The Nintendo 3DS is a portable gaming console that offers a glasses-free 3D gaming experience . It has a catalog of varied and quality games, ranging from classics like Mario, Zelda or Pokémon to more recent titles like Animal Crossing, Fire Emblem or Monster Hunter .
But if you don't feel like buying an additional console , or want to enjoy your favorite 3DS games on a bigger screen, there is a solution: 3DS emulators for Android .
To help you choose the best 3DS emulator for Android in 2023 , we have selected the 8 most popular and reliable applications on the market. We tested how they work, their compatibility, their interface, their options and their advantages and disadvantages. Here is our ranking of the best 3DS emulators for Android in 2023 :
1. Citra Emulator
Citra Emulator is an emulator that allows you to play Nintendo 3DS games on your Android device. It is compatible with most popular games, like Luigi's Mansion 2, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, etc. It offers the ability to improve game graphics by increasing screen resolution, save and load your game at any time, and customize touch controls or the use of an external controller. It also supports files compressed in .zip or .7z.
Citra Emulator is a very powerful and very complete emulator , but it also has some drawbacks. It is not compatible with games that use the console's gyroscope or microphone, it does not allow online play or use local multiplayer, and it requires payment (€4.99).
Citra Emulator is available on the Google Play Store, but it requires a purchase to use.
2. NDS Boy! NDS Emulator
NDS Boy! NDS Emulator is an emulator that allows you to play Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS games on your Android device. It is compatible with most popular games, like Mario Kart DS, New Super Mario Bros., Pokémon Black and White , etc. It offers the ability to change the size and position of the screens, save and load your game at any time, and customize the virtual keys. It also supports files compressed in .zip or .7z.
NDS Boy! NDS Emulator is a simple and effective emulator, but it has some drawbacks. It is not compatible with games that use the console's gyroscope or microphone, it does not allow online play or local multiplayer, and it consumes a lot of resources. It therefore requires a fairly powerful Android device to work properly.
NDS Boy! NDS Emulator is available for free on the Google Play Store , but it contains ads. There is also a pro version without advertising, but it costs €2.99 .
3. Pretendo NDS Emulator
Pretendo NDS Emulator is another emulator that allows you to play Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS games on your Android device. It is also compatible with most popular games, like Pokémon X and Y, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, etc. It offers the ability to adjust the emulation speed, save and load your game at any time, and customize touch controls or the use of an external controller. It also supports files compressed in .zip or .rar.
Pretendo NDS Emulator is a fairly complete emulator, but it also has some flaws. It is not compatible with games that use the console's gyroscope or microphone , it does not allow online play or local multiplayer, and it may exhibit bugs or slowdowns in some games or games. certain devices.
Pretendo NDS Emulator is available for free on the Google Play Store, but it contains ads. There is no pro version without advertising.
4. Free DS Emulator
Free DS Emulator is an emulator that allows you to play Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS games on your Android device . It is compatible with most popular games, like Mario Party DS, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, etc. It offers the ability to change screen resolution, save and load your game at any time, and customize touch controls or use of an external controller. It also supports files compressed in .zip or .rar.
Free DS Emulator is a simple and easy to use emulator, but it also has some limitations. It is not compatible with games that use the console's gyroscope or microphone, it does not support online play or local multiplayer, and it may exhibit bugs or slowdowns in some games or games. certain devices.
Free DS Emulator is available for free on the Google Play Store , but it contains ads. There is no pro version without advertising.
5. NDS Emulator – For Android 6
NDS Emulator – For Android 6 is an emulator that allows you to play Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS games on your Android device. It is compatible with most popular games, like Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Pokémon Sun and Moon, Super Mario 3D Land, etc. It offers the ability to change screen resolution, save and load your game at any time, and customize touch controls or the use of an external controller. It also supports files compressed in .zip or .rar.
NDS Emulator – For Android 6 is a powerful and stable emulator, but it also has some shortcomings. It is not compatible with games that use the console's gyroscope or microphone, it does not allow online play or use local multiplayer, and it requires a fairly powerful Android device to work properly .
NDS Emulator – For Android 6 is available for free on the Google Play Store, but it contains ads. There is no pro version without advertising.
6. DraStic DS Emulator
DraStic DS Emulator is an emulator that allows you to play Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS games on your Android device. It is compatible with most popular games, like Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Bros., Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, etc.
It offers the ability to improve game graphics by increasing screen resolution, save and load your game at any time, and customize touch controls or the use of an external controller. It also supports files compressed in .zip or .7z.
