Changes

{{Infobox console|title = Nintendo DS|logo = DSlitewhite.png|imagecaption=Nintendo DS Lite|developer = [[:Nintendo]]|type = [[File:Nintendo_ds.jpgCategory:Handheld consoles|Handheld game console]]|generation = [[:Category:Seventh-generation video game consoles|Seventh generation]]|release=2004 (DS)<br/>2008 (DSi)|discontinued = 2013|predecessor = [[Game Boy Advance emulators|thumbGame Boy Advance]]|The successor=[[Nintendo DS handheld console3DS emulators|(new) 3DS]]|emulated = {{✓}}}}  {{for|other emulators that run on NDS hardware|Emulators on DS}}  The '''[[gametechwikipedia:Nintendo DS|Nintendo DS]]''' (NDS) is a handheld console produced by Nintendo in and released on November 21, 2004, and had 2 ARM CPUs (ARM9 and ARM7) with 4 MBs of RAM and was priced at {{Inflation|USD|149.99|2004/2005}}. 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. ;Remember, certain titles such as [[Wikipedia:Category:Nintendo_DSi_games|DSi retail]] and [[Wikipedia:List_of_DSiWare_games_and_applications|DSiWare]] games are exclusive to the DSi. Make sure your chosen emulator [[#Hardware_features_and_accessories|supports these variations (see "DSi exclusive features" section)]] if you want to play them.

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

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

! scope="col"|GBA'''[[#Nintendo DSi|DSi]]'''! scope="col"|[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]! scope="col"|NDS[[#Hardware_features_and_accessories|Hardware features<br/>and accessories]]! scope="col"|DSi<small>Compatibility</small>! scope="col"|[[libretro<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>! scope="col"|Libretro Core]]Active

!colspan="11"|PC / x86|-|[[melonDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|Dev Builds<ref group=N>[https://nightly.link/melonDS-emu/melonDS/workflows/build-windows/master/melonDS-windows-x86_64.zip Windows], [https://nightly.link/melonDS-emu/melonDS/workflows/build-ubuntu/master/melonDS-ubuntu-x86_64.zip Ubuntu], [https://nightly.link/melonDS-emu/melonDS/workflows/build-macos-universal/master/macOS-universal.zip macOS-universal]</ref><br/>[http://melonds.kuribo64.net/downloads.php {{MelonDSVer}}]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ ''libretro core'']<ref group=N name=melonDSRA>Similar to Dolphin, PPSSPP and Citra libretro cores, the standalone version of melonDS is highly recommended over the libretro core as the libretro core version is outdated specifically 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>|{{✓}} ||{{~}} ||{{~}} ||[https://melonds.kuribo64.net/board/forum.php?id=3 ?] ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[DeSmuME]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Web}}|[https://desmume.org/download/ {{DeSmuMEVer}}/Nightly]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]|{{✗}} ||{{~}} ||{{~}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[BizHawk]]<br/><small>(melonDS)</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}|[https://gitlab.com/TASVideos/BizHawk/-/pipelines Dev builds]<br/>[http://tasvideos.org/BizHawk/ReleaseHistory.html {{BizHawkVer}}]|{{✓}} ||{{~}} ||{{~}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[No$|No$GBA]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|DOS}}|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm {{No$GBAVer}}]|{{✓}} ||{{N}} ||{{~}} ||? ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[GBE+]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/shonumi/gbe-plus/releases {{GBEVer}}]|{{✗}} ||{{?}} ||{{~}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>|-|[[NooDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS/releases git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>|-|[[mGBA#medusa|mGBA/medusa]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://mgba.io/downloads.html#medusa alpha 2]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✓}} || {{~}}<ref name="medusa suspended"/>||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>|-|[[SkyEmu]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/pull/321 Dev Builds]<br/>[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/releases {{SkyEmuVer}}]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>|-|[https://corgids.wordpress.com/ CorgiDS]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/PSI-Rockin/CorgiDS/releases git]<br />[http://www.emucr.com/search/label/CorgiDS SVN]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}<ref>https://corgids.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/extended-break/</ref> ||{{✗}}|-|ndsemu|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https://github.com/rasky/ndsemu git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110225190819/http://neonds.com/ NeonDS]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https://web.archive.org/web/20100925152735/http://neonds.com/system/files/NeonDS_0.2.1.zip 0.2.1]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|dasShiny|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}|[https://github.com/Cydrak/dasShiny git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[http://ds-duos.blogspot.com/ DuoS]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[http://www.emulator-zone.com/download.php/emulators/nds/duos/DuoS.zip 8/25/2012 Beta]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[Ensata]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[http://www.mediafire.com/file/x0odmalrndt9m7a/Ensata+v1.4d.rar 1.4d]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[https://web.archive.org/web/20111130005614/http://ideasemu.biz/ iDeaS]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}|[http://www.emulator-zone.com/files/emulators/nds/ideas/ideas1040.7z 1.0.4.0]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|dust|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|Mac|Web}}|[https://github.com/kelpsyberry/dust git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-!colspan="10"|PCMobile / ARM|-|<small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/desmume/ DeSmuME_libretro]</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS}}|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]|{{✗}} ||{{~}} ||{{~}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[DeSmuMEDraStic]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Android|Pandora|Multi-platformPyra}}|style[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsemu.drastic&hl="text-align:center;"|en_US&gl=US {{DraSticVer}}]<br>[httphttps://desmumepyra-handheld.orgcom/repo/downloadapps/ SVN32 0.1 Pyra]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{?}} |✗|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} |✓|style="text[https://pandorawiki.org/DraStic_Compatibility_List 68%<br/><small> 49 out of 73 reported titles (Pandora) </small>]<br />[https://xdaforums.com/t/drastic-ds-updated-to-v2-1-5-1a-xplay-compatibility-list-over-100-games-align:center;"playable.2396919/ 88%<br/><small> 127 out of 145 reported titles (Android) </small>] ||✗{{~}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}

|style="text-align[[melonDS]]<small> (unofficial)</small><br/><small>[https:center;"|DeSmuME X432R//docs.libretro.com/library/melonds/ melonds_libretro]</small>|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Android|Multi-platformiOS}}|style="text[https://github.com/rafaelvcaetano/melonDS-alignandroid git]<br/>[https:center;"|//play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.magnum.melonds 1.9.3]<br/>[httphttps://shikaver01buildbot.webcrowlibretro.jpcom/ Buildnightly/ libretro core]<ref group=N name=melonDSRA></ref>|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}} ||✗{{~}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{~}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗? |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} ||{{~}} <small>(WIP)</small>

