How To Use DeSmuME Emulator To Play Nintendo DS Games? (2024)

DeSmuME is the best emulator for running Nintendo DS games on PC. Although it is pretty old, it is still the most reliable emulator for playing classic NDS games. So in this article, we will teach you how to use and speed up the DeSmuME Emulator.

DeSmuME is an open-source tool used in many emulators such as RetroArch, OpenEmu, and several mobile Nintendo DS emulators. However, many new users might have some difficulty setting it up. So follow the instructions given below to set up the DeSmuME emulator.

DeSmuME Emulator Setup Guide

  • How to download the DeSmuME emulator?
  • How to get games for the DeSmuME emulator?
  • How to speed up the DeSmuME emulator?
  • How to setup the DeSmuME emulator?
    • Window customization
    • Sound quality
    • Graphic Settings
    • Controller setup
    • Save Game State

How to download the DeSmuME emulator?

1. Download the relevant version of the emulator from DeSmuME.org.

How To Use DeSmuME Emulator To Play Nintendo DS Games? (1)

Note: You might have to download and install additional redistributable files as per the information given on the website.

2. Extract the downloaded files into a separate folder.

3. Open the DeSmuME emulator to play Nintendo DS games.

How To Use DeSmuME Emulator To Play Nintendo DS Games? (2)

How to get games for the DeSmuME emulator?

You can use ROMs in NDS formats to play games on the DeSmuME emulator. If you own a physical copy of the game, you can make a ROM by dumping the game files through your computer. However, you can also download it from aTorrent website. Look for a trustworthy source if you want to download it from the internet.

Note:Using a ROM is legal as long as you own the game. However, it is illegal to download or distribute ROMs of games that you do not own.

Once you get the ROMs for your NDS games, follow these steps to run them on the DeSmuME emulator.

1. Open the DeSmuME emulator and go to File.

2. Select Open Rom or use Ctrl+O/⌘+O shortcut.

How To Use DeSmuME Emulator To Play Nintendo DS Games? (3)

3. Navigate to where your game ROM is located.

4. Click on it twice to run the NDS game.

How to speed up the DeSmuME emulator?

Another most asked query is how you can speed up the DeSmuME emulator. The emulator is compatible with many games but is relatively slow when running games. However, this issue can be solved by following the steps given below.

Using the Fast Forward feature, you can speed up any emulated game on the DeSmuME emulator. To use it, press the Tab key and hold it down to speed up the game. This feature is quite useful when booting a game or skipping cutscenes.

You can even change the hotkey and assign a toggle for this feature by going to Config > Hotkey Config > Fast Forward.

How to setup the DeSmuME emulator?

You might need to change a few settings for optimal performance and experience. Follow the steps down below to get the best performance. If you want to use another emulator, you can check out our other article for thebest DS emulatorsfor Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android.

Window customization

The DeSmuME emulator uses two different windows, just like the NDS console. You can customize both screen layouts for the DS emulator by going to View > LCDs Layout. We recommend using the Vertical option as many games are optimized for that.

If you want to increase the window size, go to View > Window Size. You can even enjoy games on fullscreen by pressingAlt+Enter.

Sound quality

For better sound quality, go to Config > Sound Settings > Synchronous.

Graphic Settings

If you are using an Nvidia graphics card, go to Config > 3D Settings. Here you need to change the 3D rendering engine to OpenGL if you use an Nvidia GPU. You will also need to go to Config > Display Method and change it to OpenGL.

How To Use DeSmuME Emulator To Play Nintendo DS Games? (4)

You can also increase the GPU Scaling Factor to get better graphics at the cost of performance.

Controller setup

To set up custom controls for the DS emulator, go to Config > Control Config. You can now remap the controls to what you want. Connect it to your PC and remap the controls if you want to use a controller. All you need to do is replace the input command highlighted in green with the one you want to use instead.

Save Game State

The DeSmuME emulator also allows players to save their games at any point. Go to File > Save State or press the Shift + F1/F2/F3 shortcut to save the game state. To load the save state, go to File > Load State or press F1, F2, F3, and so on to access the save slots.

