Despite being long out of production, the legendary Nintendo DS console is still revered by gamers and tech fans. While many people connect some of the wildly popular Mario and Pokémon games with their childhood, many young people are also getting into the act, wanting to relive a bygone period. Using software emulators on your PC or smartphone, everyone may enjoy the magic of Nintendo DS consoles, regardless of whatever category they fall into. The top 9 Nintendo DS emulators for Android and iOS are listed below.
Best Nintendo DS Emulators for Android and iOS (2022)
The Nintendo DS had two screens, but you can play those games on an emulator without a dual-screen phone. The top Nintendo DS emulators for your iPhone or Android device are listed below. In addition, the majority of these emulators are actively being developed, making them largely compatible with the most recent Android and iOS versions. Additionally, it implies that they ought to offer greater compatibility and be largely bug-free. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top Nintendo DS emulators for iPhone and Android in 2022.
1. NDS4Droid: Best Nintendo DS Emulator on Android
One of the best Nintendo DS emulators for Android is NDS4Droid, and it has been for a while. It is a DeSmuME-based free and open-source NDS emulator. The controls on the emulator can be a little difficult, especially when playing games like Rune Factory that demand repeated button presses, but it includes essential functions like save states.
Sadly, Nintendo DS emulation is still a little sluggish, particularly on older and mid-range phones. The programme does, however, offer a variety of frame skip settings to help things along a little. The emulator’s inability to run any Pokmon games is another problem. However, it works with a variety of other NDS ROMs. Expect no new features or upgrades for NDS4Droid any time soon as the latest update was in 2016.
Pros:
- Open-source
- Ad-free
- Supports save states
- Wide compatibility
Cons:
- Runs slow on older phones
- Doesn t support Pokemon ROMs
- No fast-forward
Platforms:Android
Download(Free)
2. RetroArch: Best Multi-platform Nintendo DS Emulator
RetroArch is a free and open-source software (FOSS) application with many features that runs on almost every platform conceivable. It is accessible on a number of gaming platforms, including the PS2, PS3, PSP, PS Vita, Wii, Wii U, 2DS, 3DS, Nintendo Switch, and more, in addition to Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux. One of the best emulator front-ends, it supports a wide range of consoles, both old and new, in addition to the NDS, Game Boy Advance, the original Game Boy, and many others.
Please be aware that RetroArch just provides the front-end GUI for emulators, game engines, and media players; the core for each system must be downloaded separately for it to function. Although Thesetup needs some technical know-how, the emulator enables you to play retro games on a variety of PCs and gaming consoles. Even better, you can use RetroArch and the Libretro API to develop your own NDS games.
Pros:
- Open-source
- Ad-free
- Multi-platform support
- Wide range of features
Cons:
- Setup process requires time and technical know-how
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and more
Download(Android,iOS)
3. EmuBox: Nintendo DS Emulator With Best GUI
EmuBox is one of the newest players on the NDS emulator market and is an all-in-one emulator that runs Nintendo DS game ROMs on Android. Players can snap screenshots whenever they wish, and it supports up to 20 save places for each ROM. Additionally, it allows external controllers like Bluetooth gamepads and fast forward.
EmuBox doesn’t limit itself to the NDS, which is one of its best features. Instead, it supports a wide range of different gaming consoles, such as the NES, GBA, GBC, and PSX. One of the earliest Android multi-console emulators, it follows Google’s material design approach to provide the user with the most aesthetically beautiful and straightforward emulators.
Pros:
- Wide compatibility
- Great graphics quality
- Supports external controllers
- Portrait and landscape modes
- Multiple save slots for each game
Cons:
- Lags when too many cheat codes are activated
Platforms:Android
Download(Free)
4. DraStic: Best Premium Nintendo DS Emulator on Android
Another completely functional Nintendo DS emulator for Android is called DraStic. In light of the fact that it enables full-speed game play on the majority of Android devices, it is among the greatest Nintendo DS emulators. It can also double the resolution of the game’s 3D graphics on high-end smartphones and tablets. In addition to supporting physical controls on gadgets like the Nvidia Shield, the emulator also supports add-on controllers.
Support for save states, the option to change the positioning and size of the DS screens, portrait and landscape settings, and more are further noteworthy features. A large database with thousands of cheat codes is available for the DraStic emulator. Finally, you can speed up the emulation by using the fast forward feature. On the down side, Wi-Fi support has not yet been added to DraStic, and there is currently no multiplayer option.