|style="text-align:center;"|[[GBE+Delta]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows/LinuxiOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://githubapps.apple.com/shonumius/gbeapp/delta-plusgame-emulator/treeid1048524688 AppStore]<br/nds-support NDS support>[https://github.com/rileytestut/Delta git]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{?}} ||✓{{?}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓? |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗ (WIP){{~}}

|style[[SkyEmu]]|align="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Android|iOS}}|[https://githubplay.google.com/StapleButterstore/melonDS MelonDS]|style="text-align:center;"|Windowsapps/Linux|styledetails?id="text-align:center;"|com.sky.SkyEmu v3.2] (Play)[httphttps://melondswww.kuribo64amazon.netcom/SkyEmu-GBC-GBA-NDS-Emulator/boarddp/threadB0CGHK8QP5 v3.php?id=19 02] (Amazon)[https://github.2com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu git]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓? |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗ }} <small>(WIP)</small>

|style="text-align:center;"|[[mGBA|MedusaNooDS]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows/LinuxAndroid}}|style[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id="text-align:center;"|com.hydra.noods 0.1]<br/>[https://mgbagithub.iocom/Hydr8gon/NooDS/downloads.html alpha 2releases git]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓? |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗ }} <small>(WIP)</small>

|style="text[https://inds.nerd.net/ iNDS]<br/><small>(nds4ios-derived)</small><br/><small>(DeSmuME-align:center;"|ndsemubased)</small>|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|WindowsiOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://github.com/raskyiNDS-Team/ndsemu GitHubiNDS/releases git]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓? |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[No$GBA]]nds4ios|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows, DOSiOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[http://problemkaputtnds4ios.deangelxwind.net/i/?page/gba.htm 2.8edownloads SVN]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓? |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

!colspan|[http://jeffq.com/blog/nds4droid/ nds4droid]<br/><small>(DeSmuME-based)</small>|align="8"left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https://github.com/jquesnelle/nds4droid git]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||PC ~ Dead projects{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|dasShiny|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Linux|style="text-align:center;"|[https://github.com/Cydrak/dasShiny Git]|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style!colspan="text-align:center;10"|✗Console

|style[[Virtual Console]]|align="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|WiiU}}|DuoS|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} |Windows|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} |[http://www.sendspace.com/file/ezoear 8/25/2012 Beta]|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} |✗|style="text-align<small>[[Wikipedia:center;"Virtual_Console#Titles_3|✓Only for selected titles]]</small> |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[Ensata]]TWL_FIRM|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows3DS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[http:/N/www.mediafire.com/download/dr3gooki74kboio/Ensata_v1.4d.rar 1.4d]A|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓? |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}}

|style="text-align<small>[https:center;"|iDeaS//docs.libretro.com/library/desmume/ DeSmuME_libretro]</small>|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Switch|PS4}}<br/>{{Icon|Windows, LinuxVita}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://ciacinwww.site90retroarch.com/ideas.php 1.0.49.013]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{~}} ||✓{{~}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓? |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}}

!colspan|[[melonDS]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/melonds/ melonds_libretro]</small>|align="8"left|{{Icon|Switch|Vita}}<br/>{{Icon|PS2}}|[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/>|{{✓}} ||{{~}} ||{{~}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||Mobile{{~}} <small>(WIP)</small>

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

|style="text-align:center;"|Dsoid[[DeSmuME PSP]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|AndroidPSP}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://wwwcdn.emucrdiscordapp.com/searchattachments/label590011753849421846/Dsoid?&max-results=12 SVN870274164748079104/desmume_psp_4.zip V4][https://github.com/Xiro28/DesmumePSPExperimental Experimental]|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||style="text-align:center;"[[DeSmuME PSP|✓26%<br/><small>16 out of 63 reported titles </small>]] |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{~}}

