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"|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

!colspan="816"|PC/ x86|-|[[melonDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|[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=melonDSRA>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-Gear, after a few minutes you'll be unable to save. [https://github.com/libretro/melonDS/issues/179#issuecomment-1407488464 '''You also can't use any wifi features'''] or do in game trades either or the game will freeze.</ref>|{{~}}<ref group=N name=noGBAbutsupportsconnection>[https://melonds.kuribo64.net/board/thread.php?id=1229 melonDS] and DeSmuME are not support backwards compatibility but supports [[#GBA/DS connectivity|GBA to DS connectivity]].</ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}[https://github.com/melonDS-emu/melonDS/issues/1000 *] ||{{✓}}<ref group=N name=WFCAlt>Possible with [https://wiimmfi.de/ Wimmfi], [https://kaeru.world/projects/wfc Kaeru] or [https://github.com/barronwaffles/dwc_network_server_emulator/wiki AltWFC/DWC].<br /> [https://melonds.kuribo64.net/board/thread.php?id=285 Tutorial: How to Connect to WFC in MelonDS]</ref> ||{{~}} ||{{~}} ||{{~}}<ref group=N name=lrRA>Only possible with libretro core. [https://github.com/melonDS-emu/melonDS/issues/1146 Github Issue page for standalone version].</ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}([https://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=182 WIP]) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[DeSmuME]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Web}}|[https://desmume.org/download/ {{DeSmuMEVer}}]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]|{{~}}<ref group=N name=noGBAbutsupportsconnection></ref> ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}<ref group=N name=WFCAlt></ref> ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}<ref group=N name=lrRA></ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[BizHawk]]<br/><small>(melonDS 0.9.5)</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}|[https://gitlab.com/TASVideos/BizHawk/-/pipelines Dev builds]<br/>[http://tasvideos.org/BizHawk/ReleaseHistory.html {{BizHawkVer}}]|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||?<ref group=N name=WFCAlt></ref> ||? ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[No$|No$GBA]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|DOS}}|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm {{No$GBAVer}}]|{{✓}} ||{{~}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[GBE+]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/shonumi/gbe-plus/releases {{GBEVer}}]|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>|-|[[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="medusa suspended"/>||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>|-|[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]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110225190819/http://neonds.com/ NeonDS]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https://web.archive.org/web/20100925152735/http://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]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[http://www.emulator-zone.com/download.php/emulators/nds/duos/DuoS.zip 8/25/2012 Beta]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[Ensata]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[http://www.mediafire.com/file/x0odmalrndt9m7a/Ensata+v1.4d.rar 1.4d]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}

|style="text-align[https://web.archive.org/web/20111130005614/http:center;"|[[DeSmuME]//ideasemu.biz/ iDeaS]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|Multi-platformLinux}}|style="text-align:center;"|[http://desmumewww.orgemulator-zone.com/files/emulators/nds/downloadideas/ SVNideas1040.7z 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;"|DeSmuME X432R|style!colspan="text-align:center;16"|Multi-platform|style="text-align:center;"|[http:Mobile //shikaver01.webcrow.jp/ Build]|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✓ARM

|style="text-align<small>[https:center;"|[[GBE+]//docs.libretro.com/library/desmume/ DeSmuME_libretro]</small>|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Android|Windows/LinuxiOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://githubbuildbot.libretro.com/shonumi/gbe-plusnightly/tree/nds-support NDS supportlibretro core]|style{{~}}<ref group="text-align:center;"N name=noGBAbutsupportsconnection></ref> ||{{✗}} ||✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}<ref group=N name=WFCAlt></ref> |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗ (WIP)}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}

|style[[DraStic]]|align="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Android|Pandora|Pyra}}|[https://githubplay.google.com/StapleButterstore/melonDS MelonDS]|styleapps/details?id=com.dsemu.drastic&hl="text-align:center;"|Windows/Linux|styleen_US&gl="text-align:center;"|US {{DraSticVer}}]<br>[httphttps://melondspyra-handheld.kuribo64.netcom/repo/boardapps/thread.php?id=19 32 0.21 Pyra]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗ (WIP){{✓}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[mGBA|MedusamelonDS]]<small> (unofficial)</small><br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/melonds/ melonds_libretro]</small>|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Android|Windows/LinuxiOS}}|style="text[https://github.com/rafaelvcaetano/melonDS-alignandroid git]<br/>[https:center;"|//play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.magnum.melonds 1.8.0]<br/>[https://mgbabuildbot.iolibretro.com/downloads.html alpha 2nightly/ libretro core]<ref group=N name=melonDSRA></ref>|style{{~}}<ref group=N name="text-align:center;"noGBAbutsupportsconnection></ref> ||{{~}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||? ||? |✓|style{{~}}<ref group="textN>Only possible with libretro core but [https://github.com/rafaelvcaetano/melonDS-align:center;"android/discussions/1117 work-in-progress for standalone version].</ref> ||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗ {{~}} <small>(WIP)</small>

|style="text-align:center;"|ndsemu[[Delta]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|WindowsiOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://github.com/raskyrileytestut/ndsemu GitHubDelta git]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{~}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}

|style="text-align[https:center;"|[[No$GBA]//inds.nerd.net/ iNDS]<br/><small>(nds4ios-derived)</small><br/><small>(DeSmuME-based)</small>|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows, DOSiOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://problemkaputtgithub.decom/iNDS-Team/gba.htm 2.8eiNDS/releases git]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} ||{{~}}