Pros:
- Fast
- Graphics upscaling for modern smartphones
- External controller support
- Cheat code support
Cons:
- Paid app
- No multiplayer mode
Platforms:Android
Download($4.99)
5. SuperNDS
One of the most recent additions to the increasing collection of Android Nintendo DS emulators is SuperNDS. It performs well on more recent Android devices, providing quick gaming, passable rendering, and generally bug-free graphics. NDS, ZIP, 7z, and RAR file types are supported, along with other capabilities like save states.
All Android versions up to and including 5.0 Lollipop are supported by SuperNDS, however it requires sufficient RAM to function. On older devices with less RAM, games can crash, requiring you to restart the emulator and manually free up RAM. However, this emulator enables fantastic gameplay at full speed with good visuals on more recent machines with plenty of RAM. One of the top Nintendo DS emulators on our list is this one.
Pros:
- Fast gameplay
- Relatively glitch-free
- Decent graphics
Cons:
- Relatively barebones
- Resource intensive compared to the competition
Platforms:Android
Download(Free)
6. Free DS Emulator: Best Nintendo DS Emulator for Older Android Devices
Numerous NDS games are supported with Free DS Emulator on Android, which also provides quick gameplay and passable graphics. It offers features like saving and loading game states, customisable buttons, cheat codes, and more. It supports.nds,.zip, and a plethora of other file types. Additionally, it is compatible with external controllers, such as the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons.
Free DS Emulator works on the majority of smartphones running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and higher, despite being initially developed for Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The majority of the most recent Android devices are now compatible with it thanks to an upgrade from last year. If you want to turn your old phone into a dedicated Nintendo DS game system, you need download this emulator.
Pros:
- Fast gameplay
- Under active development
- Cheat code support
- External controller support
Cons:
- Crashes while opening third-party ROMs
Platforms:Android
Download(Free)
7. iNDS: Best Nintendo DS Emulator on iOS
Although there aren’t many excellent NDS emulators on Apple’s mobile platform, iNDS is very much the top contender. It is one of the greatest Nintendo DS emulators on the list because it doesn’t require jailbreaking and is based on the venerable NDS4iOS. All iOS 14-compatible devices can run the iNDS emulator, which gives players access to features like auto-saving, in-app customizations, video filters, haptic feedback, and more.
Please be aware that due to Apple’s stringent and perhaps draconian approval rules, iNDS is not available on the App Store. On a jailbroken device, you can download it via TopStore, AltStore, or the Cydia Store. Despite the fact that you are obtaining the emulator from unauthorised sources, it is important to note that the game ROMs do not come pre-installed with it. As a result, you will need to obtain your ROMs from other sources.
Pros:
- Works without Jailbreak
- Wide compatibility with commercial ROMs
Cons:
- Requires time and technical know-how to set up and troubleshoot
Platforms:iOS
Download(Free)
8. NDS Boy!
The NDS Boy is another another Nintendo DS emulator that you may run on an Android device. You may play virtually any game that was offered for the Nintendo DS using the emulator. That includes titles like Super Mario, Castlevania, Final Fantasy, and Pokemon Saga, among others. The NDS Boy’s compatibility with games is one of its strongest features. The emulator often runs the majority of NDS games smoothly and without any bugs.
NDS Boy is a Nintendo DS emulator that is a must-try if you want to play Nintendo DS games on Android.
Pros:
- Supports most NDS games
- Performance is pretty good
Cons:
- Does tend to lag on low-end devices
Platforms:Android
Download(Free)
9. NDS4iOS
One of the first Nintendo DS emulators for iOS was NDS4iOS, and it is still one of the best today. It is a no-jailbreak Nintendo DS emulator that is available for free, allowing a larger user base and more devices to use it. It has features like iOS controller compatibility and the ability to change the position and design of the control pad, and it is fully optimised for iPads and iPhones.
One of NDS4iOS’s distinctive features is the inclusion of an in-app browser for downloading Nintendo DS ROMs and other content. Additionally, the emulator has functions like Dropbox integration and AirPlay support that let users sync emulator files between their phone and TV. NDS4iOS supports latest software versions but requires iOS 5.1.1 or higher.
Pros:
- Works without Jailbreak
- Dropbox integration
- iOS controller support
- AirPlay support
Cons:
- No longer in development
Platforms:iOS
Download(Free)
Enjoy the Magic of Mario & Pokemon on iPhone and Android Devices
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 thebest Nintendo DS emulators for your computer, irrespective of whether you use Windows, Mac, or Linux.