Best Android DS Emulator

Top Android DS Emulators: A Comprehensive Guide

Android offers impressive DS emulation performance. With numerous emulators available, choosing the best one can be challenging. This guide highlights top contenders, catering to various needs and device capabilities.

Remember, the ideal emulator is specifically designed for DS games. If you also intend to play 3DS games, you'll need a separate 3DS emulator (and we've got recommendations for those too!).

Best Android DS Emulators:

melonDS: The Top Choice

Currently leading the pack is melonDS. This free, open-source emulator boasts regular updates, incorporating new features and performance improvements.

melonDS provides extensive customization options. Enjoy robust controller support with personalized settings, choose between light and dark themes, and adjust resolution to balance performance and visual quality. It even includes built-in Action Replay support for convenient cheating.

Note: The Google Play version is an unofficial port; the most up-to-date version resides on GitHub.

DraStic: Ideal for Older Devices

DraStic remains an excellent DS emulator for Android, despite its paid status.

At $4.99, it offers exceptional value. Despite its 2013 release, it maintains impressive performance, running most DS games flawlessly. Its compatibility with lower-powered devices is a significant advantage.

DraStic offers extensive customization, including enhanced 3D rendering resolution, save states, speed controls, screen placement adjustments, controller support, and Game Shark code functionality. However, it lacks multiplayer support, though this is less of an issue given the decline of online DS multiplayer services.

EmuBox: The Versatile Option

EmuBox is a free, ad-supported emulator. The presence of ads might be bothersome to some users, and its reliance on an active internet connection is a limitation.

However, EmuBox's versatility is its strength. It's not limited to DS ROMs; it supports various consoles, including the original PlayStation and Game Boy Advance.

Emulation nintendo nintendo ds