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

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

* ;[[DeSmuMEmelonDS]] is one :Unlike DeSmuME, melonDS has some DSi support. In terms of the most developed emulators for regular being user-friendly, options in melonDS are more simplified. Has similar DS game compatibility as DeSmuME. Both can run gamesat a higher internal resolution (sharper 3D objects) and can open ROMs inside a compressed archive (ZIP, but works best with higher end computersRAR, 7Z etc.). This emulator aims for accuracy over speed but you Both can tinker with display the vast amount two screens in a variety of setting to get some extra FPS ways, but melonDS has a hybrid mode. [https://i.imgur.com/S73Eb4m.jpg (see [[Common Problems and Solutions]Example)] for tips). If you're still having a hard time running anything without While the output playing like syrup try developers of No$GBAhad documented the Wi-Fi capabilities first, or Drastic emulated through Bluestacks. DeSmuME melonDS is generally recommended regardless the first and only emulator that's gotten as far as it has, and it's been found to work reasonably well with a handful of your PC powergames. Switching to OpenGL in core options may give a performance boost. However In May 2023, it's not perfect and still very unoptimizedwas confirmed that there are plans for high-level emulation of Arm7 on MelonDS. The project is codenamed MelonHLE.  ;[[DeSmuME]]:DeSmuME won't cover has had significant improvements since 2018; new features include less CPU/GPU resource usage and high-resolution 3D rendering, and Wi-Fi features emulation has been reintroduced in the latest builds. v0.9.13 from May 2022 is the first "Stable" build in over 7 years and is highly recommended over all previous builds (outside of an online play though dev builds are also generally very usable). [[OpenEmu]] uses a shallow fork) or DSi emulation either because of some aspects of its unique development philosophy, so you'll have to look for other alternatives for thosethe v0.9.11 build and should be avoided as well.* ;[[DraStic]] is a :A (currently) closed -source payware emulator for [[Android emulators|Android ]] devices that can run games at a decent speed even on potato phones, there's unsubstantiated rumors that the devs deliberately put in issues to mess with the pirated version though. It's on par with (or in some cases better than DeSmuMe) DeSmuME, and emulating it through Bluestacks BlueStacks on PC is may actually be a viable and fast alternative aside from a slight input delay.Some rumors have spread around that the developers deliberately put in issues to mess with unofficial copies, though this is considered unsubstantiated. At the very least, you shouldn't expect any support from Exophase and company if you use a unofficial copy. It is available on the Raspberry Pi and Odroid via RetroPie, and runs relatively well[https://youtu.be/715kg1-hmxA]. As of March 5, 2024, due to yuzu lawsuits mainly focused on the Zelda franchise, the creator made it free and plans on open sourcing the code. * ;[[No$|No$GBA]] focuses :Focuses on speed, and has major compatibility issues and glitchesas a result. As this Because it was first initially a GBA emulator, the DS' 3D added by the DS is features are still very poorly handled. However, it might be an '''It's a good option for a very low -end machine machines, but don't expect a lot of games to run perfectly, or at all'''. A fan program, No$Zoomer, was released for version 2.6 , which increases compatibility and more settingoptions, as well as the titular zooming optionand resizing abilities. The biggest boost addition is noise cancellation which will clear clears up the static that No$GBA makes with 3d its 3D rendering. Version 2.7a isnIt doesn't compatible with change accuracy though. No$Zoomer yet but does add resizing windows options but any increase of emulating skills is not noticeablenever rebased to newer No$GBA versions, and it looks like it was abandoned, so it likely never will. As of In v2.8 it supports , No$GBA became the first emulator to support DSi games, and is currently the only emulator that doeswhich has been their most notable feature. Only use No$GBA for DSi gamesthat don't work on other emulators, its debugging features (if you do translate/romhack 've taken up ROM-hacking for DS/GBA gamesor homebrew development), if you value emulation speed above everything, if you're using a potato PC, or just as a last resort.* ;[[BizHawk]]:Uses melonDS0.9.5 core for nintendo DS and DSi emulation, mGBA or VBA-Next cores for Game Boy Advance emulation ;[[Delta]] is a recent DS :An open-source [[Multi-system_emulators|multi-system emulator by ex-DeSmuMe devs who want ]] for iOS with the ability to make a better optimized emulator eventually emulate many consoles and handhelds, including features the existing emulators either don't DS. Since version 1.3, Delta Emulator allows you to emulate Nintendo DS with a DeSmuME or melonDS (0.9.1)[https://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=199] core. You will need to have DS BIOS or have but are marred with other problemsDSi BIOS to play DS/DSi games in Delta using the melonDS core. Italso allows you to boot into DS/DSi home screen and functions similarly to melonDS. ;[[mGBA#medusa|mGBA/medusa]]:[[mGBA]] developer endrift is also creating a DS emulator, but it's still very early much a [https://mgba.io/timeline.html#IN+THE+FUTURE work-in -progress] and isn't nearly as far as melonDS in terms of the works capabilities it's covered. As of March 2018, medusa's development is "suspended until further notice".<ref name="medusa suspended">https://mgba.io/2018/03/09/holy-grail-bugs-revisited/#postscript-a-several-month-late-explanation</ref> ;iDeaS:An abandoned and experimental DS emulator that uses a plug-in system, it's very slow and buggy but can boot has partially gotten some games. A couple other new emulators are also under developmentfeatures working, like the camera and slide accessories.* ;[[ensataEnsata]] is a leaked : Nintendo's official DS emulator by Nintendothat was leaked to the public. It's not very usable or compatible, but does it can run a few games. '''Comparisons of several Nintendo DS emulators:'''* [https://emucross.com/the-next-generation-of-ds-emulators/ Looking Toward the Next Generation of DS Emulators] (By [iDeaS[Dolphin]] tester, [https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/authors/JMC47/ JMC47], AKA Justin M. Chadwick. 5 June 2017. Tested emulators: melonDS (0.2 and 0.3), medusa (Alpha 2) & GBE+ (1.1) compared to the mature DeSmuME.) ===High resolution===;[[melonDS]]:Has an OpenGL renderer with upscaling as of version 0.8.<ref name="melondsopengl">http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=90</ref> The renderer is much faster than DeSmuME's and supports increasing the internal resolution up to 16x native resolution. More features, such as texture filtering, are planned. ;DeSmuME X432R:A fork of DeSmuME that has 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.;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. ==Enhancements==<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;width:100%"|- style="font-weight:bold;"! colspan=2 | Name! melonDS! DESmuME! Bizhawk! No$GBA! GBE+! SkyEmu! mGBA/medusa|-| rowspan=5 | Graphics| [[Resolution|Resizable Internal Resolution]]| {{Y}}| {{Y}}| {{N}}| {{?