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Emulators on DS
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| Developer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Seventh generation |
| Release date | 2004 |
| Discontinued | 2013 |
| Predecessor | Game Boy Advance |
| Successor | Nintendo 3DS |
| Emulated | ✓ |
- For software that emulates the NDS, see Nintendo DS emulators.
This page can help you turn your tiny NDS handheld into an emulation device. NDS is underpowered compared to PSP, but here's what you can take out of it. Compatibility information isn't accurate on here as of now.
Contents
Arcade[edit]
MAME (ports)[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSPack | 1.96 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ |
| MAME4All | 1.0 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ |
- MAME4All
- Port of MAME 0.37b5 emulator for Supercard DS Two only.
Game-specific ports[edit]
1942 DS: emulates 1942 (all sets). 1943 DS: emulates 1943 (3 sets). AemioDA: Acronym for "Arcade Emulator Made In One Day", Asteroid. BombJack DS: BombJack arcade game emulator. Canyon DS: Canyon Bomber (prototype set also) emulator. DSInvaders: A Space Invaders Arcade Emulator. Ghosts'n Run: Arcade emulator for one game: Ghosts 'n Goblins. GreenBeretDS: Green Beret, Rush'n Attack & Mr. Goemon Arcade Emulator. K80DS: Konami 80's arcade emulator: Double Dribble, Finalizer, Green Beret / Rush'n Attack, Iron Horse, Jackal, Jail Break, Mr. Goemon, Scooter Shooter, Yie Ar Kung-Fu. MarcaDS: An arcade emulator. It emulates 75 game machines, including Amidars, Arkanoid, Cosmic Avenger, Dig Dug, Donkey Kong, Frogger, Lady Bug, Phoenix, Pooyan, Scramble, Super Cobra, etc. MrDo DS: Mr.Do!, Mr.Do's Castle, Do!Run Run & Mr.Do's Wild Ride arcade emulator. Pang DS: Pang and Super Pang Arcade Emulator. PuzzleKlax: Arcade emulator for Klax and Tetris. SnowBrosDS: Snow Bros., Nick & Tom (all sets), Arcade Games. Solomon's Key DS: Solomon's Key (US and Japan) Arcade Emulator.
Personal computers[edit]
Amstrad CPC[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AmeDS | 4.0 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ |
| CrocoDS | 2.0 | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✓ |
Apple II[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A2DS | 2008 | Mid | BSD-3-Clause (Permissive) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Grape | 2014 | Mid | ? | ✗ | ✗ |
| PomDS | 2.0 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ |
Apple Macintosh[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini vMac DS | R3 2008 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ |
Atari 8-bit[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A8DS | 3.8a | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Atari800 | 0.2.0 | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ |
| PokeyDS | 1.1 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ~ |
Atari ST[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StyxDS | 0.2a | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ~ |
Commodore 64[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C64DS | git | Mid | ? | ✓ | TBD |
| FrodoDS | Complete v20230108a | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ |
DOS[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSx86 | 0.43beta | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ |
- DSx86
- PC emulator that can run old DOS games. Has a custom configuration variant, DSx86Cfg.
Dragon 32/64[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XRoar | 1.6.5 | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ |
Infocom Z-Machine[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DS-Frotz | 2.0 beta-1 20080815 | Mid | Non-commercial | ✗ | ✓ |
| GLK POGO | 1.0 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ~ |
MegaZeux[edit]
| Name | Latest Version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSMZX | 2009 | N/A | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✗ |
| MegaZeux | 2.93b | N/A | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ~ |
Microsoft MSX[edit]
| Name | Latest version | MSX 1 | MSX 2 | MSX 2+ | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FmsxDS | 0.09 | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | Mid | Non-commercial | ✗ | ~ |
| MSX DS | 0.94 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ |
| PenkoDS | 0.2a | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ~ |
In addition, both ColecoDS and S8DS can run msx1 games.
