Changes

{{Infobox console|title = Nintendo DS|logo = DSlitewhite.png|developer = [[:Nintendo]]|type = [[:Category:Handheld consoles|Handheld game console]]|generation = [[File:Nintendo_ds.jpgCategory: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 = {{✓}}}} {{for|other emulators that run on NDS hardware|Emulators on DS}}  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 4 MBs 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.

<div style="max-width:100%; overflow:auto;">{| class="wikitable"|+PC|style="text-align:center;"

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

! scope="col"|<abbr title="The Nintendo DS is backward compatible with Game Boy Advance (GBA) cartridges. On top of that inserting a GBAcartridge in the Slot-2 of the Nintendo DS while a game is running can unlock various gameplay features for several DS games, GBA/DS connectivity section for more information about this.">[https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Game_Boy_Advance_emulators GBA]</abbr>! scope="col"|NDS[[Nintendo DSi emulators|DSi]]! scope="col"|DSi[[#DS/Wii connectivity|DS<br/>to<br/>Wii]]! scope="col"|[[#Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection|Wi-Fi/WFC]]! scope="col"|[[#DS Download Play|Download<br/>Play]]! scope="col"|[[libretro#Local wireless communication|Local]]! scope="col"|<small>[https://retroachievements.org/gameList.php?c=18 Retro<br/>Achievements]</small>! scope="col"|[[Libretro Core]]! scope="col"|[[Texture_packs#Texture_Replacement (3D)|<small>Texture<br/>Replacement</small>]]</abbr>! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>! scope="col"|Active

|style="text-align:center;"|[[DeSmuME]]|style="text-align:center;"|Multi-platform|style!colspan="text-align:center;16"|[http:PC //desmume.org/download/ SVN]|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✓x86

|style[[melonDS]]|align="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|DeSmuME X432RFreeBSD}}|style[http://melonds.kuribo64.net/downloads.php {{MelonDSVer}}] [https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/actions <br/>Dev Builds]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<ref group=N name="textmelonDSRA>melonDS libretro core two versions out of date (still on 0.9.3), and the generation 5 Pokemons are broken. If you turn on C-alignGear, after a few minutes you'll be unable to save. [https:center;"|Multi//github.com/libretro/melonDS/issues/179#issuecomment-platform1407488464 '''You also can't use any wifi features'''] or do in game trades either or the game will freeze.</ref>|style{{~}}<ref group=N name=noGBAbutsupportsconnection>[https://melonds.kuribo64.net/board/thread.php?id="text1229 melonDS] and DeSmuME are not support backwards compatibility but supports [[#GBA/DS connectivity|GBA to DS connectivity]].</ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}[https://github.com/melonDS-align:center;"emu/melonDS/issues/1000 *] ||{{✓}}<ref group=N name=WFCAlt>Possible with [httphttps://shikaver01wiimmfi.webcrowde/ Wimmfi], [https://kaeru.jpworld/projects/ Buildwfc Kaeru]|styleor [https://github.com/barronwaffles/dwc_network_server_emulator/wiki AltWFC/DWC].<br /> [https://melonds.kuribo64.net/board/thread.php?id="text-align285 Tutorial:center;"How to Connect to WFC in MelonDS]</ref> ||{{~}} ||{{~}} |✗|style{{~}}<ref group="textN name=lrRA>Only possible with libretro core. [https://github.com/melonDS-align:center;"emu/melonDS/issues/1146 Github Issue page for standalone version].</ref> ||{{✓}} ||style{{✗}}([https://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id="text-align:center;"182 WIP]) ||✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[No$GBADeSmuME]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows, DOS|Linux|macOS|Web}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://problemkaputtdesmume.deorg/download/ {{DeSmuMEVer}}]<br/gba>[https://buildbot.htm 2libretro.8dcom/nightly/ libretro core]|style{{~}}<ref group=N name="text-align:center;"noGBAbutsupportsconnection></ref> ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}<ref group=N name=WFCAlt></ref> ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||style{{~}}<ref group="text-align:center;"N name=lrRA></ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}}

