Changes

{{Infobox console|title = Nintendo DS|logo = DSlitewhite.png|developer = [[File:Nintendo_ds.jpgNintendo]]|type = [[:Category:Handheld consoles|Handheld game console]]|generation = [[:Category:Seventh-generation video game consoles|Seventh generation]]|release = 2004|discontinued = 2013|predecessor = [[Game Boy Advance emulators|thumbGame Boy Advance]]|successor = [[Nintendo DSi emulators|The Nintendo DS handheld consoleDSi]]|emulated = {{✓}}}} The '''[[gametechwikipedia:Nintendo DS|Nintendo DS]]''' (NDS) is a handheld console produced by Nintendo in on November 21, 2004/2005, and had 2 ARM CPUs (ARM9 and ARM7) with 4MB of RAM. The main selling point was the use of dual screens for gameplay, with one being a touchscreen. It is the only console to have come close to the [[PlayStation 2 emulators|PlayStation 2]] in lifetime sales(154.02 million units), as a result of attracting a large amount number of casual players, and even non-gamers, into the gaming community.

{| class="wikitable"|+PC|style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col"|Operating SystemPlatform(s)

! scope="col"|[[Game Boy Advance emulators|GBA]]! scope="col"|NDS! scope="col"[[Nintendo DSi emulators|DSi]]

! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulatorsEmulators|Recommended]]|-!colspan="9"|PC / x86|-|[[DeSmuME]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://desmume.org/download/ {{DeSmuMEVer}}]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[melonDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[http://melonds.kuribo64.net/downloads.php {{MelonDSVer}}] [https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/actions <br/>Dev Builds]|{{✗}} ||{{~}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[DeSmuME#DeSmuME X432R|DeSmuME X432R]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|[http://web.archive.org/web/20150920170430im_/http://shikaver01.webcrow.jp/desmume_x432r/index.html 2015-04-19]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[GBE+]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/shonumi/gbe-plus/releases {{GBEVer}}]|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>|-|[[mGBA#medusa|medusa]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://mgba.io/downloads.html alpha 2]|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} || {{✗}}<ref name="medusa suspended"/>||{{✗}}|-|[https://corgids.wordpress.com/ CorgiDS]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/PSI-Rockin/CorgiDS/releases git]<br />[http://www.emucr.com/search/label/CorgiDS SVN]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}<ref>https://corgids.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/extended-break/</ref> ||{{✗}}|-|ndsemu|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https://github.com/rasky/ndsemu git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[DeSmuMENo$|No$GBA]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|Multi-platformDOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[http://desmumeproblemkaputt.orgde/download/ SVNgba.htm {{No$GBAVer}}]|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}} ||✗{{~}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}}

|style="text-align[https://web.archive.org/web/20110225190819/http:center;"|MelonDS//neonds.com/ NeonDS]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://githubweb.archive.org/web/20100925152735/http://neonds.com/StapleButtersystem/files/melonDS GitHubNeonDS_0.2.1.zip 0.2.1]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗ (WIP)}}

|styledasShiny|align="text-align:center;"left|DeSmuME X432R{{Icon|style="text-align:center;"Windows|Multi-platformLinux}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://shikaver01github.webcrow.jpcom/Cydrak/ BuilddasShiny git]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗|style="text-align:center;"|✓}}

