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The Nintendo 3DS can play GBA games through several | {{shortcut|3DS:GBA}} | ||
The Nintendo 3DS can play GBA games through several methods, both natively and through emulation. | |||
== Comparison of methods == | == Comparison of methods == | ||
Line 6: | Line 7: | ||
=== open_agb_firm === | === open_agb_firm === | ||
* Runs natively, not via emulation ( | {{Main|3DS:open_agb_firm}} | ||
* Must be booted by holding START on boot, like | |||
* Has a file manager that allows you to select a | * Runs natively, not via emulation (high compatibility, but no cheats, fast-forward, etc) | ||
* Streaming, 3DS HOME Menu, etc are inaccessible while a game is running | ** Supports real-time clock for Pokemon, but no camera or accelerometer | ||
* Saves are | * Must be booted from chainloader (by holding START on boot), like GodMode9 | ||
* Lacks a user interface for configuring settings | ** This ''does'' allow faster launching than injects if your system is powered off. | ||
* Has a file manager that allows you to select a ROM | |||
* Supports button remapping (including circle pad and touchscreen, but not New 3DS L2/R2) | |||
* Brightness can be adjusted in-game | |||
* Automatic ROM patching is supported | |||
* Streaming, 3DS HOME Menu, etc. are inaccessible while a game is running | |||
* Saves are stored on SD card and easy to manage | |||
* Lacks a user interface for configuring settings (a text editor must be used to change the config file) | |||
* Still under active development | * Still under active development | ||
=== Virtual Console (VC) injects === | === Virtual Console (VC) injects === | ||
{{Main|3DS:Virtual Console}} | |||
* Run natively, not via emulation (same caveats as above) | * Run natively, not via emulation (same caveats as above) | ||
* Must manually be created using a PC program (Windows-only, abandoned by dev) | * Must manually be created using a PC program (Windows-only, closed-source and abandoned by dev) | ||
* Each game has | * Each game has its own separate icon on the HOME Menu | ||
* Streaming, 3DS HOME Menu, etc are inaccessible while a game is running | * No button remapping | ||
* Saves are | * No adjustable brightness | ||
* No automatic ROM patching | |||
* Streaming, 3DS HOME Menu, etc. are inaccessible while a game is running | |||
* Saves are stored in NAND and are difficult to backup and restore (requires GodMode9 and multiple reboots for each save) | |||
=== mGBA === | === mGBA === | ||
* A full emulator, which means that it has fast forward, cheats, save states | * A full emulator, which means that it has fast-forward, cheats, save states | ||
* Performance isn't perfect, especially on old 3DS | * Performance isn't perfect, especially on old 3DS | ||
* Not compatible with all games, but may have higher compatibility with | * Not compatible with all games, but may have higher compatibility with ROM hacks that are not designed to run on actual GBA hardware | ||
* | * Runs in 3DS mode, so you can stream it or use the HOME Menu while it's running | ||
* Has a | * Supports button remapping | ||
* | * Has a ROM picker | ||
* Saves are stored on SD card and easy to manage | |||
* Supports additional hardware features, such as accelerometer (for WarioWare: Twisted!) and camera (for Game Boy Camera) | |||
=== GBARunner2 === | === GBARunner2 === | ||
* A middle-ground between emulation and native * it's basically the worst of both worlds, still no emulator features, but some games are incompatible or have issues | * A middle-ground between emulation and native | ||
* Included with TWiLightMenu | ** it's basically the worst of both worlds, still no emulator features, but some games are incompatible or have issues | ||
* Has a | * Included with TWiLightMenu++ | ||
* | * Has a ROM picker | ||
* Saves are easy to manage | * Streaming, 3DS HOME Menu, etc. are inaccessible while a game is running | ||
* Saves are stored on SD card and easy to manage | |||
== Overview table == | |||
{| class="wikitable colortable" | |||
|+ | |||
!Feature | |||
!open_agb_firm | |||
!VC Injects | |||
!mGBA | |||
!GBARunner2 | |||
|- | |||
|Games run natively | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|class="ct-yellow"|△ | |||
|- | |||
|Runs full speed on Old3DS | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|- | |||
|Retail game compatibility | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-yellow"|△ | |||
|class="ct-yellow"|△ | |||
