3DS:Emulators: Difference between revisions

(32 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{hatnote|~~This page refers to emulators and other software that can be used to run non-3DS software on a Nintendo~~ 3DS. For ~~emulators of the Nintendo 3DS itself~~, see ~~(undetermined article name)~~.}}

{{hatnote|3DS:EMU redirects here. For EmuNAND, see [[3DS:EmuNAND and RedNAND]].}}

An '''emulator''' is a piece of software that uses computing power to simulate another device, such as a video game console or a personal computer. As a general guideline, the original Nintendo 3DS is capable of emulating most popular home consoles up to around the {{iw|wikipedia|fourth generation of video game consoles}} (the SNES/Genesis era), while the New Nintendo 3DS series is (just barely) capable of emulating some of the {{iw|wikipedia|fifth generation of video game consoles|fifth generation}} (the N64/PS1 era).

Line 7:

== Handheld video game consoles ==

~~=== PlayStation Portable, Vita ===~~

~~Not possible, due to computing power requirements.~~

=== Nintendo DS ===

Line 17:

Line 14:

In the past, Nintendo DS flashcarts were a popular way to run Nintendo DS software. Because of nds-bootstrap's development over the years, they have become less and less necessary, but can still offer useful features like being able to use the flashcart on unmodded 3DS-family and DS-family consoles (depending on the cartridge).

A proof-of-concept port of the DS emulator DeSmuME to the 3DS was [https://gbatemp.net/threads/wip-3desmume-ds-emulator-for-3ds.430223/ once created], but has been abandoned and only exists as a curiosity due to the methods mentioned above.

The mGBA team has made a DS emulator known as {{GitHub|mgba-emu/mgba/tree/medusa|Medusa}}, but at its current stage it, too, is effectively only a proof-of-concept. It is still under active development, however.

=== Game Boy Advance ===

Line 28:

Line 21:

The current recommended way to run GBA software is [[3DS:open_agb_firm|open_agb_firm]] due to its drag-and-drop functionality and ease of save file access. open_agb_firm runs as a payload (similar to GodMode9), meaning it is not directly accessible from HOME Menu (requiring a reboot to enter/exit) unless an alternate bootloader such as [[3DS:fastboot3DS|fastboot3DS]] is combined with [https://gbatemp.net/download/open-agb-launcher.36828/ Open AGB Launcher].<br>

If you want to use another method but still want icons directly on your HOME Menu, you can create ~~virtual console~~ injects on a Windows device.

If you want to use another method but still want icons directly on your HOME Menu, you can [[3DS:Virtual Console/Creation|create Virtual Console injects]] on a Windows device.

GBA games can also be emulated, the recommended emulator being [[udb:3ds/mgba|mGBA]]. This is the best option if you wish to use cheats and save-states, but performance will rarely be full-speed on old models and some games will not work correctly.

Line 37:

Line 30:

=== Game Boy Color / Game Boy ===

The Game Boy Color and Game Boy are old enough that all models of the 3DS (and even the DS) can run them at full speed. The historically popular GB(C) emulator has been [[udb:3ds/gameyob-3ds|GameYob]], but due to 3DS-specific issues the [[udb:ds/gameyob|DS version]] is preferred (ran through TWiLight Menu++).<br>

You can also create ~~virtual console~~ injects for GB/GBC games if you prefer ~~individual icons on~~ HOME Menu.

You can also [[3DS:Virtual Console/Creation|create Virtual Console injects]] for GB/GBC games if you prefer to play your games from the HOME Menu.

The multi-platform GB(C) emulator [https://github.com/RossMeikleham/PlutoBoy/actions PlutoBoy] is currently under active development. A GitHub account is required to download the automated builds.

=== ~~WonderSwan~~ ===

===Game Gear===

~~Possible~~ through ~~the Mednafen (WonderSwan) core on RetroArch. Performance has been reported to be slow on Old~~ 3DS ~~units~~.

Currently only possible through [[3DS:Virtual Console/Creation|Virtual Console injects]].

~~== Home video game consoles ==~~

=== ~~PlayStation 2/3/etc~~ ===

=== Virtual Boy ===

~~Not possible, due to computing power requirements~~.

Possible with [[udb:3ds/red-viper|Red Viper]]. All officially released Virtual Boy games run at full speed on all models of 3DS. Red Viper has various features such as customizable screen colors and 3D support.

=== ~~All Xbox consoles~~ ===

=== WonderSwan ===

~~Not~~ possible~~, due to computing power requirements~~.

Possible through the Mednafen (WonderSwan) core on [[3DS:RetroArch|RetroArch]]. Performance has been reported to be slow on Old 3DS

units. Also possible with [[3DS:Virtual Console/Creation|Virtual Console injects]].

=== ~~GameCube~~/~~Wii/Wii U/Switch~~ ===

=== Neo Geo Pocket / Neo Geo Pocket Color ===

~~Not~~ possible~~. While some~~ 3DS ~~games are ports of GameCube games, these consoles require too much computing power to be emulated by the 3DS.<br>~~

Possible through [[udb:3ds/neopop-sdl|Neopop-SDL]]. Also possible with [[3DS:Virtual Console/Creation|Virtual Console injects]].

~~Also note that due to these computing power requirements, ports of Wii/Wii U~~/~~Switch games are also extremely unlikely~~.