|style="text[http://ds-align:center;"|[[No$GBA]duos.blogspot.com/ DuoS]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows, DOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[http://problemkaputtwww.emulator-zone.decom/gbadownload.htm 2php/emulators/nds/duos/DuoS.8ezip 8/25/2012 Beta]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|dasShiny[[Ensata]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows, Linux}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httpshttp://githubwww.mediafire.com/Cydrakfile/dasShiny Gitx0odmalrndt9m7a/Ensata+v1.4d.rar 1.4d]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align[https://web.archive.org/web/20111130005614/http:center;"|DuoS//ideasemu.biz/ iDeaS]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}|style="text-align:center;"|[http://www.sendspaceemulator-zone.com/filefiles/emulators/ezoear 8nds/25ideas/2012 Betaideas1040.7z 1.0.4.0]|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[EnsataNooDS]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://www.mediafiregithub.com/downloadHydr8gon/dr3gooki74kboioNooDS/Ensata_v1.4d.rar 1.4dreleases git]|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style!colspan="text9"|Mobile / ARM|-|[[DraStic]]|align:center;"=left|{{Icon|Android|Pandora|iDeaSPyra}}|style[https://forum.mobilism.org/viewtopic.php?f="text422&t=3629008 {{DraSticVer}}]<br>[https://pyra-align:center;"handheld.com/repo/apps/32 0.1 Pyra]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||Windows, Linux{{✓}}|style="text-|[[melonDS]] <small>(unofficial)</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https:center;"|//github.com/rafaelvcaetano/melonDS-android git][httphttps://ciacinplay.site90google.com/ideasstore/apps/details?id=me.php magnum.melonds 1.7.0]|{{~}} ||{{~}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[https://inds.4nerd.0net/ iNDS]<br/><small>(nds4ios derived)</small><br/><small>(DeSmuME based)</small>|stylealign="textleft|{{Icon|iOS}}|[https://github.com/iNDS-Team/iNDS/releases git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}|-|nds4ios|align=left|{{Icon|iOS}}|[http:center;"//nds4ios.angelxwind.net/i/?page/downloads SVN]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}|-|[http://jeffq.com/blog/nds4droid/ nds4droid]<br/><small>(DeSmuME based)</small>|stylealign="textleft|{{Icon|Android}}|[https://github.com/jquesnelle/nds4droid git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[NooDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https:center;"//github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS git]|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|style-!colspan="text9"|Console|-|[[Virtual Console]]|align=left|{{Icon|WiiU}}||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[DeSmuME PSP]]|align=left|{{Icon|PSP}}|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/590011753849421846/870274164748079104/desmume_psp_4.zip V4][https://github.com/Xiro28/DeSmuME-PSP git][https:center;"//github.com/Xiro28/desmume_psp_experimental Exp.]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|style-|DesmumeX|align="textleft|{{Icon|Xbox}}|[https://www.1emulation.com/forums/topic/35774-desmumex-v087-new-update 0.87]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}|-|[[melonDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Switch}}|[https:center;"//github.com/rsduck/melonDS/releases git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|style[[NooDS]]|align="textleft|{{Icon|Switch|Vita}}|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS git]<small> (Switch/Vita)</small><br/>[https://github.com/Xiro28/NooDS-PSP git] <small>(PSP port)</small>|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[DeSmuME PSP|DSonPSP]]|align=left|{{Icon|PSP}}|[https:center;"//wololo.net/downloads/index.php/download/1235 0.7]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✗}} <small>(POC)</small> ||{{✗}}

