Difference between revisions of "Nintendo DS emulators"

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|logo = DSlitewhite.png
 
|logo = DSlitewhite.png
 
|developer = [[:Nintendo]]
 
|developer = [[:Nintendo]]
|type = [[:Category:Consoles|Handheld game console]]
+
|type = [[:Category:Handheld consoles|Handheld game console]]
 
|generation = [[:Category:Seventh-generation video game consoles|Seventh generation]]
 
|generation = [[:Category:Seventh-generation video game consoles|Seventh generation]]
 
|release = 2004
 
|release = 2004
 
|discontinued = 2013
 
|discontinued = 2013
 
|predecessor = [[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]]
 
|predecessor = [[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]]
|successor = [[Nintendo 3DS emulators|Nintendo 3DS]]
+
|successor = [[Nintendo DSi emulators|Nintendo DSi]]
 
|emulated = {{✓}}
 
|emulated = {{✓}}
 
}}
 
}}
The '''[[gametech: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 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 of casual players, and even non-gamers, into the gaming community.
+
 
 +
{{for|other emulators that run on NDS hardware|Emulators on DS}}
 +
 
 +
The '''[[wikipedia: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 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 number of casual players, and even non-gamers, into the gaming community.
  
 
==Emulators==
 
==Emulators==
 +
<div style="max-width:100%; overflow:auto;">
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 
! scope="col"|Name
 
! scope="col"|Name
 
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
 
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
 
! scope="col"|Latest Version
 
! scope="col"|Latest Version
! scope="col"|GBA
+
! 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
+
! scope="col"|[[Nintendo DSi emulators|DSi]]
! scope="col"|DSi
+
! scope="col"|[[#DS/Wii connectivity|DS<br/>to<br/>Wii]]
! scope="col"|[[libretro|Libretro Core]]
+
! scope="col"|[[#Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection|Wi-Fi/WFC]]
 +
! scope="col"|[[#DS Download Play|Download<br/>Play]]
 +
! scope="col"|[[#Local wireless communication|Local]]
 +
! scope="col"|<small>[https://retroachievements.org/gameList.php?c=18 Retro<br/>Achievements]</small>
 +
! scope="col"|[[Libretro]]
 +
! 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
 
! scope="col"|Active
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
+
! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]
 
|-
 
|-
!colspan="9"|PC / x86
+
!colspan="16"|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]]
 
|[[DeSmuME]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Web}}
|[https://ci.appveyor.com/project/zeromus/desmume {{DeSmuMEVer}}]
+
|[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> ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[[melonDS]]
+
|[[BizHawk]]<br/><small>(melonDS 0.9.5)</small>
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|[http://melonds.kuribo64.net/downloads.php {{MelonDSVer}}]
+
|[https://gitlab.com/TASVideos/BizHawk/-/pipelines Dev builds]<br/>[http://tasvideos.org/BizHawk/ReleaseHistory.html {{BizHawkVer}}]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} <small>(WIP)</small>
+
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{}} ||?<ref group=N name=WFCAlt></ref> ||? ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[[DeSmuME#Graphical_Enhancement|DeSmuME X432R]]
+
|[[No$|No$GBA]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|DOS}}
|[http://shikaver01.webcrow.jp/desmume_x432r/index.html 2015-04-19]
+
|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm {{No$GBAVer}}]
|{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}
+
|{{✓}} ||{{~}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[GBE+]]
 
|[[GBE+]]
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
 
|[https://github.com/shonumi/gbe-plus/releases {{GBEVer}}]
 
|[https://github.com/shonumi/gbe-plus/releases {{GBEVer}}]
|{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>
+
|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>
 
|-
 
|-
|[[mGBA#medusa|medusa]]
+
|[[NooDS]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|[https://mgba.io/downloads.html alpha 2]
+
|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS/releases git]
|{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || {{✗}}<ref name="medusa suspended"/>||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>
+
|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} <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]
 
|[https://corgids.wordpress.com/ CorgiDS]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|[https://github.com/PSI-Rockin/CorgiDS/releases 0.1]<br />[http://www.emucr.com/search/label/CorgiDS SVN]
+
|[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> ||{{✗}}
+
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}<ref>https://corgids.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/extended-break/</ref> ||{{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
|ndsemu
 
|ndsemu
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://github.com/rasky/ndsemu Git]
+
|[https://github.com/rasky/ndsemu git]
|{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
|{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
 
|[[No$|No$GBA]]
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|DOS}}
 
|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm {{No$GBAVer}}]
 
|{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110225190819/http://neonds.com/ NeonDS]
 