DraStic DS Emulator is a very powerful and complete emulator, but it also has some drawbacks. It is not compatible with games that use the console's gyroscope or microphone , it does not allow online play or use local multiplayer, and it requires payment (€4.99 ).
DraStic DS Emulator is available on the Google Play Store, but it requires a purchase to use.
7. nds4droid
nds4droid is an emulator that allows you to play Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3D S games on your Android device. It is compatible with most popular games, like Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Pokémon X and Y, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS , etc. It offers the ability to change the emulation speed, save and load your game at any time, and customize touch controls or the use of an external controller. It also supports files compressed in .zip or .7z.
nds4droid is a free and open source emulator, but it also has some weaknesses. It is not compatible with games that use the console's gyroscope or microphone, it does not allow online play or use local multiplayer , and it may exhibit bugs or slowdowns in certain games or certain devices.
8. RetroArch
RetroArch is an emulator that allows you to play many retro games on your Android device, including Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS games. It is compatible with most popular games, like Super Mario 64 DS, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D, etc.
It offers the ability to change graphics, sound, and control settings, save and load your game at any time, and customize touch controls or use of an external controller. It also supports files compressed in .zip or .7z.
RetroArch is a very versatile and very customizable emulator , but it also has some complications . It is not compatible with games that use the console's gyroscope or microphone, it does not allow online play or use local multiplayer, and it requires downloading additional files called " cores " to operate the games.
RetroArch is available for free on the Google Play Store, but it does not contain ads.
FAQs
Why play with a 3DS emulator for Android?
Using a 3DS emulator for Android has several advantages , such as:
- Being able to play your favorite 3DS games on a larger , more comfortable
- Being able to enjoy additional features, like improved graphics , customization of controls , autosave, etc.
- Being able to access a large library of 3DS games without having to purchase or transport them
- Being able to test 3DS games before purchasing or downloading them
What are the disadvantages of using a 3DS emulator for Android?
Using a 3DS emulator for Android also has some disadvantages, such as:
- Not being able to enjoy the 3D effect without glasses offered by the Nintendo 3DS console
- Not being able to use certain console-specific features , such as gyroscope, microphone, online mode, or local multiplayer
- Risk encountering bugs , slowdowns or incompatibilities with certain games or certain devices
- Risk violating the copyrights or intellectual property of game developers or publishers
How to install a 3DS emulator for Android?
To install a 3DS emulator for Android, you must follow the following steps:
- Download the chosen emulator from the Google Play Store or from its official website
- Install the emulator on your Android device by following the instructions
- Download the 3DS games you want to play from legal download sites or from your original cartridges
- Copy 3DS games to your Android device's internal or external memory
- Launch the emulator and select the game you want to play
How to optimize the performance of a 3DS emulator for Android?
To optimize the performance of a 3DS emulator for Android , you must follow the following tips:
- Use an Android device powerful enough to run 3DS games without problem
- Close unnecessary apps running in the background and consuming memory or battery
- Adjust the graphics , sound and control settings of the emulator according to your preferences and the capabilities of your device
- Use a stable and secure Wi-Fi connection if you want to play online. If you use your mobile data, mobile network extenders can be useful.
How to fix 3DS emulator issues for Android?
To solve the problems of a 3DS emulator for Android , you must follow the following solutions:
- Check that the emulator and game are up to date and compatible with your Android device
- Verify that the game file is complete and not corrupted
- Check that you have enough free space on your Android device
- Check that you have installed the additional files necessary for certain emulators, such as “ BIOS ” or “ firmware ”
- Restart the emulator or your Android device if the problem persists
Where to find 3DS games to download for a 3DS emulator for Android?
To find 3DS games to download for a 3DS emulator for Android, you need to go to legal download sites or your original cartridges. You should avoid illegal download sites that may contain viruses or malware, or that may violate the copyrights or intellectual property of game developers or publishers.
Here are some examples of legal download sites:
- [ Nintendo eShop ]: this is the official Nintendo site which offers 3DS games to purchase or download for free. You must have a Nintendo Account and a Nintendo 3DS console connected to the Internet to access it.
- [ ROMs Universe ]: this is a site that offers 3DS games to download for free. You must have an account and respect the site's conditions of use to access it.
- [ EmuParadise ]: this is a site that offers 3DS games to download for free. You must have an account and respect the site's conditions of use to access it.
