Changes

|type = [[:Category:ConsolesHandheld consoles|Handheld game console]]

|successor = [[Nintendo 3DS DSi emulators|Nintendo 3DSDSi]]

 The '''[[gametechwikipedia:Nintendo DS|Nintendo DS]]''' (NDS) is a handheld console produced by Nintendo in on November 21, 2004, 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.

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

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

! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulatorsEmulators|Recommended]]

!colspan="9"|PC/ x86

|Multi-platformalign=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[httphttps://desmume.org/download/ SVN{{DeSmuMEVer}}]|{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}

|[[DeSmuME#Graphical_Enhancement|DeSmuME X432RmelonDS]]|Multi-platformalign=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[http://shikaver01melonds.webcrowkuribo64.jpnet/downloads.php {{MelonDSVer}}] [https:/desmume_x432r/indexgithub.html 2015-04-19com/Arisotura/melonDS/actions <br/>Dev Builds]|{{✗}} ||{{✓~}} ||{{✗✓}} ||{{✗✓}} ||{{✗✓}} ||{{✓}}

|[[melonDSDeSmuME#DeSmuME X432R|DeSmuME X432R]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|[http://melondsweb.kuribo64archive.netorg/downloadsweb/20150920170430im_/http://shikaver01.php 0webcrow.6bjp/desmume_x432r/index.html 2015-04-19]|{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/shonumi/gbe-plus/releases 1.2{{GBEVer}}]|{{✓}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>

|[[mGBA#medusa|Medusamedusa]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux|macOS}}

|{{✓}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗✓}} || {{✗}}<ref name="medusa suspended"/>||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/PSI-Rockin/CorgiDS/releases 0.1git]<br />[http://www.emucr.com/search/label/CorgiDS SVN]|{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗✓}} ||{{✗}}<ref>https://corgids.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/extended-break/</ref> ||{{✗}}

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https://github.com/rasky/ndsemu Gitgit]|{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, [[DOS emulators|DOS]]}}|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm 2.9{{No$GBAVer}}]|{{✓}} ||{{✓~}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110225190819/http://neonds.com/ NeonDS]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https://romsmaniaweb.ccarchive.org/web/20100925152735/emulatorshttp:/nintendo-ds/neonds-176 .com/system/files/NeonDS_0.2.1.zip 0.2.1]|{{✓✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}}

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux}}|[https://github.com/Cydrak/dasShiny Gitgit]|{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[http://www.emulator-zone.com/download.php/emulators/nds/duos/DuoS.zip 8/25/2012 Beta]|{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}

|{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}

|[https://wwwweb.gamulatorarchive.comorg/web/20111130005614/emulatorshttp:/nintendo-ds/windowsideasemu.biz/ideas iDeaS]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux}}|[httpshttp://webwww.archiveemulator-zone.orgcom/webfiles/20150221150649emulators/http:nds/ideas/ciacin.site90.com/ajx/resolve_link.php?link=ideas1040.7z 1.0.4.0]|{{✓}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}

|[[NooDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS/releases git]|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-!colspan="9"|Mobile/ ARM

|[[align=left|{{Icon|Android emulators|Android]], Pandora|Pyra}}|[https://playforum.googlemobilism.org/viewtopic.php?f=422&t=3629008 {{DraSticVer}}]<br>[https://pyra-handheld.com/storerepo/apps/details?id=com.dsemu.drastic r2.5.32 0.3a1 Pyra]|{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}

|Dsoid[[melonDS]] <small>(unofficial)</small>|[[Android emulatorsalign=left|{{Icon|Android]]}}|[httphttps://wwwgithub.emucrcom/rafaelvcaetano/melonDS-android git][https://play.google.com/searchstore/labelapps/Dsoiddetails?&max-resultsid=12 SVNme.magnum.melonds 1.7.0]|{{✗~}} ||{{✓~}} ||{{✗✓}} ||{{✗✓}} ||{{✗✓}} ||{{✗~}}

