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How do DS and 3DS emulators perform on the Switch?

PalindromicBreadLoaf · 2026-07-16T19:11:42+00:00

Credit goes to StickyMangoRice for the logo. Dekopon is a port of Azahar to the Nintendo Switch. The current release is version 2.2.1. Performance is very title dependent, and will be improved with time, but many games can be played fullspeed right now, sometimes even with stock handheld clocks. (I do recommend at least bumping the CPU up to dev unit clocks in handheld just to reduce shader compilation stutter and smooth out some rough frame pacing.) Depending on the game, you can get up to 4x resolution scaling at full speed in docked/handheld charging (although really 3x is all you need in handheld). If you want to try any new3ds exclusive games, they won't run well. All four of the 3DS' cores run on a single emulation thread, so we're at a 1.2GHz difference (2GHz single core where as the 4 3DS cores each run at 804MHz) from what we would need (and architecture changes from 3DS to Switch cannot account for that much raw clock speed loss). The solution would be to split the emulation threads on new3DS games, but that's a ton of work for very very little gain. See here for a full compatibility chart: Dekopon Compatibility Chart Feel free to share your own compatibility findings here and I'll update the sheet accordingly. Also share any issues you have and I'll do my best to fix them. Downloads can be found here: Releases Along with the source code here: Source ROMs default location is /switch/dekopon/roms/ All formats that Azahar natively supports are supported here too. Different screen layouts can be cycled through via pressing the right stick. Pressing '+' on a game shows information about it, including updates and dlc. Enjoy! Also if someone wants to make a better UI for this I wouldn't be offended. I can't make a good UI to save my life, but the one included at least kinda functions to get you into a game.

Thread starter Deleted member 568892
Start date Dec 24, 2021
Views 1,962
Replies 7

Deleted member 568892

Well-Known Member

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Level 5

Dec 24, 2021

Are they worth using? Do they run games at native speed with minimal glitches?

Andorin

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Level 6

Dec 24, 2021

Hi.
I saw on some Youtube video that running Nintendo DS and 3DS Games through Android is very good.
Do not even try through RetroArch. Laggy.

Shadow#1

Wii, 3DS Softmod & Dumpster Diving Expert

Member

Level 19

Dec 24, 2021

Mike_Hunt said:
Are they worth using? Do they run games at native speed with minimal glitches?

DS works good 3DS is A bismal failure

Reactions: kite21

Zkajavier

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Level 9

Dec 24, 2021

DS with melonDS natively runs amazingly well.
3DS is a no go.

Chaosta

Well-Known Member

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Level 6

Dec 24, 2021

3ds runs like balls on switch.

deathblade200

Well-Known Member

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Level 8

Dec 24, 2021

really you are better off getting a 3DS and a r4 cart not even just for the much better performance but for the screens its absolutely horrible playing these devices on emulators because of the screens alone.