Best Nintendo DS Emulators in 2026
Updated
In short: 3Beans is ranked #1 of 18 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of SkyEmu and DeSmuME. The best-ranked option with a free plan is SkyEmu.
Choosing a Nintendo DS emulator can depend on how you want the two screens arranged and which features you need. Compare screen layout options, Nintendo DSi support, local multiplayer, and save states. Cheat support and supported platforms help clarify feature and device fit, while free plans and paid-from pricing round out the comparison. 3Beans, SkyEmu, and DeSmuME are among the entries, with melonDS also included. Check the stated criteria against the games and devices you have in mind, especially if DSi support or local multiplayer matters to you.
18 Nintendo DS emulators ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
18ranked
10free plans on this page
5 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Nintendo DS Emulators 18 channels on this page · 56 of 144 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromSupported platformsSave statesLocal multiplayerNintendo DSi supportCheat supportScreen layout options Spec sheet Score
01 3Beans Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Switch, Wii U, and VitaSave statesnot statedLocal multiplayernot statedNintendo DSi supportnot statedCheat supportnot statedScreen layout optionsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.4
02 SkyEmu Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedSave statesnot statedLocal multiplayernot statedNintendo DSi supportnot statedCheat supportnot statedScreen layout optionsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.4
03 DeSmuME Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedSave statesnot statedLocal multiplayernot statedNintendo DSi supportnot statedCheat supportnot statedScreen layout optionsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.1
04 melonDS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedSave statesnot statedLocal multiplayernot statedNintendo DSi supportnot statedCheat supportnot statedScreen layout optionsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.1
05 GB Enhanced+ Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, Linux, macOSSave statesYesLocal multiplayernot statedNintendo DSi supportnot statedCheat supportnot statedScreen layout optionsnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.0
06 Pilas-melonDS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWeb browsers on desktop and mobile devicesSave statesYesLocal multiplayerYesNintendo DSi supportYesCheat supportnot statedScreen layout optionsnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.9
07 dasShiny Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, LinuxSave statesnot statedLocal multiplayernot statedNintendo DSi supportnot statedCheat supportnot statedScreen layout optionsnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.8
08 Delta Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedSave statesnot statedLocal multiplayernot statedNintendo DSi supportnot statedCheat supportnot statedScreen layout optionsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.8
09 DSperate Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsLinux on AArch64 and ARMhfSave statesYesLocal multiplayerYesNintendo DSi supportYesCheat supportYesScreen layout optionsvertical, horizontal, single, picture-in-picture, dominant vertical, dominant horizontal 7/8spec lines stated 6.7
10 iDroidDS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsAndroidSave statesYesLocal multiplayernot statedNintendo DSi supportnot statedCheat supportYesScreen layout optionsBoth, Main, Touch, Portrait, Landscape 5/8spec lines stated 6.7
11 nds4droid Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsAndroidSave statesYesLocal multiplayerNoNintendo DSi supportNoCheat supportYesScreen layout optionsvertical, horizontal, one screen, top first, bottom first, main screen first, sub screen first 7/8spec lines stated 6.6
12 WatermelonDS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsAndroidSave statesYesLocal multiplayerNoNintendo DSi supportYesCheat supportYesScreen layout optionsPer-ROM layouts, screen rotation, external-screen layouts, layout editor 7/8spec lines stated 6.5
13 DS Anywhere Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedSupported platformswebSave statesnot statedLocal multiplayerNoNintendo DSi supportnot statedCheat supportNoScreen layout optionsnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.3
14 dust Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedSave statesnot statedLocal multiplayernot statedNintendo DSi supportnot statedCheat supportnot statedScreen layout optionsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.3
15 MindSpark Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedSave statesnot statedLocal multiplayernot statedNintendo DSi supportnot statedCheat supportnot statedScreen layout optionsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.0
16 ANDSemu Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsAndroidSave statesYesLocal multiplayernot statedNintendo DSi supportnot statedCheat supportYesScreen layout optionsportrait stacked; landscape side-by-side; landscape stacked; LCD swap 4/8spec lines stated 5.7
17 DSVita Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsPlayStation VitaSave statesYesLocal multiplayernot statedNintendo DSi supportnot statedCheat supportYesScreen layout optionscustom screen layouts; widescreen; tap corner to swap screen; top-screen streaming 5/8spec lines stated 5.6
18 NO$GBA Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedSave statesnot statedLocal multiplayernot statedNintendo DSi supportnot statedCheat supportnot statedScreen layout optionsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.2
Compare all 18 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Save states |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3Beans | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | — | — | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Switch, Wii U, and Vita | — |
| 2 | SkyEmu | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 3 | DeSmuME | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | melonDS | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 5 | GB Enhanced+ | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, Linux, macOS | Yes |
| 6 | Pilas-melonDS | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Web browsers on desktop and mobile devices | Yes |
| 7 | dasShiny | 6.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | — |
| 8 | Delta | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | DSperate | 6.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux on AArch64 and ARMhf | Yes |
| 10 | iDroidDS | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Android | Yes |
| 11 | nds4droid | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Android | Yes |
| 12 | WatermelonDS | 6.5 | No | — | Yes | — | Android | Yes |
| 13 | DS Anywhere | 6.3 | No | — | — | — | web | — |
| 14 | dust | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | MindSpark | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 16 | ANDSemu | 5.7 | No | — | — | — | Android | Yes |
| 17 | DSVita | 5.6 | No | — | Yes | — | PlayStation Vita | Yes |
| 18 | NO$GBA | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which Nintendo DS emulator is ranked first on Specifiction?
3Beans is ranked #1 of 18 with a score of 7.4. SkyEmu is second and DeSmuME third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 18 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
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