Changes

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

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

 {{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 on November 21, 2004 , and had 2 ARM CPUs (ARM9 and ARM7) with 4MB 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.

! 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 GBA cartridge 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"|[[Recommended Emulatorsemulators|Recommended]]

!colspan="916"|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melonDS libretro core two versions out of date (still on 0.9.3), and the generation 5 Pokemons are broken.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]) ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}

|Multi-platformalign=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Web}}|[https://cidesmume.org/download/ {{DeSmuMEVer}}]<br/>[https://buildbot.appveyorlibretro.com/projectnightly/zeromuslibretro core]|{{~}}<ref group=N name=noGBAbutsupportsconnection></ref> ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}<ref group=N name=WFCAlt></desmume ref> ||{{DeSmuMEVer✗}}]||{{✗}} ||{{~}}<ref group=N name=lrRA></ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}

|[[melonDSBizHawk]]<br/><small>(melonDS 0.9.5)</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux}}|[https://gitlab.com/TASVideos/BizHawk/-/pipelines Dev builds]<br/>[http://melondstasvideos.kuribo64.netorg/BizHawk/downloadsReleaseHistory.php html {{MelonDSVerBizHawkVer}}]|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~✗}} ||?<ref group=N name=WFCAlt></ref> ||? ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}} <small>(WIP)</small>

|[[DeSmuME#Graphical_EnhancementNo$|DeSmuME X432RNo$GBA]]|Multi-platformalign=left|{{Icon|Windows|DOS}}|[http://shikaver01.webcrowproblemkaputt.jp/desmume_x432rde/indexgba.html 2015-04-19htm {{No$GBAVer}}]|{{✓}} ||{{~}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux, |macOS (untested)}}

|{{✓}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} <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>

|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]|{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[No$|No$GBA]]|Windows, DOS|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm {{No$GBAVer✗}}]||{{✓✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}

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

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

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

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

|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-!colspan="16"|Mobile / ARM|-|<small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/desmume/ DeSmuME_libretro]</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS}}|[https://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}}|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsemu.drastic&hl=en_US&gl=US {{DraSticVer}}]<br>[https://pyra-handheld.com/repo/apps/32 0.1 Pyra]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}

|[[melonDS]]<small> (unofficial)</small><br/><small>[https://githubdocs.libretro.com/Hydr8gonlibrary/melonds/NooDS NooDSmelonds_libretro]</small>|Windows, Linuxalign=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS}}|[https://github.com/Hydr8gonrafaelvcaetano/melonDS-android git]<br/>[https://play.google.com/store/apps/NooDS Gitdetails?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>

|[[Delta]]|align=left|{{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://github.com/iNDS-Team/iNDS/releases git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}|-|nds4ios|align=left|{{Icon|iOS}}|[http://nds4ios.angelxwind.net/i/?page/downloads SVN]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}|-|DeeS|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https://github.com/DeeSEmu/DeeS 1.0.8]|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[NooDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https://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]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-!colspan="916"|Console

|Wii Ualign=left|{{Icon|WiiU}}

|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}}|-|[[melonDS]]|Switch|[https://gbatemp.net/download/melonds-for-switch.35201/ 0.7.4-2]|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS NooDS]|Switch|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS Git]|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}

!colspan|<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> ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||Mobile{{✓}}

|[[DraSticmelonDS]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/melonds/ melonds_libretro]</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Switch|Vita}}<br/>{{Icon|PS2}}|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<ref group=N name=melonDSRA></ref><br/>[Android emulators|Androidhttps://github.com/rsduck/melonDS/releases git]], Pandora,<small> (Switch)</small><br />Linux [https://github.com/Rinnegatamante/melonDS-Vita git]<small>(Raspberry PiVita Port)</small>|<br/>[https://play.googlegithub.com/storeDanielSant0s/melonDS-PS2 git]<small> (PS2 Port)</appssmall><br/details?id>|{{~}}<ref group=N name=com.dsemu.drastic noGBAbutsupportsconnection></ref> ||{{DraSticVer✓}}]||{{✗}} || ? || ? || ? ||{{~}}<ref group=N name=lrRA></ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓~}}