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110225190819/http://neonds.com/ NeonDS]
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
 
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20100925152735/http://neonds.com/system/files/NeonDS_0.2.1.zip 0.2.1]
 
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20100925152735/http://neonds.com/system/files/NeonDS_0.2.1.zip 0.2.1]
|{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
|dasShiny
 
|dasShiny
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|[https://github.com/Cydrak/dasShiny Git]
+
|[https://github.com/Cydrak/dasShiny git]
|{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[http://ds-duos.blogspot.com/ DuoS]
 
|[http://ds-duos.blogspot.com/ DuoS]
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
 
|[http://www.emulator-zone.com/download.php/emulators/nds/duos/DuoS.zip 8/25/2012 Beta]
 
|[http://www.emulator-zone.com/download.php/emulators/nds/duos/DuoS.zip 8/25/2012 Beta]
|{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Ensata]]
 
|[[Ensata]]
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
 
|[http://www.mediafire.com/file/x0odmalrndt9m7a/Ensata+v1.4d.rar 1.4d]
 
|[http://www.mediafire.com/file/x0odmalrndt9m7a/Ensata+v1.4d.rar 1.4d]
|{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20111130005614/http://ideasemu.biz/ iDeaS]
 
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20111130005614/http://ideasemu.biz/ iDeaS]
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
 
|[http://www.emulator-zone.com/files/emulators/nds/ideas/ideas1040.7z 1.0.4.0]
 
|[http://www.emulator-zone.com/files/emulators/nds/ideas/ideas1040.7z 1.0.4.0]
|{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
|{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS NooDS]
+
!colspan="16"|Mobile / ARM
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
 
|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS Git]
 
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
 
 
|-
 
|-
!colspan="9"|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]]
 
|[[DraStic]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Android|Linux}}
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Android|Pandora|Pyra}}
|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsemu.drastic {{DraSticVer}}]
+
|[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]
|{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
+
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[https://inds.nerd.net/ iNDS]<br/><small>(nds4ios derived)</small><br/><small>(DeSmuME based)</small>
+
|[[melonDS]]<small> (unofficial)</small><br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/melonds/ melonds_libretro]</small>
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS}}
 +
|[https://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>
 +
|-
 +
|[[Delta]]
 
|align=left|{{Icon|iOS}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|iOS}}
|[https://github.com/iNDS-Team/iNDS/releases Git]
+
|[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
 
|nds4ios
 
|align=left|{{Icon|iOS}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|iOS}}
 
|[http://nds4ios.angelxwind.net/i/?page/downloads SVN]
 
|[http://nds4ios.angelxwind.net/i/?page/downloads SVN]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}
+
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}
 +
|-
 +
|DeeS
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
 +
|[https://github.com/DeeSEmu/DeeS 1.0.8]
 +
|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
 
|-
 
|-
|Dsoid
+
|[[NooDS]]
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
|[http://www.emucr.com/search/label/Dsoid?&max-results=12 SVN]
+
|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS git]
|{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>
 
|-
 
|-
|[http://jeffq.com/blog/nds4droid/ nds4droid]<br/><small>(DeSmuME based)</small>
+
|[http://jeffq.com/blog/nds4droid/ nds4droid]<br/><small>(DeSmuME-based)</small>
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
|[https://github.com/jquesnelle/nds4droid Git]
+
|[https://github.com/jquesnelle/nds4droid git]
|{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
!colspan="9"|Console
+
!colspan="16"|Console
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Virtual Console]]
 
|[[Virtual Console]]
 
|align=left|{{Icon|WiiU}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|WiiU}}
 
