Retroid just announced the Pocket Duo, a $250 handheld with two OLED screens stacked in the same rough proportions as an original DS. It is a nice hardware moment. It is also a good excuse to check the state of Nintendo DS emulation on the desktop, where a few projects have been shipping in near silence for years.
We looked at seven desktop DS emulators. Some are pure single-purpose apps, some are multi-system frontends with a DS core. All are free.
What to look for in a DS emulator
The Nintendo DS is a strange machine to emulate. Two screens, a resistive touch panel, WiFi, mic, and a first-generation ARM stack that ran two CPUs in tandem. The good emulators handle each of those, and the great ones handle local multiplayer.
- Accurate ARM7/ARM9 emulation, so the games that used every trick still run correctly
- Touch input on the bottom screen, plus a way to layout both screens the way you want
- Local wireless play (DS Download Play, Multi-Card play) simulated over LAN
- Save state and cheat code support
- Shader and hi-res 3D output for people who want it to look better than 256x192
Quick comparison
| Emulator | Best for | Platforms | License | Wireless play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| melonDS | Modern accuracy + local wireless | Windows, macOS, Linux | GPL-3 | Yes |
| DeSmuME | Longest-standing DS emulator | Windows, macOS, Linux | GPL-2 | Limited |
| RetroArch | Unified frontend with a DS core | Windows, macOS, Linux, more | GPL-3 | Via cores |
| NooDS | Lightweight cross-platform | Windows, macOS, Linux, Switch | GPL-3 | Basic |
| OpenEmu | macOS-first retro frontend | macOS | Open-source | No |
| BizHawk | TAS-focused multi-system emulator | Windows | Open-source | No |
| No$GBA | Very old Windows DS + GBA emulator | Windows | Freeware | No |
1. melonDS — best for accuracy and local wireless
melonDS is the current gold standard for DS emulation. Its ARM core is accurate enough to run the notorious edge-case titles, its GBA slot support handles slot-2 accessories, and its wireless multiplayer between multiple running instances is unmatched. Development in 2026 has focused on WiFi accuracy and the JIT recompiler.
Where it falls short: No DSi-Enhanced game support past what is already implemented. Some ROM hacks that rely on undocumented behaviour still hit rough edges.
Pricing: Free, GPL-3 open source.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: melonDS website · GitHub
Bottom line: The default answer to “what should I use for DS emulation in 2026.”
2. DeSmuME — best legacy option
DeSmuME has been the DS emulator most people knew for over a decade. It is still the workhorse when you want a mature, well-known baseline: it runs the whole DS library, supports save states, cheats, and hi-res 3D rendering, and it is one of the least demanding options on old hardware.
Where it falls short: Wireless multiplayer is limited. Development pace is much slower than melonDS.
Pricing: Free, GPL-2 open source.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: DeSmuME website
Bottom line: The pick if you want the historical standard and do not need modern wireless.
3. RetroArch — best if you already run a multi-system frontend
RetroArch with the melonDS core or DeSmuME 2015 core turns DS emulation into just another game on your shelf next to your Genesis, PS1, and SNES libraries. Uniform hotkeys, shaders, achievements, and controller mapping across every core.
Where it falls short: The learning curve is real. RetroArch’s UI can be overwhelming if you just wanted to play Chrono Trigger DS.
Pricing: Free, GPL-3 open source.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, and many more.
Download: RetroArch website
Bottom line: The pick if you already use RetroArch, or if you emulate more than one system.
4. NooDS — best lightweight cross-platform option
NooDS is a small DS emulator that ports well. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch (via homebrew), and other targets, and it does the basics with less overhead than melonDS. It sacrifices some accuracy for footprint.
Where it falls short: Not as compatible as melonDS. Some 3D-heavy titles do not render correctly.
Pricing: Free, GPL-3 open source.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch.
Download: NooDS on GitHub
Bottom line: The pick when you need a light DS emulator or when you want to run one on unusual hardware.
5. OpenEmu — best macOS frontend
OpenEmu wraps DeSmuME (and many other emulators) in a native macOS app with a Mac library, controller support, and screenshot management that feels like Apple designed it. If macOS is your primary machine and RetroArch feels like too much, this is the pick.
Where it falls short: macOS only. DS core is DeSmuME, not the newer melonDS.
Pricing: Free, open source.
Platforms: macOS.
Download: OpenEmu website
Bottom line: The most native retro experience on macOS.
6. BizHawk — best for tool-assisted work
BizHawk is where TAS (tool-assisted speedrun) authors live. Its DS support (melonDS-based) has been improving, and it is the emulator you want if precise input recording, frame-by-frame stepping, and Lua scripting matter more than raw compatibility.
Where it falls short: Not the friendliest for casual play. The UI is built for research.
Pricing: Free, open source.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: BizHawk on GitHub
Bottom line: The pick if you record TAS runs or need frame-perfect scripting.
7. No$GBA — best legacy Windows option
No$GBA has been around since the DS launched. It runs the DS and Game Boy Advance libraries, plus it can boot certain commercial ROMs the other emulators had trouble with in earlier years. It is closed source, freeware, and mostly a curiosity now, but it is still on some troubleshoot lists.
Where it falls short: Development is very slow. The interface is 20-year-old Windows shareware.
Pricing: Freeware; paid version adds features.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: No$GBA website
Bottom line: Keep it in the toolbox for oddball compatibility, not as your daily driver.
How to pick the right one
- If this is your first DS emulator in 2026: melonDS.
- If you already know DeSmuME and just want to play: DeSmuME.
- If you want a single frontend for every retro system: RetroArch.
- If you are on macOS and want it to feel Mac-native: OpenEmu.
- If you have unusual hardware or want a light footprint: NooDS.
- If you record TAS or write scripts: BizHawk.
- If a specific old ROM won’t run anywhere else: No$GBA.
Two out of every three DS emulator threads in 2026 end on melonDS. It is the answer unless you have a specific reason to reach for something else.
FAQ
Is DS emulation legal?
Emulators themselves are legal. Downloading ROMs of games you do not own is not. Dumping your own carts is the safest route.
Can I play DS games online through emulation?
Nintendo shut down official DS WiFi years ago. Community services like WFC exist, and melonDS’s local wireless mode plays multiplayer between two running instances on the same PC or over LAN.
What is the best DS emulator on Steam Deck?
melonDS via RetroArch, or melonDS standalone launched through EmulationStation-DE. Both work well on Deck.
Do these emulators handle DSi games?
melonDS has partial DSi support. Its focus is on DSi-Enhanced titles and the DSi’s expanded features; DSiWare emulation is available but less complete.
How to dump your own DS cartridges
You need a compatible flash cart or a hardware dumper. GBxCart RW and similar tools handle both DS and GBA carts.