For many young adults, the Nintendo 3DS was a big part of childhood. The feeling of returning from school and picking up the console to play classics like The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing was simply unbeatable. Although most of us would love to relive these experiences, not many still have their childhood consoles lying around. Thankfully, with emulators, you can play your favorite childhood games on any device. In thisguide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about emulators and how to play Nintendo 3DS games on your Android/iOS smartphone and your PC.
What is an Emulator?
As you might know, games likeThe Legend of Zeldawere designed exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS. In simple terms, this means you can’t run these games unless you have the actual console. Emulators circumvent this limitation by replicating the inner workings of a console, tricking the game into believing it’s running on original hardware. This allows you to play the games on any compatible device.
However, before we proceed, it is important to note that while emulators are legal,downloading game files (ROMs) from websitesis not and can land you in trouble. So, if you still have your old game collection, you may convert them into ROMs using specialized hardware.
4 Best Nintendo 3DS Emulators for Android, iOS & PC
Now that we have the explanation out of the way, let’s get into the best 3DS emulators you can download for Android, iOS, and PC. Keep in mind that not all emulators are compatible with every platform, so we’ve listed the supported devices for each one.
1. RetroArch
For emulation enthusiasts,RetroArchneeds no introduction. For everyone else, however, RetroArch isn’t just an emulator—it’s actually a front-end for running various emulators. This means the software supports not only popular consoles like the Nintendo 3DS, DS, and GameBoy but also niche consoles like Famicom.
While the support is comprehensive, setting up the emulator is a headache. First, you need to install the app, navigate its complex menu, and then install the necessary emulator cores. It can take some time to figure out if you’re new to this. Check out ourfull guide on setting up RetroArchif you need help.
However, once up and running, the emulator is packed full of features. You can save game states, fast-forward boring dialogues, connect Bluetooth controllers, tweak graphics and audio settings, and much more.
I tested the emulator by playingAnimal Crossing: New Leafon iOS, Android, and PC, and the experience was fantastic. Performance was great across all three platforms, and the gameplay was smooth.
2. Panda 3DS
If you don’t like RetroArch’s cluttered UI, you should tryPanda 3DS. The emulator is open-source and has a big community of active developers working to constantly improve the experience. However, there is a catch: it’s still in development, so you may encounter a few bugs that can impact your experience with certain games.
That being said, the performance of optimized games was pretty good. I testedPokémon Sun & Moon, and the gameplay was smooth, with no noticeable lag or frame rate drops.
In terms of features, Panda 3DS covers the basics: you can save states, connect external controllers, and fast-forward through less exciting parts.
3. Lemuroid
Another excellent emulator on the list is Lemuroid. Like RetroArch, Lemuroid is a front-end for multiple consoles, offering a much more user-friendly interface. The emulator supports a wide range of consoles, from the Atari 2600 all the way to the Nintendo 3DS. It also comes packed with features, including save states, customizable on-screen controls, and Google Drive support, which is great if you like switching between devices.
In addition to the basics, the software even lets you simulate different types of television screens, such as CRT and LCD, for a more nostalgic gaming experience.
In terms of performance, I testedMonster Hunter 4 Ultimateon my Pixel 6 Pro, and the experience was smooth. However, performance will vary depending on your device’s specs, particularly the processor.
As the name suggests, theNO$GBA(No Cash GBA) is a GameBoy Advanced emulator at heart. However, it can also emulate 3DS games, making it another solid choice on this list. In terms of features, it covers all the essentials, such as customizable controls and Bluetooth controller support, and even lets you enter cheat codes. This can be of great help if you get stuck on a particular game level.
However, it is important to mention that the emulator doesn’t support all 3DS games. Therefore, you should check game compatibility before installing.
Speaking of performance, it was great when testing on my Windows laptop. The graphics were crisp, and the frame rates were pretty stable, with only minor stutters.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For low-end PCs and Android devices, Panda 3DS is a more lightweight option compared to other emulators.
Panda 3DS has the most active and supportive online community from this list.
When it comes to performance, RetroArch is the most powerful 3DS emulator.
Conclusion
There you have it—the best Nintendo 3DS emulators for Android, iOS, and PC. Hopefully, this guide helped you find the right emulator for your needs. If one doesn’t work as expected, try another from the list—different emulators perform better on different hardware setups.
