--- lang: en-US layout: wiki section: ds-index category: reference title: Emulators on the DS description: A reference on Emulators on the DS --- There are many emulators present for the DS and DSi. This page provides a comprehensive explanation on the many emulators and loaders bundled into TWiLight Menu++. ### List of systems supported by TWiLight Menu++ | Format | Loader | Extensions | Save file | | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | ARGV[^1] | Native | `.argv` | | | Atari 2600 | [StellaDS][stellads] | `.a26` | | | Atari 5200 | [A5200DS][a5200ds] | `.a52` | | | Atari 7800 | [A7800DS][a7800ds] | `.a78` | | | Atari XEGS | [XEGS-DS][xegs-ds] | `.xex`, `.atr` | | | ColecoVision | [S8DS][s8ds], [ColecoDS][colecods] | `.col` | | | DS | [nds-bootstrap][ndsbs], flashcard kernel, native | `.nds`, `.dsi`, `.ids`, `.srl`, `.app` | `saves/[rom name].sav`[^2] | | DSiWare | [Unlaunch][unlaunch], [nds-bootstrap][ndsbs] | `.nds`, `.dsi`, `.ids`, `.srl`, `.app` | `saves/[rom name].pub`, `saves/[rom name].prv` | | DSTWO Plugin | [DSTWO][dstwo][^3] | `.plg` | | | Game Boy (Color) | [GameYob][gameyob] | `.gb`, `.sgb`, `.gbc` | `[rom name].sav` | | Game Boy Advance | [GBARunner2][gbarunner2][^4], native[^5] | `.agb`, `.gba`, `.mb` | `[rom name].sav` | | Game Gear | [S8DS][s8ds] | `.gg` | `[rom name].gg.sav` | | Genesis/Mega Drive | [jEnesisDS][jenesis], [PicoDriveTWL][pdtwl] | `.gen` | `[rom name].srm`[^6] | | Intellivision | [Nintellivision][nintellivision] | `.int` | | | Master System | [S8DS][s8ds] | `.sms` | `[rom name].sms.sav` | | Neo Geo Pocket (Color) | [NGPDS][ngpds] | `.ngp`, `.ngc` | `/data/ngpds/[rom name].ngp.fla` | | Fast Video | Coming Soon | `.fv` | | | NES/Famicom | [nesDS][nesds] | `.nes`, `.fds` | `[rom name].sav` | | PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 | [NitroGrafx][nitrografx] | `.pce` | | | Rocket Video | [Rocket Video Player][rvidplayer] | `.rvid` | | | SG-1000 | [S8DS][s8ds], [ColecoDS][colecods] | `.sg` | | | Sord M5 | [ColecoDS][colecods] | `.m5` | | | SNES[^7] | [SNEmulDS][snemulds] | `.smc`, `.sfc` | `[rom name].srm`[^8] | | WonderSwan (Color) | [NitroSwan][nitroswan] | `.ws`, `.wsc` | ??? | {:.table} [^1]: Text files containing the path to a DS homebrew app and arguments to launch it with, see [nds-hb-menu's README](https://github.com/devkitPro/nds-hb-menu#passing-arguments) for more info [^2]: Only for retail ROMs, homebrew do not have specific save files [^3]: Only works from a SuperCard DSTWO flashcard as it has additional processing power and RAM inside the flashcard [^4]: When running in DSi Mode, it can use the DSP for better sound [^5]: Requires a Slot-2 flashcart and thus only works on DS Phat and DS Lite [^6]: jEnesis can only save when running from a flashcard, but PicoDriveTWL can save from SD and flashcard [^7]: Only shown when using a flashcard, 3DS's internal SD card, or DSi with Unlaunch installed [^8]: Can only save when running from a flashcard - Footnotes - {:footnotes} These are just recommended emulators and loaders that are present in TWiLight Menu++. There are other emulators for these consoles (such as lolSnes, Gbaemu4ds, etc.) ### Other emulators for the DS | Format | Loader | Extensions | Save file | | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | Neo Geo | [neoDS][neods] | `.neo` | (unknown) | ## Notes on specific emulators ### RAM Disks - In order for **jEnesisDS**, **neoDS** and **SNEmulDS** to work on the DSi SD card, you'll have to use a RAM disk with nds-bootstrap - RAM disk makers exist for jEnesisDS & SNEmulDS and are built into TWiLight Menu++. You will need to create your own RAM disk for neoDS. See [Creating RAM Disks](../twilightmenu/creating-ram-disks) on how to do so - The reason why RAM disks are used is because these emulators' ARM7 hooks don't work properly ### Comparison between PicoDriveTWL and jEnesisDS - **PicoDriveTWL** - Was made for DSi - Does not require nds-bootstrap RAM Disks - Saving is supported on DSi SD cards - Quicker load times between TWiLight Menu++ to the emulator on the DSi SD card - Supports arguments - Limit is 2.5 MB on a **Flashcard** - Takes advantage of the DSi extra RAM or DS Memory Pak to extend this limit - No sound emulation - Framerate is extremely choppy - **jEnesisDS** - DS Mode - Requires nds-bootstrap's RAM disk to be used for DSi SD cards - Saving is unavailable for DSi SD cards - Takes a while to load - No argument support - Limit is 3 MB on all platforms (due to roms loading in RAM) - No DS Memory Pak or DSi Extended Memory support - There is a patch for Sonic 3 & Knuckles that removes the multiplayer, getting the size count down - Sound Emulation - Framerate is smooth [a5200ds]: https://github.com/wavemotion-dave/A5200DS [a7800ds]: https://github.com/wavemotion-dave/A7800DS [colecods]: https://github.com/wavemotion-dave/ColecoDS [dstwo]: http://eng.supercard.sc [gameyob]: https://github.com/Drenn1/GameYob [gbarunner2]: https://github.com/Gericom/GBARunner2 [jenesis]: https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/JEnesisDS [ndsbs]: https://github.com/DS-Homebrew/nds-bootstrap [nesds]: https://github.com/DS-Homebrew/NesDS [ngpds]: https://github.com/FluBBaOfWard/NGPDS [nitrografx]: https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/NitroGrafx [nitroswan]: https://github.com/FluBBaOfWard/NitroSwan [pdtwl]: https://github.com/DS-Homebrew/PicoDriveTWL [rvidplayer]: https://gbatemp.net/threads/539163 [s8ds]: https://github.com/FluBBaOfWard/S8DS [snemulds]: https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/SNEmulDS [stellads]: https://github.com/wavemotion-dave/StellaDS [unlaunch]: https://problemkaputt.de/unlaunch.htm [xegs-ds]: https://github.com/wavemotion-dave/XEGS-DS [neods]: https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/NeoDS [nintellivision]: https://github.com/wavemotion-dave/NINTV-DS