ScummVM[edit]
| Name | Latest version | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ScummVM | 1.2.1 (for ds mode flashcarts) 2.8.1 (for dsi mode) | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✓ (DSi) | ✓ |
Sinclair[edit]
| Name | Latest version | ZX81 | ZX Spectrum | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DS81 | 1.3 | ✓ | ✗ | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✓ |
| DSpec | Preview | ✗ | ✓ | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✗ |
| SpeccyDS | 0.3 | ✗ | ✓ (48k only) | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✗ |
| SpectrumDS | 2009 | ✗ | ✓ (48k only) | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✗ |
| ZXDS | 1.4.1 | ✗ | ✓ | Mid | Proprietary | ✓ | ✓ |
- ZXDS
- By far the most accurate and feature-packed DS ZX Spectrum emulator. Has WiFi multiplayer support.
Tangerine Oric[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSOric | 1.0 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ |
Texas Instruments[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DS994a | 2.1 | Mid | Non-commercial MIT |
✓ | ✓ |
Thomson MO5[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ThomDS | 3.0 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ |
ZZT Engine[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DreamZZT | 3.1.500 | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ~ |
Home consoles[edit]
Atari[edit]
| Name | Latest version | 2600 | 5200 | 7800 | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A5200DS | 3.6 | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | Mid | Non-commercial | ✓ | ✓ |
| A7800DS | 4.7 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | Mid | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ |
| StellaDS | 7.6 | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | Mid | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
ColecoVision[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ColecoDS | 10.1 | Mid | Non-commercial | ✓ | ✓ |
S8DS can load colecovision games too.
- ColecoDS
- Includes support for the following 8-bit systems: Colecovision, ADAM, Casio PV-2000, MSX1, Sord-M5, Memotech MTX, Spectravision SVI, Hanimex Pencil II, Tatung Einstein, SG-1000/SC-3000 and the Creativision.
GCE Vectrex[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VectxDS | 0.1 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ |
[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnavox Odyssey DS | 2010/06/25 | Low | Proprietary | ✗ | ~ |
Mattel Intellivision[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NINTV-DS | 5.9 | Mid | ? | ✓ | ✓ |
NEC PC-Engine/TurboGrafX-16[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NitroGrafx | 0.7 | Mid | ? | ~ | ✓ |
Nintendo NES[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midori | 1.3a | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✗ |
| NesDS | 1.3d+ | Mid | Public domain | ~ | ✓ |
| NesterDS/+ | 0.3.9 | Mid | ~ | ✗ | ~ |
| RetroBoxDS | 2005 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✗ |
Nintendo SNES[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAG SFC | r3 | Low | Proprietary | ✗ | ✗ |
| CATSFC | git | Low | Non-commercial GPLv2 |
✗ | ✗ |
| lolSnes | 1.1 | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✗ |
| SNEmulDS | 0.6a0.6d | Low | BSD-3-Clause NCSA Open Source License GPLv2 FreeType License |
✓ | ~ |
| SnesDS | 2005 | Low | Proprietary | ✗ | ✗ |
| SnezziDS | 0.28a | Low | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✗ |
- lolSnes
- the precursor to BlargSNES. Very barebones.
- SNEmulDS
- port of the DOS SNES emulator SNEmul. Has the best compatibility and speed.
- SnezziDS
- port of the GBA-based SNES emulator Snezziboy (in its GBA incarnation, while functional it's less than ideal).
Sega Dreamcast VMU[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDS_VMS | 20100214 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ |
| VirtuaMUnstaz | demo | Low | Proprietary | ✗ | ✗ |
Sega Master System / Game Gear[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice MinusDS | 0.4.0 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ |
| DSMasterplus | 1.3a | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ~ |
| DSMS | 0.2 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✗ |
| S8DS | 1.1.7 | Mid | ? | ✓ | ✓ |
In addition, there is ColecoDS which can run SG-1000/SC-3000 games.
- S8DS
- Includes support for the following 8-bit systems: SEGA SG-1000 / SG-1000 II, SEGA SC-3000, SEGA Mark III, SEGA Master System J, 1 & 2, SEGA Game Gear, SEGA System-E, Coleco, MSX 1, Sord M5.
Sega Mega Drive / Genesis[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| jEnesisDS | 0.7.4 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✓ |
| PicoDriveDS | git | Mid | Non-commercial | ✗ | ~ |
SNK Neo Geo AES/MVS[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NeoDS | 0.2.1c | Mid | Non-commercial | ✗ | ✓ |
Multi-Console[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TWiLight Menu++ | 27.11.1 | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✓ | ✓ (CFW) | ~ (Flashcart) |
- TWiLight Menu++
- Includes a bunch of popular emulators, and can be found in
\_nds\TWiLightMenu\emulators\.
