Experience top-tier Nintendo DS emulation on Android! This guide highlights the best Android DS emulators, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience. Choosing the right emulator depends on your device and preferences.

Remember, the ideal emulator is specifically designed for DS games. Need 3DS emulation? We've got you covered there too (and even the best Android PS2 emulator!).

Top Android DS Emulators:

melonDS – The Best Overall DS Emulator

melonDS reigns supreme. It's free, open-source, and consistently updated with performance boosts and new features. Enjoy customizable controls, selectable themes (light and dark), adjustable resolution for optimal balance between visuals and performance, and built-in Action Replay support for convenient cheating. Note: The GitHub version is the most current; the Google Play version is an unofficial port.

DraStic – Ideal for Older Devices

While a paid app ($4.99), DraStic is a worthwhile investment. Despite its age (released in 2013), it remains highly effective, running most DS games flawlessly even on less powerful devices. Customize your experience with adjustable 3D rendering resolution, save states, speed controls, screen positioning, controller support, and Game Shark codes. Multiplayer is absent, but with most DS servers offline, this is primarily a limitation for local multiplayer.

EmuBox – The Most Versatile Option

EmuBox is free (ad-supported), offering a multi-system emulation experience beyond just DS ROMs. Play games from various consoles including PlayStation and Game Boy Advance. However, the ad presence and requirement for an online connection might be drawbacks for some users.