|nds4droid[https://inds.nerd.net/ iNDS]<br/><small>(nds4ios derived)</small><br/><small>(DeSmuME based)</small>|[[Android emulatorsalign=left|{{Icon|Android]]iOS}}|[https://github.com/jquesnelleiNDS-Team/nds4droid GitiNDS/releases git]|{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗✓}}

|[[iOS emulatorsalign=left|{{Icon|iOS]]}}

|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}|-|[http://jeffq.com/blog/nds4droid/ nds4droid]<br/><small>(DeSmuME based)</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https://github.com/jquesnelle/nds4droid git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[NooDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS git]|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-!colspan="9"|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://github.com/Xiro28/desmume_psp_experimental Exp.]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-|DesmumeX|align=left|{{Icon|Xbox}}|[https://www.1emulation.com/forums/topic/35774-desmumex-v087-new-update 0.87]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}|-|[[melonDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Switch}}|[https://github.com/rsduck/melonDS/releases git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[NooDS]]|align=left|{{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://wololo.net/downloads/index.php/download/1235 0.7]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✗}} <small>(POC)</small> ||{{✗}}

;[[DeSmuMEmelonDS]]: One Unlike DeSmuME, melonDS can use wifi, and has some DSi support. In terms of the most developed emulators for regular being user-friendly, options in melonDS are more simplified. Has similar DS game compatibility as DeSmuME. Both can run gamesat a higher internal resolution (sharper 3D objects) and can open roms inside an archive (zip, rar, but works best with higher-end computers7z). This emulator aims for accuracy over speed but you Both can tinker with display the vast amount two screens in a variety of setting to get some extra FPS ways, but melonDS has a hybrid mode. [https://i.imgur.com/S73Eb4m.jpg (see [[Common Problems and SolutionsExample)]] for tips). If you're still having a hard time running anything without While the output playing like syrup try developers of No$GBAhad documented the Wi-Fi capabilities first, or DraStic emulated through BlueStacks. DeSmuME melonDS is generally recommended regardless 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 your PC powergames. However, it's melonDS does not perfect and 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 very unoptimizedin development and are only available through either nightly/dev builds. The official developers have taken major disdain for 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 (outside . [[OpenEmu]] uses a shallow fork of an online play fork) the stable build and DSi featuresshould be avoided as well. Because of this unique development philosophyIf you do run into issues on the dev builds, you'll have then try switching back to look the last stable build (see [[Common Problems and Solutions]] for alternatives in those casestips).;[[DraStic]]: A payware, closed-source payware 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 unsubstantiated rumours rumors have spread around that the developers deliberately put in issues to mess with pirated copies, though at this is considered unsubstantiated. At the very least, donyou shouldn't expect any support from exophase Exophase and company if you get your hands on use a pirated copy. It's on par or better than DeSmuMe, and emulating though it through BlueStacks on PC may actually be a viable and fast alternative aside from a slight input delay. Available is available for free on the Raspberry Pi and Odroid via RetroPie.;[[No$|No$GBA]]: Focuses on speed, and has major compatibility issues and glitches as a result. But because Because it was originally a GBA emulator, the DS's 3D features are still very poorly handled. However, it might be an 's a good option for a very low-end machine machines but don't expect a lot of games to run perfectly, or at all. A fan program, No$Zoomer, was released for version 2.6 which increases compatibility and options, as well as the titular zooming 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 hasn't never rebased yet but does add options for window resizing. There haven't been any noticeable changes with regards to accuracynewer no$gba versions, howeverand looks like it's abandoned so likely never will. As of In v2.8, No$GBA became the first emulator to supports DSi games and is currently the only emulator that does, which has been their most notable feature. Only use No$GBA in the cases of for DSi gamesthat don't work on other emulators, debugging (if you've taken up romhacking for DS gamesor homebrew development), if you value speed above everything, if you're using a potato PC, or just as a last resort.;[[melonDS]]: Probably the only emulator that's provided any signs of hope for competition in the PC space. StapleButter's goal is to make an emulator that's better optimized and includes features that others lack, either intentionally or not. While the developers of No$GBA had documented the Wi-Fi capabilities first, melonDS is the only emulator that's gotten as far as it has and it has been found to work reasonably well with a handful of games. There's also hope that melonDS will implement DSi emulation in the future<ref name="next direction for melonDS">http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=47&b=15</ref>, though not much has been mentioned since and probably won't be added in until much later in development if ever. It could surpass DeSmuME when it covers more features and supports more games.;[[mGBA#medusa|Medusamedusa]]: [[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, Medusamedusa'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>