The list includes:
- A5200DS - (Atari 5200)
- A7800DS - (Atari 7800 ProSystem)
- A8DS - (Atari800XL/XEGS)
- AmEDS - (Amstrad CPC)
- ColecoDS - (ColecoVision)
- CrocoDC - (Amstrad CPC)
- GameYob - (GB/GBC)
- GBARunner2 - (GBA)
- jEnesisDS - (Sega Megadrive/Genesis)
- nesDS - (NES)
- NGPDS - (Neo Geo Pocket)
- Nintellivision - (Intellivision)
- NitroGrafx - (PC-Engine)
- NitroSwan - (WonderSwan)
- PicoDriveTWL - (Genesis/Megadrive)
- PokeMini - (Pokémon Mini)
- S8DS - (GG/MS/SG-1000)
- SNEmulDS - (SNES)
- StellaDS - (Atari 2600)
Handheld consoles[edit]
Atari Lynx[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LodjurDS | v0.0.2 | Mid | zlib License (Permissive) | ✓ | ~ (WIP) |
Bandai Tamagotchi v1[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamaboy DS | 2024 | Mid | BSD-3-Clause NCSA Open Source License GPLv2 FreeType License |
✓ | ✓ |
Bandai WonderSwan[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DualSwan | 1.2.1 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ~ |
| NitroSwan | 0.6.6 | Mid | ? | ✓ | ✓ |
- NitroSwan
- can emulate Benesse PocketChallenge V2, besides wonderswan. Larger WS games won't load from a standard flashcard without additional RAM. Alternatively, for dsi and 3ds systems, you can use twilightmenu++ to use all available RAM.
Java ME[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pstros NDS | 0.7.2r6 | Low | ? | ✗ | ~ |
Nintendo Game Boy[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DS Boy | 0.75 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✗ |
| DS_GBC | 0.1 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ✗ |
| GameYob | git | Mid-High | MIT (Permissive) | ~ | ✓ |
| Lameboy | 0.12 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ~ |
Nintendo Game Boy Advance[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gbaemu4ds | git | Low | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✗ |
| GBARunner2 | git | N/A | ? | ~ | ~ |
| GBARunner3 | git | N/A | ? | ✓ | ~ |
- GBARunner2
- Unlike other attempts at running GBA on the DS, GBARunner2 is a hypervisor rather than purely on emulation, meaning it runs partially on present GBA hardware found within the DS itself.
Nintendo Pokémon Mini[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PokeMini DS | 0.60 | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✓ |
SNK Neo Geo Pocket (Color)[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NGPDS | 0.5.7 | Mid | ? | ✓ | ✓ |
| RACE! | DS FIXED | Mid | ? | ✗ | ✗ |
TimeTop Gameking[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamekengu | 0.01 | Low | Proprietary | ✗ | ✗ |
Watara Supervision[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WasabiDS (山葵DS) | 0.2.4 | Mid | ? | ✓ | ✓ |
| Watari | 0.4 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ~ |
Virtual and fantasy consoles[edit]
CHIP-8[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| chip-8 | 0.2 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ~ |
| chip-84-ds | 1.0.0 | Mid | ? | ~ | ~ |
| chip8me | 1.0 | Mid | Proprietary | ✗ | ~ |
Pico-8[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fake-08 | 0.0.0 alpha | Mid | MIT (Permissive) | ✓ | ✓ |
UXN/Varvara[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| uxnds | 0.5.2 | Mid | MIT (Permissive) | ✓ | ✓ |
XY-MINI[edit]
| Name | Latest version | Accuracy | License | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xyds | 0.2 | Mid | GPLv3 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✗ |
External links[edit]
See also[edit]
| Emulators on consoles |
| Consoles: NES • SNES • N64 • GameCube • Wii • Wii U • Switch Handhelds: GB(C) • GBA • Pokémon mini • DS • 3DS Master System • Mega Drive/Genesis • Saturn • Dreamcast |
Consoles: PS1 • PS2 • PS3 • PS4 Handhelds: PSP • Vita Xbox • Xbox 360 • Xbox One/Series X|S Didj • Lynx • Zodiac • GP32 • GP2X • GP2X Wiz |