Overview

The project aims for fast, accurate emulation, with a nearly complete CPU, video and audio core and a JIT recompiler. That foundation is paired with features that make desktop play more flexible, including savestates, joystick support and display positioning, sizing and rotation. The trade-off is that a broad feature list does not mean every subsystem is mature: Wi-Fi and DSi emulation remain works in progress, and some games have specific limitations.

DS emulation requires BIOS and firmware files to configure. DSi emulation additionally requires a DSi NAND image, so it is not a plug-and-play route for users who lack those files. melonDS uses raw save files and can import saves from DeSmuME, DraStic or a flashcard, which helps when moving an existing library. It does not support the special save memory type used by WarioWare DIY and Jam with the Band.

Key features

Core and rendering: The nearly complete CPU, video and audio core, JIT recompiler and OpenGL renderer give desktop users a substantial base. 3D upscaling can improve the presentation, but renderer choice involves a trade-off: the software renderer is more accurate and more CPU-intensive, while OpenGL may be faster but less accurate.
Controls and system features: Joystick support, savestates, RTC, microphone and lid controls cover useful parts of the DS experience. Display position, sizing and rotation modes provide further flexibility for different screens and play styles.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi features include local multiplayer and online connectivity, but Wi-Fi is still in progress and may fail with some games. Local multiplayer is timing-sensitive and unstable, particularly with more than two instances. Direct online connectivity requires libpcap or WinPcap, an Ethernet connection and administrator or superuser privileges; indirect mode avoids the Ethernet and privilege requirements.
DSi and expansion: DSi emulation and GBA slot add-ons are works in progress, so they are not dependable reasons to choose melonDS today. DLDI support is also included.

Pricing

melonDS is free: its single plan costs 0.00 USD per free and covers the Nintendo DS emulator. There is no free trial because there is no paid tier to trial. The cost is not the main constraint; users need to configure BIOS and firmware dumps for some emulation, and the feature caveats still apply.

Platforms

Official desktop builds are available for Windows, macOS and Linux, with ARM64 builds for some operating systems. The downloads page provides SHA256 checksums alongside release sizes, useful for verifying downloaded builds. The project does not develop or support unofficial ports such as Android versions; port-specific help belongs with their developers.

Who it's for

Choose melonDS if you want a free desktop Nintendo DS emulator with upscaling, savestates, joystick controls and the option to import saves from several common sources. It is a better fit for single-player use than for users who need reliable multiplayer, and a poor fit if your priority is complete DSi or GBA slot support. Teams or players who need predictable compatibility should check the save and networking limits against the games and setup they rely on.

Pros and cons

Pro: A wide desktop feature set—including JIT recompilation, 3D upscaling, savestates and joystick support—comes at no cost.
Pro: Save import from DeSmuME, DraStic or a flashcard makes migration more practical than a raw-save workflow alone.
Pro: Builds cover three major desktop operating systems, with ARM64 options for some of them.
Con: BIOS and firmware files are required for DS emulation, and DSi emulation also needs a NAND image.
Con: Wi-Fi and DSi features are unfinished; local multiplayer instability and direct-mode requirements can make connectivity awkward.
Con: The special save type used by WarioWare DIY and Jam with the Band is unsupported.

Alternatives

DeSmuME is another free, open-source desktop option for Nintendo DS and DS Lite emulation, and is the simpler choice if DSi support is not needed. For browser-based use, Pilas-melonDS is a free web alternative. If Android is essential, nds4droid is a free, ad-free Android Nintendo DS emulator, while 3Beans is another free option spanning Android, iOS and desktop operating systems. SkyEmu has broader platform coverage, including web and mobile, but its DS emulation is beta quality. GB Enhanced+ is a free GPLv2 emulator for Linux, macOS and Windows. DSperate is a free Linux option, and WatermelonDS is a free Android option.

Browse more options in Nintendo DS Emulators, Game Console Emulators or Emulator Software.

Verdict

Choose melonDS for a no-cost desktop DS emulator with meaningful graphics, controls and save-management features. Its unfinished DSi and Wi-Fi support, file requirements and a few compatibility gaps make it less suitable when dependable networking or broad game coverage is the priority; in those cases, compare alternatives against the specific platform and games you need.

	BlueStacks App Player	melonDS
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	$7.99/mo	Free
Open source	No	No
Platforms	macOS, Windows	Linux, macOS, Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Paid from	7.99 /mo	—

BlueStacks App Player vs melonDS

BlueStacks App Player

melonDS