Another Code’s writer is back. Your DS backlog just got interesting again
Happinet’s announcement of a new game from Rika Suzuki, the writer of Another Code and Hotel Dusk: Room 215, is the reason DS carts are showing up on eBay searches again. If you own the games, or you own dumps of the games, running them on a modern PC is now the best way to play. Nintendo DS emulation is in the strongest shape it has ever been, thanks to a small cluster of open-source projects that get regular updates.
We picked seven Nintendo DS emulator apps for desktop that are worth downloading in 2026. All are free, most are open-source, and each one solves a slightly different problem: raw accuracy, ease of setup, HD upscaling, portable builds, or macOS-native front ends.
What to look for in a DS emulator
Weigh these five things before installing.
- Accuracy versus performance. melonDS and DeSmuME hit different tradeoffs; RetroArch cores can lean either way.
- HD upscaling. melonDS supports factor-based internal-resolution scaling; DeSmuME’s OpenGL renderer does too, with more artifact risk.
- Save types and battery. Games like Another Code use touch-screen and microphone input; not all frontends map these cleanly.
- Local multiplayer. DS-Wireless emulation for games like Mario Kart DS is a niche; melonDS is the only one that handles it well.
- Portability. SkyEmu and NooDS ship single-file builds you can drop on a USB stick.
Quick comparison
| Emulator | Best for | Free | Platforms | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| melonDS | Accuracy and Wi-Fi play | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux | Best DS-Wireless multiplayer support |
| DeSmuME | Longstanding all-rounder | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux | Cheat engine, movie recording |
| RetroArch | One frontend for all systems | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux | Netplay, shader pipeline, one UI |
| NooDS | Portable and light | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux | Single-binary drops, cross-platform |
| SkyEmu | Modern GBA and DS combo | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux | Great debugger, HD rendering |
| OpenEmu | macOS-native front end | Yes | macOS | Native library manager, iCloud sync |
| DraStic | Windows port via community | Community | Windows | Ex-mobile emulator with Windows builds |
The apps
1. melonDS, best overall Nintendo DS emulator
melonDS is where the DS emulation scene has landed. It is fast, accurate, and the only frontend that handles DS-Wireless local multiplayer well enough that you and a friend on separate PCs can race in Mario Kart DS. It also supports JIT for speed and native DS BIOS boot.
Where it falls short: Occasional per-game regressions after big updates. The UI is functional rather than polished.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free, open source
- Paid: N/A
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Download: melonDS site · GitHub
Bottom line: Start here. It handles Another Code, Hotel Dusk, and Mario Kart DS without drama.
2. DeSmuME, best long-running all-rounder
DeSmuME has been the default DS emulator for over a decade and has the most game-specific compatibility notes online. It supports cheat codes, movie recording, JIT on modern builds, and a fully-featured OpenGL renderer for HD internal resolution.
Where it falls short: Less active than melonDS lately. Wi-Fi and DS-Wireless multiplayer are not supported.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free, open source
- Paid: N/A
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Download: DeSmuME site · GitHub
Bottom line: Pick this if you want the widest per-game compatibility notes and speedrun-tier features like TAS movie recording.
3. RetroArch, best if you emulate more than one system
RetroArch is one frontend on top of many emulator cores. Use the melonDS core or the DeSmuME core inside the same UI you use for SNES, PS1, Genesis, and Game Boy. Shaders, save states, and netplay are shared across every system.
Where it falls short: Steep first-run setup. UI is opinionated and takes a session to learn.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free, open source
- Paid: N/A
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Download: RetroArch site · Steam
Bottom line: Pick this if you already have a retro library and want DS added to the same launcher.
4. NooDS, best portable single-binary build
NooDS ships a single-file binary you can drop on a USB stick and run on any PC. It runs a lot of DS games well, and its author’s separate cross-platform work has spilled positively into the DS core. Smaller than melonDS, but the compatibility list is short.
Where it falls short: Fewer games run cleanly than in melonDS. Development is one-person and slower.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free, open source
- Paid: N/A
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Download: GitHub
Bottom line: Pick this if you need a portable emulator for a USB stick or a shared machine.
5. SkyEmu, best combined GBA and DS build
SkyEmu is a single application that emulates both GBA and DS well. It has one of the best in-app debuggers of any DS emulator, plus HD internal-resolution rendering. Community adoption has grown fast since 2023.
Where it falls short: Newer project than melonDS or DeSmuME, so it has less community-side documentation for edge-case games.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free, open source
- Paid: N/A
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Download: SkyEmu site · GitHub
Bottom line: Pick this if you want one app for the entire Nintendo handheld library.
6. OpenEmu, best macOS-native library manager
OpenEmu is a macOS-only frontend that bundles emulator cores under a beautiful native library UI. It uses the DeSmuME core for DS, and its game library and iCloud sync are best-in-class if you live on Apple hardware.
Where it falls short: macOS only. Core update cadence lags upstream by a version or two.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free, open source
- Paid: N/A
Platforms: macOS
Download: OpenEmu site · GitHub
Bottom line: Pick this if you use a Mac and want your DS library to look like the rest of your Mac.
7. DraStic, best community-maintained Windows port
DraStic started life as the fastest DS emulator on Android; community forks now ship Windows builds. It is not the accuracy leader, but it is fast and forgiving on low-end hardware. Setup requires finding an active community mirror.
Where it falls short: Not open source. Windows availability is community-maintained rather than official. Support is patchy compared to melonDS or DeSmuME.
Pricing:
- Free: Community builds are free
- Paid: N/A
Platforms: Windows
Download: DraStic community mirror on GitHub (search for “DraStic Windows port”)
Bottom line: Pick this only if melonDS and DeSmuME both fail on your specific low-end Windows machine.
How to pick the right one
Start with melonDS. It handles Another Code, Hotel Dusk, and every mainstream DS title cleanly and is the only choice for DS local multiplayer.
Pick DeSmuME if you want the deepest compatibility notes online and features like cheat codes or TAS recording.
Pick RetroArch if you already run other systems there and want one launcher for all.
Pick OpenEmu if you are on macOS and library UI matters.
Pick SkyEmu if you play a lot of GBA games too and want one app.
Skip everything else on this list if your one job is Another Code or Hotel Dusk. melonDS handles both without setup fuss.
FAQ
Is emulating a Nintendo DS game legal?
Emulating a DS game is legal in most jurisdictions if you own the cartridge and dump the ROM yourself. Downloading ROMs of games you do not own is not legal even if the game is out of print. The emulators listed above are all legal software.
Can melonDS run Another Code and Hotel Dusk?
Yes. Both games run cleanly in melonDS with default settings. Hotel Dusk’s book-orientation mode works because melonDS can rotate its display; you can also just tilt the DS window 90 degrees.
What is the best DS emulator on Steam Deck?
melonDS via RetroArch is the standard Steam Deck setup. EmuDeck bundles both for a one-click install and mapping. Standalone melonDS also runs well through Desktop mode.
Does melonDS support Mario Kart DS local wireless?
Yes. melonDS supports DS-Wireless emulation and can run Mario Kart DS local wireless between two PCs. Configure both instances with different MAC addresses and connect them on the same LAN.
Is there a paid Nintendo DS emulator worth buying?
No. Every worthwhile DS emulator on desktop is free and open source. The closest to a paid product is DraStic, and even that is community-maintained on Windows.