|[[NooDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Switch|Vita}}<br/>{{Icon|PSP}}|[https://indsgithub.nerd.netcom/Hydr8gon/ iNDSNooDS git]<br/><small>(nds4ios derivedSwitch/Vita)</small><br/>[https://github.com/Xiro28/NooDS_PSP git] <small>(DeSmuME basedPSP port)</small>|[[iOS emulators{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||iOS]]{{✗}} |[https://github.com/iNDS-Team/iNDS/releases Git]|{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}

|nds4ios|[[iOS emulators|iOSDeSmuME PSP]]|align=left|{{Icon|PSP}}|[httphttps://nds4ioscdn.angelxwinddiscordapp.com/attachments/590011753849421846/870274164748079104/desmume_psp_4.zip V4][https://github.netcom/Xiro28/DeSmuME-PSP git][https://igithub.com/?pageXiro28/downloads SVNdesmume_psp_experimental Exp.]|{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}

|DsoidDesmumeX|[[Android emulatorsalign=left|{{Icon|Android]]Xbox}}|[httphttps://www.emucr1emulation.com/searchforums/labeltopic/Dsoid?&max35774-desmumex-v087-new-results=12 SVNupdate 0.87]|{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}

|[http://jeffq.com/blog/nds4droid/ nds4droid[DeSmuME PSP|DSonPSP]]<br/><small>(DeSmuME based)</small>|[[Android emulatorsalign=left|{{Icon|Android]]PSP}}|[https://githubwololo.net/downloads/index.comphp/jquesnelledownload/nds4droid Git1235 0.7]|{{✗}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✗}} <small>(POC)</small> ||{{✗}}

;[[DeSmuMEmelonDS]]<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 can open ROMs inside a compressed archive (ZIP, RAR, 7Z etc.). Both can display the two screens in a variety of ways, but melonDS has a hybrid mode. [https: One //i.imgur.com/S73Eb4m.jpg (Example)] While the developers of No$GBA had documented the Wi-Fi capabilities first, melonDS is the most developed emulators for regular DS first and only emulator that's gotten as far as it has, and it's been 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 has had significant improvements since 2018, including lower ; new features include less CPU/GPU Usageresource usage and high-resolution 3D rendering, updated to use VS2015, and potentially reopen withough Wi-fi/multiplayer capabilitiesFi capability remains neither emulated nor supported. v0. However, these features are still in development and are only available through either nightly/dev builds9. If you're worried about stability than stick to the latest stable release, otherwise it 13 from May 2022 is better to use the latest dev first "Stable" build. This emulator aims for accuracy in over 7 years and is highly recommended over speedall previous builds (though dev builds are also generally very usable). (see [[Common Problems and SolutionsOpenEmu]] for tips)uses a shallow fork of the v0.9.11 build and should be avoided as well.;[[DraStic]]: A payware, closed-source emulator for [[Android emulators|Android]] devices that can run games at a decent speed even on potato phones. It's on par with (or in some cases better than) DeSmuME, and emulating it through BlueStacks on PC may actually be a viable and fast alternative aside from a slight input delay. Some unsubstantiated 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, and runs relatively well there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=715kg1-hmxA ;[[No$|No$GBA]]: Focuses on speed, and has major compatibility issues and glitches as a result. But because Because it was originally initially a GBA emulator, the DS's 3D features are still very poorly handled. However, it might be an '''It's a good option for a very low-end machine machines, but don't expect a lot of games to run perfectly, or at all'''. A fan program, No$Zoomer, was released for version 2.6 , which increases compatibility and 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$GBA versions, and it looks like it was abandoned, howeverso it likely never will. As of In v2.8, No$GBA supports DSi games and is currently became the first and only emulator that doesto support DSi games, which has been their most notable feature. Only use No$GBA in the cases of for DSi gamesthat don't work on other emulators, debugging (if you've taken up romhacking ROM-hacking for DS gamesor homebrew development), if you value speed above everything, if you're using a potato PC, or just as a last resort.;[[melonDS]]: Arisotura's goal is to make an emulator that's better optimized and includes features that others lack, either intentionally or not. While the developers of No$GBA had documented the Wi-Fi capabilities first, melonDS is the first and only emulator that's gotten as far as it has and it has been found to work reasonably well with a handful of games. 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>, and has recently began attempts at booting the DSi's firmware<ref name="melonDSi">http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=94</ref>. It could surpass DeSmuME when it covers more features.;[[mGBA#medusa|medusa]]: [[mGBA]] developer endrift is also creating a DS emulator, but it's very much a work-in-progress and isn't nearly as far as melonDS in terms of the capabilities it's covered. As of March 2018, medusa's development is "suspended until further notice".<ref name="medusa suspended">https://mgba.io/2018/03/09/holy-grail-bugs-revisited/#postscript-a-several-month-late-explanation</ref>;iDeaS: An abandoned and experimental DS emulator that uses a plug-in system, it's very slow and buggy but has partially gotten some features working like the camera and slide accessories.;[[Ensata]]: Nintendo's official DS emulator that was leaked to the public. It's not very usable or compatible but it can run a few games.