'''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 Resolutionresolution===;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 many more graphical enhancement such as an option to increase internal resolution and use MSAA, the . The devs of DeSmuME have now included an option for increased internal resolution and (see below), making X432R is outdated. See the [[DeSmuME]] page for more details.

===Local Multiplayer, Wi-Fi Connection, and Wii/The DS Connection===offers five types of connections:* '''Local Multiplayer is not supported by any emulator. No$GBA can emulate it but the connection fails somewhere during establishing the actual connection wireless communications''' - ''(despite the names from the other DS showing just fineMultiple cartridges).''* '''DS Download Play isn't supported by any emulator so far, though NDS'' -bootstrap homebrew on the Nintendo 3DS can boot some of them.''(Single cartridge)''* Nintendo WFC '''Wi-Fi Connection''' - ''(Online Multiplayer) was successfully emulated with third-party DeSmuME forks but has quite a bit of requirement (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).''* '''DS/Wii connection isnconnectivity't emulated in any capacity. ''Pokémon Battle Revolution* '''GBA/DS connectivity''' playability is very limited this way.

These features are not supported by the mainline DeSmuME project in particular due to timing inaccuracies and ''creative differences'', and it'{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"|-! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Platform(s highly unlikely they will ever be included in the future. If you're interested in these features, follow other projects and refrain from contacting the developers about them as per their wishes in their )! scope="col"|Latest Version! scope="col"|Local! scope="col"|Download Play! scope="official stancecol" on |Wi-Fi features in general! scope="col"|GBA/DS|-|[[melonDS|melonDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}|[http://melonds.kuribo64.net/downloads.php {{MelonDSVer}}] <br> [https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/actions Dev Bulids]|{{~}} ||{{~}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[DeSmuME]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|[https://desmume.org/download/ {{DeSmuMEVer}}]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[No$|No$GBA]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|DOS}}|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm {{No$GBAVer}}]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|}

===GBA/DS Connectivity===Inserting GBA cartridges in Slot-2 of the Nintendo DS while a game The major challenge with emulating multiplayer functionalities is running can unlock various gameplay features in some DS games. It's unknown if NO$GBA supports thistiming inaccuracies, which have made many projects, but it can be done in such as DeSmuME by going , not want to Config > Slot 2 (GBA Slot) and selecting GBA Cartridgeimplement them. Select So far, the GBA ROM file, and only emulator to actually make sure its <code>.sav</code> file any progress is in the same folder. You may need to reset the game for it to take effect. HowevermelonDS, DeSmuME does not support features like the solar sensor from GBA Boktai cartridges used in Boktai DS (Lunar Knight)but even that is still under development.

==DSi=Local wireless communication===Nintendo released the DSi in 2009, doing away with Slot-2 (used by GBA cartridges and Guitar Hero games) but also adding new lighting effects, Players who have a camera, more RAM, and downloadable titles called DSiWare though those were capped to 16MB because they were installed to copy of the very small internal NAND memory. DSiWare releases were also region locked, and same game can link together using the system language couldnDS't be changed. The Nintendo 3DS is also compatible with those games and wireless signals (given that the game offers a way to back them up to an SD cardthis feature).

===Game Formats===There are three types of melonDS supports wireless communication with several games using DSi hardware enhancements:, including ''New Super Mario Bros.'' and ''Pokemon'', but you need to have either multiple instances opened, which can slow down overall performance, or connect multiple computers via LAN. No$GBA can connect but fails before the actual connection is finished.

