Choosing the right Nintendo DS emulator for your iOS device is crucial for the best gaming experience.
In this guide, we dive into the top five Nintendo DS emulators available for iOS.
Each one brings unique features and performance capabilities to the table. Our focus is on providing you with clear, straightforward insights.
This will help you make an informed choice that matches your gaming preferences and device specifications. Let’s explore these options to enhance your gaming journey on iOS.
Also Read: Best Nintendo Switch Alternatives
Best Nintendo DS Emulators for iOS
1. RetroArch
RetroArch is one of the best multi-platform Nintendo DS Emulators for iOS. It is a frontend for game engines, emulators, video games, and media players, among other applications.
The emulator is also multi-faceted, as apart from iOS, it is also available on multiple gaming consoles, including PS2, PS3, Wii, PS Vita, 2DS, PSP, and Nintendo Switch, among others.
There’s no doubt that RetroArch is the best DS emulator on iOS today. The free and open-source software has an official version on Steam that you can download.
It is also free on other popular storefronts, including Amazon AppStore, Huawei App Gallery, Google Play, and Samsung Galaxy Store.
With RetroArch, you can run your favorite classic games on multiple computers and consoles, thanks to its slick graphical interface. Additionally, the emulator enables you to run original game discs (CDs).
Its default graphical interface (ozone) is optimized for seamless navigation using a game controller. It also incorporates a database-driven playlist to help you browse through your collection using thumbnails and metadata.
It has unified settings, so all configurations are done at once. Its friendly interface enables you to easily tweak settings and carry out other customizations, which vary from game to game.
Apart from its polished interface, another feature that will captivate you is its ability to achieve next-frame responsive time, which makes it indistinguishable from real hardware. Additionally, some settings can help you optimize your results even more.
RetroArch has an automatic controller configuration in case your friend brings their controller for multiplayer games.
RetroArch shaders are graphical filters that can significantly improve the rendering of old games. Netplay helps you host or join a network gaming session.
User reviews and ratings
Many users hail the emulator for ease of use. Game lovers who love RetroArch confidently confirm that using AltStore to side-load RetroArch further simplifies things on iCloud or Dropbox.
From user reviews on Reddit, you’ll also confirm that you don’t need to jailbreak your phone to run RetroArch. The emulator offers two installation options: one for jail-broken phones and the other for non-jail-broken phones.
RetroArch customer reviews on Steam are very positive. Users are happy because they can now comfortably play their legally acquired Nintendo games, while others hail the emulator for being feature-complete with the ability to do almost everything.
However, some users still fault RetroArch for not being good enough for iOS devices. Users are unhappy as RetroArch is not available on AppStore since Apple does not approve any form of emulation or piracy.
Some users on Reddit believe that most of the comments published against RetroArch could result from the terrible relationship between RetroArch’s lead developer and the wider emulation community.
But above all, RetroArch separates itself from other emulators as a stand-alone program that can run classic games on multiple platforms. Its advanced features, such as run ahead, net playing, and more, promise you a better experience at all times.
Strengths
- It is a cross-platform emulator that supports multiple gaming systems.
- It has robust features and settings that allow you to customize your gaming experience fully.
- It is an open-source program. Therefore, it is constantly updated with new features and improvements for a better gaming experience.
- It has an amazing online community that is always willing to help fellow gamers who feel stuck.
- It has a clean and simple interface, hence it’s perfect for beginners.
- It doesn’t have ads.
Weaknesses
- Some users complain about its poor emulation accuracy.
- Its setup process requires time and some technical knowledge.
2. iNDS
My second best Nintendo DS Emulator for iOS is iNDS. It is a powerful emulator derived from NDS4iOS and is perfect for non-jailbroken devices. It is a refresh from its predecessor and is all about simplicity, power, and more.
iNDS supports multiple iOS devices, including iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. However, emulation might be slow on older iOS devices as it requires iOS 9 and above.
