Best Nintendo DS Emulators For Android

Nintendo DS emulators are a new way for gamers to play their favorite classic Nintendo DS games. These emulators offer tons of exciting games to pick from. Luckily, gamers can now play these games on their Android devices, offering a more portable way to enjoy Nintendo games without carrying a Nintendo console everywhere you go. 

Nintendo DS emulators are still relatively new, so there aren’t many top options currently available. Nonetheless, we discovered the top five Nintendo DS emulators for Android. Let’s dive in!

Review of the Top 5 Nintendo DS Emulators For Android

1. NDS4Droid

NDS4Droid is a Nintendo DS emulator everyone will enjoy. This Nintendo DS emulator is free, meaning you don’t have to pay before enjoying your best Nintendo games. This app allows players to save games and provides a decent audio experience. So, not only will you enjoy the immersive gaming experience, you can be sure your game data is safe and secure.

This emulator’s code is open source, which is one of its most appealing features. This means that the app can constantly be improved on by players and for other players. One recent example is the addition of a German translation in a recent update.

This is fantastic news because it means that NDS4Droid will only keep getting better. Furthermore, this emulator has a website where you can follow the latest updates and learn more about the app. NDS4Droid is widely regarded as one of the best Nintendo DS emulators for Android available.

Pros:

• This Nintendo DS emulator is open-source, meaning gamers can rest assured that the app will continue improving. 
• NDS4Droid doesn’t spam gamers with tons of ads.
• This emulator also includes multilingual support.
• This app allows games to skip frames which helps offset some inconsistent performance problems.

Cons:

• This emulator occasionally has choppy performance during gameplay and crashed on a few occasions during our testing.
• There is no fast-forward feature on this emulator.

2. NDS Emulator

The NDS Emulator is another impressive Nintendo DS emulator. This emulator works on Android 6 or higher versions and supports both zip and nds files, allowing you to play Nintendo DS games on your Android device. There is also an option to save games and load them at a later time. 

Furthermore, this Nintendo DS emulator is compatible with external controllers like Bluetooth controllers.  This external controller capability allows you to enjoy a more thrilling gaming experience. NDS emulator is currently among the best emulators available on the Play Store. So, why not try it out?

NDS emulator provides fast gameplay with good graphics and supports several file formats. This emulator has other features like saving and loading game states, cheat codes, customizable buttons, etc. This emulator also works with external controllers, allowing a better gaming experience. 

Pros:

• The NDS emulator allows gamers to resize the display of games.
• This app delivers a consistent frame rate for smooth gameplay.

Cons:

• Ads interrupt gameplay and can’t be removed.
• This emulator needs a good internet connection before it can launch.

3. DraStic DS Emulator

DraStic is a fully functional Nintendo DS emulator for Android. This emulator allows users to play games at full speed, allowing players to upscale the game’s 3D graphics to twice its original resolution on premium phones and tablets. Furthermore, this emulator supports external controllers and physical controls found in devices such as the Nvidia Shield.

This Nintendo DS emulator supports saving and loading game states, customizing the emulator’s display placement and size, landscape and portrait modes, etc. This emulator also allows gamers to use cheat codes, with an extensive database containing thousands of cheat codes. Lastly, this Nintendo DS emulator enables gamers to increase the game’s emulation speed. Sadly, DraStic doesn’t support Wi-Fi connectivity, and there is also no multiplayer mode available.

Pros:

• DraStic DS emulator delivers fast and smooth gameplay.
• This emulator allows gamers to upscale graphics. However, this feature is only available for high-end and powerful smartphones.
• This Nintendo DS emulator allows external controller support for a more immersive gaming experience.
• This app also supports cheat codes. So, gamers can have more fun playing games  

Cons:

• This emulator isn’t free, so you’ll need to spend some money.
• There is no multiplayer mode available on this emulator.

4. RetroArch

RetroArch is a multi-platform and open-source app that can run on almost every platform. This emulator is free and is available on the Play Store. RetroArch is also available on iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux systems, and gaming consoles like PSP, PS Vita, PS2, PS3, Wii, Nintendo Switch, etc. 

Also, bear in mind that setting up RetroArch requires some technical knowledge. This emulator allows users to play classic games on various consoles and computers. You can even use RetroArch to create your own NDS games using the Libretro API.

Pros:

• RetroArch emulates gaming console systems for a reliable and lag-free gaming experience.
• This emulator is open source so that gamers can benefit from new innovative features and updates.
•  RetroArch is also ad-free, which means you can enjoy gaming without any ads popping on your screen.

Cons:

• This emulator has a complicated setup. As a result, you’ll need some technical know-how before correctly setting up the emulator.
• RetroArch’s interface looks outdated and can be improved.

5. EmuBox

EmuBox is a newcomer to the Android Nintendo DS emulator scene. This app allows players to run old Nintendo game ROMs on their Android devices. Furthermore, EmuBox will enable gamers to take screenshots and supports up to 20 save slots for each ROM.  This emulator also supports external controllers like Bluetooth gamepads, Xbox controllers, etc. 

Another exciting feature is that EmuBox isn’t limited to the NDS platform. This emulator works with several consoles, such as the GBA, PSX, NES, etc. Moreover, EmuBox is one of the first Android multi-console emulators and uses Google’s material design theme to provide a visually stimulating and intuitive experience.

Pros:

• This emulator allows gamers to resize their gaming display.
• EmuBox delivers impressive graphics and smooth performance.
• This Nintendo DS emulator supports external controllers.
• Gamers can choose between landscape and portrait modes.
• This emulator offers multiple save slots for every game, ensuring you don’t lose your gaming progress.

Cons:

• This emulator lags when cheat codes are activated.

Conclusion

If you miss playing your favorite Nintendo DS games, these emulators are a great way to bring back the old days and continue enjoying your Nintendo games.  So, if you’re looking for a reliable Nintendo DS emulator, try one of the apps mentioned in the article. However, our top pick is NDS4Droid. We also recommend checking out RetroArch because of its multi-functionality.

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