===High Resolution===;[[Delta]];melonDS: Has added support An open-source application for OpenGL renderer and 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 iOS with the internal resolution up ability to 8x native resolution. More features such as texture filtering are planned.;DeSmuME X432R:A fork of DeSmuME, that has emulate many more graphical enhancement such as an option to increase internal resolution consoles and use MSAAhandhelds, including the devs of DeSmuME have included an option for increased internal resolution and X432R is outdatedDS. Since version 1. See the [[3, Delta Emulator allows you to emulate Nintendo DS with a DeSmuME]] page for more detailsor melonDS core.;DeSmuME <small>([[libretro]])</small>:Also has an option You will need to have DS BIOS or DSi BIOS to increase internal resolution since [https:play DS//github.com/libretro/desmume/commit/5e430dfbc22f9d54c77f291304a38352ee1e5a63 August 8, 2015 git commit]DSi games in Delta using the melonDS core. It requires a very high-end CPU also allows you to run at a reasonable framerate.;DraStic:Has released a beta version supporting double the original resolution.;Virtual Console <small>(Wii U)<boot into DS/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 DSi home screen and functions similarly to enable it without a homebrew-enabled consolemelonDS.

==Connectivity==;[[mGBA#medusa|mGBA/medusa]]===Local Multiplayer:[[mGBA]] developer endrift is also creating a DS emulator, Wi-Fi Connection, and Wiibut it's very much a [https://mgba.io/DS Connection===* MelonDS supports wireless communication with several games, including New Super Mario Brostimeline. html#IN+THE+FUTURE work-in-progress] and Pokemon. No$GBA can emulate it but the connection fails somewhere during establishing the actual connection (despite the names from the other DS showing just fine).* Download Play isn't supported by any emulator so nearly as far, though NDS-bootstrap homebrew on as melonDS in terms of the Nintendo 3DS can boot some capabilities it's covered. As of them. MelonDS fails during the download process though some actually go as far as bootingMarch 2018, but never to the actual medusa's development is "gamesuspended until further notice".<smallref name="medusa suspended">[Citation Needed]<https://small>mgba.* Nintendo WFC (Online Multiplayer) was successfully emulated with thirdio/2018/03/09/holy-grail-bugs-revisited/#postscript-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-several-month-late-explanation</Wii connection isn't emulated in any capacity. ''Pokémon Battle Revolution'' playability is very limited this way.ref>

These features are not supported by the mainline DeSmuME project ;iDeaS:An abandoned and experimental DS emulator that uses a plug-in particular due to timing inaccuracies system, it's very slow and ''creative differences''buggy but has partially gotten some features working, like the camera and itslide accessories.;[[Ensata]]: Nintendo's highly unlikely they will ever be included in official DS emulator that was leaked to the futurepublic. If youIt're interested in these featuress not very usable or compatible, follow other projects and refrain from contacting the developers about them as per their wishes in their "official stance" on Wi-Fi features in generalbut it can run a few games.