!colspan|nds4ios|align="8"left|{{Icon|iOS}}|[http://nds4ios.angelxwind.net/i/?page/downloads SVN]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||PC {{~ Dead projects}}

|style="text-align:center;"|dasShinyDeeS|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows, LinuxAndroid}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://github.com/CydrakDeeSEmu/dasShiny GitDeeS 1.0.8]|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"|DuoS[[NooDS]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|WindowsAndroid}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://www.sendspacegithub.com/file/ezoear 8/25Hydr8gon/2012 BetaNooDS git]|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>

|style="text-align[http:center;"|[[Ensata]//jeffq.com/blog/nds4droid/ nds4droid]<br/><small>(DeSmuME-based)</small>|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|WindowsAndroid}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://www.mediafiregithub.com/downloadjquesnelle/dr3gooki74kboio/Ensata_v1.4d.rar 1.4dnds4droid git]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|iDeaS|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Linux|style="text-align:center;"|[http://ciacin.site90.com/ideas.php 1.0.4.0]|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style!colspan="text-align:center;16"|✗Console

!colspan|[[Virtual Console]]|align="8"left|{{Icon|WiiU}}||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||Mobile{{✓}}

|style="text-align<small>[https:center;"|[[DraStic]//docs.libretro.com/library/desmume/ DeSmuME_libretro]</small>|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Switch|PS4}}<br/>{{Icon|AndroidVita}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://www.googleretroarch.com/search?q=drastic+emulator+site:forum.mobilism.org&tbs=qdr:0,sbd:1 r2.59.0.3a13]|style{{~}}<ref group="text-align:center;"N name=noGBAbutsupportsconnection></ref> ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}

|style="text-align[[melonDS]]<br/><small>[https:center;"|Dsoid//docs.libretro.com/library/melonds/ melonds_libretro]</small>|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Switch|Vita}}<br/>{{Icon|AndroidPS2}}|style[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<ref group="text-alignN name=melonDSRA></ref><br/>[https:center;"|//github.com/rsduck/melonDS/releases git]<small> (Switch)</small><br/>[httphttps://wwwgithub.emucrcom/Rinnegatamante/melonDS-Vita git]<small>(Vita Port)</small><br/>[https://github.com/searchDanielSant0s/label/Dsoid?&maxmelonDS-results=12 SVNPS2 git]<small> (PS2 Port)</small><br/>|style{{~}}<ref group="text-align:center;"N name=noGBAbutsupportsconnection></ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} || ? || ? || ? ||style{{~}}<ref group=N name="text-align:center;"lrRA></ref> ||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{~}}

|style[[NooDS]]|align="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|nds4droidSwitch|style="text-align:center;"Vita}}<br/>{{Icon|AndroidPSP}}|style="text-align[https:center;"|//github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS git]<small> (Switch/Vita)</small><br/>[httphttps://www.emucrgithub.com/searchXiro28/labelNooDS_PSP git] <small>(PSP port)</nds4droid?&max-results=12 SVN]small>|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}

|style[[DeSmuME PSP]]|align="textleft|{{Icon|PSP}}|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/590011753849421846/870274164748079104/desmume_psp_4.zip V4][https://github.com/Xiro28/DeSmuME-alignPSP git][https:center;"//github.com/Xiro28/desmume_psp_experimental Exp.]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||nds4ios{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|style="text-align:center;"|iOSDesmumeX|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Xbox}}|[httphttps://nds4ioswww.angelxwind1emulation.netcom/iforums/?pagetopic/downloads SVN35774-desmumex-v087-new-update 0.87]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}|style="text-|[[DeSmuME PSP|DSonPSP]]|align:center;"=left|{{Icon|✓PSP}}|style="text-align[https:center;"//wololo.net/downloads/index.php/download/1235 0.7]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} <small>(POC)</small> |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}}

