DSperate vs melonDS
DSperate
github.com
melonDS
melonds.kuribo64.netSide by side
| Figure | DSperate | melonDS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Nintendo DS Emulators | 7.3 (#11) | 8.1 (#4) |
| DSi support | Experimental DSi support includes DSiWare, NAND boot, SD card folder backing, microphone, DSi Wi-Fi, PictoChat, and Download Play. | DSi emulation is listed as work in progress. |
| Emulation | It supports interpreted and recompiled ARM CPUs, DS graphics and sound, save states, cheats, and configurable screen layouts. | The feature list describes a nearly complete CPU, video, and audio core, plus a JIT recompiler. |
| Graphics | It includes complete 2D engines, a software 3D rasteriser, and optional Vulkan GPU 3D rendering. | It includes an OpenGL renderer and 3D upscaling. |
| Purpose | DSperate is a Nintendo DS and DSi emulator designed to reimplement DraStic-level performance with modern features. | melonDS aims to provide fast and accurate Nintendo DS emulation. |
Plans
In their own words
DSperate
DSperate is a free, public-source Nintendo DS and DSi emulator for Linux on AArch64 and ARMhf. Its CPU emulation includes ARM946E-S and ARM7TDMI interpreters, plus ARM-to-AArch64 and ARM-to-ARMv7 recompilers. Graphics include complete 2D engines, a software 3D rasteriser and optional Vulkan GPU rendering. Experimental DSi support covers DSiWare, NAND boot, an SD card folder, microphone, Wi-Fi, PictoChat and Download Play, but the DSi DSP is not emulated and DSi-enhanced cartridges run as DS games in DSi mode. Local multiplayer and Download Play work over a LAN; internet access uses a user-mode TCP/IP stack. It has ten save-state slots and a hidden automatic slot, configurable screen layouts, cheats, and remappable keyboard and controller input with stylus support. Games can run with built-in FreeBIOS and generated firmware; user dumps allow firmware boot and exact timing. It loads .nds files and .zip files containing an .nds, but not zip64, 7z or rar. The project is licensed under GPLv3 and describes its implementation as clean-room work.
melonDS
melonDS is a free, open-source emulator focused on Nintendo DS emulation, with builds listed for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its feature list includes a nearly complete CPU, video, and audio core, a JIT recompiler, an OpenGL renderer with 3D upscaling, joystick support, savestates, RTC, microphone, and lid controls. The project also lists DLDI support. Wi-Fi features include local multiplayer and online connectivity, but are a work in progress and may not work with all games. DSi emulation and GBA slot add-ons are also in progress. DS emulation requires configured BIOS and firmware files; DSi emulation additionally needs a DSi NAND image. melonDS uses raw save files and can import saves from DeSmuME, DraStic, or a flashcard, but does not support the special save memory type used by WarioWare DIY and Jam with the Band. Direct online connectivity requires libpcap or WinPcap, Ethernet, and administrator or superuser privileges; indirect mode does not require Ethernet or those privileges. The software renderer is more accurate but more CPU intensive, while OpenGL may be faster but less accurate.