|style="text-align:center;"|dasShiny[[BizHawk]]<br/><small>(melonDS 0.9.5)</small>|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://githubgitlab.com/CydrakTASVideos/BizHawk/-/pipelines Dev builds]<br/>[http://tasvideos.org/BizHawk/dasShiny GitReleaseHistory.html {{BizHawkVer}}]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||style?<ref group="text-align:center;"N name=WFCAlt></ref> ||? ||? ||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"[[No$|DuoSNo$GBA]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|DOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[http://wwwproblemkaputt.sendspacede/gba.com/file/ezoear 8/25/2012 Betahtm {{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:center;"|[[EnsataGBE+]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://www.mediafiregithub.com/downloadshonumi/dr3gooki74kboiogbe-plus/Ensata_v1.4d.rar 1.4dreleases {{GBEVer}}]|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>

|style[[NooDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS/releases git]|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>|-|[[mGBA#medusa|mGBA/medusa]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://mgba.io/downloads.html#medusa alpha 2]|{{✓}} ||{{✗}}[https://mgba.io/timeline.html#IN+THE+FUTURE *] ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} || {{~}}<ref name="textmedusa suspended"/>||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>|-|[https://corgids.wordpress.com/ CorgiDS]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https:center;"//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> ||{{✗}}|-|iDeaSndsemu|stylealign="textleft|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https://github.com/rasky/ndsemu git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110225190819/http://neonds.com/ NeonDS]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https://web.archive.org/web/20100925152735/http:center;"//neonds.com/system/files/NeonDS_0.2.1.zip 0.2.1]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|dasShiny|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux}}|[https://github.com/Cydrak/dasShiny git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[http://ds-duos.blogspot.com/ DuoS]|stylealign="textleft|{{Icon|Windows}}|[http://www.emulator-zone.com/download.php/emulators/nds/duos/DuoS.zip 8/25/2012 Beta]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[Ensata]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[http:center;"//www.mediafire.com/file/x0odmalrndt9m7a/Ensata+v1.4d.rar 1.4d]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[https://web.archive.org/web/20111130005614/http://ciacinideasemu.site90biz/ iDeaS]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}|[http://www.emulator-zone.com/files/emulators/nds/ideas/ideas1040.php 7z 1.0.4.0]|style{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-!colspan="text16"|Mobile / ARM|-|<small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/desmume/ DeSmuME_libretro]</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS}}|[https:center;"//buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]|{{~}}<ref group=N name=noGBAbutsupportsconnection></ref> ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}<ref group=N name=WFCAlt></ref> ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[DraStic]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android|Pandora|Pyra}}|style[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsemu.drastic&hl=en_US&gl="textUS {{DraSticVer}}]<br>[https://pyra-handheld.com/repo/apps/32 0.1 Pyra]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[melonDS]]<small> (unofficial)</small><br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/melonds/ melonds_libretro]</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS}}|[https:center;"//github.com/rafaelvcaetano/melonDS-android git]<br/>[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.magnum.melonds 1.8.0]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<ref group=N name=melonDSRA></ref>|{{~}}<ref group=N name=noGBAbutsupportsconnection></ref> ||{{~}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||? ||? ||{{~}}<ref group=N>Only possible with libretro core but [https://github.com/rafaelvcaetano/melonDS-android/discussions/1117 work-in-progress for standalone version].</ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}} <small>(WIP)</small>|style-|[[Delta]]|align="textleft|{{Icon|iOS}}|[https://github.com/rileytestut/Delta git]|{{✗}} ||{{~}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[https://inds.nerd.net/ iNDS]<br/><small>(nds4ios-derived)</small><br/><small>(DeSmuME-based)</small>|align=left|{{Icon|iOS}}|[https:center;"//github.com/iNDS-Team/iNDS/releases git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}|-|stylends4ios|align="textleft|{{Icon|iOS}}|[http://nds4ios.angelxwind.net/i/?page/downloads SVN]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}|-|DeeS|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https:center;"//github.com/DeeSEmu/DeeS 1.0.8]|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|style="text-|[[NooDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https:center;"//github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS git]|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>|-|[http://jeffq.com/blog/nds4droid/ nds4droid]<br/><small>(DeSmuME-based)</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https://github.com/jquesnelle/nds4droid git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} | class|{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-!colspan="wikitable16"|Console|-|+Mobile[[Virtual Console]]|align=left|{{Icon|WiiU}}||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}|-|<small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/desmume/ DeSmuME_libretro]</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Switch|PS4}}<br/>{{Icon|Vita}}|[https://www.retroarch.com/ 0.9.13]|{{~}}<ref group=N name=noGBAbutsupportsconnection></ref> ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}