The emulator was created in November 2013 to allow easy installation without jailbreaking. iNDS replicates games at about 60 frames per second. It is considered a viable alternative to NDS4iOS.
Its outstanding features include Dropbox sync support, auto-save, frame skip functionality, disabling sound and vibration, overlying a pixel grid, and readjusting control position.
You do not require a Nintendo gaming device when using the iNDS app. However, you need the ROMs for the games you’ll play through iNDS. The emulator is safe to download and use, as it is regularly monitored for bugs that are fixed immediately after they appear.
INDS is also packed with advanced settings to enhance the emulation process. Its advanced features include the ability to speed up emulation by skipping frames, advanced bus timing, and options to switch between various emulator engines.
How to download and install the iNDS emulator?
- As mentioned, you do not need a jailbroken iOS device to download the iNDS emulator.
- Simply open your Safari browser and visit iemulators.com.
- Navigate to the iNDS emulator via the ‘Apps Tab and tap “install” in the resulting pop-up window.
- Give it a second, and another pop-up will appear to confirm your installation.
- Once the installation is complete, trust your emulator under Settings>General> Profiles and Device Management.
- Now, launch your emulator from the home-screen icon and download the Nintendo DS ROMs that suit your preferences.
While your iNDS program is digitally signed by TweakBox, Apple can easily revoke it, making the app crash continually. When this happens, try re-installing your program. If it persists, give it some time before you try again.
iOS compatibility
The current version of the iNDS emulator uses the DesmeMe threaded interpreter to offer high-quality emulation. As mentioned earlier, iNDS supports iOS 9.0 all the way up to iOS 16.
The emulator is incompatible with older iOS versions due to restrictions on mapping the entire ROM into memory. iNDS is distributed as an IPA package, so you can sideload it on jailbroken iOS devices.
User feedback and satisfaction
The feedback on the iNDS emulator online is excellent. Quite a number of users have expressed their satisfaction with using this emulator, but I will focus on the reviewstream.com website that highlights the real consumer experience.
The site describes iNDS as a simple yet organized program that anyone can use, even without instructions. There’s no doubt that customers are also happy with smooth gameplay and graphics that work well with most games.
However, users often need help with lags and short freezes from time to time. For games such as Advance War: Days of Ruin, users will likely encounter lags, especially when running battle scenes.
The emulator is also known to use most of your device’s resources. Therefore, if you play games for three hours or more, your device may get hot or the application may crash.
On the brighter side, iNDS has an auto-save feature, so you don’t have to worry about starting over if your game crashes, as you will recover your game progress.
Strengths
- It can run multiple commercial games while providing a high-quality gaming experience.
- It supports game saves, game cheats, and online multiplayer.
- It is fast, stable, and smooth, perfect for your iOS device.
- It supports multiple iOS devices, including iPad Mini 4, iPhone 6s, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
- It has an intuitive user interface, making it easy to navigate even for beginners.
- It allows you to customize buttons on-screen to suit your gaming preferences.
- It allows you to save your game progress and pick up from where you left off later.
Weaknesses
- iNDS can be buggy and unstable.
- Users sometimes find it hard to identify games that work well with iNDS emulators.
- It lacks some useful features, such as multiplayer gaming.
Also Read: Can You Track A Nintendo Switch?
3. Delta
The list of the best Nintendo DS emulators for iOS wouldn’t be complete without the powerful emulator developed by Riley Testut, Delta. If you have used GBA4iOS, you’ll definitely love Delta, its successor.
The all-in-one emulator for iOS promises to deliver multiple emulators in one package. Some of its outstanding features include iCloud syncing capabilities, full support for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, controller support, multi-system, and native iOS framework.
You’ll also enjoy Delta’s skins that turn your iPhone screen into a classic handheld. It emulates old Nintendo consoles, including all of the Gameboys like DMG, GBA, SNEs, and N64. You’ll also enjoy Pokémon, Killer Instinct, and Ocarina of Time, all from your iPhone.