 ===Comparisons===;[[melonDS]]: Unlike DeSmuME, melonDS can use wifi, and has some DSi support. In terms of being user-friendly, options in melonDS are more simplified. Has similar DS game compatibility as DeSmuME. Both can run games at a higher internal resolution (sharper 3D objects) and can open roms inside an archive (zip, rar, 7z). Both can display the two screens in a variety of ways, but melonDS has a hybrid mode. [https://i.imgur.com/S73Eb4m.jpg (Example)] While the developers of No$GBA had documented the Wi-Fi capabilities first, melonDS is the first and only emulator that's gotten as far as it has and it has been found to work reasonably well with a handful of games. melonDS does not have custom file paths yet (all saves will be created where the rom is). Switching to OpenGL in core options may give a performance boost.;[[DeSmuME]]: DeSmuME has had significant improvements since 2018, though new features are still in development and are only available through either nightly/dev builds. It now uses less CPU/GPU resources, and Wi-Fi is also underway. The latest "Stable" build is no longer recommended as it's over 5 years old and lacks any new features. [[OpenEmu]] uses a shallow fork of the stable build and should be avoided as well. If you do run into issues on the dev builds, then try switching back to the last stable build (see [[Common Problems and Solutions]] for tips).;[[DraStic]]: A payware, closed-source emulator for [[Android emulators|Android]] devices that can run games at a decent speed even on potato phones. It's on par with (or in some cases better than) DeSmuME, and emulating it through BlueStacks on PC may actually be a viable and fast alternative aside from a slight input delay. Some rumors have spread around that the developers deliberately put in issues to mess with pirated copies, though this is considered unsubstantiated. At the very least, you shouldn't expect any support from Exophase and company if you use a pirated copy, though it is available for free on the Raspberry Pi and Odroid via RetroPie.;[[No$|No$GBA]]: Focuses on speed, and has major compatibility issues and glitches as a result. Because it was originally a GBA emulator, the DS's 3D features are still very poorly handled. However, it's a good option for low-end machines but don't expect a lot of games to run perfectly. A fan program, No$Zoomer, was released for version 2.6 which increases compatibility and options, as well as the titular zooming and resizing abilities. The biggest addition is noise cancellation which clears up static that No$GBA makes with its 3D rendering. It doesn't change accuracy though. No$Zoomer never rebased to newer no$gba versions, and looks like it's abandoned so likely never will. In v2.8, No$GBA became the first emulator to supports DSi games, which has been their most notable feature. Only use No$GBA for DSi games that don't work on other emulators, debugging (if you've taken up romhacking for DS games or homebrew development), if you value speed above everything, if you're using a potato PC, or just as a last resort.;[[mGBA#medusa|medusa]]: [[mGBA]] developer endrift is also creating a DS emulator, but it's very much a work-in-progress and isn't nearly as far as melonDS in terms of the capabilities it's covered. As of March 2018, medusa's development is "suspended until further notice".<ref name="medusa suspended">https://mgba.io/2018/03/09/holy-grail-bugs-revisited/#postscript-a-several-month-late-explanation</ref>;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. '''Comparisons of several Nintendo DS emulators:'''* [https://emucross.com/the-next-generation-of-ds-emulators/ Looking Toward the Next Generation of DS Emulators] (By [[Dolphin]] tester, [https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/authors/JMC47/ JMC47], AKA Justin M. Chadwick. 5 June 2017. Tested emulators: melonDS (0.2 and 0.3), medusa (Alpha 2) & GBE+ (1.1) compared to the mature DeSmuME.) ===High resolution===;melonDS: Has an OpenGL renderer with upscaling as of version 0.8.<ref name="melondsopengl">http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=90</ref> The renderer is much faster than DeSmuME's and supports increasing the internal resolution up to 16x native resolution. More features such as texture filtering are planned.;DeSmuME X432R:A fork of DeSmuME that has graphical enhancement such as an option to increase internal resolution and use MSAA. The devs of DeSmuME have now included an option for increased internal resolution (see below), making X432R outdated. See the [[DeSmuME]] page for more details.;DeSmuME <small>([[libretro]])</small>:Also has an option to increase internal resolution since [https://github.com/libretro/desmume/commit/5e430dfbc22f9d54c77f291304a38352ee1e5a63 August 8, 2015 git commit]. It requires a very high-end CPU to run at a reasonable framerate.;DraStic:Has released a beta version supporting double the original resolution.;Virtual Console <small>(Wii U)</small>:Has a configuration file with support for x2 internal resolution without any significant performance hit (as well as a brightness setting). However, there's no legit way to enable it without a homebrew-enabled console. ==Connectivity==The DS offers five types of connections:* '''Local wireless communications''' - ''(Multiple cartridges)''* '''DS Download Play''' - ''(Single cartridge)''* '''Wi-Fi Connection''' - ''(Online multiplayer)''* '''DS/Wii connectivity'''* '''GBA/DS connectivity''' {| class="wikitable"|+Mobilestyle="text-align:center;"

! scope="col"|Operating SystemPlatform(s)

! scope="col"|GBALocal! scope="col"|NDSDownload Play! scope="col"|[[libretro|Libretro Core]]Wi-Fi! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]|-|style="text-align:center;"|[[DraStic]]|style="text-align:center;"|Android|style="text-align:center;"|[https:GBA//www.google.com/search?q=drastic+emulator+site:forum.mobilism.org&tbs=qdr:0,sbd:1 r2.5.0.3a]|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✓DS

|style="text-align:center;"[[melonDS|DsoidmelonDS]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|AndroidLinux}}|style="text-align:center;"|[http://wwwmelonds.emucrkuribo64.net/downloads.php {{MelonDSVer}}] <br> [https://github.com/searchArisotura/labelmelonDS/Dsoid?&max-results=12 SVNactions Dev Bulids]|style="text-align:center;"{{~}} ||✗{{~}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}}

|style[[DeSmuME]]|align="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|nds4droidLinux|style="text-align:center;"macOS|AndroidFreeBSD}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://wwwdesmume.emucr.comorg/searchdownload/label/nds4droid?&max-results=12 SVN{{DeSmuMEVer}}]|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{~}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}}

|style="text-align:center;"[[No$|nds4iosNo$GBA]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|iOSDOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[http://nds4iosproblemkaputt.angelxwindde/gba.net/i/?page/downloads SVNhtm {{No$GBAVer}}]|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}}