}}||||-| [[Widescreen_hacks#Nintendo_DS|Widescreen hack]] <br/><small>Widescreen is possible thanks to specific codes made by the community for a dead experimental lot of DS games.</small>| {{Y}}[https://github.com/melonDS-emu/melonDS/issues/395 *]| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}||||-| [[Texture_packs#Texture_Replacement_.283D.29|Texture packs]]| {{✗}}([https://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=182 WIP]) | {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Pre-rendering AA<br/><small>(MSAA, SSAA)</small>| {{✗}}| {{Y}} (MSAA)| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| Super-resolution techniques<br/><small>([https://github.com/NVIDIAGameWorks/Streamline/blob/main/docs/ProgrammingGuideDLSS.md DLSS], [https://github.com/intel/xess/?tab=readme-ov-file XeSS] and [[Wikipedia:GPUOpen#FidelityFX_Super_Resolution|FSR 2+]])</small>| colspan=7 | <small>Requires access to the depth buffer and temporal data like motion-vectors so it's quite challenging and unlikely to be feasible in the near future.<br/>Besides any GPU that can use DLSS can run these emulator at 4k native with ease anyway.</small>|-| rowspan=3 | Performance| [[Overclocking|Overclock]]| {{~}}[https://melonds.kuribo64.net/board/thread.php?pid=2574#2574 *]| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| [[30/60_FPS_cheat_codes|Internal Framerate Hack]]| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}|-| [https://blurbusters.com/frame-generation-essentials-interpolation-extrapolation-and-reprojection/ Frame generation technologies]<br/><small>([https://store.steampowered.com/app/993090/Lossless_Scaling/ LSFG], [https://github.com/NVIDIAGameWorks/Streamline/blob/main/docs/ProgrammingGuideDLSS_G.md DLSS-G], [https://www.techpowerup.com/316835/extrass-framework-paper-details-intels-take-on-frame-generation ExtraSS] and [https://community.amd.com/t5/gaming/amd-fluid-motion-frames-is-out-now-on-amd-radeon-rx-7000-series/ba-p/634372 AFMF])</small>| colspan=7 | <small>Implementing frame generation technology in an emulator is unfortunately quite challenging and unlikely to be feasible in the near future, however post-processing techniques such as [[Wikipedia:Motion_interpolation|motion interpolation]] is quite possible. [[Input_lag|Input latency]] will be a plugcrucial factor, but its impact likely varies depending on the specific technique employed, it's recommended to use '''after applying the "Internal Framerate Hack"'''.<br/>While '''AFMF''' or '''LSFG''' could be used with melonDS or DESmuME?, please be aware that some visual glitches and artifacts may occur at this time.|-| rowspan=6 | Post-Processing| [[Wikipedia:Category:Anti-aliasing_algorithms|Post-rendering AA]]<br/><small>(FXAA, TXAA and MLAA/SMAA)</small>| {{~}}<ref group=N3>Only possible with software renderer.</ref>| {{N}}<abbr title="Supports MSAA but there is no post-rendering AA technique supported.">*</abbr>| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| [[Wikipedia:Comparison_gallery_of_image_scaling_algorithms|Post-rendering scaling]]<br/><small>(Sharp bilinear, Lanczos and [[Wikipedia:GPUOpen#FidelityFX_Super_Resolution|FSR 1]])</small>| {{Y}}| {{Y}}| {{?}}|||||-| [[Shaders_and_filters|Filters]]| {{N}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}||||-|[[Shaders_and_filters#AI-powered filters|AI-powered filter compatible]]<br/><small>([https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/gfecnt/nvidia-freestyle-ansel-enhancements-geforce-experience-article/ Freestyle])</small>| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| [[Shader_Presets|Shader Chain]]| {{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrRA></ref>| {{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrRA></ref>| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}|-|[[High_dynamic_range#Inverse_tone_mapping|Inverse tone mapping compatible]]| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| rowspan=5 | [https://tasvideos.org/Emulatorresources/Features TAS features]| [[Wikipedia:Macro_(computer_science)|Macros/Scripts]]/[https://tasvideos.org/LuaScripting Lua]| [https://github.com/melonDS-emu/melonDS/pull/1671 WIP]| {{Y}}| {{Y}}| {{Y}}||||-| Rewind| {{N}}[https://melonds.kuribo64.net/board/thread.php?pid=5060 *]| {{Y}}| {{Y}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}|-| Fast-Forward/Turbo Speed| {{Y}}| {{Y}}| {{Y}}| {{?}}||||-| Savestates| {{Y}}| {{Y}}| {{Y}}| {{?}}||||-| [https://tasvideos.org/Movies Movie recording/playback]| {{N}}[https://github.com/melonDS-emu/melonDS/issues/463 *]| {{Y}}| {{Y}}|||||-| rowspan=2 | Controls| [[Controllers#Mouse_Injectors_for_Emulators|Mouse Injector Compatible]]| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}|-| [[Input_lag|Input lag-mitigating technique]]| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}|-| rowspan=6 | Quality of life| [[Save_disk_space_for_ISOs|Streamable compression format]]| {{Y}}| {{Y}}| {{?}}| {{?}}||||-| Built-in [[Mods,_hacks_and_fan-translations#Built-in_graphics_mod_editor.2Fmanager_for_emulators|Graphics mod editor/manager]]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Built-in [[Cheats_and_patches|Cheat Manager]]| {{Y}}| {{Y}}||||||-| Per-Game Profiles||||||||-| Command Line Options||||||||-| [[Frontends#Graphical_User_Interfaces_.28GUIs.29|Big Picture Mode]]||||||||-| rowspan=5 | Misc| [[Netplay#Other|Netplay]]| {{N}}| {{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrRA>Only possible with libretro core. [https://github.com/melonDS-emu/melonDS/issues/1146 Github Issue page for adding RetroAchievements to the melonDS standalone version]. But DSi RetroAchievement are [https://docs.libretro.com/guides/retroachievements/#nintendo not supported].</ref>| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}|-| [[Virtual_reality#VR_game_room_simulations|EmuVR support]]| colspan=7 | Exclusive to [https://www.emuvr.net/wiki/Installation_Guide#Downloads libretro cores] at the moment.|-| RetroAchievements<br/>[https://retroachievements.org/gameList.php?c=18 DS], [https://retroachievements.org/gameList.php?c=78 DSi]| {{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrRA></ref>| {{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrRA></ref>| {{Y}}<ref group=N3 name=RABizHawk>[https://twitter.com/RetroCheevos/status/1647525064667955201?cxt=HHwWgoCw4afUl90tAAAA DSi RetroAchievements exclusive to BizHawk] at the moment.</ref>| {{N}}||||-| Free Look<br/><small>Free Look is a enhancement feature that allows manipulation of the in-game camera.</small>| {{N}}| [https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/9lwy0r/desmume_begins_to_implement_a_freelook_feature/ WIP]| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{N}}|-| [[Wikipedia:Category:Debugging|Debug Features]]| {{N}}[https://github.com/melonDS-emu/melonDS/issues/249 *]| {{Y}}| {{?