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Tech riderRev. 20 Sept 2026

DSperate

Ch 106.7of 18 Nintendo DS Emulators
  1. 1Runs onLinux
  2. 2CostsNot stated by the maker
  3. 3Supported platformsLinux on AArch64 and ARMhf
  4. 4Save statesYes
  5. 5Local multiplayerYes
  6. 6Nintendo DSi supportYes
  7. 7Cheat supportYes
  8. 8Screen layout optionsvertical, horizontal, single, picture-in-picture, dominant vertical, dominant horizontal
7 lines stated Written from the maker's own pages: github.com
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Overview

DSperate is ranked #10 of 18 in Nintendo DS emulators on Specifiction. It runs on Linux.

Compared on Nintendo DS emulators

Free plan
Yesgithub.com
Supported platforms
Linux on AArch64 and ARMhfgithub.com
Save states
Yesgithub.com
Local multiplayer
Yesgithub.com
Nintendo DSi support
Yesgithub.com
Cheat support
Yesgithub.com
Screen layout options
vertical, horizontal, single, picture-in-picture, dominant vertical, dominant horizontalgithub.com

Facts

Purpose
DSperate is a Nintendo DS and DSi emulator designed to reimplement DraStic-level performance with modern features.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Target hardware
The project is built and measured on ARM handhelds, including the Anbernic RG DS with an RK3566 processor.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
CPU emulation
It supports ARM946E-S and ARM7TDMI interpreters and ARM-to-AArch64 and ARM-to-ARMv7 recompilers.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Graphics
It includes complete 2D engines, a software 3D rasteriser, and optional Vulkan GPU 3D rendering.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
DSi support
Experimental DSi support includes DSiWare, NAND boot, an SD card folder, microphone, DSi Wi-Fi, PictoChat, and Download Play; DSP and DSi-enhanced cartridges in DSi mode are not supported.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Wireless
Local wireless multiplayer and Download Play work over a LAN using melonDS's protocol, and internet access uses a user-mode TCP/IP stack.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Achievements
RetroAchievements are supported in Casual mode only; Hardcore mode is not enabled.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Input
Keyboard and controller remapping, controller hotkeys, stylus input, and touch or mouse input on the bottom screen are supported.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
ROM formats
The emulator loads .nds files and .zip files containing an .nds; zip64, 7z, and rar are unsupported.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
BIOS requirement
Games can run without BIOS or firmware dumps using built-in FreeBIOS and generated firmware; user dumps enable firmware boot and exact timing, and none are included.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
License and source
The project is public source code under GPLv3 and describes itself as a clean-room reimplementation with no DraStic code in the repository.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Build requirements
Building the playable frontend requires CMake 3.16 or newer, Ninja, a C++17 compiler, and SDL2.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Release platforms
The release page lists linux-aarch64 and linux-armhf tarballs, with static variants also available.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Product
DSperate is a Nintendo DS and DSi emulator that aims to reimplement DraStic-level performance with modern features.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Architecture
It reimplements DraStic techniques through clean-room work and includes no DraStic code.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Emulation
It supports interpreted and recompiled ARM CPUs, DS graphics and sound, save states, cheats, and configurable screen layouts.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
DSi limitation
The DSi DSP is not emulated, and DSi-enhanced cartridges run as DS games in DSi mode.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Platforms
The project documents Linux ARM64 and ARMHF release tarballs and cross-build targets for AArch64 and ARMv7.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
License
DSperate is licensed under GPLv3.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Security
The README describes a crashed guest memory safeguard that prevents the recompiler from running the host out of memory.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Release
The latest listed release is DSperate v2.1.1, described as including a Wayland display fix, enhanced 3D anti-aliasing, and a rasteriser correction.github.com · 29 Sept 2026

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