! scope="col"|Name[[melonDS]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/melonds/ melonds_libretro]</small>! scope|align="col"left|{{Icon|Switch|Operating System(s)! scope="col"Vita}}<br/>{{Icon|Latest VersionPS2}}! scope="col"|GBA! scope[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<ref group="col"|NDS! scopeN name="col"|melonDSRA></ref><br/>[https://github.com/rsduck/melonDS/releases git]<small> (Switch)</small><br/>[libretro|Libretro Corehttps://github.com/Rinnegatamante/melonDS-Vita git]<small>(Vita Port)</small><br/>[https://github.com/DanielSant0s/melonDS-PS2 git]<small> (PS2 Port)</small><br/>! scope|{{~}}<ref group=N name="col"noGBAbutsupportsconnection></ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} || ? || ? || ? ||{{~}}<ref group=N name=lrRA></ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} |[[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[DraSticNooDS]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Switch|Vita}}<br/>{{Icon|AndroidPSP}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://www.googlegithub.com/search?q=drastic+emulator+siteHydr8gon/NooDS git]<small> (Switch/Vita)</small><br/>[https:forum//github.mobilism.org&tbs=qdr:0,sbd:1 r2.5.0.3acom/Xiro28/NooDS_PSP git]<small>(PSP port)</small>|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} ||{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"|Dsoid[[DeSmuME PSP]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|AndroidPSP}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://wwwcdn.emucrdiscordapp.com/searchattachments/label590011753849421846/Dsoid?&max870274164748079104/desmume_psp_4.zip V4][https://github.com/Xiro28/DeSmuME-results=12 SVNPSP git][https://github.com/Xiro28/desmume_psp_experimental Exp.]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|nds4droidDesmumeX|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|AndroidXbox}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://www.emucr1emulation.com/searchforums/labeltopic/nds4droid?&max35774-desmumex-v087-new-results=12 SVNupdate 0.87]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} ||{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"[[DeSmuME PSP|nds4iosDSonPSP]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|iOSPSP}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://nds4ios.angelxwindwololo.net/idownloads/index.php/?pagedownload/downloads SVN1235 0.7]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓? |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} <small>(POC)</small> |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}}

