Homebrew The best NDS homebrew applications 2017

[ShadowtearX]

Last Edit: 2017.06.26

~The best Nintendo DS homebrew applications 2017~​

I've made this topic because I've been into the NDS emulation scene since around 2007/2009 towards 2013.
Back then the scene was something amazing, I can recall spending at-leased around 7 hours a day being online communicating, helping people, making application manuals all together with other people in order to perfect the system.
Sadly, like many other systems, they turn old and start to be forgotten or left not to be picked up again.
Since i recently made a topic for the Nintendo Wii, and its best homebrew applications, i thought i'd put my knowledge and experiences of the NDS in this thread, as a remembrance and for people who still wish to utilize their NDS system to its fullest.

Best Alternative Flashcard Firmware​

YSMenu
This firmware is considered your perfect alternative no matter what base firmware you are running on your flashcard, it is open source community updated and supports almost all types of flashcards and clones, and runs allot of games.

• Recommended to be installed besides your main firmware or as main firmware
• Works on pretty much every flashcard you may own
• Very high amount of game support​

Main Page

Download


Wood R4
A firmware based on the Wood RPG firmware, mainly modified for support on multiple R4 cards and DSTT cards.
This firmware supports pretty much 99.9% of all games and has a wide support for multiple clone cards.

• 99.9% game compatibility
• Slick clean menu with useful utilities​

Main Page

Download


DScovered
A firmware designed to look slick and pretty,
This firmware uses support from other firmware (YSMenu, Wood R4 ect.) to run games on.

Main Page

Download


Alternative homebrew firmware:

Spoiler

Homebrew Menu
The Homebrew Menu is a simple launcher intended to support DS homebrew developers and their users which has no means to run commercial games.

Main Page

Download


DSi Homebrew Channel
An DSi specific homebrew loader allowing for fast loading from SD slot with ease.

Main Page

Download

Best Nintendo Related Emulators​

nesDS
An Nintendo emulator that runs allot of NES games without issue.

Download


SnemulDS 0.6 [Revival]
An Super Nintendo emulator that runs allot of SNES games without issue.
This modification is based on the original SnemulDS 0.6 and is updated to support allot more SNES games.

• There might be some layer issues in some games though.​

Download


GameYob
An Game Boy Color emulator that pretty much runs every GB/GBC game you load in it.

Download


GBARunner2
An Game Boy Advance loader to play GBA games from your slot 1 flashcard.
This allows the usage of loading Game Boy Advance files from your flashcard.

• Technically a hypervisor, not an emulator.​

Download


More emulators can be found on: https://gbatemp.net/threads/list-of-all-emulators-for-ds.255764/

Best Non-Nintendo Related Emulators​

jEnesisDS
An emulator for the Sega Genesis/Megadrive.

Download


S8DS
An Sega (Game Gear, CBS Colecovision, Sega Master System, Sega SG-1000/SC-3000) emulator.

Download


ScummVM DS
ScummVM is a program which allows you to run certain classic graphical point-and-click adventure and role-playing games.

Download


DSx86
DSx86 is a PC emulator for Nintendo DS allowing you to run old DOS games on your Nintendo DS game console.

Download


More emulators can be found on: https://gbatemp.net/threads/list-of-all-emulators-for-ds.255764/

Useful Utilities​

MoonShell
MoonShell is a all-in-one multimedia player that allows to play and show audio, video, images and text.
It is generally seen as a must have application for any flashcard, it also has a very proper file explorer.

Download


Back To The Firmware
A application that makes it able to return back to your original DS firmware after loading your flashcard firmware.

Download


Diagnose
DiagnoSe is a DS function tester, designed to test the features of the DS.

Download


DSOrganize
A multi-tool program combining allot of features such as storing daily and hourly memos, addresses, todo lists and simple scribbles
Other then that it also includes an online homebrew database, includes streaming audio support, and a rudimentary web browser.

Download


ComBoX
ComBoX (Lilou box) is a complete communication box for your DS. It allows you to transfer files with different protocols : FTP and HTTP.

Download


DS2DS
Allows user to send files without router or via a DS to another without size limit.

