for Five Nights at Freddy's 2 and would have to reverse engineer it again.[1] Those ports were only in a state of demonstration and were not fully playable, having incomplete A.I., gameplay, and missing screens. Download links to the latest versions can be found on the old Discord server.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 There is also an official Nintendo 3DS remake called Cave Story 3D with 3D graphics and more gameplay features that may be more recommendable depending on the user's preference. Cave Story Engine 2, or CSE2 for short, is a source port of the classic Cave Story by Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya. CSE2 came with a portable version and an enhanced version of the original freeware but in November 2020, the CSE2 source port has received a DMCA cease and desist notice from Nicalis, the current IP owner of Cave Story.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Audio for these games does not output in Citra, but other than that, it is playable.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Sega Forever classics version on Android or iOS can also be used. For Sonic CD 2011 3DS Redux, it is recommended to use a mobile port's
data.rsdk
as the Steam version will have graphical issues in some levels. Also, if upgrading to the 2023 Redux port of Sonic CD from the old 2021 port, deletesettings.ini
from the SonicCD folder as both 3DS ports share the same SonicCD folder but theirsettings.ini
file are not compatible with each other that may cause major issues with the other version. - ↑ As of v1.0, the Sonic Mania 3DS port has long load times booting up the game and transitioning between screens but other than that, it's playable at a good frame rate on a New Nintendo 3DS. The audio is slightly delayed but not too bad. There are some frame drops during the giant ring special stages but it's arguably bearable.
- ↑ Old Nintendo 3DS is planned to be supported for Sonic Mania 3DS in a future update.
- ↑ New Nintendo 3DS/2DS is highly recommended to use any of the Super Mario 64 3DS ports (sm64ex-alo, sm64-minimap, etc.) and can use 800px but even then, using certain graphical settings such as No Drawing Distance when building a custom version can greatly reduce frame rate even on a New Nintendo 3DS/2DS. On older Nintendo 3DS/2DS models, use the 400px version.
- ↑ The Asian translations of Diablo on DevilutionX 3DS are not recommended on older Nintendo 3DS/2DS models as they can crash due to not having enough memory to hold all the symbols in memory.
- ↑ The RSC Preservation 3DS port of OpenRSC (a RuneScape Classic private server) has frame rate issues when Interlace Mode is off. Toggling Interlace Mode on by pressing SELECT restores the frame rate.
- ↑ While RE3 3DS is playable and only playable on New Nintendo 3DS/2DS, it will also suffer frame rate drops and graphical glitches but it is still playable depending on the user's frame tolerance.
SM64 3DS port | |
---|---|
|
Fantasy Computers[edit]
CHIP-8[edit]
Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chip-3DS | 1.0 | Mid | ? | ✗ | ✓ | ~ |
Chip8-2DS | 1.0 | Mid | ? | ✗ | ✓ | ~ |
chip8-3ds | 1.0 | Mid | ? | ~ | ✓ | ✓ |
Chip8-CTRU | 2014 | Mid | ? | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
octochip-8 | git | Mid | ? | ~ | ✓ | ~ |
Pico-8[edit]
Name | Latest Version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fake-08 | git3DS-pico-8 | Mid | MIT (Permissive) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
TIC-80[edit]
Name | Latest Version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TIC-80 | git | Mid | MIT (Permissive) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
UXN/Varvara[edit]
Name | Latest Version | Accuracy | License | Active | Citra | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
uxnds-3DS | 0.5.2 | Mid | MIT (Permissive) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
See also[edit]
Emulators on consoles |
Consoles: NES • SNES • N64 • GameCube • Wii • Wii U • Switch Handhelds: GB(C) • GBA • Pokémon mini • DS • 3DS Master System • Mega Drive/Genesis • Saturn • Dreamcast |
Consoles: PS1 • PS2 • PS3 • PS4 Handhelds: PSP • Vita Xbox • Xbox 360 • Xbox One/Series X|S Didj • Lynx • Zodiac • GP32 • GP2X • GP2X Wiz |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Reality Boy is code is licensed under a Custom Non-commercial license