}}| {{Y}}||||}</div><references group=N3/> ==Hardware features and accessories==<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;width:100%"|- style="font-weight:bold;"| colspan=2 | Name! DeSmuME! melonDS! No$GBA! GBE+! SkyEmu! mGBA/medusa!Bizhawk!TWL-FIRM|-| rowspan=5 | [[#Connectivity|Connectivity]]| [[#GBA/DS connectivity|GBA/DS connectivity]]| {{✓}}| {{✓}}| {{~}}||||||-| [[#Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection|Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]]| {{~}}| {{✓}}| {{✗}}||||||-| [[#Local wireless communication|Local wireless communication]]| {{✗}}| {{~}}| {{✗}}||||||-| [[#DS Download Play|DS Download Play]]| {{✗}}| {{~}}| {{✗}}||||||-| [[#DS/Wii connectivity|DS/Wii connectivity]]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}[https://github.com/melonDS-emu/melonDS/issues/1000 *]| {{✗}}||||||-| rowspan=4 | Controllers| Guitar Hero pad| {{✓}}| {{✗}}<ref group=N2 name=Slot2MelonDS>If this [https://github.com/melonDS-emu/melonDS/pull/719 Pull request] gets merged, we could see Slot 2 peripherals supported on MelonDS.</ref>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| Piano for Easy Piano| {{✓}}| {{✗}}<ref group=N2 name=Slot2MelonDS></ref>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| Taito paddle controller| {{✓}}| {{✗}}<ref group=N2 name=Slot2MelonDS></ref>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| Nintendo Wireless Keyboard| {{~}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| rowspan=5 | Inputs| Rumble pack| {{✓}}| {{✗}}<ref group=N2 name=Slot2MelonDS></ref>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| Tilt sensor| {{✗}}| {{✗}}<ref group=N2 name=Slot2MelonDS></ref>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| Pressure-sensitive touchscreen| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| Slide controller| {{✗}}<ref group=N2 name=SlideControllerDeSmuME> There is an open [https://github.com/TASEmulators/desmume/pull/737 pull request] that implements support for this add-on.</ref>| {{✗}}<ref group=N2 name=Slot2MelonDS></ref>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| DS camera| {{✗}}| {{✓}}<ref group=N2>melonDS supports outer and inner cameras in Physical Camera mode and as Image File.</ref>| {{~}}<ref group=N2 name="nocash-whitenoise">no$gba supports whitenoise for the camera and microphone.</ref>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✓}}|-| rowspan=2 | Bayer DIDGIT| Communication| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| Emulation| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| rowspan=2 | [https://dmitry.gr/?r=05.Projects&proj=28.%20pokewalker PokéWalker]| Communication| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| Emulation[https://github.com/UnrealPowerz/powar *]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}[https://github.com/UnrealPowerz/powar/issues/2 *]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| colspan=2 | [[#Backwards_compatibility_for_Game_Boy_Advance.2FGBA_Mode|Backwards compatibility for Game Boy Advance/GBA Mode]]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}[https://melonds.kuribo64.net/board/thread.php?id=1229 *]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| colspan=2 | iQue DS region lock| {{✓}}| {{~}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| colspan=2 | Ubisoft Thrustmaster| {{TBD}}| {{TBD}}| {{TBD}}| {{Y}}[https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art26.html *]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| colspan=2 | Inrou-Kun pedometer| {{TBD}}| {{TBD}}| {{TBD}}| {{Y}}[https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art26.html *]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| colspan=2 | Sega Card Reader| {{Y}}<ref group=N2 name=CardReaderDeSmuME>Supported in the latest nightly builds, on Windows only.</ref>| {{TBD}}| {{TBD}}| {{Y}}[https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art21.html *]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-| colspan=2 | Magic Reader| {{TBD}}| {{TBD}}| {{TBD}}| {{Y}}[https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art23.html *]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|||-! colspan=10 | DSi exclusive features|-| rowspan=2 | DSi Inputs| Solar Sensor| {{✗}}| {{~}}<ref name=manual group=N2>Only manual configuration. No automatic detection.</ref>| {{~}}<ref name=manual group=N2 />| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{~}}<ref name=manual group=N2 />| {{✗}}|-| Microphone| {{✗}}| {{✓}}<ref group=N2>melonDS supports microphone in systemExternal microphone, Blow noise and WAV file.</ref>| {{~}}<ref group=N2 name="nocash-whitenoise"></ref>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✓}}|-| rowspan=3 | [[#DSi Game formats|DSi Game formats]]| DSi (enhanced)| {{✗}}| {{✓}}| {{~}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✓}}| {{✓}}|-| DSi (exclusive)| {{✗}}| {{✓}}| {{✓}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✓}}| {{✓}}|-| DSi (digital) & DSiWare| {{✗}}| {{✓}}| {{✓}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✓}}| {{✓}}|-| colspan=2 | DSi SD Card| {{✗}}| {{✓}}| {{✓}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✓}}|}</div><references group=N2/>===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.  ====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. It 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 slow hit-and buggy-miss but unlocking the framerate helps. melonDS will often fail during the download process, but some features games actually go as far as booting and sometimes in-game as well. ====Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection===={{Main|Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection}} ====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 camera Link Cable, [https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Wii-to-DS_connectivity 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 slide accessory ''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 [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. ===Backwards compatibility for Game Boy Advance/GBA Mode===The Nintendo DS is backward compatible with Game Boy Advance (GBA) cartridges. Should not be confused with [[Game_Boy_Advance_emulators|Game Boy Advance emulation]] or [[#Connectivity|GBA/DS connectivity]]. None of the emulators supports this feature currently. ===Accessories===:''[[Wikipedia:List_of_Nintendo_DS_accessories|Wikipedia - List of Nintendo DS accessories]]'';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". No emulators support this add-on at the moment. There is an [https://github.com/TASEmulators/desmume/pull/737 open PR] for DeSmuME that implements this add-on.;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 partially 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 iDeaSthe 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. Not recommendedHowever, for melonDS, you need a [[Emulator Files|Firmware Dump]] from an iQue DS, otherwise, it will replicate the region lock.

