Let’s go back to the good old days when Nintendo was still tremendous, and handhelds were the best way to kill time on the go. The Nintendo DS was a popular gaming device from Nintendo that gave birth to some fantastic games, such as the New Super Mario Bros, The Legend Of Zelda, and Pokemon Red. Nintendo DS was among the most widely used handheld gaming devices ever. The Nintendo DS gaming console was created and debuted in 2004 and was the company’s most innovative dual-screen device. Despite being pitched as an experiment in Nintendo’s console lineup, this handheld console saw sales of about 154 million units.
Unfortunately, since it was discontinued, there aren’t too many options for playing those favorite games if you no longer own a DS device. If you’re one of those who would rather play your DS games on your PC without spending so much money, you’ll be happy to learn that several Nintendo DS emulators are available for PCs.
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What Is An Emulator?
An emulator is software that allows users to use or experience a program developed for another OS on their PC. In this case, we have the best Nintendo DS emulators for PC so that you can play all those old games on your desktop PC. Emulators are full of mysticism, even though they are not magic. They can make any gadget act and think like a video game console.
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Best Nintendo DS Emulators For PC
If you are searching for ways to play your favorite DS games again, we have the perfect solution for you! In this post, we’ll show you the 10 best Nintendo DS emulators for PC.
So let’s get started.
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1. DeSmuMe
Although the name of this may sound a little weird, the DeSmuMe is one of the greatest Nintendo emulators for PC and can effectively run all Nintendo DS games. The emulator’s ability to continuously improve by releasing new releases is its strongest feature. This is accessible on both the Mac and Windows operating systems and is free. In addition, a USB controller and cheat codes are supported.
Key Features:
- Allow modifying graphics and emulator settings.
- Provides support for USB controllers and a cheat code manager.
- There are numerous customization options for graphics and emulator settings.
Click here to get it
2. MelonDS
MelonDS Nintendo DS Emulator is among the finest solutions for individuals who want to play Nintendo video games on their laptop/PC. MelonDS offers quick and precise Nintendo DS emulation by using your computer’s underlying hardware. The makers of this MelonDS emulator are active in addressing bugs and releasing updates on a regular basis. And a lot of Nintendo DS games are supported by this emulator.
Key Features:
- It displays the Live FPS and lets you save game progress.
- It provides strong performance at higher resolutions while rendering 2D and 3D games.
- It has no ads at all.
Click here to get it.
3. NO$GBA
NO$GBA is the perfect emulator for anyone using an outdated computer/laptop or wanting to play Nintendo DS games. Even on old and slow PCs, it uses relatively little system resources and operates quickly. Even though it just has a few graphic settings, by making a few tweaks you can sometimes get pretty good graphics that are on par with DeSmuME. A joystick can also be used with this emulator.
Key Features:
- Even on sluggish PCs, the NO$GBA runs fast.
- It supports games for the Nintendo DS, and Nintendo DS Lite and, GBA.
- Support for the most recent version of Windows 10 and MS-DIS devices
Click here to get it.
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4. Citra
Citra is one of the best Nintendo DS emulators available for the PC. It is an easy-to-use emulator that is open-source and free. Thanks to the software, most games, even those for commercial 3DS, can be played on Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux. But unlike other emulators, this one might not perform as effectively in an outdated machine as it does in a modern one. It requires a strong and quick processor for smooth operation.
Key Features:
- The user Interface is easy-to-use.
- You can use the emulator to play games that need both HLE and LLE audio.
- Users can choose internal resolutions of up to 4K.
Click here to get it.
5. NeonDS
NeonDS is another trustworthy Nintendo DS emulator for PC. The majority of commercial ROMs can be readily run on NeonDS. Even on outdated desktops and underpowered laptops, the emulator may operate properly because it uses very few system resources. It satisfies a DS emulator’s fundamental requirements. Using this emulator can be a little challenging, but once you discover the proper settings, everything will go smoothly.
Key Features:
- The rendering technology is geared for OpenGL 2.0, which allows you the ability to record gameplay as well.
- Low system resource requirements.
- Practically all Nintendo DS games are supported.
Click here to get it.
6. iDeaS
The compatibility rate of this emulator is increasing with each update. This emulator may be both simple to use and highly efficient. It doesn’t require any settings, but you can change them. It can efficiently run several ROMs with compatibility for the key NDS features. While playing, you could encounter various bugs, most of which are avoidable. In addition, it works with practically all GBA games available.
Key Features:
- The newest features are frequently added to this emulator.
- Game graphics that are customizable.
- In some circumstances, splitting the screen into two is a good idea, and you can adjust the resolution.
Click here to get it.
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7. RetroArch
RetroArch is among the most well-known and powerful emulators for Windows. The Nintendo DS is among the many systems that it can replicate. Both vintage games and custom ROMs can be played using RetroArch. Additionally, the emulator is cross-platform compatible, allowing you to use it on a PC, Linux, or Mac machine. At first, the UI could seem intimidating, but after some practice, it becomes much simpler.
Key Features:
- The RetroArch is compatible with all operating systems, including Windows, Linux, Mac, and personal consoles like Xbox, PlayStation 3, etc.
- Enables 4K graphics enhancement and shader application.
- You may use it to both record and stream your gaming sessions on Twitch.
Click here to get it.
8. DuoS
DuoS is a classic and straightforward emulator that lets users play their favorite vintage DS games. As was already noted, this emulator is rather basic and doesn’t provide much advancement. This emulator has a software renderer, a dynamic recompiler, and GPU acceleration. This fantastic software has some of the best features to process data quickly. It can play virtually all commercial games.
Key Features:
- It is free of bugs, viruses, and other technical problems.
- There is no setup necessary.
- Easy to use User Interface.
Click here to get it.
9. Ensata
Ensata, created by Nintendo, is next on our list of Nintendo DS emulators for Windows. A hardware emulator enables PC users to run Nintendo DS-specific apps. Ensata’s ability to replicate the actual space between two screens on a Nintendo DS system is one of its strongest features. It can simulate dual-screen ARM9 and ARM7 processors. The ensata emulator works well with Windows 11 and earlier versions.
Key Features:
- The emulator is compatible with earlier Windows OS versions and slower hardware.
- It can simulate the gap between two Nintendo DS console screens.
- Precise replication.
Click here to get it.
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To Wrap This Up
So. these were the 10 best Nintendo DS emulators for PC you can try now. The tools we’ve described can be utilized on a variety of PCs, most of which are also compatible with older models. So, what are you waiting for? Go through them and find your perfect Nintendo DS emulator according to your need. Share this article to help other Nintendo lovers, and don’t forget to share your experiences with us in the comments below. Follow us on social media – Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.