|
 
|
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}
+
|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}
 +
|-
 +
|TWL_FIRM
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|3DS}}
 +
|N/A
 +
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}
 +
|-
 +
|<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> ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[[melonDS]]
+
|[[melonDS]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/melonds/ melonds_libretro]</small>
|align=left|{{Icon|Switch}}
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Switch|Vita}}<br/>{{Icon|PS2}}
|[https://gbatemp.net/download/melonds-for-switch.35201/ 0.8.3]
+
|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<ref group=N name=melonDSRA></ref><br/>[https://github.com/rsduck/melonDS/releases git]<small> (Switch)</small><br/>[https://github.com/Rinnegatamante/melonDS-Vita git]<small>(Vita Port)</small><br/>[https://github.com/DanielSant0s/melonDS-PS2 git]<small> (PS2 Port)</small><br/>
|{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
+
|{{~}}<ref group=N name=noGBAbutsupportsconnection></ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} || ? || ? || ? ||{{~}}<ref group=N name=lrRA></ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}} <small>(WIP)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|[[NooDS]]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Switch|Vita}}<br/>{{Icon|PSP}}
 +
|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS git]<small> (Switch/Vita)</small><br/>[https://github.com/Xiro28/NooDS_PSP git] <small>(PSP port)</small>
 +
|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}} <small>(WIP)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|[[DeSmuME PSP]]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|PSP}}
 +
|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/590011753849421846/870274164748079104/desmume_psp_4.zip V4][https://github.com/Xiro28/DeSmuME-PSP git][https://github.com/Xiro28/desmume_psp_experimental Exp.]
 +
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
 +
|-
 +
|DesmumeX
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Xbox}}
 +
|[https://www.1emulation.com/forums/topic/35774-desmumex-v087-new-update 0.87]
 +
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS NooDS]
+
|[[DeSmuME PSP|DSonPSP]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Switch}}
+
|align=left|{{Icon|PSP}}
|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS Git]
+
|[https://wololo.net/downloads/index.php/download/1235 0.7]
|{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}}
+
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✗}} <small>(POC)</small> ||{{✗}}
 
|}
 
|}
 +
</div>
 +
 +
<references group=N />
  
 
===Comparisons===
 
===Comparisons===
;[[DeSmuME]]: One of the most developed emulators for regular DS games. DeSmuME has had significant improvements since 2018, though new features are still in development and are only available through either nightly/dev builds. It now uses less CPU/GPU resources, and Wi-Fi is also underway. If you're worried about stability, then stick to the latest stable release. Otherwise, the latest dev builds will have more to offer. (See [[Common Problems and Solutions]] for tips.)
+
;[[melonDS]] <small class="plainlinks" style="font-weight:normal;">([https://wiimmfi.de/stat?m=25 servers])</small>
;[[DraStic]]: A payware, closed-source emulator for [[Android emulators|Android]] devices that can run games at a decent speed even on potato phones. It's on par with (or in some cases better than) DeSmuME, and emulating it through BlueStacks on PC may actually be a viable and fast alternative aside from a slight input delay. Some rumors have spread around that the developers deliberately put in issues to mess with pirated copies, though this is considered unsubstantiated. At the very least, you shouldn't expect any support from Exophase and company if you use a pirated copy, though it is available for free on the Raspberry Pi and Odroid via RetroPie.
+
: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://i.imgur.com/S73Eb4m.jpg (Example)] While the developers of No$GBA had documented the Wi-Fi capabilities first, melonDS is the first and only emulator that's gotten as far as it has, and it's been found to work reasonably well with a handful of games. Switching to OpenGL in core options may give a performance boost.
;[[melonDS]]: Arisotura's goal is to make an emulator that's better optimized and includes features that others lack, either intentionally or not. While the developers of No$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 been progress made in emulating the DSi<ref name="melonDSi">http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=94</ref><ref name="progress on DSi">http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=99&p</ref>, so far it's been able to boot into the firmware and is being developed in a separate branch of the main project. It could surpass DeSmuME when it covers more features.
+
 
;[[No$|No$GBA]]: Focuses on speed, and has major compatibility issues and glitches as a result. But because it was originally a GBA emulator, the DS's 3D features are still very poorly handled. However, it might be an option for a very low-end machine but don't expect a lot of games to run perfectly, or at all. A fan program, No$Zoomer, was released for version 2.6 which increases compatibility and options, as well as the titular zooming abilities. The biggest addition is noise cancellation which clears up static that No$GBA makes with its 3D rendering. No$Zoomer hasn't rebased yet but does add options for window resizing. There haven't been any noticeable changes with regards to accuracy, however. As of v2.8, No$GBA supports DSi games and is currently the first and only emulator that does. Only use No$GBA in the cases of DSi games, debugging (if you've taken up romhacking for DS games), if you value speed above everything, or just as a last resort.
+
;[[DeSmuME]] <small class="plainlinks" style="font-weight:normal;">([https://wiimmfi.de/stat?m=25 servers])</small>
;[[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>
+
: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 (though dev builds are also generally very usable). [[OpenEmu]] uses a shallow fork of the v0.9.11 build and should be avoided as well.
;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.
+
;[[DraStic]]
;[[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.
+
:A payware, closed-source emulator for [[Android emulators|Android]] devices that can run games at a decent speed even on potato phones. It's on par with (or in some cases better than) DeSmuME, and emulating it through BlueStacks on PC may actually be a viable and fast alternative aside from a slight input delay. Some rumors have spread around that the developers deliberately put in issues to mess with pirated copies, though this is considered unsubstantiated. At the very least, you shouldn't expect any support from Exophase and company if you use a pirated copy, though it is available for free on the Raspberry Pi and Odroid via RetroPie, 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. Because it was initially a GBA emulator, the DS' 3D features are still very poorly handled. '''It's a good option for low-end machines, but don't expect a lot of games to run perfectly'''. A fan program, No$Zoomer, was released for version 2.6, which increases compatibility and options, as well as the titular zooming and resizing abilities. The biggest addition is noise cancellation which clears up static that No$GBA makes with its 3D rendering. It doesn't change accuracy though. No$Zoomer never rebased to newer No$GBA versions, and it looks like it was abandoned, so it likely never will. In v2.8, No$GBA became the first emulator to support DSi games, which has been their most notable feature. Only use No$GBA for DSi games that don't work on other emulators, debugging (if you've taken up ROM-hacking for DS games or homebrew development), if you value speed above everything, if you're using a potato PC, or just as a last resort.
 +
 