* ;[[DeSmuMEmelonDS]] is very good<small class="plainlinks" style="font-weight:normal;">([https://wiimmfi.de/stat?m=25 servers])</small>:Unlike DeSmuME, melonDS can use Wi-Fi 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 very well developed can open ROMs inside a compressed archive (ZIP, RAR, 7Z etc.). Both can display the two screens in a variety of ways, but works best with higher end computersmelonDS has a hybrid mode. [https://i.imgur.com/S73Eb4m. This jpg (Example)] While the developers of No$GBA had documented the Wi-Fi capabilities first, melonDS is the first and only emulator aims for accuracy over speed but you can tinker that's gotten as far as it has, and it's been found to work reasonably well with the vast amount a handful of setting games. Switching to get some extra FPS OpenGL in core options may give a performance boost. ;[[DeSmuME]] <small class="plainlinks" style="font-weight:normal;">([https://wiimmfi.de/stat?m=25 servers])</small>:DeSmuME has had significant improvements since 2018; new features include less CPU/GPU resource usage and high-resolution 3D rendering, though Wi-Fi capability remains neither emulated nor supported. v0.9.13 from May 2022 is the first "Stable" build in over 7 years and is highly recommended over all previous builds (see though dev builds are also generally very usable). [[Common Problems OpenEmu]] uses a shallow fork of the v0.9.11 build and Solutionsshould be avoided as well.;[[DraStic]] :A payware, closed-source emulator for tips)[[Android emulators|Android]] devices that can run games at a decent speed even on potato phones. If youIt're still having s on par with (or in some cases better than) DeSmuME, and emulating it through BlueStacks on PC may actually be a viable and fast alternative aside from a hard time running anything without slight input delay. Some rumors have spread around that the output playing like syrup try No$GBA. DeSmuME developers deliberately put in issues to mess with pirated copies, though this is recommended regardless of your PC powerconsidered unsubstantiated. Like all post-16bit emulatorsAt the very least, DeSmuME isnyou shouldn't perfectexpect 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, and runs relatively well there: https://www. Expect nothing more than 60% at all timesyoutube.com/watch?v=715kg1-hmxA * ;[[No$|No$GBA]] focuses :Focuses on speed, and has major compatibility issues and glitchesas a result. As this Because it was first initially a GBA emulator, the DS' 3D added by the DS is features are still very poorly handled. However, it might be an '''It'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$Zoomer, was released for version 2.6 , which increases compatibility and more settingoptions, as well as the titular zooming optionand resizing abilities. The biggest boost addition is noise cancellation which will clear clears up the static that No$GBA makes with 3d its 3D rendering. Version 2.7a isnIt doesn't compatible with change accuracy though. No$Zoomer yet but does add resizing windows options but any increase of emulating skills is not noticeablenever rebased to newer No$GBA versions, and it looks like it was abandoned, so it likely never will. As of In v2.8 it supports , No$GBA became the first emulator to support DSi games, and is currently the only emulator that doeswhich has been their most notable feature. Only use No$GBA for DSi gamesthat don't work on other emulators, its debugging features (if you do translate/romhack 've taken up ROM-hacking for DS/GBA gamesor homebrew development) , if you value speed above everything, if you're using a potato PC, or just as a last resort.* ;[[DraSticDelta]] is a closed :An open-source payware emulator application for Android devices that can run games at decent speed even on potato phonesiOS with the ability to emulate many consoles and handhelds, there's talk that including the devs deliberately put in issues DS. Since version 1.3, Delta Emulator allows you to mess emulate Nintendo DS with a DeSmuME or melonDS core. You will need to have DS BIOS or DSi BIOS to play DS/DSi games in Delta using the pirated version thoughmelonDS core. It also allows you to boot into DS/DSi home screen and functions similarly to melonDS.

;[[mGBA#medusa|mGBA/medusa]]:[[mGBA]] developer endrift is also creating a DS emulator, but it's very much a [https://mgba.io/timeline.html#IN+THE+FUTURE 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 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 is a :A fork of DeSmuME, that has many more graphical enhancement enhancements, 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. Check out  ;[http:[DeSmuME]] <small>([[libretro]])<//www.geocities.jp/gponys/desmume_aa.html this site] to see what you're missing out on.small>*libretro port of DeSmuME also :Also has an the option to increase internal resolution since the [https://github.com/libretro/desmume/commit/5e430dfbc22f9d54c77f291304a38352ee1e5a63 August 8, 2015 /8/15 git commit]. It requires a very high-end CPU to run at a reasonable framerate.*;DraStic has :Has released a beta version supporting double the original resolution.*The ;Virtual Console <small>(Wii U's DS Virtual Console have )</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.

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''' The major challenge with emulating multiplayer functionalities is timing inaccuracies, which have made many projects, such as DeSmuME, not want to implement them. So far, the only emulator to actually make any progress is melonDS, but even that is still under development.  {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;"|- style="font-weight:bold;"! Name! melonDS! DeSmuME! No$GBA |-| [[#GBA/DS connectivity|GBA/DS connectivity]]| {{✓}}| {{✓}}| {{~}}|-| [[#Nintendo Wi-Fi: Multiplayer, WFC and Connection|Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]]| {{✓}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| [[#Local wireless communication|Local wireless communication]]| {{~}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| [[#DS Download Play|DS Download Play]]| {{~}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| [[#DS/Wiiconnectivity|DS/DSWii connectivity]]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|} ===Local wireless communication===* Local Multiplayer is not supported by any emulator (in DesmumePlayers who have a copy of the same game can link together using the DS's case in particularwireless signals (given that the game offers this feature). melonDS supports wireless communication with several games, itincluding ''New Super Mario Bros.'' and the ''Pokémon''s very unlikely)games, but you need to have either multiple instances opened, which can slow down overall performance, or connect multiple computers via LAN. No$GBA can emulate it connect but the connection fails somewhere during establishing before the actual connection (despite the names from the other is finished. ===DS showing just fine).Download Play===* Nintendo WFC was successfully emulated This feature allows players with third-party DeSmuME forksa DS and only one copy of a game to play together. This way, but has quite not everyone needs a bit copy of requirements (Ethernet cable, though this can be circumvented a game. The player with external software)the physical cartridge will host the game while the other players connect using a "downloaded" version received from the host. After service shutdown Normally they are either simple mini-games, stripped-down demos of the main game, there was or a limited version compatible with the fan servers (restoring all DLC data but sadly of multiplayer. In most cases, it's better to use multi-cart instead. However, some games, like ''Mario Party DS'', require Download Play to use its multiplayer games had their content lost forever).* Download Play isn't is supported by any emulator so farmelonDS. Like with local multiplayer, though NDS-bootstrap homebrew on it is very hit and miss but unlocking the framerate helps. melonDS will often fail during the Nintendo 3DS can boot download process, but some of them.* DS/Wii connection isn't emulated games actually go as far as booting and sometimes in any capacity-game as well.

