Top Android DS Emulators Reviewed

Nintendo DS emulation on Android stands out as one of the most efficient forms of emulation available. With a variety of DS emulators to choose from, it's essential to pinpoint the best Android DS emulator that's tailored specifically for DS games. If your interests extend to playing Nintendo 3DS games, you'll also need to find the best Android 3DS emulator. We've got recommendations for those as well, and even for the best Android PS2 emulator, to ensure you're covered across multiple platforms.

Best Android DS Emulator

Here, we'll highlight our top choice for the best DS emulator for Android, along with a few notable alternatives.

melonDS – The Best DS Emulator

melonDS is currently the top choice for DS emulation on Android. It's free, open-source, and frequently updated with new features and performance improvements. This emulator offers a wide range of customization options, including solid controller support that can be tailored to your preferences. Whether you prefer light or dark themes, melonDS has you covered. You can also adjust the resolution to balance performance and visual quality to your liking.

Additionally, melonDS includes built-in support for Action Replay, making it easier than ever to use cheats. Keep in mind, the version available on Google Play is an unofficial port, so for the most up-to-date experience, download from GitHub.

DraStic – Best For Older Devices

DraStic is another excellent DS emulator for Android, though it's a premium app priced at $4.99. Despite the cost, it's a worthwhile investment, especially given its longevity and performance. Launched in 2013, DraStic revolutionized Android emulation, offering smooth gameplay for nearly all Nintendo DS titles, even on older, less powerful devices.

This emulator provides numerous customization options, such as enhanced 3D rendering resolution, save states, speed adjustments, screen layout changes, controller support, and Game Shark codes. The only notable omission is multiplayer support, though this is less of an issue with most DS multiplayer servers now offline.

EmuBox – Most Versatile

EmuBox is a free emulator supported by ad revenue, which means ads may appear during use and it requires an online connection. While this can be a downside for some users, EmuBox's major advantage is its versatility. It's not limited to just DS games; you can also run ROMs from other consoles like the original PlayStation and Game Boy Advance.