Homebrew Emulator Best DS emulator in 2021 for Switch?

[vgplayer54]

Hello everyone,
As the title suggests, I'm looking for the best way to emulate DS games on the switch.
I've tried using the DeSmuME as well as the MelonDS cores via RetroArch and both run quite poorly. I've been looking into using MelonDS outside RetroArch as I hear it runs a bit smoother, but I haven't tested this yet. I'm also looking into installing Android on it and perhaps going the Lakka or DrasticDS emulator route but, again, haven't tested it yet.

Just looking for some recommendations as numerous sources I'm finding on google are quite heavily outdated.

 

[Shadow#1]

Hello everyone,
As the title suggests, I'm looking for the best way to emulate DS games on the switch.
I've tried using the DeSmuME as well as the MelonDS cores via RetroArch and both run quite poorly. I've been looking into using MelonDS outside RetroArch as I hear it runs a bit smoother, but I haven't tested this yet. I'm also looking into installing Android on it and perhaps going the Lakka or DrasticDS emulator route but, again, haven't tested it yet.

Just looking for some recommendations as numerous sources I'm finding on google are quite heavily outdated.

DrasticDS via android on switch will always be your best bet

 

[vgplayer54]

DrasticDS via android on switch will always be your best bet

Thank you! I'll give that a shot. Do you happen to know if it can do a smooth 3DS as well? If not it's all good, more curiosity

 

[Shadow#1]

Thank you! I'll give that a shot. Do you happen to know if it can do a smooth 3DS as well? If not it's all good, more curiosity

Switch is to damn weak for 3ds emulation

 

[hippy dave]

I've been looking into using MelonDS outside RetroArch as I hear it runs a bit smoother, but I haven't tested this yet.

Definitely do this, look for the MelonDS "continuation" thread in this forum.

There's a Citra core for retroarch for 3DS emulation, but it's not public yet, test versions are available to m4xw's patreon subscribers. It's supposed to play a lot of games decently, and had a noticeable speed up recently, but may never be perfect for every game. Worth keeping an eye out for anyway.

 

[zenjiki]

In my opinion, the MelonDS Standalone emulator is best for HOS. Pretty much all games are fullspeed, with some requiring a small amount of OC for fullspeed, but i've only found maybe less than 5 games requiring OC.

 

[vgplayer54]

Wow, thank you all for your valuable input! I'll give MelonDS a shot then, if it doesn't work well, I'll install android. Also will keep an eye on that 3DS core, thanks!

 

[spotanjo3]

Also will keep an eye on that 3DS core, thanks!

I dont think it will ever run full speed at all. As he said that Nintendo Switch is very underpowered for a powerful 3DS emulator Nah. Go with the powerful PC desktop for full speed 3D Emulator to run properly. Nintendo Switch will not!

I have a standalone beta Citra 3DS emulator and don't see the developer working on it for Nintendo Switch since last year. I dont think they are working on it anymore for Nintendo Switch. I might be wrong, thought.

 

[evanft]

The latest version of MelonDS continuation runs beautifully with the JIT compiler turned on.

 

[hippy dave]

I dont think it will ever run full speed at all. As he said that Nintendo Switch is very underpowered for a powerful 3DS emulator Nah. Go with the powerful PC desktop for full speed 3D Emulator to run properly. Nintendo Switch will not!

I have a standalone beta Citra 3DS emulator and don't see the developer working on it for Nintendo Switch since last year. I dont think they are working on it anymore for Nintendo Switch. I might be wrong, thought.

The retroarch citra core got an update in the last month or two with a big speedup, apparently. Runs a lot of games full speed.

 

[Shadow#1]

The retroarch citra core got an update in the last month or two with a big speedup, apparently. Runs a lot of games full speed.

But u have to buy it

 

[hippy dave]

But u have to buy it

For now.

 

[Shadow#1]

For now.

Is it even allowed under GPLv2?

 

[hippy dave]

Is it even allowed under GPLv2?

IDK

 

[DaniPoo]

Hello everyone,
As the title suggests, I'm looking for the best way to emulate DS games on the switch.
I've tried using the DeSmuME as well as the MelonDS cores via RetroArch and both run quite poorly. I've been looking into using MelonDS outside RetroArch as I hear it runs a bit smoother, but I haven't tested this yet. I'm also looking into installing Android on it and perhaps going the Lakka or DrasticDS emulator route but, again, haven't tested it yet.

Just looking for some recommendations as numerous sources I'm finding on google are quite heavily outdated.

Latest builds of the stand alone melonDS has been a great experience for me.
Most games seems to run at full speed without overclocking.

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But u have to buy it

well if it’s true that it runs games as full speed then I guess you were wrong about the “Switch being too damn weak”, payed or not.

 

[spotanjo3]

The retroarch citra core got an update in the last month or two with a big speedup, apparently. Runs a lot of games full speed.

No, I am talking about Switch version. Not PC version which I already know about. Yes, it is run a lot of games in full speed. Not Nintendo Switch. That's what I am saying.

 

[hippy dave]

No, I am talking about Switch version. Not PC version which I already know about. Yes, it is run a lot of games in full speed. Not Nintendo Switch. That's what I am saying.

Yes, surprisingly enough, here in the Switch forum, in the context of a discussion of emulators on Switch, I too was talking about the Switch version.

 

[spotanjo3]

Yes, surprisingly enough, here in the Switch forum, in the context of a discussion of emulators on Switch, I too was talking about the Switch version.

Okay.

The Nintendo Switch version is weak and underpowered. It will never run Citra fully speed at all. Maybe a few games can but most will not. A PCSX2 proves that Nintendo Switch cannot run it at all. And Play! Emulator can run a few but fps is far low, thought. Impossible!

 

[hippy dave]

Okay.

The Nintendo Switch version is weak and underpowered. It will never run Citra fully speed at all. Maybe a few games can but most will not. A PCSX2 proves that Nintendo Switch cannot run it at all. And Play! Emulator can run a few but fps is far low, thought. Impossible!

Ok mate, you can keep saying that, but I'm gonna choose to believe the people who have actually tried it.

 

[spotanjo3]

Ok mate, you can keep saying that, but I'm gonna choose to believe the people who have actually tried it.

I have it and I tested it on Nintendo Switch. I dont see any improvement or faster on "Most games". A few can runs on "decent" speed. No, I am not using the overclock, thought.