The Delta emulator engine is powerful and makes the emulator run smoothly. Third-party app stores can be sketchy. Therefore, it is best to download the Delta app through AltStore.
User ratings and feedback
Delta states that once you successfully download and install the emulator, you shouldn’t encounter any problems. However, it notes that there are high chances of users experiencing the SSL error, but don’t worry, there is a solution.
If you use the Safari browser to download your emulator, close it down along with any other browser, and re-download the Delta emulator.
If restarting your browser will not correct the SSL error, try closing your browsers and applications, switch off your device, and restart it after some time.
Delta emulator is rated 5 out of 5 on Product Hunt. Users on Reddit were excited to learn that Delta can be used on iPad and can run more games that other platforms cannot. However, some reported concerns about its safety.
Strengths
- It is an all-in-one emulator for iPhone and iPad that delivers full-speed emulation thanks to its neat underlying emulator cores.
- Its intuitive UI lets you play your favorite games without issues.
- It offers controller support so you can play with your PS4, PS5, MFi game controllers, or even Xbox One S and Series X.
- Delta supports cheat codes and allows you to take advantage of its seamless Dropbox and Google Drive synchronization to back up your games and make them available on other devices.
Weaknesses
- It has a bit of a learning curve, but you’ll enjoy it as soon as you are past the curve.
4. DeSmuME
Desmume is one of the most established DS emulators, originally from desktop platforms.
The iOS port offers solid performance and good game compatibility, though the interface may feel less polished than other options.
Features
- Long-established emulator with extensive compatibility
- Multiple rendering options including software and OpenGL
- Save states and screenshot capabilities
- Microphone support for games that require it
- Extensive customization options
Strengths
- Mature emulator with years of development
- Excellent game compatibility due to extensive testing
- Well-documented with large community support
- Available across multiple platforms
- Accuracy may be preferred by users who prioritize faithful emulation
User Reviews & Reception
- Historically the go-to DS emulator for many years
- Reliable performance with most games
- Strong reputation in the emulation community
Weaknesses
- Can be slow at times.
- Less efficient resource utilization
- Slower rendering performance
- Development has slowed significantly
- Interface feels dated compared to modern emulators
5. MelonDS
MelonDS is a highly accurate DS emulator that focuses on precision over speed.
It has an excellent compatibility and supports features like Wi-Fi connectivity for some games. It is available as a standalone app that needs sideloading.
Features
- Save states and cheat code support
- OpenGL renderer with upscaling up to 16x native resolution
- Local co-op play, accurate upscaling, multi-window support
- Wi-Fi connectivity support for compatible games
- Multiple screen layouts and filtering options
- Uses open-source BIOS (no need to dump your own)
Strengths
- Better performance for most users, efficiently uses hardware resources to run games smoothly, even on weaker systems
- Faster and accurate
- Much faster renderer than other tools
- Known as the best Nintendo DS emulator on Android with version 1.10
- More active development with regular updates
- Better visual quality and cleaner screen output
User Reviews & Reception
- Users report smoother gameplay and better compatibility
- Praised for its accuracy and performance balance
Weaknesses
- Newer emulator, so may have less extensive game compatibility testing
- Some users report occasional visual glitches in specific games
- Limited availability on iOS (requires sideloading)
Best Nintendo DS Emulators – Recap
Nintendo DS emulators have been in the market for a while, and they keep improving. They do an excellent job of helping you relive your favorite games, and I believe one or two caught your eye from the list above.
Every emulator shared is unique in its way, in terms of features and functionality, so go for what best suits your gaming needs.
The best part is that most of them are free, so don’t be shy to try out several of them until you find what perfectly matches your preferences and needs.
But if you are looking for a cross-platform Nintendo DS emulator that supports multiple gaming systems, I highly recommend RetroArch.
RetroArch constantly undergoes updates, so you can always expect a better experience when you return.
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