Homebrew What is the best gba emulator on 3ds xl in 2020?

Kanakops · Jan 26, 2020

Hi, I know it's not the first thread about this specific question but I want to know what is the best emulator for my regular 3ds xl (not the new 3ds xl) in 2020? I know the best thing is just the gba injection to cia but I want to play my games with the homebrew launcher for avoid letting obvious trace about what i'm playing on my 3ds. Do you guys know what emulator should I pick?

justjack · Jan 27, 2020

Not exactly an emulator but I think your best option would be gbarunner2.

SCOTT0852 · Jan 29, 2020

GBARunner2 is nowhere near perfect. The best emulator is Nintendo's own AGB_FIRM, which is used by all GBA injects. You can make those with NSUI.

Rahkeesh · Jan 29, 2020

Way to read the OP, who already knows what injection is....

GBARunner2 is your only real option for fullspeed on old 3DS. It has gotten pretty good of late actually, but you'll need to figure out how to set up Twilightmenu++ for homebrew menu. (I'm sure its possible, but its not really set up for that out of the box.)

DSoryu · Jan 29, 2020

Rahkeesh said:
Way to read the OP, who already knows what injection is....

GBARunner2 is your only real option for fullspeed on old 3DS. It has gotten pretty good of late actually, but you'll need to figure out how to set up Twilightmenu++ for homebrew menu. (I'm sure its possible, but its not really set up for that out of the box.)

He just needs to install the TM++ updater or Universal Updater, then download the apps through there.

Deleted User · Jan 30, 2020

i use mgba but it lags hard on the only 2 games i play on gba, so i got a real gba and one of the games

Skeeve · Oct 7, 2022

I tried the whole day today to get my Metroid Zero Mission dump to run with either gbaemu4ds or gbarunner2 or mgba on my unmodified new 3ds xl with R4 SDHC GOLD PRO to no real success:

gbaemu4ds
It starts but the sound is heavily garbled and I do not even understand half of the questions I have to answer before starting the game.
mgba
Seems I'd need a custom firmware to use this. I have no clue how to start mgba.3dsx or mvga.cia.
gbarunner2
the only verison I could start let me select the game's rom but then I get a blank screen.

Am I doing something completely wrong? Is my only option a custom firmware?

Pk11 · Oct 7, 2022

Skeeve said:
I tried the whole day today to get my Metroid Zero Mission dump to run with either gbaemu4ds or gbarunner2 or mgba on my unmodified new 3ds xl with R4 SDHC GOLD PRO to no real success:

gbaemu4ds
It starts but the sound is heavily garbled and I do not even understand half of the questions I have to answer before starting the game.

mgba
Seems I'd need a custom firmware to use this. I have no clue how to start mgba.3dsx or mvga.cia.

gbarunner2
the only verison I could start let me select the game's rom but then I get a blank screen.

Am I doing something completely wrong? Is my only option a custom firmware?

I think it's should work in GBARunner2 with a proper BIOS.BIN file, but you're much better off just installing CFW and using open_agb_firm or VC Injects, CFW is free, safe, and easy to install.

https://3ds.hacks.guide

Edit: Added links, usually I link things but I was on my phone when initially posting

Skeeve · Oct 8, 2022

Thanks for the link and your answer. My bios.bin, located in sd:/_gba should be okay according to its md5 checksum. So I'm really wondering what's going wrong

Pk11 · Oct 8, 2022

Skeeve said:
Thanks for the link and your answer. My bios.bin, located in sd:/_gba should be okay according to its md5 checksum. So I'm really wondering what's going wrong

Just checked the compatibility list and it should work:

Make sure you've got WRAM i-cache on, the X is that it doesn't work without cache.

If it still doesn't work, maybe try with the 'DSL Enhanced' version and the version it was confirmed working on.

Skeeve · Oct 9, 2022

Thanks again Pk11, but I get the same result with those GBArunners. I can select the file, I can switch the cache but the screen goes blank when starting the game.

scionae · Oct 9, 2022

Skeeve said:
Thanks again Pk11, but I get the same result with those GBArunners. I can select the file, I can switch the cache but the screen goes blank when starting the game.

You may need to use this version.

Skeeve · Oct 9, 2022

scionae said:
You may need to use this version.

Unfortunately those give me "SCFG locked"

I think this is due to me using a R4 GOLD PRO, which is a DS, not a 3DS cart. I read somewhere that only the DS version would run.

Pk11 · Oct 9, 2022

Skeeve said:
Unfortunately those give me "SCFG locked"

I think this is due to me using a R4 GOLD PRO, which is a DS, not a 3DS cart. I read somewhere that only the DS version would run.

There are no 3DS carts that can run homebrew, 3DS flashcards are a waste of money as CFW can do everything they can and better.

At this point just install CFW, there's no reason not to in 2022 really and you'll get perfect GBA compatibility.

Skeeve · Oct 9, 2022

For sure I will do, but not yet.

I'm simply still a bit scared to try it. When reading through the forums, there is so much jargon going on that I do not yet understand, that I simply fear I will be lost should something go wrong. Maybe around christmas when I have a few days off I can try and learn what is currently scaring me.

scionae · Oct 11, 2022

Skeeve said:
For sure I will do, but not yet.

I'm simply still a bit scared to try it. When reading through the forums, there is so much jargon going on that I do not yet understand, that I simply fear I will be lost should something go wrong. Maybe around christmas when I have a few days off I can try and learn what is currently scaring me.

Just watch a video (make sure it's fairly recent), it's really not that hard, if you need help DM me your discord tag and I'll be happy to tag along.

Maximumbeans · Oct 11, 2022

Skeeve said:
For sure I will do, but not yet.

I'm simply still a bit scared to try it. When reading through the forums, there is so much jargon going on that I do not yet understand, that I simply fear I will be lost should something go wrong. Maybe around christmas when I have a few days off I can try and learn what is currently scaring me.

You're in the ideal place if you want any guidance with anything, but honestly the guide is pretty much perfect. It outlines everything you need to know.
I understand all the different terms and phrases being confusing—sysnand, nativity, injection, BootNTR/twilightmenu/Luma/godmode9 etc. etc.—but you don't really need to understand these things on a deep level. It's a bit like installing Windows, you don't need to understand all the code behind it, just know how to use it and how not to use it.

Really though it's so worth it for like 30 minutes of your time. It blows the potential of the 3DS wide open. I've never had so much fun with my console as I have since hacking it. So many games to catch up on, revisit, and experience for the first time

Homebrew What is the best gba emulator on 3ds xl in 2020?

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