 +
;[[Delta]]
 +
:An open-source application for iOS with the ability to emulate many consoles and handhelds, including the 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 DSi BIOS to play DS/DSi games in Delta using the melonDS 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:'''
 
'''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.)
 
* [https://emucross.com/the-next-generation-of-ds-emulators/ Looking Toward the Next Generation of DS Emulators] (By [[Dolphin]] tester, [https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/authors/JMC47/ JMC47], AKA Justin M. Chadwick. 5 June 2017. Tested emulators: melonDS (0.2 and 0.3), medusa (Alpha 2) & GBE+ (1.1) compared to the mature DeSmuME.)
  
===High Resolution===
+
===High resolution===
;melonDS: Has added support 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 the internal resolution up to 8x native resolution. More features such as texture filtering are planned.
+
;[[melonDS]]
;DeSmuME X432R:A fork of DeSmuME, that has many more graphical enhancement such as an option to increase internal resolution and use MSAA. The devs of DeSmuME have now included an option for increased internal resolution (see below), making X432R outdated. See the [[DeSmuME]] page for more details.
+
: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 <small>([[libretro]])</small>:Also has an option to increase internal resolution since [https://github.com/libretro/desmume/commit/5e430dfbc22f9d54c77f291304a38352ee1e5a63 August 8, 2015 git commit]. It requires a very high-end CPU to run at a reasonable framerate.
+
 
 +
;DeSmuME X432R
 +
:A fork of 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.
 +
 
 +
;[[DeSmuME]] <small>([[libretro]])</small>
 +
:Also has the option to increase internal resolution since the [https://github.com/libretro/desmume/commit/5e430dfbc22f9d54c77f291304a38352ee1e5a63 8/8/15 git commit]. It requires a very high-end CPU to run at a reasonable framerate.
 
;DraStic:Has released a beta version supporting double the original resolution.
 
;DraStic:Has released a beta version supporting double the original resolution.
 
;Virtual Console <small>(Wii U)</small>:Has a configuration file with support for x2 internal resolution without any significant performance hit (as well as a brightness setting). However, there's no legit way to enable it without a homebrew-enabled console.
 
;Virtual Console <small>(Wii U)</small>:Has a configuration file with support for x2 internal resolution without any significant performance hit (as well as a brightness setting). However, there's no legit way to enable it without a homebrew-enabled console.
  
 
==Connectivity==
 
==Connectivity==
 +
The DS offers five types of connections:
 +
* '''Local wireless communications''' - ''(Multiple cartridges)''
 +
* '''DS Download Play''' - ''(Single cartridge)''
 +
* '''Wi-Fi Connection''' - ''(Online multiplayer)''
 +
* '''DS/Wii connectivity'''
 +
* '''GBA/DS connectivity'''
  
The DS offers five types of connections:
+
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.
* '''Local Wireless Communications''' - ''(Multiple Cartridges)''
+
 
