Last updated: November 2026
The short answer: melonDS is the best DS emulator in 2026 on PC, Steam Deck and Android. It is accurate, actively developed, runs most games without any BIOS files, and its Android port now supports dual-screen handhelds like the AYN Thor. DeSmuME, DraStic and the RetroArch cores still have a place, mostly on older setups and low-power Linux handhelds.
This is a researched guide, built from the emulators’ official sites, GitHub repositories and release notes, plus reporting from named outlets, each linked inline. Version numbers and store status were checked in November 2026. Menu names can shift between versions, so if a setting is named differently on your build, look for the closest match.
Everything here assumes games you dumped from cartridges you own.
Quick Picks
| Emulator | Best for | Platforms | BIOS needed | Status (Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| melonDS | Best overall | Windows, macOS, Linux, Steam Deck | No (built-in replacement) for most games | Active, v1.1 |
| melonDS Android | Android phones and handhelds | Android | No for most games | Active, v2.0.1 |
| melonDS DS (RetroArch) | RetroArch users | Every RetroArch platform | No for most games | Active, v1.4.0 |
| DeSmuME | Older PCs, legacy setups | Windows, macOS, Linux | No | Last stable 0.9.13 (2022) |
| DraStic | Low-power Linux handhelds | Android (sideload), Linux firmwares | No | Removed from Google Play, no updates |
melonDS: The One to Use
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (including Steam Deck), plus ARM64 Linux builds Latest version: 1.1, released November 18, 2025 (GitHub releases) Download: melonds.kuribo64.net or Flathub on Linux and Steam Deck
melonDS is the accuracy-focused DS emulator most guides now default to. Version 1.1 added DSi DSP emulation with audio and microphone input, and tile-size scaling in the OpenGL compute renderer to cut glitches at high internal resolutions. Earlier releases brought local wireless play between instances, LAN play, experimental DSi mode and a DSi title manager.
Strengths
- High compatibility and accurate 3D, with an OpenGL renderer for upscaling
- Local multiplayer between instances and over LAN
- The only mainstream option with real DSi support
- Open source (GPL-3.0) and still under active development
Weaknesses
- Heavier than DraStic, so it is not the pick for weak ARM chips
- DSi mode needs real dumps from your own DSi (see below)
Screen layouts. The View menu offers four layouts (Natural, Vertical, Horizontal, Hybrid), plus Screen sizing (Even, Emphasize top, Emphasize bottom, Auto, Top only, Bottom only), screen rotation, a configurable screen gap and Swap screens. Open new window lets you put a second view on another monitor. Hybrid shows one large screen with a small copy of the other beside it, which suits a single 16:9 display.
Touch input. On PC the mouse acts as the stylus. On a touchscreen device such as the Steam Deck, pick a layout that keeps the bottom screen large (Hybrid, or Emphasize bottom) so taps land where you mean them.
BIOS and firmware
melonDS ships built-in BIOS and firmware replacements, so most games boot directly with no files at all. Per the melonDS README, only booting into the DS system menu (firmware boot rather than direct boot) needs BIOS and firmware dumped from an original DS or DS Lite. DSi mode needs the DSi BIOS, firmware and a NAND image. In both cases you dump the files from a console you own, using the dumpers linked in the melonDS FAQ, then point to them under Emu Settings.
melonDS Android: Best on Android
Platforms: Android (64-bit recommended) Latest version: 2.0.1, May 2026 (GitHub releases) Download: Google Play or GitHub
This is an unofficial port by Rafael Caetano, built on the melonDS core. Version 2.0.0 moved it to the melonDS 1.1 core and, most importantly for handheld owners, added support for dual-screen devices, with the release notes thanking AYANEO and AYN for test hardware. The same release added RetroAchievements improvements, Rumble Pak support, direct DSiWare launching, lower audio latency, an option to hide the on-screen controls when a controller is connected, and a fix for crashes on Adreno GPUs.
The README notes that performance is solid on 64-bit devices with JIT and threaded rendering on, and poor on older 32-bit devices that lack JIT. A built-in Layout Editor lets you place both screens and the touch controls yourself.
On a dual-screen handheld like the AYN Thor, the top DS screen goes on the top display and the touch screen on the bottom one, so the stylus works the way it did on real hardware. If an older guide tells you the official app has no second-screen support, that was true before 2.0.0.
WatermelonDS is a melonDS fork aimed at dual-screen devices, and its author wrote the first dual-screen implementation the official app now uses. Its latest build, 0.8.0 RC3 (October 2026), adds an optional Vulkan low-latency mode for touch-heavy games and independently placed face buttons (GitHub). Try it if the official app’s dual-screen handling does not suit a particular game.
