melonDS
The DS emulator that cares about being right rather than being fast.
What it does
melonDS emulates the DS and the DSi, including the parts other emulators skipped: the ARM7 co-processor timing, the 3D rasteriser’s quirks, the microphone, the camera, and local wireless between two instances — which is how multiplayer that required two consoles actually works again.
It has a hardware-accelerated renderer for upscaling, save states, and DSi mode with a real NAND image.
Notes
- Layouts matter more here than in other emulators: the two screens can be stacked, side by side, or rotated, and the touch screen maps to the mouse or a trackpad.
- DSi mode needs BIOS and firmware images dumped from a console you own. DS mode can run on built-in replacements.
- Emulation is lawful; the ROMs and BIOS files are yours to supply from hardware you own.
Alternative to
| Alternative | Type | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| DeSmuME | Open source | Older, broader game compatibility, less accurate timing |
| OpenEmu | Open source | DS through an experimental core, inside a proper library |
| RetroArch | Open source | melonDS as a core, with run-ahead and shaders around it |
| A Nintendo DS | Paid | Two real screens and a stylus that works |
Install
brew install --cask melonds