* ;[[DeSmuMEmelonDS]] is one <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 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 a compressed archive (ZIP, but works best with higher end computersRAR, 7Z etc.). 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 of your PC power. However the first and only emulator that's gotten as far as it has, and it's not perfect and still very unoptimizedbeen found to work reasonably well with a handful of games. Switching to 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 won't cover has had significant improvements since 2018; new features include less CPU/GPU resource usage and high-resolution 3D rendering, though Wi-Fi features 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 (outside of an online play though dev builds are also generally very usable). [[OpenEmu]] uses a shallow fork) or DSi emulation either because of some aspects of its unique development philosophy, so you'll have to look for other alternatives for thosethe v0.9.11 build and should be avoided as well.* ;[[DraStic]] is a :A payware, closed -source payware emulator for [[Android emulators|Android ]] devices that can run games at a decent speed even on potato phones, there's unsubstantiated rumors that the devs deliberately put in issues to mess with the pirated version though. It's on par with (or in some cases better than DeSmuMe) DeSmuME, and emulating it through Bluestacks BlueStacks on PC is 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, and runs relatively well there: https://www.youtube.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 emulation speed above everything, if you're using a potato PC, or just as a last resort.* ;[[melonDSDelta]] is a recent DS emulator by ex:An open-DeSmuMe devs who want source application for iOS with the ability to make a better optimized emulator eventually emulate many consoles and handhelds, including features the existing emulators either don't DS. Since version 1.3, Delta Emulator allows you to emulate Nintendo DS with a DeSmuME or melonDS core. You will need to have DS BIOS or have but are marred with other problemsDSi BIOS to play DS/DSi games in Delta using the melonDS core. Italso 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 still very early 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 works 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 can boot has partially gotten some games. A couple other new emulators are also under developmentfeatures working, like the camera and slide accessories.* ;[[ensataEnsata]] is a leaked : Nintendo's official DS emulator by Nintendothat was leaked to the public. It's not very usable or compatible, but does 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 [iDeaS[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]] is a dead experimental DS emulator :Has an OpenGL renderer with a plug-in systemupscaling as of version 0.8.<ref name="melondsopengl">http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments. Itphp?id=90</ref> The renderer is much faster than DeSmuME's very slow and buggysupports 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 enhancements, but some features like the camera 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 slide accessory were only emulated partially by iDeaS. Not recommended[[DeSmuME]] page for more details.

===High Resolution===* DeSmuME X432R is a fork 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 <small>([[http: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.

===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 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).''* '''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 The major challenge with emulating multiplayer functionalities is timing inaccuracies and ''creative differences'', and it's highly unlikely they will ever be included in the futurewhich have made many projects, such as DeSmuME, not want to implement them. If you're interested in these features So far, follow other projects and refrain from contacting the developers about them as per their wishes in their "official stance" on Wi-Fi features in generalonly emulator to actually make any progress is melonDS, but even that is still under development.

{| class="wikitable" style==GBA/DS Connectivity===Inserting a GBA card in Slot"text-align:center; vertical-2 in a Nintendo DS unit (that's not a DSi) while a DS game is running could unlock various gameplay features in some DS games. DeSmuME can emulate thisalign: while playing the DS ROM, go to middle;"Config, Slot 2 (GBA Slot)|- style=" and select font-weight:bold;"! Name! melonDS! DeSmuME! No$GBA Cartridge". Now select the GBA ROM file, and make sure its sav file is in the same folder. You may need to reset the game sometimes to see the effect in-game.

Features like the solar sensor in Boktai |-| [[#GBA/DS (Lunar Knight) using the connectivity|GBA Boktai cartridges in Slot/DS connectivity]]| {{✓}}| {{✓}}| {{~}}|-| [[#Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection|Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]]| {{✓}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| [[#Local wireless communication|Local wireless communication]]| {{~}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| [[#DS Download Play|DS Download Play]]| {{~}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-2 are not emulated yet on the other hand.| [[#DS/Wii connectivity|DS/Wii connectivity]]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|}

==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 s wireless signals (given that the game offers a way to back them up to an SD cardthis feature).

===Game Formats===TheremelonDS supports wireless communication with several games, including ''New Super Mario Bros.'' and the ''Pokémon''s three types of games using DSi hardware enhancements:, 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 models, but unlocking more RAM and features when used on the DSi, similar only one copy of a game to some late GBC games on the GBAplay together. A couple This way, not everyone needs a copy of dozen games a game. The player with the physical cartridge will host the game while the other players connect using a "downloaded" version received from Japan and US/EUR relied on this methodthe host. Those Normally they are either simple mini-games will still boot on DS emulators but without , stripped-down demos of the DSi enhancementsmain game, or a limited version of multiplayer.* In most cases, it'''DSis better to use multi-exclusive retail cartridges:''' Retail cartridges relying heavily on the DSi hardware featurescart instead. A boot-up error screen will show when attempting to load those on regular DS models (and by extensionHowever, emulators for those). Only five some games were released this way, either launch games or because they were too big to fit in 16MB.* like ''Mario Party DS'DSiWare:''' Downloadable titles downloaded only through the DSi eShop (discontinued), 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 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 in DSiWare exclusives. DSiWare dumps exist but some games actually go as far as booting and sometimes 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 had an online service that was available for the Wii and the old DS or DS Lite modelsthat 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 their respective stores there was a version compatible with the fan servers (DSi Shop for DSirestoring all DLC data, eShop for the 3DSbut sadly, most multiplayer games had their content 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 an .nds rom work-in this case-progress, and converting back and forth is possible)but it works relatively well.