Download


SRLoader
Loads retail DS ROMs & homebrew from the Nintendo DSi SD card via it's backend, nds-bootstrap.

Download

Useful Applications​

Colors!
Colors! is a painting tool that lets you make beautiful images and paintings with your stylus.

Download


NitroTracker
NitroTracker is a FastTracker II style tracker for the Nintendo DS, allowing you to make music and share it across devices.

Download


Youtube DS
Allows playing YouTube videos on your NDS (please note this program is in very early stage and might not work propperly)

Download

Homebrew Games​

Aperture Science DS
Aperture Science DS, previously known as Portal DS, is a 3D Homebrew version of the popular Portal game series.

Download


DSCraft
DScraft is a homebrew adaptation of the popular game Minecraft, At current state of development its about a complete adaption of Minecraft Classic.

Download


Mario Paint Composer DS
Mario Paint Composer DS is an indirect remake of the music composer tool found in the Super Nintendo game "Mario Paint"

Download


Fireworlds
An original puzzle/platform adventure game.

Download


Still Alive DS
Still Alive is a 2d portal homebrew inspired game.
Combining platforming, first person shooting, and physics based puzzle solving.

Download


Lemmings DS
Lemmings DS is an open-source port of the classic Amiga action-puzzle game Lemmings for the Nintendo DS.

Download


Pocket Physics
Pocket Physics is a physical construction kit for your pocket.
You draw objects with the stylus and make them physical by pressing the play button

Download

PC Utilities​

UniqueGeeks Offline Converter
A offline program to convert NDS Save Games for different flashcards/emulators.

Main Page


WfcPatcher
Patches NDS games to allow them to connect to a custom server, such as AltWfc in order to play online

Main Page


SD Card Formatter
This software formats all SD memory cards, SDHC memory cards and SDXC memory cards.
SD Card Formatter provides quick and easy access to the full capabilities of your SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards.

Download


NDSTokyoTrim
With this you can cut off unneeded data from your ROMS, making them smaller in size.

Download

Final Word​

I hope that this thread will help those who want definite information on applications and tools that are in current state "Best to Use" or most recommended.

If you wish to seek more homebrew for your Nintendo DS system, you can find more on this website:
http://gamebrew.org/wiki/List_of_all_DS_homebrew
- Please note that this site is not fully updated, thus does not have everything available

If you have any suggestion on recommended applications, please share by posting below so we can improve on this thread.

With this thread, let us keep the Nintendo DS alive with the best features it can possibly have.​

 

[Zero72463]

This is really nice bro, I might make some threads that follow this style.

 

[RocketRobz]

I think you should add SRLoader to a "Loaders" list, even though it's only for DSi.

Loads retail DS ROMs from the SD card via it's backend, nds-bootstrap!

• Retail DS ROM compatibility isn't perfect yet.

 

[ShadowtearX]

I think you should add SRLoader to a "Loaders" list, even though it's only for DSi.

Cool, added

 

[Flame]

nice thread dude. keep it up.

 

[urbanman2004]

Nice work man

 

[Flashed]

Where's Win2DS?

 

[tozevleal]

And DSx86? Its a great MS-DOS emulator for the NDS!
http://dsx86.patrickaalto.com/

 

[ShadowtearX]

And DSx86? Its a great MS-DOS emulator for the NDS!
http://dsx86.patrickaalto.com/

Added, thank you

Where's Win2DS?

I would add this but, is this even useful/used nowadays? i cant really think of anyone using this over a 40$ mobile phone with teamvieuwer.
If you believe i'm wrong and that this should definitely be in here as "usefull" tell me and ill most likely will add it. (i want to avoid filling this topic with tons of programs that nobody would use anymore)

 

[Zense]

Great job! I didn't know many of these existed. I should actually add some of them. I'm just unsure if they'd work on a dsi or 3ds considering they have somewhat different wifi capabilities.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

@CoolKill3r The link to GBARunner2 is wrong

Great job! I didn't know many of these existed. I should actually add some of them. I'm just unsure if they'd work on a dsi or 3ds considering they have somewhat different wifi capabilities.

