Nintendo DS emulation is one of the most performant forms of emulation on Android. In comparison to other platforms, there are a lot of DS emulators, and that’s why you’ll need to know the best Android DS emulator. Keep in mind that the best Android DS emulator will be custom-built for DS games. If you also want to play Nintendo 3DS games, you’ll also need the best Android 3DS emulator. Of course, we have you covered there as well. (We also have the best Android PS2 emulator, just to say!)Best Android DS EmulatorHere we’ll detail our pick for the best emulator, and give a few honorable mentions, too!melonDS – The Best DS Emulator
The current holder of the crown is melonDS. It's free, it's open-source, and it's regularly updated with new features and performance improvements.The emulator offers numerous options for personalization. melonDS boasts robust controller support, customizable to your preferences. Various themes cater to both light and dark mode users. You can adjust the resolution of games and balance performance with visual quality.
It includes built-in Action Replay support, making cheating easier than ever.
Note that the Google Play version is an unofficial build; the GitHub version is the most current.
DraStic – Best For Older Devices
As far as DS emulators on Android go, DraStic is a superb choice. However, the app is a premium offering which can be unappealing for some.
At $4.99, DraStic remains inexpensive, and it’s absolutely worth the cost. Despite existing for over a decade, it remains highly functional.
Released in 2013, this app revolutionized emulation on Android. Almost all Nintendo DS games run perfectly except for a few exceptions. Furthermore, the app functions well on even low-powered devices. That’s a benefit of its longevity.
DraStic provides many options for users who enjoy customizing their emulation experience. For instance, you can enhance the resolution of 3D rendering in DS games. Additionally, there are also save states, speed controls, screen positioning adjustments, controller support, and game shark codes.
One significant omission is multiplayer support. However, with most DS multiplayer servers now defunct, you primarily lack local multiplayer.
EmuBox – Most VersatileEmuBox is free to download, and supported by ad revenue. This does mean that ads may appear while it's in use, something that some might find bothersome. This also means that the emulator requires an online device, which is a drawback.
While there are some downsides, there is a major advantage to EmuBox. It's a versatile emulator, and isn't limited to only DS ROMs. You can run ROMs from various consoles, including the original PlayStation and Game Boy Advance.
Emulation nintendo nintendo ds