===EmulationDS/Wii connectivity===No$GBA added support for DSi games of all three formats starting with version 2.8, although some games wont boot and others have graphical glitches. You'll need Uses wireless communication on the DS to connect to enable "16MB DSi/retail" under the settingsWii. Emulation The idea is very iffy due parallel to a so-so DS emulation foundation in NO$the GBALink Cable for the GameCube, and just like the camera is just spoofed as Link Cable, [https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Wii-to-DS_connectivity only a static image but just causes an emulator crash whenever used, meaning handful of games that use it may boot but it won't be very playableactually have this feature]. Some notable examples include:

DSi used an encryption system for * ''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 dumps that went on to be enhanced .* ''Pokémon Battle Revolution'' - in which players could transfer their Pokémon from the Generation IV main series games and used for use the 3DSDS as a controller. This encryption is checked at start* ''Animal Crossing: City Folk'' -up, hence why in which data could be transferred between the DS emulators donversion (''Animal Crossing: Wild World'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 ), and the ''creative differencesNintendo Channel'' unique on the Wii, where players could download demos of DS games to that projecttheir console using Download Play (basically the same idea as the Download Station kiosk).

===BIOS Files===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. All the needed files are bios7i.binSo far, bios9i.binno emulator has been able to emulate this feature, BIOSDSI7nor have attempted to.ROMIf this were ever going to be emulated, BIOSDSI9.ROM, BIOSNDS7.ROM, and BIOSNDS9.ROM. These unicorns can be found [http://archive.org/details/DSiFirmwareFiles here]it would require work on both ends.

===GBA/DS connectivity===Inserting a GBA cartridge in the Slot-2 of the Nintendo DS while a game is running can unlock various gameplay features for [https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Nintendo_DS_games_with_GBA_connectivity several DS games].  It's also advised unknown if No$GBA supports this, but it can be done in DeSmuME by going to Config > Slot 2 (but still completely '''optional'''GBA Slot) and selecting GBA Cartridge. Select the GBA ROM file, and make sure its <code>.sav</code> file is in the same folder. You may need to use a NAND dump as well reset the game for it to increase compatibility take effect. As of version 0.9, [https://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=110 melonDS supports GBA connectivity] and even added support for the solar sensor on GBA Boktai cartridges used in Boktai DS (though adding games is more complexLunar Knight), something DeSmuME has yet to support. Either drag and drop the GBA ROM onto the program before starting or open the file before loading the NDS file. ==Nintendo DSi=={{Main|Nintendo DSi emulators}} ==Special hardware=={| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;"|- style="font-weight:bold;"! Name! DeSmuME! melonDS! No$GBA |-| 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| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| iQue DS region lock| {{✓}}| {{~}}| {{✗}}|};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 soft-modding solution to dump it is still being worked onMove. Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2). Rename it to ;Tilt sensor: Used in "Tony Hawk's Motion/Hue's Pixel Painter."DSiNo emulators support this add-1on yet.mmc(Slot 2);Pressure-sensitive touchscreen: Used in "Harvest Moon DS" , "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 (should be about 250MBSlot 2). Change Requires compatible Joystick.;Slide controller: Required by "ResetSlide Adventure Mag Kid". Yasu made a shoddy [http://home.usay.jp/pc/etc/nds/Startup Entrypoint 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.;Nintendo Wireless Keyboard: Bundled with "GBALearn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure" (JP/EU/NDS BIOS" AU). The game refuses to now 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 emulator 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'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 games a 32-bit version of [https://sourceforge.net/projects/luabinaries/files/5.1.5/Windows%20Libraries/Dynamic/ lua51.dll.] (The platform used in DSi modebuilding the <code>.dll</code> should not matter. Hex editing required to "install" new DSiWare titles) Even then, though loading retail games in DSi mode from not only is the menu emulated workaround a little slow, but saving is still possible easilybroken. Use savestates, instead. This fixes lots of glitches ;DS camera: Accessory bundled with the Japan-only Face Training (a European localization for Christmas 2007 was canceled, and crashes related it was released as a retail DSi game in 2010 using the internal camera rather than the original accessory). Not to languages and use 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 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 internal DSi fontglucose 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}}