===Comparisons===* [[DeSmuME]] is very good, and very well developed but works best The major challenge 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$GBA. DeSmuME is recommended regardless of your PC power. Like all post-16bit emulators, DeSmuME isn't perfect. Expect nothing more than 60% at all times.* [[No$GBA]] focuses on speed, and has major compatibility issues and glitches. As this was first a GBA emulator, the 3D added by the DS emulating multiplayer functionalities is 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 perfectlytiming inaccuracies, or at all. A fan program, No$Zoomer, was released for version 2.6 which increases compatibility and more settinghave made many projects, such as well as the titular zooming option. The biggest boost is noise cancellation which will clear up the static No$GBA makes with 3d rendering. Version 2.7a isn't compatible with No$Zoomer yet but does add resizing windows options but any increase of emulating skills is DeSmuME, not noticeablewant to implement them. As of v2.8 it supports DSi games So far, and is currently the only emulator that does. Only use No$GBA for DSi gamesto actually make any progress is melonDS, its debugging features (if you do translate/romhack DS/GBA games) or as a last resort.* [[DraStic]] is a closed source payware emulator for Android devices that can run games at decent speed but even on potato phones, there's talk that the devs deliberately put in issues to mess with the pirated version thoughis still under development.

===High ResolutionLocal wireless communication===* DeSmuME X432R is Players who have a fork copy of DeSmuME, that has many more graphical enhancement such as an option to increase internal resolution and use MSAA, See the [[DeSmuME]] page for more details. Check out [http://www.geocities.jp/gponys/desmume_aa.html this site] to see what you're missing out on.*libretro port of DeSmuME also has an option to increase internal resolution since [https://github.com/libretro/desmume/commit/5e430dfbc22f9d54c77f291304a38352ee1e5a63 August 8, 2015 git commit]. It requires a very high-end CPU to run at reasonable framerate.*DraStic has released a beta version supporting double same game can link together using the original resolution.*The Wii UDS's DS Virtual Console have a configuration file with support for x2 internal resolution without any significant performance hit wireless signals (as well as a brightness settinggiven that the game offers this feature). However, there's no legit way to enable it without a homebrew-enabled console.

==Connectivity=====Wi-Fi: MultiplayermelonDS supports wireless communication with several games, WFC including ''New Super Mario Bros.'' and Wii/DS===* Local Multiplayer is not supported by any emulator (in Desmume's case in particular'Pokemon'', it's very unlikely)but you need to have either multiple instances opened, which can slow down overall performance, or connect multiple computers via LAN. No$GBA can emulate it connect but the connection fails somewhere during establishing before the actual connection (despite the names from the other DS showing just fine).* Nintendo WFC was successfully emulated with third-party DeSmuME forks, but has quite a bit of requirements (Ethernet cable, though this can be circumvented with external software). After service shutdown, there was a version compatible with the fan servers (restoring all DLC data but sadly most multiplayer games had their content lost forever).* Download Play isn't supported by any emulator so far, though NDS-bootstrap homebrew on the Nintendo 3DS can boot some of them.* DS/Wii connection isn't emulated in any capacityis finished.

===GBA/DS ConnectivityDownload Play===Inserting This feature allows players with a GBA card in Slot-2 in DS device, and only one copy of a Nintendo DS unit (thatgame, to play together. This way, everyone doesn's not t need to have a DSi) while a DS copy of the game is running could unlock various gameplay features in some DS games. DeSmuME can emulate this: The player with the physical cartridge will host the game while playing the DS ROM, go to other players connects using a "Config, Slot 2 (GBA Slot)" and select "GBA Cartridgedownloaded"version received from the host. Now select Normally they are either simple mini-games, stripped-down demos of the GBA ROM filemain game, and make sure its sav file is in the same folderor a limited version of multiplayer. You may need In most cases it's better to reset the game sometimes use multi-cart instead, however, there are some games, like ''Mario Party DS'', that require Download Play to see the effect in-gameuse its multiplayer.