Anything that worked on the DS will work on DSi/3DS, with some exceptions (mainly things that required slot-2 addons), you're still limited to open/WEP networks though.

 

[ShadowtearX]

@CoolKill3r The link to GBARunner2 is wrong

Thx, fixed it.

 

[Indy13]

Just came out at the beginning of this year, Final Burn Alpha a new M.A.M.E. emulator for supercard DSTwo : https://gbatemp.net/threads/fba4dstwo.461008/

 

[xfxmrl]

Maybe you could add NITROTRACKER in Useful Applications, it probably best homebrew music making tool for DS. People from chiptune comunities still buying DS just for this app alone.
Web site: http://nitrotracker.tobw.net.
Direct download: nitrotracker.tobw.net/NitroTracker-v0.4.zip

 

[MashedPotatos]

An mod should make this sticky.

 

[Technicmaster0]

There is really much stuff missing (at least I think so).
"Best Alternative Flashcard Firmware"
-HBMenu (at least for homebrew devs)
-for the supercard dstwo: iMenu, blargplug
-DScovered
-maybe dsision and dsi homebrew channel

Useful Utilities
-DSOrganize (it's relatively buggy but it has many features including one of the best homebrew webbrowsers for DS)

Useful Applications
-Youtube DS

Homebrew Games
-Fireworlds
-DSCraft
-Portal DS

 

[ShadowtearX]

Just came out at the beginning of this year, Final Burn Alpha a new M.A.M.E. emulator for supercard DSTwo : https://gbatemp.net/threads/fba4dstwo.461008/

I'd like to add this, but its very specific to Supercard DSTWO, wich means i'd have to make a seperate part for it as i want the main page to be general for everyone to use.
I'll most likely add a section for it later though, looks good thank you.

Maybe you could add NITROTRACKER in Useful Applications, it probably best homebrew music making tool for DS. People from chiptune comunities still buying DS just for this app alone.
Web site: http://nitrotracker.tobw.net.
Direct download: nitrotracker.tobw.net/NitroTracker-v0.4.zip

Thanks allot, i've added it to the first post.

There is really much stuff missing (at least I think so).
"Best Alternative Flashcard Firmware"
-HBMenu (at least for homebrew devs)
-for the supercard dstwo: iMenu, blargplug
-DScovered
-maybe dsision and dsi homebrew channel

Useful Utilities
-DSOrganize (it's relatively buggy but it has many features including one of the best homebrew webbrowsers for DS)

Useful Applications
-Youtube DS

Homebrew Games
-Fireworlds
-DSCraft
-Portal DS

I've added all of these with exception of iMenu, blargplug.
Same reason as the person above, i want the topic to be generalized for everyone regardless of witch flashcard, but ill make a section for it later separately.
Thank you for the many suggestions.

 

[eduall]

And DSdoom?

 

[N7Kopper]

It's kind of sad, but my interests in NDS homebrew at this point are limited to "things that the 3DS can't do better" which really amounts to GBA cart dumping, and (purely thanks to lack of software support) WarioWare DIY save dumping. And that second edge case only applies to dumping the save to a GBA flashcart rather than over wi-fi...

But you'd prolly need a DS flashcart for GBA to work, and maybe DS, too.

 

[ShadowtearX]

It's kind of sad, but my interests in NDS homebrew at this point are limited to "things that the 3DS can't do better" which really amounts to GBA cart dumping, and (purely thanks to lack of software support) WarioWare DIY save dumping. And that second edge case only applies to dumping the save to a GBA flashcart rather than over wi-fi...

But you'd prolly need a DS flashcart for GBA to work, and maybe DS, too.

Well honestly, as where i made this same topic for the Nintendo Wii before, starting this one made me think on everything "But... all of this got replaced already by cheap altearnatives or have no need anymore".
Everyone nowadays has a Phone that replaces all their needs for any app/homebrew the NDS might have to offer, the only thing i can see it be used for is actual gaming at this point, nonetheless i wanted to make this topic mainly for sake of having a final list for people that want to take the best out of their NDS still at this day.

And even talking about 3ds, i suppose not everyone has or cares to buy one to replace their NDS as they have enough to play on it still or whatever, so some homebrew might still be cool to be used.