* '''DS Download Play''' - ''(Single Cartridge)''
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;"
* '''Wi-Fi Connection''' - ''(Online Multiplayer)''
+
|- style="font-weight:bold;"
* '''DS/Wii Connectivity'''
+
! Name
* '''GBA/DS Connectivity'''
+
! melonDS
 +
! DeSmuME
 +
! No$GBA
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="col"|Name
+
| [[#GBA/DS connectivity|GBA/DS connectivity]]
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
+
| {{✓}}
! scope="col"|Latest Version
+
| {{✓}}
! scope="col"|Local
+
| {{~}}
! scope="col"|Download Play
+
|-
! scope="col"|Wi-Fi
+
| [[#Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection|Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]]
! scope="col"|GBA/DS
+
| {{✓}}
 +
| {{✗}}
 +
| {{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[[melonDS|melonDS]]
+
| [[#Local wireless communication|Local wireless communication]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
+
| {{~}}
|{{MelonDSVer}}
+
| {{}}
|{{~}} ||{{~}} ||{{~}} ||{{✓}}<small>(Git)</small>
+
| {{}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[[DeSmuME]]
+
| [[#DS Download Play|DS Download Play]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
+
| {{~}}
|{{DeSmuMEVer}}
+
| {{}}
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}} ||{{✓}}
+
| {{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[[No$|No$GBA]]
+
| [[#DS/Wii connectivity|DS/Wii connectivity]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|DOS}}
+
| {{}}
|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm {{No$GBAVer}}]
+
| {{}}
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
| {{✗}}
 
|}
 
|}
  
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.  
+
===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).
  
===Local Wireless Communication===
+
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 can connect but fails before the actual connection is finished.
Players who have a copy of the same game can link together using the DS' wireless signals (given that the game offers this feature).
 
 
 
melonDS supports wireless communication with several games, including ''New Super Mario Bros.'' and ''Pokemon'', but you need to have either multiple instances opened, which can slow down overall performance, or connect multiple computers via LAN. No$GBA is able to connect, but fails before the actual connection is finished.
 
  
 
===DS Download Play===
 
===DS Download Play===
Players who both have a DS but only one copy of a game can use "Download Play" to play together without everyone needing a copy of the game.  The player with the physical cartridge will host the game while the other players connects using a "downloaded" version received from the host.  Normally they are either simple mini-games, stripped down demos of the main game, or a limited version of multiplayer.  In most cases it's better to use multi-cart instead, however there are some games, like ''Mario Party DS'', that requires Download Play in order to use its multiplayer.
+
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 the main game, or a limited version 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.
  
 
Download Play is supported by melonDS. Like with local multiplayer, it is very 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.
 
Download Play is supported by melonDS. Like with local multiplayer, it is very 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 Wi-Fi Connection===  
Nintendo's online service that was available for the Wii and DS and was free to use.  It was shutdown on May 20, 2014 due to the company GameSpy, the ones who were managing these servers, shutting down its multiplayer services after being bought out. A popular game that used this feature was ''Mario Kart DS''.   
+
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 the company GameSpy, the ones who were managing these servers, shutting down its multiplayer services after being bought out. A popular game that used this feature was ''Mario Kart DS''.   
  
There was a third-party DeSmuME forks that successfully emulated WFC but has quite a bit of requirement (Ethernet cable, though this can be circumvented with external software). After the service shutdown, there was a version compatible with the fan servers (restoring all DLC data but sadly most multiplayer games had their content lost forever).  melonDS is one of the only emulators to offer Wi-Fi capabilities. It's still a work-in-progress, but it works relatively well.
+
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 fan servers (restoring all DLC data, but sadly, most multiplayer games had their content lost forever).  melonDS is one of the only emulators to offer Wi-Fi capabilities. It's still a work-in-progress, but it works relatively well.
  
===DS/Wii Connectivity===
+
===DS/Wii connectivity===
Uses the wireless communication on the DS to connect to the Wii. The idea is parallel to the GBA Link Cable for the GameCube, and just like the Link Cable, only a handful of games actually have this feature. Some notable examples are ''Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time'' which is essentially the same as the DS port but can connect with other DS' with the game, ''Pokemon Battle Revolution'' in which players could transfer their Pokemon to the game and use the DS as a controller, ''Animal Crossing: City Folk'' in which data could be transferred between the DS version ''Animal Crossing: Wild World'', and the ''Nintendo Channel'' on the Wii where players could download demos of DS games to their console using Download Play (basically the same idea as the Download Station kiosk).
+
Uses wireless communication on the DS to connect to the Wii. The idea is parallel to the GBA Link Cable for the GameCube, and just like the Link Cable, [https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Wii-to-DS_connectivity only a handful of games actually have this feature]. Some notable examples include:
  
So far, no emulator has been able to emulate this feature, nor have attempted to, and considering that the GBA/GCN connectivity on Dolphin has yet to achieve full functionality (and a lack of interesting titles that uses it), hints that this feature won't be emulated for a while.  If this was ever going to be emulated, it would require work on both ends.
+
* ''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 Download Play (basically the same idea as the Download Station kiosk).
  