Features like Download Play is supported by melonDS. Like with local multiplayer, it is very hit and miss but unlocking the solar sensor in Boktai DS (Lunar Knight) using framerate helps. melonDS will often fail during the GBA Boktai cartridges download process, but some games actually go as far as booting and sometimes in Slot-2 are not emulated yet on the other handgame as well.

==DSi=Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection===Nintendo released 's online service that was available for the DSi in 2009, doing away with Slot-2 (used by GBA cartridges Wii and DS and Guitar Hero games) but also adding new lighting effectswas free to use. It was shut down on May 20, a camera2014, more RAMdue to the company GameSpy, and downloadable titles called DSiWare though those the ones who were capped to 16MB because they were installed to the very small internal NAND memorymanaging these servers, shutting down its multiplayer services after being bought out. The Nintendo 3DS is also compatible with those games and offers a way to back them up to an SD cardA popular game that used this feature was ''Mario Kart DS''.

Therewas a third-party DeSmuME fork that successfully emulated WFC but has quite a bit of requirement (Ethernet cable, though this can be circumvented with external software). After the service shutdown, there was a version compatible with the fan servers (restoring all DLC data but sadly most multiplayer games had their content lost forever). melonDS is one of the only emulators to offer Wi-Fi capabilities. It's three types of games using DSi hardware enhancements:still a work-in-progress, but it works relatively well.

* '''DSi-enhanced retail cartridges:''' Regular ===DS retail cartridges compatible with /Wii connectivity===Uses wireless communication on the older DS modelsto connect to the Wii. The idea is parallel to the GBA Link Cable for the GameCube, but unlocking more RAM and features when used on just like the DSiLink Cable, similar to some late GBC games on the GBA. A couple only a handful of dozen games from Japan and US/EUR relied on actually have this methodfeature. Those games will still boot on Some notable examples are ''Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time'' which is essentially the same as the DS emulators port but without can connect with other DS' with the DSi enhancements.* game, ''Pokemon Battle Revolution''in which players could transfer their Pokemon to the game and use the DS as a controller, ''DSi-exclusive retail cartridgesAnimal Crossing:City Folk''' Retail cartridges relying heavily on in which data could be transferred between the DSi hardware features. A boot-up error screen will show when attempting to load those on regular DS models (and by extension, emulators for those). Only four games were released this way, either launch games or because they were too big to fit in 16MB.* 'version ''DSiWareAnimal Crossing:Wild World''' Downloadable titles downloaded only through the DSi eShop (discontinued), or and the ''Nintendo 3DS eShop (though it uses a different file packaging format). They have a 16MB size limitation and thereChannel''s lots on the Wii where players could download demos of interesting exclusives for DS games to their console using Download Play (basically the same idea as the system released that wayDownload Station kiosk).

Nintendo 3DS users can still buy (or install .cia dumps from elsewhere) DSiWare titles specifically. So far, no flashcart or emulator (save for NO$GBAhas been able to emulate this feature, nor have attempted to. If this was ever going to be emulated, more it would require work on that later) can play dumps from the first two types in DSi modeboth ends.

DSi used an encryption system for ===GBA/DS connectivity===Inserting a GBA cartridge in the Slot-2 of the Nintendo DS while a game dumps that went on to be enhanced and used is running can unlock various gameplay features for the 3DS[https://nintendo.fandom. This encryption is checked at start-up, hence why com/wiki/List_of_Nintendo_DS_games_with_GBA_connectivity several DS emulators don't even manage to boot DSiWare dumpsgames].

That asideIt's unknown if No$GBA supports this, compared but it can be done in DeSmuME by going to regular DS gamesConfig > Slot 2 (GBA Slot) and selecting GBA Cartridge. Select the GBA ROM file, DSi games had some additional header information that wasnmake sure it't even correctly dumped s <code>.sav</code> file is in the earlier broken dumpssame folder. The 2017 set has updated many You may need to reset the game for it to take effect. As of those, though it's still severely lacking in DSiWare exclusivesversion 0. DSiWare dumps exist in both NDS format9, or CIA format (melonDS supports GBA connectivity and even added support for the ones who want to boot solar sensor on GBA Boktai cartridges used in on their 3DSBoktai DS (Lunar Knight), something DeSmuME has yet to support. Either drag and drop the GBA ROM onto the program before starting or open the file before loading the NDS file.