=== ~~Dreamcast~~ ===

== Home video game consoles ==

~~Not possible, due to computing power requirements.~~

=== PlayStation 1 ===

Possible through the PCSX ReARMed core on RetroArch, with playable speeds on '''New 3DS only'''. A partial compatibility list can be found [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pl2bTkzTe736EOaQjk8FBWY9ixfgoNSYSitbm5Gnyqs/edit#gid=0 here], and optimal configuration can be found [https://www.reddit.com/r/3dshacks/comments/jvkotb/full_speed_psx_finally_here_on_new_3ds_new_2ds_xl/ here].

Possible through the PCSX ReARMed core on [[3DS:RetroArch|RetroArch]], with playable speeds on '''New 3DS only'''. A partial compatibility list can be found [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pl2bTkzTe736EOaQjk8FBWY9ixfgoNSYSitbm5Gnyqs/edit#gid=0 here], and optimal configuration can be found [https://www.reddit.com/r/3dshacks/comments/jvkotb/full_speed_psx_finally_here_on_new_3ds_new_2ds_xl/ here]. Also possible with [[3DS:Virtual Console/Creation|Virtual Console injects]].

=== Nintendo 64 ===

Line 66:

Line 57:

=== Super NES ===

Possible ~~through~~ [[udb:3ds/snes9x|Snes9x ~~for Old 3DS~~]], which is optimized so that many SNES games can run well on an Old 3DS. New 3DS users can ~~opt to use this emulator or to~~ create ~~virtual console~~ injects that use Nintendo's official SNES emulator.

Possible on both Old and New 3DS using [[udb:3ds/snes9x|Snes9x]], which is optimized so that many SNES games can run well on an Old 3DS. There is also an [[udb:3ds/snes9x-updated-fork|updated Snes9x fork]] that has extra features such as custom game borders, the ability to play on either screen, an improved cheat menu and more. Additionally, New 3DS users can create [[3DS:Virtual_Console/Creation|Virtual Console injects]] that use Nintendo's official SNES emulator, while Old 3DS users can create injects that use modified version Snes9x.

===TurboGrafx-16 (PC Engine)===

Possible through [[udb:3ds/temperpce|TemperPCE]], as well as [[3DS:Virtual Console/Creation|Virtual Console injects]].

=== NES / Famicom Disk System ===

The NES is old enough that all models of the 3DS can run it at full speed. The recommended emulator is [[udb:3ds/virtuanes|VirtuaNES]].<br>

Virtual ~~console~~ injects ~~can also be created~~ if you prefer ~~individual icons on~~ HOME Menu.

you can also [[3DS:Virtual Console/Creation|create Virtual Console injects]] if you prefer to play your games from the HOME Menu.

=== Sega Genesis / CD / 32X / Master System ===

Possible through [[udb:3ds/picodrive|PicoDrive]], covering the Genesis / Mega Drive and its add-ons (the Sega CD and 32X) as well as the Sega Master System. It is apparently reasonably well-optimized for Old 3DS.

Possible through [[udb:3ds/picodrive|PicoDrive]], covering the Genesis / Mega Drive and its add-ons (the Sega CD and 32X) as well as the Sega Master System. It is apparently reasonably well-optimized for Old 3DS. Also possible with [[3DS:Virtual Console/Creation|Virtual Console injects]] with the exception of the Sega CD.

== Arcade cabinets ==

Line 79:

Line 74:

== Home computers ==

~~=== Windows NT (XP/Vista/7/etc) ===~~

~~Not possible, though you can stream a computer's screen to a 3DS with a program like [[udb:3ds/tinyvnc|TinyVNC]].~~

=== DOS / Win9x ===

Line 88:

Line 80:

=== Commodore 64 ===

Possible through [[udb:3ds/vice3ds|Vice3DS]].

=== Amiga 500 ===

Possible through [[udb:3ds/uae3ds|uae3DS]].

== Other ==

=== Calculators ===

''Omega'', a custom firmware for the Numworks graphing calculator, has a simulator available for the Nintendo 3DS~~. The latest available version (as of 2022/08/09) is available {{GitHub|Omega-Numworks/Omega/releases/download/O1.23.0-E15/simulator.3dsx|here}}~~.

[[udb:3ds/omega|Omega]], a custom firmware for the Numworks graphing calculator, has a simulator available for the Nintendo 3DS.

[https://gbatemp.net/download/wabbitds.7859/ WabbitDS] is a TI-83 Plus emulator for the Nintendo DS. It ''might'' work on the 3DS under TWiLight Menu++ or through a DS flashcart.

=== RetroArch ===

[[udb:3ds/retroarch|RetroArch]], a frontend for many emulators and more is available on the 3DS. Keep in mind that most standalone emulators offer better performance.

== Overview chart ==

WIP

== Emulators that don't exist ==

These are consoles or devices that will not work on the 3DS, usually due to computing power requirements.

* GameCube/Wii/Wii U/Switch

* PlayStation 2 and newer

* PlayStation Portable and Vita

* All Xbox consoles

* Dreamcast

* Windows NT (XP/Vista/7/etc)

== Emulating the 3DS itself ==

To emulate the 3DS on another platform, Azahar is the recommended option. Other options include [https://mikage.app Mikage] and [https://github.com/wheremyfoodat/Panda3DS Panda3DS].

== Notes ==

[[Category:Nintendo 3DS information]]