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|Multi-platform
|[http://shikaver01.webcrow.jp/desmume_x432r/index.html 2015-04-19]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓~}}
|-
|[[melonDS]]
|Windows, Linux
|[http://melonds.kuribo64.net/downloads.php 0.7{{MelonDSVer}}]|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗~}} <small>(WIP)</small>
|-
|[[GBE+]]
|-
|[[No$|No$GBA]]
|Windows, [[DOS emulators86/286/386/486/Pentium|DOS]]|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm 2.9b{{No$GBAVer}}]|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~✗}}
|-
|NeonDS
|-
|[[DraStic]]
|[[Android emulators|Android]], Pandora,<br />Linux <small>(Raspberry Pi)</small>
|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsemu.drastic 2.5.1.2a]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://inds.nerd.net/ iNDS]<br/><small>(nds4ios derived)</small><br/><small>(DeSmuME based)</small>
|[[iOS emulators|iOS]]
|[https://github.com/iNDS-Team/iNDS/releases Git]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
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|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|[http://jeffq.com/blog/nds4droid/ nds4droid]<br/><small>(DeSmuME based)</small>
|[[Android emulators|Android]]
|[https://github.com/jquesnelle/nds4droid Git]
===Comparisons===
;[[DeSmuME]]: One of the most developed emulators for regular DS games, but works best with higher-end computers. This emulator aims for accuracy over speed but you can tinker with the vast amount of setting to get some extra FPS (see [[Common Problems and Solutions]] for tips). If you're still having a hard time running anything without the output playing like syrup try No$GBA, or DraStic emulated through [[BlueStacks]]. DeSmuME is generally recommended regardless of your PC power. However, it's not perfect and is still very unoptimized. The official developers have taken major disdain for Wi-Fi features (outside of an online play fork) and DSi features. Because of this unique development philosophy, you'll have to look for alternatives in those cases.
;[[DraStic]]: A closed-source payware emulator for [[Android emulators|Android]] devices that can run games at a decent speed even on potato phones. Some unsubstantiated rumours have spread around that the developers deliberately put in issues to mess with pirated copies, though at the very least, don't expect any support from exophase and company if you get your hands on a pirated copy. It's on par or better than DeSmuME, and emulating it through BlueStacks on PC may actually be a viable and fast alternative aside from a slight input delay. Available for free on Raspberry Pi and Odroid via RetroPie.
;[[No$|No$GBA]]: Focuses on speed, and has major compatibility issues and glitches as a result. But because it was originally a GBA emulator, the DS's 3D features are still very poorly handled. However, it might be an option for a very low-end machine but don't expect a lot of games to run perfectly, or at all. A fan program, No$Zoomer, was released for version 2.6 which increases compatibility and options, as well as the titular zooming abilities. The biggest addition is noise cancellation which clears up static that No$GBA makes with its 3D rendering. No$Zoomer hasn't rebased yet but does add options for window resizing. There haven't been any noticeable changes with regards to accuracy, however. As of v2.8, No$GBA supports DSi games and is currently the first and only emulator that does. Only use No$GBA in the cases of DSi games, debugging (if you've taken up romhacking for DS games), if you value speed above everything, or just as a last resort.
;iDeaS: An abandoned and experimental DS emulator that uses a plug-in system, it's very slow and buggy but has partially gotten some features working like the camera and slide accessories.
;[[Ensata]]: Nintendo's official DS emulator that was leaked to the public. It's not very usable or compatible but it can run a few games.
'''List of recommended Nintendo DS emulators for Android:'''
* [https://www.androidauthority.com/best-nintendo-ds-emulator-for-android-368440/ 5 best Nintendo DS emulators for Android] (SEPTEMBER 1, 2018. Includes some emulators not found in above charts. Reviews may be subjective.)
===High Resolution===
|-
|[[No$|No$GBA]]
|Windows, [[DOS emulators86/286/386/486/Pentium|DOS]]
|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm 2.9b]
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
No$GBA added support for DSi games of all three formats starting with version 2.8, although some games won't boot and others have graphical glitches. You'll need to enable "16MB DSi/retail" under the settings. Emulation is very iffy due to a so-so DS emulation foundation in No$GBA, and the camera is just spoofed as a static image but just causes an emulator crash whenever used, meaning games that use it may boot but it won't be very playable.
DSi used an encryption system for the game dumps that went on to be enhanced and used for the 3DS. This encryption is checked at start-up, hence why Nintendo DS emulators don't even manage to boot DSiWare dumps. It's very unlikely DSi-mode emulation is ever going to be implemented in DeSmuME in particular due to various ''creative differences'' unique to that project.
===BIOS Files===
Emulators differ in their behavior to this region lock. No$GBA crashes. DeSmuME is accurate to non-iQue hardware and will replicate the failure.
The first and only way the ROM will accept other hardware (and thus emulators) is with a hack, involving a simple byte change. Use a hex editor to change the byte located at <code>0x1D</code> from value <code>80</code> to <code>00</code>.
===Other issues===