No$GBA added support for ==Nintendo DSi games starting with version 2.8, although some games wont boot and others have graphical glitches. You'll need to enable "=={{Main|Nintendo DSi/retail" under the settings. DSi emulation requires a copy of the lower 32K-halves of the ARM7/ARM9 BIOSes (BIOSDSI7.ROM and BIOSDSI9.ROM), which are different from the regular DS BIOS files and needed for the decryption, though nobody on the internet bothered to upload those from their old useless permanently-offline DSi (they contain system specific info).emulators}}

Emulation is very iffy due to ==Special hardware==;Guitar Hero pad: Used in the "Guitar Hero: On Tour" series (required) and Band Hero DS. Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2).;Piano for Easy Piano: Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2).;Taito paddle controller: Compatible with Arkanoid, Space Invaders Extreme, Space Invaders Extreme 2, and Space Bust-a-Move. Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2).;Tilt sensor: Used in "Tony Hawk's Motion/Hue's Pixel Painter." No emulators support this add-on yet. (Slot 2);Rumble pack: Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2). Requires compatible Joystick.;Slide controller: Required by "Slide Adventure Mag Kid". Yasu made a soshoddy [http://home.usay.jp/pc/etc/nds/iDeaS_slide.zip plug-so DS emulation foundation in NO$GBA] for iDeaS (the recommended version was 1.0.2.9.) to try to emulate it. No emulators support this add-on at the moment.;Pokémon keyboard: Bundled with the Pokémon Typing game (JP/UK/FR). The game refuses to boot without a keyboard, but it can be run on emulators with an anti-piracy fix and another DeSmuME-specific save bug fix. There is also [http://pokemonlog.com/pokemon-fuligin-download-rom/ a pre-patched ROM.] While it's playable using the on-screen keyboard on the lower screen, the camera keyboard isn't actually emulated. There is just spoofed as [https://github.com/AnimeCommander/Learn.With.Pokemon-Typing-Adventure.lua/blob/master/Pok%C3%A9mon%20Typing%20DS%20Keyboard%20Script.lua a static imageLua script] that permits using the actual keyboard by mapping presses of the actual keyboard to taps of the virtual Touch Screen. However, meaning you are going to need to blank out all the control/hotkey bindings of DeSmuME if you are going to play this game because some of the keyboard keys also activate some controls; otherwise, pressing the Q key would also pause the game, given one example. A recommendation would be to have a separate copy of 32-bit DeSMuMe which purpose is playing *only* the Pokémon typing games . In that use it may boot copy, place the patched ROM, the Lua script, and a 32-bit version of [https://sourceforge.net/projects/luabinaries/files/5.1.5/Windows%20Libraries/Dynamic/ lua51.dll.] (The platform used in building the <code>.dll</code> should not matter.) Even then, not only is the emulated workaround a little slow but saving is still broken. Use savestates, instead.;DS camera: Accessory bundled with the Japan-only Face Training (a European localization for Christmas 2007 was canceled, and it won't was released as a retail DSi game in 2010 using the internal camera rather than the original accessory). Not to be very playableconfused with the built-in DSi camera. No emulators exist for it at all. It;Bayer DIDGIT: A glucose meter for diabetic children with a game called ''Knock 'Em Downs: World's very unlikely DSiWare emulation is ever going to Fair'' that rewards them for checking their blood sugar levels regularly. The game has been dumped but no support for the glucose meter peripheral exists as of the time of this writing; it may, however, be implemented in Desmume due possible to various factors unique add reward points through Action Replay codes, not to mention that projectthe game will still function without the glucose meter attachment anyway (albeit with reduced functionality, of course).