===GBA/DS ConnectivityNintendo Wi-Fi Connection===Inserting a GBA card in Slot-2 in a Nintendo had an online service that was available for the Wii and the DS unit (that's not a DSi) while a DS game is running could unlock various gameplay features in some DS gameswas free to use. DeSmuME can emulate this: while playing the DS ROM It was shut down on May 20, 2014, go due to "Configthe company GameSpy, Slot 2 (GBA Slot)" and select "GBA Cartridge". Now select the GBA ROM fileones who were managing these servers, and make sure shutting down its sav file is in the same foldermultiplayer services after being bought out. You may need to reset the game sometimes to see the effect in-A popular gamethat used this feature was ''Mario Kart DS''.

Features like There was 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 solar sensor in Boktai DS fan servers (Lunar Knightrestoring all DLC data, but sadly, most multiplayer games had their content lost forever) using . melonDS is one of the GBA Boktai cartridges only emulators to offer Wi-Fi capabilities. It's still a work-in Slot-2 are not emulated yet on the other handprogress, but it works relatively well.

==DSi=DS/Wii connectivity===Nintendo released Uses wireless communication on the DSi in 2009, doing away with Slot-2 (used by GBA cartridges and Guitar Hero games) but also adding new lighting effects, a camera, more RAM, and downloadable titles called DSiWare though those were capped DS to 16MB because they were installed connect to the very small internal NAND memoryWii. The Nintendo 3DS idea is also compatible with those games parallel to the GBA Link Cable for the GameCube, and offers just like the Link Cable, [https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Wii-to-DS_connectivity only a way to back them up to an SD cardhandful of games actually have this feature].Some notable examples include:

There* 's three types 'Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time'' - which is essentially the same as the DS port but can connect with other DSes with the game.* ''Pokémon Battle Revolution'' - in which players could transfer their Pokémon from the Generation IV main series games and use the DS as a controller. * ''Animal Crossing: City Folk'' - in which data could be transferred between the DS version (''Animal Crossing: Wild World''), and the ''Nintendo Channel'' on the Wii, where players could download demos of DS games to their console using DSi hardware enhancements:Download Play (basically the same idea as the Download Station kiosk).

* '''DSi-enhanced retail cartridges:''' Regular DS retail cartridges compatible with the older DS modelsSo far, but unlocking more RAM and features when used on the DSi, similar no emulator has been able to some late GBC games on the GBA. A couple of dozen games from Japan and US/EUR relied on emulate this method. Those games will still boot on DS emulators but without the DSi enhancements.* '''DSi-exclusive retail cartridges:''' Retail cartridges relying heavily on the DSi hardware features. A boot-up error screen will show when attempting feature, nor have attempted to load those on regular DS models (and by extension, emulators for those). Only four games were released If this way, either launch games or because they were too big ever going to fit in 16MB.* '''DSiWare:''' Downloadable titles downloaded only through the DSi eShop (discontinued)be emulated, or the Nintendo 3DS eShop (though it uses a different file packaging format). They have a 16MB size limitation and there's lots of interesting exclusives for the system released that waywould require work on both ends.