===GBA/DS Connectivity===
+
So far, no emulator has been able to emulate this feature, nor have attempted to. If this were ever going to be emulated, 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].  
 
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$GBA supports this, but it can be done in DeSmuME by going to Config > Slot 2 (GBA Slot) and selecting GBA Cartridge. Select the GBA ROM file, make sure its <code>.sav</code> file is in the same folder. You may need to reset the game for it to take effect.  
+
It's unknown if No$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.  
The latest git of melonDS added support for 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.
+
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==
 
==Nintendo DSi==
 
{{Main|Nintendo DSi emulators}}
 
{{Main|Nintendo DSi emulators}}
  
==Special Hardware==
+
==Special hardware==
;Guitar Hero Pad: Used in the "Guitar Hero: On Tour" series (required) and Band Hero DS. Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2).
+
{| 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).
 
;Piano for Easy Piano: Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2).
;Taito Paddle Controller: Compatible with Arkanoid, Space Invaders Extreme, Space Invaders Extreme 2 and Space Bust-a-Move. Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2).
+
;Taito paddle controller: Compatible with Arkanoid, Space Invaders Extreme, Space Invaders Extreme 2, and Space Bust-a-Move. Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2).
;Tilt Sensor: Used in "Tony Hawk's Motion/Hue's Pixel Painter." No emulators support this add-on yet. (Slot 2)
+
;Tilt sensor: Used in "Tony Hawk's Motion/Hue's Pixel Painter." No emulators support this add-on yet. (Slot 2)
;Rumble Pack: Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2). Requires compatible Joystick.
+
;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).
;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 (recommended version was 1.0.2.9.) to try to emulate it. No emulators support this add-on at the moment.
+
;Rumble pack: Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2). Requires compatible Joystick.
;Pokémon Keyboard: Bundled with the Pokémon Typing game (JP/UK/FR). The game refuses to boot without a keyboard, but it can be run on emulators with an anti-piracy fix and another DeSmuME-specific save bug fix. There is also [http://pokemonlog.com/pokemon-fuligin-download-rom/ a pre-patched ROM.] While it's playable using the on-screen keyboard on the lower screen, the keyboard isn't actually emulated. There is [https://github.com/AnimeCommander/Learn.With.Pokemon-Typing-Adventure.lua/blob/master/Pok%C3%A9mon%20Typing%20DS%20Keyboard%20Script.lua a Lua script] that permits using the actual keyboard by mapping presses of the actual keyboard to taps of the virtual Touch Screen. However, you are going to need to blank out all the control/hotkey bindings of DeSmuME if you are going to play this game because some of the keyboard keys also activate some controls; otherwise, pressing the Q key would also pause the game, given one example. A recommendation would be to have a separate copy of 32-bit DeSMuMe which purpose is playing *only* the Pokémon typing games. In that copy, place the patched ROM, the Lua script, and a 32-bit version of [https://sourceforge.net/projects/luabinaries/files/5.1.5/Windows%20Libraries/Dynamic/ lua51.dll.] (The platform used in building the <code>.dll</code> should not matter.) Even then, not only is the emulated workaround a little slow, but saving is still broken. Use savestates, instead.
+
;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. No emulators support this add-on at the moment.
;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 confused with the built-in DSi camera. No emulators exist for it at all.
+
;Nintendo Wireless Keyboard: Bundled with "Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure" (JP/EU/AU). 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'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.
;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 glucose meter attachment anyway (albeit with reduced functionality, of course).
+
;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 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 glucose meter attachment anyway (albeit with reduced functionality, of course).
  
===iQue DS Region Lock===
+
===iQue DS region 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.
+
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$GBA crashes. DeSmuME & MelonDS is accurate to non-iQue hardware and will replicate the failure.
+
Emulators differ in their behavior to this region lock. No$GBA crashes, while DeSmuME can load them. However, for melonDS, you need a [[Emulator Files|Firmware Dump]] from an iQue DS, otherwise, it will replicate the region 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>.
+
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>.
  