How To Use DeSmuME Emulator To Play Nintendo DS Games? (2024)

FAQs

How To Use DeSmuME Emulator To Play Nintendo DS Games? ›

Emulators are applications that mimic the hardware of other platforms, such as game consoles. To start playing DS games on your PC or Mac, you'll just need to download and install DeSmuME, which is easy. Then, you'll be able to download games as ROM files and play them in the emulator.

Can you play DS games on DeSmuME? ›

Emulators are applications that mimic the hardware of other platforms, such as game consoles. To start playing DS games on your PC or Mac, you'll just need to download and install DeSmuME, which is easy. Then, you'll be able to download games as ROM files and play them in the emulator.

How to add ROMs to DeSmuME? ›

Loading a game

So you don't need to extract the ROM prior to using it with DeSmuME. Click on File > Open ROM, or press Ctrl+O. The “Open” window will pop up with the “Roms” folder in view. From this window click on the game you want to play, then click Open - as shown here .

How to use DeSmuME emulator PC? ›

How to Use DeSmuME on Windows
  1. Unzip the DeSmuME download and you will see an executable file (.exe).
  2. Double-click the executable file to launch it.
  3. On the DeSmuME interface, click File > Open ROM and navigate to the Nintendo DS game ROM files. ...
  4. DeSmuME will load the game.
Sep 6, 2023

How to play Pokemon DS games on PC? ›

You can do so using ROMs and emulators. ROMs are digital duplicates of game cartridges, while emulators are applications that simulate game consoles. You'll need to download a separate emulator for each game console you want to simulate on your PC.

Does DeSmuME still work? ›

Yes, it's been a while since the last release, but we haven't been completely idle. There's a brand new top shelf Cocoa frontend to make life far more pleasant for OSX users, and a host of compatibility fixes. Head on over to the download page and check it out!

Is it legal to emulate DS games? ›

Is Emulation Legal? The legality surrounding emulation depends on a few factors. In general, emulation itself is not illegal—but downloading copyrighted material like ROMs (games) off the internt definitely is.

Is DeSmuME any good? ›

But DeSmuMe is, in fact, one of the best DS emulators for PCs. It is available on Windows and Mac. ... The NDS emulator also offers a save slot feature which enables you to continue the game from where you left off. While DeSmuMe is popular among Nintendo DS fans, there are few problems with the open-source project.

What platforms does DeSmuME support? ›

DeSmuME X432R

It is available only for Windows 32-bit x86 and Windows 64-bit x86-64. You will have to ask the Internet for it, since the developer's website has vanished.

Can I use a controller for DeSmuME? ›

The answer is yes, it is possible to use controller with Desmume, and it is not very difficult to set up. In this article, we will show you how to use controller with Desmume in a few simple steps.

How do I play my DS games? ›

Starting a game
  1. With the game's label facing towards the bottom of the system, insert the Game Card into the Game Card slot. ...
  2. Press the POWER Button to turn on the system. ...
  3. On the Nintendo DSi menu, tap the Game Card icon. ...
  4. Refer to the game's instruction booklet for game play information.

Are there any good DS emulators for PC? ›

1. DeSmuME. DeSmuME is one of the most reliable and feature-rich DS emulators for Windows. Its robust engine ensures high compatibility with a vast library of DS games.

What is the best free DS emulator? ›

  • DraStic DS Emulator. Price: Free.
  • EmuBox. Price: Free.
  • Fast DS Emulator. Price: Free.
  • Lemuroid. Price: Free.
  • RetroArch. Price: Free.
Apr 1, 2024

Does DeSmuME play DSi games? ›

Since version 1.3, Delta Emulator allows you to emulate Nintendo DS with a DeSmuME or melonDS (0.9. 1)[2] core. You will need to have DS BIOS or DSi BIOS to play DS/DSi games in Delta using the melonDS core.

Can you play DS games on NDS? ›

All currently available software released for Nintendo DS can be played on Nintendo DSi. However, as the Nintendo DSi does not have a Game Boy Advance Game Pak Slot, certain games for Nintendo DS that make use of the GBA Game Pak Slot cannot be played, or some of the games' features cannot be used.

Do DS games work on Citra? ›

Can Citra run DS games? Citra does not emulate original DS games, you'll want to use DesMuMe or MelonDS for that. Citra does not display stereoscopic 3D images.

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