===GBA/'''Comparisons of several Nintendo DS Connectivity===emulators:'''Inserting GBA cartridges in Slot* [https://emucross.com/the-next-generation-2 of -ds-emulators/ Looking Toward the Nintendo Next Generation of DS while a game is running can unlock various gameplay features in some DS gamesEmulators] (By [[Dolphin]] tester, [https://dolphin-emu. It's unknown if NO$GBA supports thisorg/blog/authors/JMC47/ JMC47], but it can be done in DeSmuME by going to Config > Slot AKA Justin M. Chadwick. 5 June 2017. Tested emulators: melonDS (0.2 (GBA Slot) and selecting GBA Cartridge0. Select the GBA ROM file3), and make sure its <code>medusa (Alpha 2) & GBE+ (1.sav</code> file is in the same folder. You may need 1) compared to reset the game for it to take effectmature DeSmuME. However, DeSmuME does not support features like the solar sensor from GBA Boktai cartridges used in Boktai DS (Lunar Knight).

==DSi=High resolution===Nintendo released the DSi on April 5, 2009, doing away ;[[melonDS]]:Has an OpenGL renderer 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 to 16MB because they were installed to the very small internal NAND memoryupscaling as of version 0.8.<ref name="melondsopengl">http://melonds.kuribo64. DSiWare releases were also region locked, and the system language couldn't be changednet/comments. php?id=90</ref> The Nintendo 3DS renderer is also compatible with those games much faster than DeSmuME's and offers a way to back them supports increasing the internal resolution up to an SD card16x native resolution. More features, such as texture filtering, are planned.

===Game Formats===;DeSmuME X432RThere are three types :A fork of games using DSi hardware DeSmuME that has graphical 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.

;DSi-enhanced retail cartridges[[DeSmuME]] <small>([[libretro]])</small>: Regular DS retail cartridges compatible with the older DS models, but unlocking more RAM and features when used on Also has the DSi, similar option to some late GBC games on increase internal resolution since the GBA[https://github. A couple of dozen games from Japan and UScom/libretro/desmume/commit/EUR relied on this method5e430dfbc22f9d54c77f291304a38352ee1e5a63 8/8/15 git commit]. Those games will still boot on DS emulators but without the DSi enhancementsIt requires a very high-end CPU to run at a reasonable framerate.;DSi-exclusive retail cartridgesDraStic: Retail cartridges relying heavily on Has released a beta version supporting double the DSi hardware features. A boot-up error screen will show when attempting to load those on regular DS models (and by extension, emulators for those). Only five games were released this way, either launch games or because they were too big to fit in 16MBoriginal resolution.;DSiWare: Downloadable titles downloaded only through the DSi eShop Virtual Console <small>(discontinuedWii U), or the Nintendo 3DS eShop </small>:Has a configuration file with support for x2 internal resolution without any significant performance hit (though it uses as well as a different file packaging formatbrightness setting). They have a 16MB size limitation and However, there are lots of interesting exclusives for the system released that 's no legit wayto enable it without a homebrew-enabled console.

All three formats can be converted to ==Connectivity==The DS offers five types of connections:* '''Local wireless communications''' - ''(Multiple cartridges)''*.nds format. Compared to regular '''DS games, DSi games had some additional header information that wasnDownload Play''' - ''(Single cartridge)''* '''Wi-Fi Connection''' - '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 it on their 3DSOnline multiplayer).''* '''DS/Wii connectivity'''* '''GBA/DS connectivity'''

On the old DS or DS Lite modelsThe major challenge with emulating multiplayer functionalities is timing inaccuracies, which have made many projects, such as well as most Nintendo DS emulatorsDeSmuME, not want to implement them. So far, the first type will load in regular DS mode without only emulator to actually make any DSi enhancementsprogress is melonDS, the second will show an error message, and the third will crash on boot-up due to missing encryption abilities and DSi hardware supportbut even that is still under development.

