The iconic Nintendo DS console may have long gone out of production, but the legend continues to live on among gamers and tech enthusiasts. While some have childhood memories associated with some of the super-popular Mario and Pokémon titles, many youngsters are also getting in on the act, eager to experience a bygone era. Whichever category you belong to, you can experience the magic of Nintendo DS consoles using software emulators on your PC or smartphone. So here’s a list of the best Nintendo DS emulators for Android and iOS.
1. RetroArch
RetroArch is multi-faceted, multi-platform, multi-purpose, free, and open-source software (FOSS) that works on nearly all platforms imaginable. It is not only available on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux but also on various game consoles, including PS2, PS3, PSP, PS Vita, Wii, Wii U, 2DS, 3DS, Nintendo Switch, and more. It is one of the best emulator front-ends that supports not only the NDS but also Game Boy Advance, the original Game Boy, and a whole host of consoles, both legacy and current.
Do note that RetroArch only offers the front-end GUI for emulators, game engines, and media players, so you must download the core for each individual system separately for it to work. The setup requires a little bit of technical know-how, but the emulator allows you to run classic games on a wide range of computers and consoles. You can even create your NDS games with the Libretro API using RetroArch.
PROS CONS Open-source Setup requires time and technical know-how Ad-free Multi-platform support Wide range of features
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, and more
Download (Android, iOS)
2. Lemuroid
Now, while Retroarch requires you to be a bit technically sound in the emulator space, Lemuroid is the other side of the coin. It is as beginner-friendly as DS emulators come. Not only is the UI super simple, but even the app as a whole is pretty snappy.
Most importantly, it is completely free to use and packs all the features a beginner DS emulator user needs. From being able to save and load from 4 slots to even fast-forwarding, Lemuroid is a great emulator for Android.
Additionally, it is not just limited to Nintendo DS ROMs. It is an all-in-one retro console emulator, so if you are bored with a DS game, hop on some GameBoy, Atari, or even PSP and PSX games. All-in-all, it is easily one of the best Nintendo DS emulators to try on your Android device.
PROS CONS Open-source Not feature-rich Ad-free ROMs need to be stored in a single folder Simple and straightforward to use Not available for iOS Fast and efficient
Platforms: Android
Download (Free)
3. EmuBox
One of the new entrants into the NDS emulator scene, EmuBox is an all-in-one Nintendo DS emulator that runs your old game ROMs on Android. It supports up to 20 save slots for each ROM and allows gamers to take screenshots whenever they want. It also supports fast forward and external controllers, including Bluetooth gamepads, etc.
One of the best things about EmuBox is that it doesn’t restrict itself to the NDS. Instead, it supports a whole host of other consoles, including PSX, GBA, GBC, NES, and more. It is one of the first multi-console emulators on Android and adopts Google’s material design theme to offer the most aesthetically pleasing and intuitive emulators.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Wide compatibility | Lags when too many cheat codes are activated |
| Great graphics quality | |
| Supports external controllers | |
| Portrait and landscape modes | |
| Multiple save slots for each game |
Platforms: Android
Download (Free)
4. DraStic
DraStic is yet another fully-functioning Nintendo DS emulator on Android. It is one of the best Nintendo DS emulators, considering that it lets you play games at full speed on most Android devices. On high-end phones and tablets, it can also upscale the game’s 3D graphics to 2 times their original resolution. The emulator also supports add-on controllers, as well as physical controls in devices like the Nvidia Shield.
Other notable features include support for save states, the ability to customize the placement and size of the DS screens, portrait and landscape modes, and more. The DraStic emulator also supports cheat codes, with an extensive database running into thousands. Finally, it also supports fast forward, allowing you to increase emulation speed. On the negative side, DraStic is yet to implement Wi-Fi support, and there’s no multiplayer mode at this point.
PROS CONS Fast Paid app Graphics upscaling for modern smartphones No multiplayer mode External controller support Cheat code support
Platforms: Android
Download ($4.99)
5. SuperNDS
SuperNDS is one of the newest additions to the growing list of Nintendo DS emulators on Android. It works well on newer Android devices, offering fast gameplay, decent rendering, and relatively glitch-free graphics. It supports NDS, ZIP, 7z, and RAR file types and supports features like save states and more.
SuperNDS supports all Android versions upwards of 5.0 Lollipop but requires a decent amount of RAM to work. On older devices with less RAM, games can crash every once in a while, requiring you to free up RAM manually and restart the emulator. However, on newer devices with ample RAM, this emulator offers great gameplay at full-speed with decent graphics. It is one of the best Nintendo DS emulators on our list.
PROS CONS Fast gameplay Relatively barebones Relatively glitch-free Too many ads Decent graphics
Platforms: Android
Download (Free)
6. Fast DS Emulator
Fast DS Emulator supports a large number of NDS titles on Android, offering fast gameplay with decent graphics. It supports .nds, .zip, and a whole host of other file types and offers features such as save game states, load game states, customizable buttons, cheat codes, and more. It also supports external controllers, including the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons.
Fast DS Emulator was originally designed for Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but it runs on most devices with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and above. It also received an update last year, making it is compatible with most current-gen Android devices. You should download this emulator if you want to convert your old phone into a dedicated Nintendo DS gaming machine.
PROS CONS Fast gameplay Crashes while opening third-party ROMs Under active development Cheat code support External controller support
Platforms: Android
Download (Free)
Nintendo DS was a truly iconic handheld console and continues to live on through the numerous emulators on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux. Now that you’ve gone through our list of best NDS emulators for Android and iOS download the one that catches your fancy and take it for a spin.
Do let us know which emulator you liked the most and why in the comments section below. Also, check out the best Nintendo DS emulators for your computer, irrespective of whether you use Windows, Mac, or Linux.
Anshuman Jain