;DSi-enhanced retail cartridges: Regular ===DS retail cartridges compatible Download Play===This feature allows players with the older a DS modelsdevice, but unlocking more RAM and features when used on the DSionly one copy of a game, similar to some late GBC games on the GBAplay together. A couple This way, everyone doesn't need to have a copy of dozen games from Japan and US/EUR relied on this methodthe game. Those games The player with the physical cartridge will still boot on DS emulators but without host the game while the DSi enhancements.;DSi-exclusive retail cartridges: Retail cartridges relying heavily on other players connects using a "downloaded" version received from the DSi hardware featureshost. A boot Normally they are either simple mini-up error screen will show when attempting to load those on regular DS models (and by extension, emulators for those). Only five games were released this way, either launch games or because they were too big to fit in 16MB.;DSiWare: Downloadable titles downloaded only through stripped-down demos of the DSi eShop (discontinued)main game, or the Nintendo 3DS eShop (though it uses a different file packaging format)limited version of multiplayer. They have a 16MB size limitation and In most cases it's better to use multi-cart instead, however, there are lots of interesting exclusives for the system released some games, like ''Mario Party DS'', that wayrequire Download Play to use its multiplayer.

All three formats can be converted to *Download Play is supported by melonDS.nds format. Compared to regular DS gamesLike with local multiplayer, DSi games had some additional header information that wasn't even correctly dumped in it is very hit and miss but unlocking the earlier broken dumpsframerate helps. The 2017 set has updated many of thosemelonDS will often fail during the download process, though it's still severely lacking but some games actually go as far as booting and sometimes in DSiWare exclusives. DSiWare dumps exist in both NDS format or CIA format (for the ones who want to boot it on their 3DS)-game as well.

On ===Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection=== Nintendo's online service that was available for the old Wii and DS or DS Lite modelsand was free to use. It was shut down on May 20, as well as most Nintendo DS emulators2014, due to the first type will load in regular DS mode without any DSi enhancementscompany GameSpy, the second will show an error messageones who were managing these servers, and the third will crash on boot-up due to missing encryption abilities and DSi hardware supportshutting down its multiplayer services after being bought out. A popular game that used this feature was ''Mario Kart DS''.

On the DSi/3DS family There was a third-party DeSmuME fork that successfully emulated WFC but has quite a bit of handheldsrequirement (Ethernet cable, the first two formats though this can be played on some select DSi-compatible flashcarts like the (discontinued and now expensive) CycloDS iEvolution flashcard (which won't work on a stock 3DS not circumvented with custom firmware to whitelist itexternal software). As for After the third typeservice shutdown, it's available for digital purchase at there was a version compatible with the fan servers (restoring all DLC data but sadly most multiplayer games had their respective stores (DSi Shop for DSi, eShop for the 3DScontent lost forever) and installed as apps to the limited TWL NAND. In melonDS is one of the 3DS' case, they can also be installed as custom titles in only emulators to offer Wi-Fi capabilities.cia format (like all 3DS applications, but here itIt's also still a container for a <code>.nds</code> rom work-in this case-progress, and converting back and forth is possible)but it works relatively well.

===EmulationDS/Wii connectivity==={| class="wikitable" style="text-alignUses wireless communication on the DS to connect to the Wii. The idea is parallel to the GBA Link Cable for the GameCube, and just like the Link Cable, only a handful of games actually have this feature. Some notable examples are ''Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time'' which is essentially the same as the DS port but can connect with other DS' with the game, ''Pokemon Battle Revolution'' in which players could transfer their Pokemon to the game and use the DS as a controller, ''Animal Crossing: City Folk'' in which data could be transferred between the DS version ''Animal Crossing:center;"|-! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Operating System(s)! scope="col"|Latest Version! scope="col"|DSi (enhanced)! scope="col"|DSi (exclusive)! scope="col"|DSi Wild World'', and the ''Nintendo Channel'' on the Wii where players could download demos of DS games to their console using Download Play (digitalbasically the same idea as the Download Station kiosk)! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]|-|[[No$|No$GBA]]|Windows, DOS|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm 2.9]|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|}

No$GBA added support for DSi games of all three formats starting with version 2.8So far, no emulator has been able to emulate this feature, although some games won't boot and others nor have graphical glitches. You'll need attempted to enable "16MB DSi/retail" under the settings. Emulation is very iffy due If this was ever going to a so-so DS emulation foundation in NO$GBAbe emulated, 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 playablewould require work on both 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 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 projectgames].

