Nintendo upped the game with the 3DS console, stacked against PS Vita. This console brought the 3D display to the mix.
SpotPass and StreetPass on the 3DS brought internet and inter-console WiFi data transfer. This was on top of the popular backward compatibility for Nintendo consoles.
And like all other good things, the fun ended for many when 3DS was discontinued back in 2020.
But don’t worry because you can use the Nintendo 3DS emulator to play the games on PC and phones.
They have improved in the last couple of years and you can play hundreds of games without glitches.
Best Nintendo 3DS Emulators
1. Citra 3DS
Platform – Windows, macOS, Android, Linux
Citra 3DS is arguably the best Nintendo 3DS emulator but it has been discontinued, due to legal issues.
You can still use it by downloading from the Internet Archive, whose link is attached here. Download the 7zip file and extract it before launching it through the Citra-QT file.
Citra lets you import CIA files. Apart from that, you can also load .3ds, 3dx, elf, axf, etc. After that, you can set the screen layout – single, large, hybrid, and separate windows.
In terms of graphics, you get 3D depth to feel through the Stereoscopic 3D mode, which you have to enable from the settings.
Press F2 to load supported Amiibo files from your local storage. You can remove them by pressing F3. Make sure to pause the game before removing them.
You can visit their compatibility page(now sourced from Wayback Archives) to check if your favorite 3DS game is playable on the emulator.
There is also a multiplayer option here. The public server browser doesn’t work anymore. However, you can create private lobbies and invite people by giving them direct IP and login credentials.
And if you are a content creator, then you will like their gameplay recording feature. Just install FFmpeg and then you can record Nintendo 3DS gameplay.
2. RetroArch
Platform – Windows, macOS, Android, Linux
RetroArch is the most reliable emulator front-end for Nintendo 3DS and other consoles. You can run the games through the Citra 3DS core.
A core is a modular application that lets RetroArch emulate 3DS games on PC and mobile devices. Load the core and you are good to go with the games.
You can either load the core from the load core option or use the traditional desktop menu dashboard.
There are a lot of settings, you can create configuration files. They can be loaded on different PCs running this Nintendo DS emulator.
You can download the installer or use the portable version, both work pretty much the same.
The desktop menu is an older-style menu for RetroArch. It displays more information and is useful for veterans and long-time users.
Plugged-in controller gets support here. It instantly works, irrespective of the brand. You can navigate the entire emulator, apart from playing the games.
Coming to graphics, you can go with your monitor’s native resolution and refresh rate. And if you are on a vintage setup for the full experience, the CRT mode accommodates old monitors.
Retroarch also has a multiplayer option, powered by Netplay. You can host and join Netplay lobbies.
Check out – Best Nintendo DS emulators
3. Lemuroid
Platform – Android
Coming to Android, Lemuroid is amongst the best emulators for Nintendo 3DS. It supports a wide variety of consoles, from SNES to Atari 2600.
Launch the app and tap the select directory to select a folder with your ROMs and BIOS. It will automatically scan on each launch for new ROM files.
You can later change the directory from the setting. Now keep in mind, that only one directly can be selected at a time.
Here, the autosave state feature is enabled by default. You won’t have to worry about losing your game progress.
These save states can be auto-uploaded to a connected Google Drive update. Set them to auto-sync and it will be auto-synced. It will happen before and after the game session, through the WiFi network.
You can improve your game’s performance by enabling the legacy HD mode. It trades graphics quality for improved performance.
In addition, we get a direct game load mode, which skips the loading screen for faster loading times. The feature is experimental so tread lightly.
Now moving to the controller, you can enable rumble in supported games and controllers. But if no controller is connected, you can make your phone vibrate.
How to download the best Nintendo 3DS emulators?
You can download the best Nintendo 3DS emulator through the links, given above for every emulator.
One of them is from the Wayback Machine, and another is from their official site. The last one is from the Play Store. Rest assured, these links are vetted and are safe to visit.
Start playing Nintendo 3DS Games
So, this is how you can play 3DS games on PC and Android. These are the best Nintendo 3DS emulators right now.
Make sure to your original ROM and BIOS dumps from your consoles.