==Special Hardware=iQue DS region lock===* iQue is Nintendo'''Guitar Hero Pad:''' Used in the "Guitar Hero: On Tour" series s Chinese subsidiary (requiredpreviously a partnership between them and Wei Yen until 2013) and Band Hero , so when they released the DS. Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2).* '''Piano for Easy Piano:''' Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2).* '''Taito Paddle Controller:''' Compatible with Arkanoid, Space Invaders Extremea few localized games, Space Invaders Extreme 2 and Space Bust-a-Move. Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2).* '''Tilt Sensor:''' Used their ROMs had special flags set in "Tony Hawkthem to check if the hardware that ran the cartridge was iQue's Motion/Hueor Nintendo's Pixel Painteras a sort of region lock." No emulators support Nintendo's own hardware would fail this add-on yet.* '''Rumble Pack:''' Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2). Requires compatible Joystick.* '''Slide Controller:''' Required by check, throwing an "Slide Adventure Mag KidOnly for iQue DS". Yasu made error in white text on a shoddy [http://home.usay.jp/pc/etc/nds/iDeaS_slide.zip plug-in] for iDeaS (recommended version was 1.0.2.9.) to try to emulate itblack background. No emulators support other DS games have this add-on at the moment.* '''Pokémon Keyboard:''' Bundled with the Pokémon Typing game (JP/UK/FR). The game refuses to boot without a keyboard, but it can be run on emulators with an anti-piracy fix and another DeSmuME-specific save bug fix. While it's playable using the on-screen keyboard on the lower screen, the keyboard wasn't actually emulatedmechanism; not even for Korean releases. There This region lock is a [http://pokemon-project.com/noticias/778-1/%C2%A1Juega-a-Pok%C3%A9mon-Typing-DS-con-tu-teclado patched version of DesMuMe with a Lua script] (Download bypassed by clicking on "Descargar".) that permits using the actual keyboard by mapping presses of the actual keyboard to taps of the virtual Touch Screen. However, the way the Lua script was coded mapped the virtual numbers to the actual number pad3DS for these DS games, presumably because the actual number keys are mapped to hotkeyseven though 3DS games have their own region lock. However, you can blank the hotkeys and modify the Lua script. Even then, not only is the emulated workaround a little slow, but saving is still broken. Use savestates, instead.* It'''DS Camera:''' Accessory bundled with the Japan-only Face Training (an European localization for Christmas 2007 was cancelled, and it was released as a retail DSi game in 2010 using the internal camera rather than the original accessory). Not to be confused with the built-in DSi camera. No emulators exist for it at alls weird.

===iQue DS Region Lock===Nintendo released Emulators differ in their Nintendo DS in China under the name iQue DS, along with a few localized gamesbehavior to this region lock. Much like they did with the No$GBA toocrashes. Except for one thingDeSmuME can load them. While the Chinese DS ROMs are perfectly normal DS ROMsHowever, besides the tiny fact they have region locking implementedfor melonDS, preventing them you need a [[Emulator Files|Firmware Dump]] from running on any DS system that's not the Chinese an iQue DS model (but any 3DS from any region , otherwise, it will run these Chinese DS games, despite replicate the 3DSs games being region-locked. Go figure.) No other DS games - not even Korean releases - do thislock.

If you try to emulate those ROMs with No$GBA, it just crashes. DeSmuME The only way the ROM will at least boot, but always show the message that shows on real accept other hardware (non-iQueand thus emulators) DS hardware - is with a glowing message on hack, involving a black background saying "Only for iQue DS" (in English) and just loop endlessly on that same screensimple byte change. In the event you're desperate to emulate those releases, you'll want to change the ROM (with Use a hex editor) - specifically to change the byte located at <code>0x1D must be changed </code> from value <code>80 </code> to <code>00</code>.

Certain games, such as American Girl titles (e.g. ''Julie Finds a Way'' and ''Kit Mystery Challenge'') suffer from severe flickering issues which keep those games from being playable on most emulators; so far . [[DraStic]] is was the only first emulator able to run the two games properly, and while Desmume DeSmuME r5043 had an initial fix that worked around the flickering issuesglitch, it was removed in later revisions as it broke compatibility with ''Pokemon SoulSilver '' among others; this has since been patched on r5531 once the true nature of the [https://sourceforge.net/p/desmume/bugs/1134/ bug] was better understood.The fix would be later incorporated in other emulators. ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat'' suffers from flickering and slowdown due to the way it loads sprites, though it isn't as serious in DraStic. ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Jedi Alliance'' is an even more egregious example, crashing due to timing differences between actual hardware and an emulated system. ==References==<references /> {{Nintendo}}