On the DSi/3DS family of handhelds, the first two formats can be played on some select DSi{| class="wikitable" style="text-compatible flashcarts like the (discontinued and now expensive) CycloDS iEvolution flashcard (which won't work on a stock 3DS not with custom firmware to whitelist it). As for the third type, it's available for digital purchase at their respective stores (DSi Shop for DSi, eShop for the 3DS) and installed as apps to the limited TWL NAND. In the 3DS' case, they can also be installed as custom titles in .cia format (like all 3DS applications, but here it's also a container for a <code>.nds</code> rom in this case, and converting back and forth is possible).align:center; vertical-align:middle;"|- style="font-weight:bold;"! Name! melonDS! DeSmuME! No$GBA

! scope="col"|Name[[#GBA/DS connectivity|GBA/DS connectivity]]| {{✓}}| {{✓}}| {{~}}|-! scope="col"|Operating System(s)[[#Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection|Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]]! scope="col"|Latest Version{{✓}}! scope="col"|DSi (enhanced){{✗}}! scope="col"|DSi (exclusive){{✗}}! scope="col"|DSi (digital)-! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators#Local wireless communication|RecommendedLocal wireless communication]]| {{~}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}

|[[No$#DS Download Play|No$GBADS Download Play]]|Windows, [[Intel CPUs|DOS]]|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm 2.9b]|{{✓~}} ||{{✓✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}

|[[melonDS#DS/Wii connectivity|melonDSDS/Wii connectivity]]|Windows, Linux|alpha|{{✓✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}} <small>([http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=94 WIP])</small>

===Local wireless communication===Players who have a copy of the same game can link together using the DS's wireless signals (given that the game offers this feature). melonDS supports wireless communication with several games, including ''New Super Mario Bros.'' and the ''Pokémon'' games, but you need to have either multiple instances opened, which can slow down overall performance, or connect multiple computers via LAN. No$GBA added support for DSi can connect but fails before the actual connection is finished. ===DS Download Play===This feature allows players with a DS and only one copy of a game to play together. This way, not everyone needs a copy of a game. The player with the physical cartridge will host the game while the other players connect using a "downloaded" version received from the host. Normally they are either simple mini-games , stripped-down demos of all three formats starting with the main game, or a limited version 2of multiplayer. In most cases, it's better to use multi-cart instead.8However, although some games won, like ''Mario Party DS't boot and others have graphical glitches. You'll need , require Download Play to enable "16MB DSi/retail" under the settingsuse its multiplayer. Download Play is supported by melonDS. Emulation Like with local multiplayer, it is very iffy hit and miss but unlocking the framerate helps. melonDS will often fail during the download process, but some games actually go as far as booting and sometimes in-game as well. ===Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection=== Nintendo had an online service that was available for the Wii and the DS that was free to use. It was shut down on May 20, 2014, due to a so-so DS emulation foundation in No$GBAthe company GameSpy, and the camera is just spoofed as a static image but just causes an emulator crash whenever usedones who were managing these servers, meaning games shutting down its multiplayer services after being bought out. A popular game that use it may boot but it wonused this feature was ''Mario Kart DS''t be very playable.

