wiki/pages/_en-US/ds-index/emulators.md

lang	layout	section	category	title	description
en-US	wiki	ds-index	reference	DS Emulators	Emulators for the DS

There are many emulators present for the DS and DSi. This page provides a comprehensive explanation on the many emulators bundled into TWiLight Menu++.

List of Supported Systems by TWiLight Menu++

Format	Loader	Extensions	Save file
ARGV1	Native	.argv
Atari 2600	StellaDS	.a26
Atari 5200	A5200DS	.a52
Atari 7800	A7800DS	.a78
Atari XEGS	XEGS-DS	.xex, .atr
DS	nds-bootstrap, flashcard kernel, native	.nds, .dsi, .ids, .srl, .app	saves/[rom name].sav2
DSiWare	Unlaunch, nds-bootstrap	.nds, .dsi, .ids, .srl, .app	saves/[rom name].pub, saves/[rom name].prv
DSTWO Plugin	DSTWO3	.plg
Game Boy (Color)	GameYob	.gb, .sgb, .gbc	[rom name].sav
Game Boy Advance	GBARunner24, native5	.agb, .gba, .mb	[rom name].sav
Game Gear	S8DS	.gg	[rom name].gg.sav
Genesis/Mega Drive	jEnesisDS, PicoDriveTWL	.gen	[rom name].srm6
Master System	S8DS	.sms	[rom name].sms.sav
Fast Video	Coming Soon	.fv
NES/Famicom	nesDS	.nes, .fds	[rom name].sav
PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16	NitroGrafx	.pce
Rocket Video	Rocket Video Player	.rvid
SNES7	SNEmulDS	.smc, .sfc	[rom name].srm8
{:.table}

• Footnotes - {:footnotes}

The are just recommended emulators 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	.neo	(unknown)

Some 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 on how to do so.
  • The reason why we use RAM disks 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 allowed 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 Flashcart.
    • 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

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1. Text files containing the path to a DS homebrew app and arguments to launch it with, see nds-hb-menu's README 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 cartridge ↩︎

4. When running in DSi Mode, it can use the DSP for better sound ↩︎

5. Requires a Slot-2 flashcard 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 ↩︎