 
===Other issues===
 
===Other issues===
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 SoulSilver'' among others; this has since been patched on r5531 once the true nature of the [https://sourceforge.net/p/desmume/bugs/1134/ bug] was better understood. The fix would be later incorporated in other emulators. ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat'' suffers from flickering and slowdown due to the way it loads sprites, though it isn't as serious in DraStic. ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Jedi Alliance'' is an even more egregious example, crashing due to timing differences between actual hardware and an emulated system.
+
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 ''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==
 
<references />
 
<references />
 +
 +
==See also==
 +
* [[Nintendo DSi emulators]]
 
   
 
   
  
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[[Category:Consoles]]
 
[[Category:Consoles]]
 +
[[Category:Handheld consoles]]
 
[[Category:Nintendo consoles]]
 
[[Category:Nintendo consoles]]
 
[[Category:Seventh-generation video game consoles]]
 
[[Category:Seventh-generation video game consoles]]
 
[[Category:Nintendo DS emulators|*]]
 
[[Category:Nintendo DS emulators|*]]

Revision as of 15:02, 4 June 2023

Nintendo DS
DSlitewhite.png
Developer Nintendo
Type Handheld game console
Generation Seventh generation
Release date 2004
Discontinued 2013
Predecessor Game Boy Advance
Successor Nintendo DSi
Emulated
For other emulators that run on NDS hardware, see Emulators on DS.

The Nintendo DS (NDS) is a handheld console produced by Nintendo on November 21, 2004, 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 in lifetime sales (154.02 million units), as a result of attracting a large number of casual players, and even non-gamers, into the gaming community.

Emulators

Name Platform(s) Latest Version GBA DSi DS
to
Wii
Wi-Fi/WFC Download
Play
Local Retro
Achievements
Libretro Texture
Replacement
FLOSS Active Recommended
PC / x86
melonDS Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 0.9.5
Dev Builds

libretro core[N 1]
~[N 2] * [N 3] ~ ~ ~[N 4] ✗(WIP)
DeSmuME Windows Linux macOS Web 0.9.13
libretro core
~[N 2] [N 3] ~[N 4]
BizHawk
(melonDS 0.9.5)
Windows Linux Dev builds
2.9.1
?[N 3] ? ? ~
No$GBA Windows MS-DOS 3.05 ~ ~
GBE+ Windows Linux macOS 1.7 (WIP)
NooDS Windows Linux macOS git (WIP)
mGBA/medusa Windows Linux macOS alpha 2 * ~[1] (WIP)
CorgiDS Windows Linux macOS git
SVN
[2]
ndsemu Windows git
NeonDS Windows 0.2.1
dasShiny Windows Linux git
DuoS Windows 8/25/2012 Beta
Ensata Windows 1.4d
iDeaS Windows Linux 1.0.4.0
Mobile / ARM
DeSmuME_libretro Android iOS libretro core ~[N 2] [N 3]
DraStic Android Pandora Dragonbox Pyra r2.6.0.4a build 109
0.1 Pyra
melonDS (unofficial)
melonds_libretro
Android iOS git
1.8.0
libretro core[N 1]
~[N 2] ~ ? ? ? ~[N 5] ~ (WIP)
Delta iOS git ~ ~
iNDS
(nds4ios-derived)
(DeSmuME-based)
iOS git ? ~
nds4ios iOS SVN ~
DeeS Android 1.0.8 ~
NooDS Android git (WIP)
nds4droid
(DeSmuME-based)
Android git ?
Console
Virtual Console Wii U
TWL_FIRM Nintendo 3DS N/A
DeSmuME_libretro Switch PlayStation 4
Vita
0.9.13 ~[N 2] ?
melonDS
melonds_libretro
Switch Vita
PlayStation 2
libretro core[N 1]
git (Switch)
git(Vita Port)
git (PS2 Port)
~[N 2] ? ? ? ~[N 4] ~ (WIP)
NooDS Switch Vita
PSP
git (Switch/Vita)
git (PSP port)
~ (WIP)
DeSmuME PSP PSP V4gitExp. ?
DesmumeX Xbox 0.87 ? ~
DSonPSP PSP 0.7 ? ? (POC)
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 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. You also can't use any wifi features or do in game trades either or the game will freeze.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 melonDS and DeSmuME are not support backwards compatibility but supports GBA to DS connectivity.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Possible with Wimmfi, Kaeru or AltWFC/DWC.
    Tutorial: How to Connect to WFC in MelonDS
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Only possible with libretro core. Github Issue page for standalone version.
  5. Only possible with libretro core but work-in-progress for standalone version.

