DS Android emulator: how to play Nintendo DS games on your smartphone?

The Nintendo DS is one of the most popular handheld consoles of all time, with over 150 million units sold worldwide. It offers a catalog of varied and quality games , ranging from classic Mario, Zelda or Pokémon to original titles like Animal Crossing, Nintendogs or Professor Layton. If you want to find these games on your Android smartphone , you need a DS Android emulator . This is software that allows you to simulate the operation of a console on another device. So you can play Nintendo DS games on your phone as if you had the console in your hands. In this article, we will introduce you to the best DS Android emulators available on the Google Play Store and explain how to use them.

What are the advantages of a DS Android emulator?

the advantages of a DS Android emulator

A DS Android emulator has several advantages over a Nintendo DS console:

  • It allows you to play all Nintendo DS games without having to purchase the console or cartridges. You can download the game ROMs from the internet (be careful, you must have the originals to comply with the law) and launch them on your emulator.
  • It offers you better graphics quality than the console. In fact, you can increase the resolution of games , apply filters or effects to improve the visual rendering. You can also adapt the display of the two DS screens according to your preferences: superimposed, side by side, in landscape or portrait mode...
  • It gives you access to additional features such as quick save , cheat mode, customization of tactile or physical controls, compatibility with external controllers, Google Drive support to synchronize your saves, etc.
  • It allows you to play your Nintendo DS games wherever you go without needing to carry an additional console . You just need your smartphone and an emulator.

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What are the best DS Android emulators?

the best DS Android emulators

There are several DS Android emulators on the Google Play Store, but not all of them are equal. Some are more efficient, more complete or easier to use than others. We have selected for you the three best DS Android emulators of the moment:

DraStic DS Emulator

DraStic DS Emulator

DraStic DS Emulator is arguably the best DS Android emulator on the market . It can run almost all Nintendo DS games smoothly, with excellent speed and compatibility. It has many graphics, sound and control customization options. It supports external controllers, Google Drive, cheat codes and local or online multiplayer modes. It costs €4.49, but it is well worth the price. It is the ideal emulator for demanding gamers who want to fully enjoy their Nintendo DS games on their smartphone.

EmuBox

EmuBox

EmuBox is a versatile emulator that can emulate several retro consoles like PS1, SNES or Nintendo DS. It offers good performance and a simple and elegant interface. It offers basic features like quick save, support for external controllers or portrait or landscape mode. It is free, but contains advertisements which can be annoying. It is a good choice for casual gamers who want to try different games on their smartphone .

NDS Emulator

NDS Emulator

NDS Emulator is a simple and effective emulator that focuses on the Nintendo DS. It has all the basic features like external controller support, save and load states, customizable on-screen game controllers, and portrait or landscape mode. It's free and ad-free, which is nice. It works well with most games, but it may have some bugs. It's a good choice for gamers looking for a simple, no-frills emulator .

Comparison table of different DS Android emulators 

NamePriceAdvertisingPerformanceCompatibilityOptions
DraStic DS Emulator4,49€NoExcellentHighMany
EmuBoxFreeYesGoodAverageBasics
NDS EmulatorFreeNoGoodAverageBasics

How to use a DS Android emulator?

How to use a DS Android emulator?

To use a DS Android emulator, you need to follow these steps:

  • Download and install the emulator of your choice on your smartphone from the Google Play Store
  • Download the ROMs of the Nintendo DS games you want to play on the internet (be careful, you must have the originals to comply with the law) and store them on the internal or external memory of your smartphone
  • Open the emulator and navigate to the folder where the ROMs are located
  • Select the game you want to launch and tap on it
  • Enjoy your Nintendo DS game on your smartphone

You can also modify the emulator settings according to your preferences: resolution, filters, controls, sound, backup…

See also: The Best Retro Gaming Consoles!

FAQs

What is the best DS Android emulator?

The best DS Android emulator is DraStic DS Emulator , which offers optimal performance, high compatibility, and plenty of customization options. It costs €4.49, but it is well worth the price.

How to play online with a DS Android emulator?

To play online with an Android DS emulator , you need to use DraStic DS Emulator , which supports online multiplayer. You must also have a Google Play Games account and be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as other players. Then you need to follow these steps:

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Photo credit: GamerBraves
  • Launch the game you want to play online on the emulator
  • Tap the “ Menu ” button at the top right of the screen
  • Select “Link local”
  • Choose between “Host game” or “Join game” depending on whether you want to create or join a game
  • Invite or accept other players
  • Start playing online

How to save your progress with a DS Android emulator?

To save your progress with a DS Android emulator, you have two options:

  • Use the game's internal save , which works like on the Nintendo DS console . You need to access the game menu and choose the “Save” option. The save will be stored in the same folder as the game ROM.
  • Use the emulator's quick save , which allows you to save at any point in the game. You need to press the “Menu” button at the top right of the screen and choose the “Save” option. You can choose between several save locations. The backup will be stored in the “DraStic/backup” folder for DraStic DS Emulator, in the “EmuBox/DS/backup” folder for EmuBox and in the “NDS/backup” folder for NDS Emulator.

How to play 3DS games on a DS Android emulator?

It is not possible to play 3DS games on a DS Android emulator , because the two consoles are different and use different file formats. 3DS games are 3D and require more power than DS games. There is no reliable and high-performance 3DS Android emulator at the moment. If you want to play 3DS games on your smartphone, you have to wait until such an emulator is developed or use another way like streaming from your PC.

How to optimize the speed of a DS Android emulator?

If you find that your DS Android emulator is too slow or experiencing lags or stutters, you can try to optimize its speed by following these tips:

  • Close background apps that are consuming memory or battery
  • Turn on airplane mode to disable unnecessary connections
  • Reduce the resolution or graphical effects of the emulator
  • Use a faster rendering mode like OpenGL mode
  • Use a more powerful or newer smartphone

Conclusion

The Nintendo DS is a and quality games If you want to play it on your Android smartphone , you need a DS Android emulator . In this article, we have introduced you to the best DS Android emulators available on the Google Play Store and explained how to use them. We hope this article was useful to you and you learned something new.

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Hello me, it's François :) Editor in my spare time who loves sharing his passion: TT High tech! 😍 Whether it's hardware, software, video games, social media and many other areas on the site. I share with you my analyses, my tests, tutorials and my favorites on various media. I am a knowledgeable and demanding technophile, who does not just follow fashion, but who seeks to guide you towards the best solutions. So stay tuned!