The Thor’s setup steps, including which display apps open on, are in the AYN Thor setup guide.
melonDS DS: Best Inside RetroArch
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (x86-64 and ARM64), Android, iOS Latest version: 1.4.0, September 2026 (GitHub)
melonDS DS is a newer libretro core built on current melonDS, separate from the older “melonDS” core in RetroArch’s list. Its README says the built-in BIOS and firmware replacements work with most games and native BIOS files are not required. It lets you cycle through up to eight screen layouts, rotations included, which helps in games that switch between top-screen and touch-heavy sections. Version 1.4.0 made Auto the default Console Mode (DSi mode for DSi-only games, DS mode for the rest) and added the compute shader renderer on Windows and Linux; Android does not get that renderer yet.
Pick it if your library already lives in RetroArch. RetroArch’s shaders, save management and RetroAchievements then cover your DS games too. Setup basics are in the RetroArch guide. Standalone melonDS still gets core updates first.
RetroArch also lists DeSmuME and DeSmuME 2015 cores, useful on weak hardware where melonDS DS struggles.
DeSmuME: The Veteran
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux Latest stable: 0.9.13, May 2022 (GitHub); the repository still receives commits
DeSmuME was the default DS emulator for well over a decade. It needs no BIOS, has a long list of video filters and a well-known Windows build, and the TASVideos community still maintains it.
Strengths: no BIOS needed, light on older PCs, mature tooling for speedrunners and tool-assisted runs. Weaknesses: no stable release since 2022, weaker 3D accuracy than melonDS in many games, and no DSi support.
Use it if melonDS will not run well on an old laptop, or for a TAS workflow built around it. Otherwise melonDS is the better default. The official download is the GitHub releases page (Linux users can get it from Flathub). Sites ranking for “DeSmuME download” often wrap old builds in installers with adware, so skip them.
DraStic: Still Common, No Longer Sold
DraStic was the fast, ARM-optimized DS emulator that ran well on cheap phones. It sold for $4.99 before developer Exophase made it free, and it disappeared from Google Play in February 2025 with no official explanation (Time Extension). As of November 2026 its Play Store page returns “not found,” the old official domain is parked, and there have been no updates or source release.
On Android, that leaves DraStic as a sideload of an unmaintained APK. Copies floating around are not from the developer, so the safer path is melonDS. The AYN Thor guide also notes that DraStic’s touch input can fail on that device.
On low-power Linux handhelds, though, DraStic is still the standard. The muOS docs say it ships both stock DraStic and a modified build by trngaje, and recommend the modified one for most uses. That build changes layouts with F + D-pad left/right and swaps the main screen with L2. On these devices you control the stylus with a stick or the cursor, since most have no touchscreen.
Best DS Emulator by Platform
| Platform | Pick | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | melonDS | DeSmuME (older PCs) |
| macOS | melonDS | melonDS DS in RetroArch |
| Linux / Steam Deck | melonDS (Flathub or EmuDeck) | melonDS DS in RetroArch |
| Android phone | melonDS Android | melonDS DS in RetroArch |
| Dual-screen Android handheld | melonDS Android 2.0+ | WatermelonDS |
| Low-power Linux handheld | Modified DraStic in your firmware | DeSmuME 2015 core |
On the Steam Deck, EmuDeck installs and configures melonDS for you. For a broader look at Android emulators across systems, see the Android emulation guide, and for the next generation up, the best 3DS emulator roundup.
Handhelds That Run DS Emulators Well
DS emulation is light. What matters is the screen layout, the touch input and, for melonDS, a 64-bit chip. The AYN Thor gives you two touchscreens and the closest thing to real DS hardware; a single-screen Snapdragon handheld works fine with a Hybrid layout; and budget Linux devices run DraStic.
FAQ
What is the best DS emulator in 2026? melonDS on PC, Mac, Linux and Steam Deck, and the melonDS Android port on phones and handhelds. Both are free and actively developed.
Do I need a DS BIOS for melonDS? Not for most games. melonDS has built-in replacements and boots games directly. You need BIOS and firmware dumped from your own DS only to boot the system menu, and dumps from your own DSi plus a NAND image for DSi mode.
Is DraStic still available? Not on Google Play. It was pulled in February 2025 and has not been updated since. Linux handheld firmwares such as muOS still include it.
Which DS emulator works with two screens on the AYN Thor? melonDS Android from version 2.0.0, and the WatermelonDS fork. RetroArch’s cores draw both DS screens on one display.
Is DeSmuME still worth using? Only on old hardware or for TAS work. Its last stable release was in 2022 and melonDS is more accurate.
Is DS emulation legal? The emulators are legal. Play games you dumped from cartridges you own.
Last verified: November 2026