Comparisons

melonDS (servers)
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. (Example) While the developers of No$GBA had documented the Wi-Fi capabilities first, melonDS is the first and only emulator that's gotten as far as it has, and it's been found to work reasonably well with a handful of games. Switching to OpenGL in core options may give a performance boost.
DeSmuME (servers)
DeSmuME has had significant improvements since 2018; new features include less CPU/GPU resource usage and high-resolution 3D rendering, though Wi-Fi capability remains neither emulated nor supported. v0.9.13 from May 2022 is the first "Stable" build in over 7 years and is highly recommended over all previous builds (though dev builds are also generally very usable). OpenEmu uses a shallow fork of the v0.9.11 build and should be avoided as well.
DraStic
A payware, closed-source emulator for Android devices that can run games at a decent speed even on potato phones. It's on par with (or in some cases better than) DeSmuME, and emulating it through BlueStacks on PC may actually be a viable and fast alternative aside from a slight input delay. Some rumors have spread around that the developers deliberately put in issues to mess with pirated copies, though this is considered unsubstantiated. At the very least, you shouldn't expect any support from Exophase and company if you use a pirated copy, though it is available for free on the Raspberry Pi and Odroid via RetroPie, and runs relatively well there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=715kg1-hmxA
No$GBA
Focuses on speed, and has major compatibility issues and glitches as a result. Because it was initially a GBA emulator, the DS' 3D features are still very poorly handled. It's a good option for low-end machines, but don't expect a lot of games to run perfectly. A fan program, No$Zoomer, was released for version 2.6, which increases compatibility and options, as well as the titular zooming and resizing abilities. The biggest addition is noise cancellation which clears up static that No$GBA makes with its 3D rendering. It doesn't change accuracy though. No$Zoomer never rebased to newer No$GBA versions, and it looks like it was abandoned, so it likely never will. In v2.8, No$GBA became the first emulator to support DSi games, which has been their most notable feature. Only use No$GBA for DSi games that don't work on other emulators, debugging (if you've taken up ROM-hacking for DS games or homebrew development), if you value speed above everything, if you're using a potato PC, or just as a last resort.
Delta
An open-source application for iOS with the ability to emulate many consoles and handhelds, including the 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 DSi BIOS to play DS/DSi games in Delta using the melonDS core. It also allows you to boot into DS/DSi home screen and functions similarly to melonDS.
mGBA/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".[1]
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:

High resolution

melonDS
Has an OpenGL renderer with upscaling as of version 0.8.[3] The renderer is much faster than DeSmuME's and supports increasing the internal resolution up to 16x native resolution. More features, such as texture filtering, are planned.
DeSmuME X432R
A fork of DeSmuME that has graphical 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.
DeSmuME (libretro)
Also has the option to increase internal resolution since the 8/8/15 git commit. It requires a very high-end CPU to run at a reasonable framerate.
DraStic
Has released a beta version supporting double the original resolution.
Virtual Console (Wii U)
Has a configuration file with support for x2 internal resolution without any significant performance hit (as well as a brightness setting). However, there's no legit way to enable it without a homebrew-enabled console.

Connectivity

The DS offers five types of connections:

  • Local wireless communications - (Multiple cartridges)
  • DS Download Play - (Single cartridge)
  • Wi-Fi Connection - (Online multiplayer)
  • DS/Wii connectivity
  • GBA/DS connectivity

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.

Name melonDS DeSmuME No$GBA
GBA/DS connectivity ~
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Local wireless communication ~
DS Download Play ~
DS/Wii connectivity

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 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 the main game, or a limited version 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.

Download Play is supported by melonDS. Like with local multiplayer, it is very 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 the company GameSpy, the ones who were managing these servers, shutting down its multiplayer services after being bought out. A popular game that used this feature was Mario Kart DS.

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 fan servers (restoring all DLC data, but sadly, most multiplayer games had their content lost forever). melonDS is one of the only emulators to offer Wi-Fi capabilities. It's still a work-in-progress, but it works relatively well.

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 just like the Link Cable, only a handful of games actually have this feature. Some notable examples include:

  • 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 Download Play (basically the same idea as the Download Station kiosk).

So far, no emulator has been able to emulate this feature, nor have attempted to. If this were ever going to be emulated, 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 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 .sav file is in the same folder. You may need to reset the game for it to take effect. As of version 0.9, 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 article: Nintendo DSi emulators

Special hardware

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-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", "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 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 "Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure" (JP/EU/AU). 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 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 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 lua51.dll. (The platform used in building the .dll 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 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 glucose meter attachment anyway (albeit with reduced functionality, of course).

iQue DS region 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. However, for melonDS, you need a Firmware Dump from an iQue DS, otherwise, it will replicate the region 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 0x1D from value 80 to 00.

Other issues

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 Pokémon SoulSilver, among others; this has since been patched on r5531 once the true nature of the 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

See also