===High Resolution===* DeSmuME X432R The only way the ROM will accept other hardware (and thus emulators) is with a fork of DeSmuME, that has many more graphical enhancement such as an option hack involving a simple byte change. Use a hex editor to increase internal resolution and use MSAA, See change the [[DeSmuME]] page for more details. Check out [http:/byte located at <code>0x1D</www.geocities.jpcode> from value <code>80</gponys/desmume_aa.html this site] code> to see what you're missing out on.*libretro port of DeSmuME also has an option to increase internal resolution since [https://github.com/libretro/desmume/commit<code>00</5e430dfbc22f9d54c77f291304a38352ee1e5a63 August 8, 2015 git commit]. It requires a very high-end CPU to run at reasonable framerate.*DraStic has released a beta version supporting double the original resolution.*The Wii U's DS Virtual Console have 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 consolecode>.

==Connectivity=Other issues====Local MultiplayerCertain games, Wi-Fi Connectionsuch as American Girl titles (e.g., ''Julie Finds a Way'' and Wii/DS Connection===* Local Multiplayer is not supported by any emulator''Kit Mystery Challenge''), suffer from severe flickering issues which keep those games from being playable on most emulators. No$GBA can emulate it but [[DraStic]] was the connection fails somewhere during establishing first emulator able to run the actual connection (despite two games properly, and while DeSmuME r5043 had an initial fix that worked around the names from the other DS showing just fine).* Download Play isnglitch, it was removed in later revisions as it broke compatibility with ''Pokémon SoulSilver''t supported by any emulator so far, though NDS-bootstrap homebrew among others; this has since been patched on r5531 once the Nintendo 3DS can boot some true nature of themthe [https://sourceforge.* Nintendo WFC (Online Multiplayer) net/p/desmume/bugs/1134/ bug] was successfully emulated with third-party DeSmuME forks, but has quite a bit of requirements (Ethernet cable, though this can better understood. The fix would be circumvented with external software)later incorporated into other emulators. After service shutdown''Ultimate Mortal Kombat'' suffers from flickering and slowdown due to the way it loads sprites, there was a version compatible with the fan servers (restoring all DLC data but sadly most multiplayer games had their content lost forever).* DS/Wii connection though it isn't emulated as serious in any capacityDraStic. ''Pokémon Battle RevolutionStar Wars: The Clone Wars – Jedi Alliance'' playability is very limited this wayan even more egregious example, crashing due to timing differences between actual hardware and an emulated system.

These features are not supported by the mainline DeSmuME project in particular due to timing inaccuracies and ''creative differences'', and it's highly unlikely they will ever be included in the future=Nintendo DSi={{Infobox console|title = Nintendo DSi|logo = DSiBlack. If you're interested in these featurespng|developer = [[:Nintendo]]|type = [[:Category:Handheld consoles|Handheld game console]]|generation = [[:Category:Seventh-generation video game consoles|Seventh generation]]|release = 2009|discontinued = 2014|predecessor=[[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]], follow other projects and refrain from contacting the developers about them as per their wishes in their "official stance" on Wi-Fi features in general.[[Nintendo DS emulators|DS]]|successor=[[Nintendo 3DS emulators|3DS family]]|emulated = {{✓}}}}

===GBA/DS Connectivity===Inserting a GBA card in Slot-2 in a Released on April 5, 2009, the '''[[wikipedia:Nintendo DSi|Nintendo DS unit (thatDSi]]'''s not a DSi) while a DS game is running could unlock various gameplay features in some DS gamesadded new lighting effects, an inner and outer 0. DeSmuME can emulate this: while playing 3 megapixel digital cameras, 16MB of RAM (compared to the DS ROMprevious 4MB of RAM), go to "Config a faster ARM9 CPU clocked at 133 MHz, Slot 2 (GBA Slot)" and select offered downloadable titles called "GBA CartridgeDSiWare". Now select the GBA ROM file It cost {{Inflation|USD|169.99|2009}} at launch and later dropped to {{Inflation|USD|149.99|2010}}. The system, however, was region-locked, and make sure its sav file is in the same foldermeaning that DSi exclusives from different regions couldn't be used. You may need It also did away with backwards-compatiblity by removing Slot-2 which was used to reset load GBA cartridges and certain accessories (such as the game sometimes to see the effect in-gameRumble Pak).

Features like the solar sensor in Boktai DS (Lunar Knight) using the GBA Boktai cartridges in SlotDSi emulation has been pretty neglected due to its small library of exclusive games and lack of DSi-2 are not emulated yet on the other handenhanced titles that provide anything major besides camera support. The only thing really notable is DSiWare, which saw several exclusive releases.

==No$GBA added support for DSi==Nintendo released the DSi in 2009, doing away games of all three formats starting with Slot-version 2 (used by GBA cartridges and Guitar Hero .8, although some games) but also adding new lighting effects, a camera, more RAM, won't boot and downloadable titles called DSiWare though those were capped others have graphical glitches. You'll need to enable "16MB because they were installed DSi/retail" under the settings in order to the use it. Compatibility is very small internal NAND memory. DSiWare releases were also region lockediffy due to No$GBA's already poor DS emulation, and the system language couldncamera is just spoofed as a static image and will cause the emulator to crash whenever used, meaning games that uses it may boot, but won't be changed. The Nintendo 3DS is also compatible with those games and offers a way to back them up to an SD cardvery playable.

===Game Formats===ThereDSi used an encryption system for the game dumps that went on to be enhanced and used for the 3DS. This encryption is checked at start-up, hence why some Nintendo DS emulators don't even manage to boot DSiWare dumps. It's three types of games using very unlikely DSi hardware enhancements:-mode emulation is ever going to be implemented in DeSmuME in particular due to various creative differences unique to that project.

* '''As of version 0.9, melonDS has DSi-enhanced retail cartridges:''' Regular DS retail cartridges compatible with emulation. It can connect to the older DS models, but unlocking more RAM internet and features when used on can play games with WFC online using libslirp or libpcap. It could become the most usable option for DSi, similar to some late GBC games on emulation in the GBAnear future. A couple Most of dozen games from Japan and USit is being done using the documentation that the No$GBA dev has already compiled on the subject<ref>http://EUR relied on this methodmelonds. Those games will still boot on DS emulators but without the DSi enhancementskuribo64.* '''DSi-exclusive retail cartridges:''' Retail cartridges relying heavily on the DSi hardware featuresnet/board/thread. A boot-up error screen will show when attempting to load those on regular DS models php?id=13</ref> (and by extension, emulators for those)[https://problemkaputt. Only five games were released this way, either launch games or because they were too big to fit in 16MBde/gbatek.* '''DSiWare:''' Downloadable titles downloaded only through the DSi eShop (discontinuedhtm GBATEK]), or the Nintendo 3DS eShop (though it uses a different file packaging format). They have a 16MB size limitation and there's lots of interesting exclusives for the system released that way.