===BIOS Files===DSi emulation requires a copy of the lower 32K-halves of the ARM7/ARM9 BIOSes It's unknown if No$GBA supports this, but it can be done in DeSmuME by going to Config > Slot 2 (BIOSDSI7.ROM GBA Slot) and BIOSDSI9selecting GBA Cartridge.Select the GBA ROM)file, which are different from the regular DS BIOS files and needed for make sure it's <code>.sav</code> file is in the decryptionsame folder. All You may need to reset the needed files are bios7igame for it to take effect.bin, bios9iAs of version 0.bin9, BIOSDSI7.ROMmelonDS supports GBA connectivity and even added support for the solar sensor on GBA Boktai cartridges used in Boktai DS (Lunar Knight), BIOSDSI9something DeSmuME has yet to support.ROM, BIOSNDS7.ROM, Either drag and BIOSNDS9.drop the GBA ROM. These unicorns can be found [http://archive.org/details/DSiFirmwareFiles here]onto the program before starting or open the file before loading the NDS file.

It's also advised (but still completely '''optional''') to use a NAND dump as well to increase compatibility (though adding games is more complex, and a soft-modding solution to dump it is still being worked on). Rename it to "==Nintendo DSi-1.mmc" (should be about 250MB). Change "Reset/Startup Entrypoint to "GBA/NDS BIOS" to now boot the emulator and games in =={{Main|Nintendo DSi mode. Hex editing required to "install" new DSiWare titles, though loading retail games in DSi mode from the menu is still possible easily. This fixes lots of glitches and crashes related to languages and use of the internal DSi font.emulators}}

==Special Hardwarehardware==;Guitar Hero Padpad: Used in the "Guitar Hero: On Tour" series (required) and Band Hero DS. Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2).

;Taito Paddle Controllerpaddle controller: Compatible with Arkanoid, Space Invaders Extreme, Space Invaders Extreme 2 , and Space Bust-a-Move. Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2).;Tilt Sensorsensor: Used in "Tony Hawk's Motion/Hue's Pixel Painter." No emulators support this add-on yet. (Slot 2);Rumble Packpack: Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2). Requires compatible Joystick.;Slide Controllercontroller: Required by "Slide Adventure Mag Kid". Yasu made a shoddy [http://home.usay.jp/pc/etc/nds/iDeaS_slide.zip plug-in] 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 Keyboardkeyboard: 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 keyboard isn't actually emulated. There is [https://github.com/AnimeCommander/Learn.With.Pokemon-Typing-Adventure.lua/blob/master/Pok%C3%A9mon%20Typing%20DS%20Keyboard%20Script.lua a Lua script] that permits using the actual keyboard by mapping presses of the actual keyboard to taps of the virtual Touch Screen. However, you are going to need to blank out all the control/hotkey bindings of DeSMuMe 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 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 Cameracamera: Accessory bundled with the Japan-only Face Training (a European localization for Christmas 2007 was cancelledcanceled, 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 all.;Bayer DIDGIT: A glucose meter for diabetic children with a game entitled called ''Knock 'Em Downs: World's 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 possible to add reward points through Action Replay codes, not to mention that the game will still function without the glucose meter attachment anyway (albeit with reduced functionality, of course).

===iQue DS Region Lockregion lock===

Emulators differ in their behaviour behavior to this region lock. No$GBA crashes. DeSmuME is accurate to non-can load them. However, for melonDS, you need a [[Emulator Files|Firmware Dump]] from an iQue hardware and DS, otherwise, it will replicate the failureregion lock.

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. [[DraStic]] was the first emulator able to run the two games properly, and while Desmume DeSmuME r5043 had an initial fix that worked around the glitch, 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.