DSi used an encryption system for the game dumps There was a third-party DeSmuME fork that went on to successfully emulated WFC but has quite a bit of requirement (Ethernet cable, though this can be enhanced and used for circumvented with external software). After the service shutdown, there was a version compatible with the 3DSfan servers (restoring all DLC data, but sadly, most multiplayer games had their content lost forever). This encryption melonDS is checked at start-up, hence why Nintendo DS one of the only emulators don't even manage to boot DSiWare dumpsoffer Wi-Fi capabilities. It's very unlikely DSistill a work-mode emulation is ever going to be implemented in DeSmuME in particular due to various ''creative differences'' unique to that project-progress, but it works relatively well.

melonDS recently started attempts at DSi emulation ===DS/Wii connectivity===Uses wireless communication on the DS to connect to the Wii. The idea is parallel to the GBA Link Cable for the GameCube, and has been able to boot its firmware<ref>httpjust like the Link Cable, [https://melondsnintendo.kuribo64fandom.netcom/comments.php?id=94<wiki/ref>. It's being worked on off an experimental branch and requires Wii-to-DS_connectivity only a lot of files to be dumped from the DSi in order to work. Most handful of it is being done using the documentation that the No$GBA devs games actually have already compiled on the subjectthis feature].Some notable examples include:

===BIOS Files===DSi emulation requires a copy * ''Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time'' - which is essentially the same as the DS port but can connect with other DSes with the lower 32Kgame.* ''Pokémon Battle Revolution'' -halves of in which players could transfer their Pokémon from the ARM7/ARM9 BIOSes (BIOSDSI7.ROM Generation IV main series games and BIOSDSI9use the DS as a controller.ROM), * ''Animal Crossing: City Folk'' - in which are different from data could be transferred between the regular DS BIOS files version (''Animal Crossing: Wild World''), and needed for the decryption. All ''Nintendo Channel'' on the needed files are bios7i.binWii, bios9i.bin, BIOSDSI7.ROM, BIOSDSI9.ROM, BIOSNDS7.ROM, and BIOSNDS9.ROM. These unicorns can be found [http://archive.org/details/DSiFirmwareFiles here]where players could download demos of DS games to their console using Download Play (basically the same idea as the Download Station kiosk).

It's also advised (but still completely '''optional''') So far, no emulator has been able to use a NAND dump as well to increase compatibility (though adding games is more complexemulate this feature, and a soft-modding solution nor have attempted to dump it is still being worked on). Rename it If this were ever going to "DSi-1.mmc" (should be about 250MB). Change "Reset/Startup Entrypoint to "GBA/NDS BIOS" to now boot the emulator and games in DSi mode. Hex editing required to "install" new DSiWare titlesemulated, 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 fontit 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 unknown if No$GBA supports this, but it can be done in DeSmuME by going to Config > Slot 2 (GBA Slot) and selecting GBA Cartridge. Select the GBA ROM file, and make sure its <code>.sav</code> file is in the same folder. You may need to reset the game for it to take effect. As of version 0.9, [https://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=110 melonDS supports GBA connectivity] and even added support for the solar sensor on GBA Boktai cartridges used in Boktai DS (Lunar Knight), something DeSmuME has yet to support. Either drag and drop the GBA ROM onto the program before starting or open the file before loading the NDS file. ==Nintendo DSi=={{Main|Nintendo DSi emulators}} ==Special Hardwarehardware=={| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;"|- style="font-weight:bold;"! Name! DeSmuME! melonDS! No$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 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);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 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 Nintendo Wireless Keyboard: Bundled with the "Learn with Pokémon : Typing game Adventure" (JP/UKEU/FRAU). 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 '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* the Pokémon typing gamesthis 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 Cameracamera: 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 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===iQue is Nintendo's Chinese subsidiary (previously a partnership between them and Wei Yen until 2013), so when they released the DS with a few localized games, their ROMs had special flags set in them to check if the hardware that ran the cartridge was iQue's or Nintendo's as a sort of region lock. Nintendo's own hardware would fail this check, throwing an "Only for iQue DS" error in white text on a black background. No other DS games have this mechanism; , not even for Korean releases. This region lock is bypassed by the 3DS for these DS games, even though 3DS games have their own region lock. It's weird.

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

The only way the ROM will accept other hardware (and thus emulators) is with a hack, involving a simple byte change. Use a hex editor to change the byte located at <code>0x1D</code> from value <code>80</code> to <code>00</code>.

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 r5043 had an initial fix that worked around the glitch, 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 in 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.