All ==DSi Game formats==There are three formats can be converted to *.nds format. Compared to regular DS types of games, DSi games had some additional header information that wasn't even correctly dumped in uses 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 3DS).DSi hardware enhancements:

On ;DSi-enhanced retail cartridges: A regular game cartridge that is compatible with the old DS or DS Lite older NDS models, as well as most Nintendo DS but unlocks more RAM and features when used on the DSi (commonly it's just camera support, but may provide better performance with the extra RAM). Only a [http://www.rfgeneration.com/blogs/pdrydia/DSi-enhanced-titles-an-incomplete-list-1969.php couple of games] had this feature and is similar to how some late Game Boy Color games (mainly the ones made by Capcom or WayForward in the early 2000s) would offer additional feature if played on the Game Boy Advance. These games will still boot on any NDS emulators, but will be detected as if it was on the first type original DS and will not load in regular DS mode without any DSi enhancements, . DSi-enhanced games will also have an animated icon when displayed in the boot menu of the DSi and the titleID on the cartridge will say '''TWL''' instead of '''NTR'''.;DSi-exclusive retail cartridges: Retail cartridges that relies on the second DSi hardware features. An error screen will show an error messagewhen attempting to load one of these games on a regular DS console(and by extension, emulators also). These cartridges where white instead of gray and only [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DSi#Software_library five games] were physically released this way, either as launch titles or because they were too big to be sold as DSiWare (see below). ;DSiWare: Downloadable titles only available through the third will crash on boot-up DSi Shop (discontinued as of March 31, 2017). They have a 16MB size limitation due to missing encryption abilities the small size of the internal NAND and a lot of interesting exclusives for the system were released as DSiWare. The Nintendo 3DS eShop also had some DSiWare for purchase (which used to be the only ''legal'' way of obtaining them), though it uses a different file packaging format than the DSi. The 3DS itself is also capable of running other DSiWare since the firmware used for backwards-compatibility is the same as the DSi hardware support.

On the DSi/3DS family of handhelds, the first two All three formats can be played on converted to <code>.nds</code> format. Compared to regular DS games, DSi games have some select DSi-compatible flashcarts like the (discontinued and now expensive) CycloDS iEvolution flashcard (which wonadditional header information that wasn't work on a stock 3DS not with custom firmware to whitelist it)even correctly dumped in most early sets. 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 Recent sets have since updated to the limited TWL NANDcorrect format. In the 3DS' case, they DSiWare dumps can also be installed as custom titles exist in both <code>.nds</code> format and <code>.cia </code> format (like all for installation on a homebrewed 3DS applications, but here it's also a container for an .nds rom in this case, and converting back and forth is possible).

===Emulation===No$GBA added support for DSi games of all three formats starting with version 2Even though it's possible to convert these titles to <code>.8nds</code>, although some when attempting to run these games wont on a normal emulator it will either show an error message (when attempting to run a DSi-exclusive title), or will crash on boot -up (when attempting to run DSiWare) due to missing encryption abilities and others have graphical glitcheslack of DSi hardware support. You'll need to enable "16MB DSi/retail" under the settings. Emulation is very iffy due to a so-so DS emulation foundation in NO$GBA, and the camera is just spoofed enhanced games will run as if it was on a static image but just causes an emulator crash whenever used, meaning games that use it may boot but it won't be very playableregular DS model.

On the DSi/3DS family of handhelds, the first two formats can be played on some select DSi used an encryption system for -compatible flashcarts like the game dumps that went discontinued and expensive CycloDS iEvolution flashcart(which won't work on a stock 3DS unless you install custom firmware to be enhanced and used whitelist it). As for the third type, some are only available for digital purchase at the 3DSeShop and are installed as apps to the limited TWL NAND. This encryption is checked at start-up, hence why DS emulators don't Users with custom firmware can also convert DSiWare to an installable <code>.cia</code> and even manage dump already installed ones back to boot DSiWare dumps<code>.nds</code>. It's very unlikely Since both the DSi-mode emulation Shop and 3DS eShop have closed, the only way of obtaining DSiWare on the original system is ever going to be implemented in Desmume in particular due to various ''creative differences'' unique to that projectby [[Modding Consoles/Flashcarts#Nintendo_DSi|homebrewing]] your DSi and launching the <code>.nds</code> ROM through Unlaunch or [[TWiLight Menu++]].

DSi emulation requires a copy of the lower 32K-halves of the ARM7/ARM9 BIOSes BIOS files (<code>BIOSDSI7.ROM </code> and <code>BIOSDSI9.ROM</code>), which are different from the regular DS BIOS files and needed for the decryption. All melonDS also requires these files along with the regular DS BIOS and the needed files are bios7iDSi's firmware.bin. These unicorns can be found [[Emulator_Files#Nintendo_DS_.2F_DSi|here]]. It's also advised (but still completely '''optional''') to use a NAND dump for No$GBA to increase compatibility, bios9ihowever a NAND dump is required in order to use melonDS.bin ===No$GBA===For now, BIOSDSI7NO$GBA is the most mature DS emulation project that supports the Nintendo DSi. Using the latest debugger version of NO$GBA is recommended. ;Game Loading Methods:;Simple .nds Loading:Requirements: These [https://archive.org/details/DSiFirmwareFiles files] with the NO$GBA version overwritten with the latest version.ROM :DSiWare ROMs preserved online in romsets currently use the nds format, BIOSDSI9similar to regular Nintendo DS ROMs.If you change Emulation Settings > NDS Mode/Colors > DSi (retail/16MB), you can simply drag and drop all three types of DSi content on the emulator (or open the ROM), BIOSNDS7and it will run in DSi Mode.ROM :However, it's recommended for retail cartridges to be loaded that way with the option "Emulation Settings > Reset/Startup Entry Point" set to "GBA/NDS BIOS". This loading method isn't recommended for DSiWare games because of some bugs introduced and BIOSNDS9the lack of ability to save altogether.ROMHowever if you insist, do set that option "Reset/Startup Entry Point" to "Start Cartridge Directly" at your own risk for any unpleasant aspects of the experience. These unicorns can be found  :;NAND Loading:Requirements are the same as [httphttps://archive.org/details/DSiFirmwareFiles hereabove]. If you have a real DSi unit, you can dump its NAND and use it instead of the included DSi-1.mmc file, so that you play that different game selection. :This option is more authentic to how real hardware works. It has much less bugs and a higher compatibility than the Simple nds loading method. DSiWare games were limited to a 128MB internal NAND memory or 40 games in the DSi Home Menu, whichever limitation comes first. The NAND is represented by the file "DSi-1.mmc" and hosts installed games (that will appear in the DSi Home Menu) and properly working game saves. While the DSi supported SD cards, it did NOT allow for game software to be booted from there. :Make sure to use "Emulation Settings > Reset/Startup Entry Point" at all times. The DSiWare titles that can be booted through this method will appear in the DSi Home Menu as separate slots than the "inserted game cartridge" icon. :Using Unlauncher, a homebrew exploit, games can be added to the NAND. However, this is an advanced technique, and generally heavily discouraged. Users of this software on real hardware were compelled to use custom firmwares that allowed for using game software from the SD card (normally impossible). This means that to take advantage of this method as an emulation user, you will be stuck with the pre-installed games on the commonly shared BIOS files online. :;SD Card Loading:The most recommended method, as per [http://hg101.proboards.com/thread/14716/emulate-dsi-dsiware these] [https://www.ngemu.com/threads/no-gba-3-0-dsiware-compatibility-list-using-the-nand.206911/ tutorials]. This method loads the game from the SD card instead of the NAND, and allows for an easier time adding new games to the emulator. :Requirements include these files to be placed in the same directory as NO$GBA. Not compatible with the previous methods, and so to be used in a folder with a fresh setup. :* [https://mega.nz/#!aJAyUQIb!OIOOrA_PMeTizDxnmf-5y5fekLxxZkRZfWGKEvV_Tx0 BIOS Files]: Required for DSi emulation.:* [https://mega.nz/#!qBY0DAJa!18nfxczgF-JxqyFxSogfej7G23vYSjJnQCIh_tdXUq0 Modified NAND]: Includes Unlauncher (Hold A to boot it, but not needed) and [[TWiLight Menu++]]:* [https://mega.nz/#!vERGXCwY!GSmvL2PODesi0Vmu-atKPXxxz1UyucHZyH9bXghM0a0 2GB SD Card]: Filename is DSi-1.SD:* A tool to mount a virtual SD drive, such as [https://www.osforensics.com/tools/mount-disk-images.html OSFMount]. To be used (Open DSi-1.SD > "Mount") with the 2GB SD Card to add new .nds files to it. Remember to disable "Read-Only" and to Dismount before using the emulator again.