|- | |||
|Homebrew/ROM hack compatibility | |||
(For things not intended to | |||
run on official hardware) | |||
|class="ct-yellow"|△ | |||
|class="ct-yellow"|△ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-yellow"|△ | |||
|- | |||
|Runs from HOME Menu | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|- | |||
|Drag-and-drop / ROM picker | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|- | |||
|Cheats, fast-forwarding, | |||
save states | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|- | |||
|Motion sensor support | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|- | |||
|Easy save file access from SD | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|- | |||
|Wireless streaming via NTR | |||
(New3DS only) | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|- | |||
|Under active development | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-red"|✗ | |||
|class="ct-green"|✓ | |||
|class="ct-blue"|? | |||
|} | |||
[[Category:Nintendo 3DS guides]] | [[Category:Nintendo 3DS guides]] |
Latest revision as of 17:03, 18 December 2024
The Nintendo 3DS can play GBA games through several methods, both natively and through emulation.
Comparison of methods
In order of most to least recommended.
open_agb_firm
- Runs natively, not via emulation (high compatibility, but no cheats, fast-forward, etc)
- Supports real-time clock for Pokemon, but no camera or accelerometer
- Must be booted from chainloader (by holding START on boot), like GodMode9
- This does allow faster launching than injects if your system is powered off.
- Has a file manager that allows you to select a ROM
- Supports button remapping (including circle pad and touchscreen, but not New 3DS L2/R2)
- Brightness can be adjusted in-game
- Automatic ROM patching is supported
- Streaming, 3DS HOME Menu, etc. are inaccessible while a game is running
- Saves are stored on SD card and easy to manage
- Lacks a user interface for configuring settings (a text editor must be used to change the config file)
- Still under active development
Virtual Console (VC) injects
- Run natively, not via emulation (same caveats as above)
- Must manually be created using a PC program (Windows-only, closed-source and abandoned by dev)
- Each game has its own separate icon on the HOME Menu
- No button remapping
- No adjustable brightness
- No automatic ROM patching
- Streaming, 3DS HOME Menu, etc. are inaccessible while a game is running
- Saves are stored in NAND and are difficult to backup and restore (requires GodMode9 and multiple reboots for each save)
mGBA
- A full emulator, which means that it has fast-forward, cheats, save states
- Performance isn't perfect, especially on old 3DS
- Not compatible with all games, but may have higher compatibility with ROM hacks that are not designed to run on actual GBA hardware
- Runs in 3DS mode, so you can stream it or use the HOME Menu while it's running
- Supports button remapping
- Has a ROM picker
- Saves are stored on SD card and easy to manage
- Supports additional hardware features, such as accelerometer (for WarioWare: Twisted!) and camera (for Game Boy Camera)
GBARunner2
- A middle-ground between emulation and native
- it's basically the worst of both worlds, still no emulator features, but some games are incompatible or have issues
- Included with TWiLightMenu++
- Has a ROM picker
- Streaming, 3DS HOME Menu, etc. are inaccessible while a game is running
- Saves are stored on SD card and easy to manage
Overview table
Feature | open_agb_firm | VC Injects | mGBA | GBARunner2 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Games run natively | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | △ |
Runs full speed on Old3DS | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
Retail game compatibility | ✓ | ✓ | △ | △ |
Homebrew/ROM hack compatibility
(For things not intended to run on official hardware) |
△ | △ | ✓ | △ |
Runs from HOME Menu | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Drag-and-drop / ROM picker | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Cheats, fast-forwarding,
save states |
✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
Motion sensor support | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
Easy save file access from SD | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Wireless streaming via NTR
(New3DS only) |
✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
Under active development | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ? |