How to run GBA games on your DS
How to run GBA games on your DS
Slot-1 Flashcarts
There are four flashcarts that can emulate GBA games without the need for a slot-2 cart.
- Supercard DSTWO
- EX4i
- iPlayer
- iSmart MM
- CycloDSi Evolution (only works on a DSi and is extremely limited)
- Insert the microSD card from the DSTWO into the computer
- Download v1.21 of NDSGBA and move it to your microSD card (an older version, so don't update it). After that, download game_config.txt and move that to your microSD card's NDSGBA folder.
- After doing so, obtain a GBA game (either by dumping it yourself or downlading one online) to verify that the emulator is working correctly. Once you have obtained the game, move the file to the root of the microSD card.
- Insert the microSD card into the DSTWO and then insert the DSTWO inside a DS system. Select 'GBA emulator' on the DSTWO menu.
- Select 'New' and you should find a list of GBA games. Select the game and it should start.
- Insert the microSD card from the EX4i into the computer.
- Download the firmware from here. Once it is downloaded, extract it using a program such as WinRAR and drag and drop the files into the root of the microSD card.
- After doing so, obtain a GBA game (either by dumping it yourself or downlading one online) to verify that the emulator is working correctly. Once you have obtained the game, move the file to the root of the microSD card.
- Insert the microSD card into the EX4i and then insert the EX4i inside a DS system.
- Select the DS icon (two rectangles on top of each other) and then select 'GAMES'. Once you have done that, select a GBA game file and run it.
- Insert the microSD card from the iPlayer into the computer.
- Download the iPlayer GBA emulator from here.
- Copy the "plugins" folder into /_system/ in the microSD card.
- Once you have done that, insert the microSD card into the iPlayer and then insert the iPlayer inside a DS system.
- Select 'Homebrew' from the iPlayer menu and then select a GBA game file.
- Insert the microSD card from the iSmart MM into the computer.
- After doing so, obtain a GBA game (either by dumping it yourself or downlading one online) to verify that the emulator is working correctly. Once you have obtained the game, move the file to the root of the microSD card.
- Insert the microSD card into the iSmart MM and then insert the iSmart MM inside a DS system.
- On the main menu, select 'GBA emulator'. After that, select the game and it should start up.
Slot-2 Flashcarts
You can also run GBA games using the below slot-2 flashcart. Do note that flashcarts of this type will only work in a DS Phat or DS Lite system. Flashcarts of this type will provide you with perfect GBA game compatibility.
- EZ Flash 3-in-1
- EZ-Flash IV
- Insert a microSD card into your computer from your respective flashcart.
- Extract GBA_ExpLoader.ini to the root of your MicroSD card.
- Create "/GBA_SAVE" and "/GBA_SIGN" folders on the root of your MicroSD card. (Modify "GBA_ExpLoader.ini" to set different folders)
- Copy GBA files into "/GBA_SIGN".
- Put SAV files into "/GBA_SAVE".
- To run the game, browse to the GBA file and press A to launch it. (If the game is too big to launch in PSRAM, press R to switch to NOR, then press A to launch it.)
- Download the EZclient
- After doing so, obtain a GBA game (either by dumping it yourself or downlading one online) to verify that the emulator is working correctly. Once you have obtained the game, move the file to the root of the microSD card.
- Move both files to the miniSD from the EZ-Flash IV
- Get a DS flashcart and insert the microSD card from it into the computer
- Download the appropriate firmware and move it into the microSD
- Insert the microSD into the flashcart
- Insert both the EZ-Flash IV and your DS flashcart into Slot 2 and Slot 1 respectively
- Launch the Slot-2 icon when you boot into the flashcard's menu and select the GBA game
ichichfly's GBA emulator
This method requires the use of a GBA emulator created by ichichfly.
- Download and then unpack the latest version of the emulator (link) to the root of your microSD.
- Move your GBA roms and homebrew to your flashcart. Note that the file extension must be .agb, .bin or .mb (.gba does not work)
- Launch your GBA roms/games like you would launch DS games.