===GBA/DS connectivity===Inserting a GBA cartridge in the Slot-2 of the Nintendo 3DS users DS while a game is running can still buy (or install unlock various gameplay features for [https://nintendo.cia dumps from elsewhere) DSiWare titles specificallyfandom. So far, no flashcart or emulator (save for NO$GBA, more on that later) can play dumps from the first two types in DSi modecom/wiki/List_of_Nintendo_DS_games_with_GBA_connectivity several DS games].

DSi used an encryption system for It's unknown if No$GBA supports this, but it can be done in DeSmuME by going to Config > Slot 2 (GBA Slot) and selecting GBA Cartridge. Select the GBA ROM file, and make sure its <code>.sav</code> file is in the same folder. You may need to reset the game dumps that went on for it to be enhanced take effect. As of version 0.9, [https://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=110 melonDS supports GBA connectivity] and used even added support for the 3DS. This encryption is checked at start-upsolar sensor on GBA Boktai cartridges used in Boktai DS (Lunar Knight), hence why DS emulators don't even manage something DeSmuME has yet to boot DSiWare dumpssupport. Either drag and drop the GBA ROM onto the program before starting or open the file before loading the NDS file.

That aside, compared to regular DS games, ==Nintendo DSi games had some additional header information that wasn't even correctly dumped in the earlier broken dumps. The 2017 set has updated many of those, though it's still severely lacking in DSiWare exclusives. DSiWare dumps exist in both NDS format, or CIA format (for the ones who want to boot in on their 3DS).=={{Main|Nintendo DSi emulators}}

No$GBA added support for DSi games starting with version 2.8, although some games wont boot and others have graphical glitches. You'll need to enable ==Special hardware=={| class="wikitable" style="DSi/retailtext-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" under the settings. DSi emulation requires a copy of the lower 32K|-halves of the ARM7/ARM9 BIOSes (BIOSDSI7.ROM and BIOSDSI9.ROM), which are different from the regular DS BIOS files and needed for the decryption, though nobody on the internet bothered to upload those from their old useless permanentlystyle="font-offline DSi (they contain system specific info).weight:bold;"! Name! DeSmuME! melonDS! No$GBA

Emulation is very iffy due to a so|-| Guitar Hero pad| {{✓}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Piano for Easy Piano| {{✓}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Taito paddle controller| {{✓}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Rumble pack| {{✓}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Nintendo Wireless Keyboard| {{~}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Tilt sensor| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Pressure-sensitive touchscreen| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Slide controller| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| DS camera| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Bayer DIDGIT| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-so | iQue DS emulation foundation region lock| {{✓}}| {{~}}| {{✗}}|};Guitar Hero pad: Used in NO$GBAthe "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 the camera is just spoofed as Space Bust-a static image-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);Pressure-sensitive touchscreen: Used in "Harvest Moon DS", meaning games that use "Colors!", "Metroid Prime: Hunters", "Okamiden" and "Rhythm Heaven". No emulators support this feature yet (can work with analog triggers or DualShock 2/3 pressure-sensitive face buttons).;Rumble pack: Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2). Requires compatible Joystick.;Slide controller: 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 may . No emulators support this add-on at the moment.;Nintendo Wireless Keyboard: Bundled with "Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure" (JP/EU/AU). The game refuses to boot without a keyboard, but it won't can be very playablerun 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. It] While it's very unlikely DSiWare emulation playable using the on-screen keyboard on the lower screen, the keyboard isn't actually emulated. There is ever [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'll 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* this game. 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 camera: Accessory bundled with the Japan-only Face Training (a European localization for Christmas 2007 was canceled, and it was released as a retail DSi game in 2010 using the internal camera rather than the original accessory). Not to be implemented confused with the built-in Desmume due DSi camera. No emulators exist for it at all.;Bayer DIDGIT: A glucose meter for diabetic children with a game 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 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 keyboardmechanism, but it can be run on emulators with an anti-piracy fix and another DeSmuME-specific save bug fixnot even for Korean releases. While it's playable using the on-screen keyboard on the lower screen, the keyboard wasn't actually emulated. 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, while DeSmuME can load them. Except However, for one thing. While the Chinese DS ROMs are perfectly normal DS ROMsmelonDS, besides the tiny fact they have region locking implemented, 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 ''Pokémon 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 into 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 /> ==See also==* [[Nintendo DSi emulators]]  {{Nintendo}}