It's also advised (but :Some issues are still completely '''optional''') to use a NAND dump as well to increase compatibility (though adding games is more complex, and a soft-modding solution to dump it is still being worked on)present with this method. Rename it Refer 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 titles, though loading retail games in DSi mode from the menu is still possible easily. This fixes lots of glitches and crashes related next section for tips on how to languages and use deal with some of the internal DSi fontthem.

==Special Hardware=melonDS===* '''Guitar Hero Pad:''' Used in The latest dev builds of melonDS can also boot the "Guitar Hero: On Tour" series (required) DSi Menu and Band Hero DS. Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2)load most DSiWare.* '''Piano for Easy Piano:''' Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2).* '''Taito Paddle Controller:''' Compatible with ArkanoidTo boot up the DSi Menu, Space Invaders Extreme, Space Invaders Extreme 2 and Space Bust-a-Moveyou need specific files which can all be found [[Emulator_Files#Nintendo_DS_. Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2)2F_DSi|here]].* '''Tilt Sensor:''' Used in "Tony Hawk's Motion/Hue's Pixel Painter." No emulators support this add-on yet.==Known Issues==* '''Rumble Pack:''' Supported by DeSmuME (Slot 2). Requires compatible Joystick.* '''Slide Controller:''' Required by "Slide Adventure Mag Kid". Yasu made a shoddy [http://home.usay.jp/pc/etc/nds/iDeaS_slide.zip plug-in] for iDeaS (recommended version was 1.0.2.9.) to try to emulate it. ===No emulators support this add-on at the moment.$GBA===* '''Pokémon Keyboard:''' Bundled with Aside from general emulation problems inherited from 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. While it's playable using the on-screen keyboard on the lower screen, the keyboard wasn't actually emulated. There is a [http://pokemon-older DS emulation project.com/noticias/778-1/%C2%A1Juega-a-Pok%C3%A9mon-Typing-DS-con-tu-teclado patched version of DesMuMe with a Lua script] (Download by clicking on "Descargar".) that permits using the actual keyboard by mapping presses of the actual keyboard to taps of the virtual Touch Screen. However, the way the Lua script was coded mapped the virtual numbers to the actual number pad, presumably because the actual number keys there are mapped to hotkeys. However, you can blank the hotkeys and modify the Lua script. Even then, not only is the emulated workaround a little slow, but saving is still broken. Use savestates, instead.* '''DS Camerafollowing issues:''' Accessory bundled with the Japan-only Face Training (an European localization for Christmas 2007 was cancelled, and it was released as a retail DSi game in 2010 using the internal camera rather than the original accessory). Not to be confused with the built-in DSi camera. No emulators exist for it at all.

===iQue DS Region Lock===* ''Microphone doesn't work.'' (DSiWare + any method) No known fix.Nintendo released their Nintendo DS in China under the name iQue DS, along with a few localized games* ''Camera doesn't work.'' (DSiWare + any method) Unimplemented. No known fix. Much like they did with the GBA too* ''Wifi doesn't work. Except for one thing'' Unimplemented. While * ''Touch Screen issues related to Screen Calibration'' (DSiWare + [[TWiLight Menu++]] or simple nds loading) The fix is to load the Chinese DS ROMs are perfectly normal DS ROMs, besides original DSi Home Menu first (holding B when resetting the tiny fact they have region locking implementedemulator or loading it), preventing them from running on then reset to TWiLight Menu++ (not holding any DS system thatbuttons) before loading the desired game.* ''Can't Save''s not the Chinese iQue DS model (but any 3DS DSiWare + simple nds loading) This method is hardware inaccurate to begin with. For best results, switch to [[TWiLight Menu++]] or Original NAND methods.===melonDS===melonDS has poor DSP support. DSiWare has to be launched from any region will run these Chinese DS games, despite the 3DSs games being region-lockedNAND as it cannot boot them as . Go figure.) No other DS games - not even Korean releases - do thisnds.

[[Category:Consoles|!DS]][[Category:Handheld consoles|!DS]][[Category:Nintendo consoles|!DS]][[Category:Seventh-generation video game consoles|!DS]]