4 Best Nintendo 3DS Emulator for Android, iOS & PC (2025)

For many young adults, the Nintendo 3DS was a big part of childhood. The feeling of returning from school and picking up the console to play classics like The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing was simply unbeatable. Although most of us would love to relive these experiences, not many still have their childhood consoles lying around. Thankfully, with emulators, you can play your favorite childhood games on any device. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about emulators and how to play Nintendo 3DS games on your Android/iOS smartphone and your PC.

What is an Emulator?

As you might know, games like The Legend of Zelda were designed exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS. In simple terms, this means you can’t run these games unless you have the actual console. Emulators circumvent this limitation by replicating the inner workings of a console, tricking the game into believing it’s running on original hardware. This allows you to play the games on any compatible device.

However, before we proceed, it is important to note that while emulators are legal, downloading game files (ROMs) from websites is not and can land you in trouble. So, if you still have your old game collection, you can convert them into ROMs using specialized hardware.

What Are Emulators: Their Different Types and Applications

4 Best Nintendo 3DS Emulators for Android, iOS & PC

Now that we have the explanation out of the way, let’s get into the best 3DS emulators you can download for Android, iOS, and PC. Keep in mind that not all emulators are compatible with every platform, so we’ve listed the supported devices for each one.

1. RetroArch

• Platforms: Android, iOS, PC & Mac
• Pricing: Free

For emulation enthusiasts, RetroArch needs no introduction. For everyone else, however, RetroArch isn’t just an emulator—it’s actually a front-end for running various emulators. This means the software supports not only popular consoles like the Nintendo 3DS, DS, and GameBoy but also niche consoles like Famicom.

While the support is comprehensive, setting up the emulator is a headache. First, you need to install the app, navigate its complex menu, and then install the necessary emulator cores. It can take some time to figure out if you’re new to this. Check out our full guide on setting up RetroArch if you need help.

However, once up and running, the emulator is packed full of features. You can save game states, fast-forward boring dialogues, connect Bluetooth controllers, tweak graphics and audio settings, and much more.

I tested the emulator by playing Animal Crossing: New Leaf on iOS, Android, and PC, and the experience was fantastic. Performance was great across all three platforms, and the gameplay was smooth.

Pros	Cons
The best console support	UI is difficult to navigate
Great performance
Variety of customization options

2. Panda 3DS

• Platforms: Windows, macOS & Linux
• Price: Free

If you don’t like RetroArch’s cluttered UI, you should try Panda 3DS. The emulator is open-source and has a big community of active developers working to constantly improve the experience. However, there is a catch: it’s still in development, so you may encounter a few bugs that can impact your experience with certain games.

That being said, the performance of optimized games was pretty good. I tested Pokémon Sun & Moon, and the gameplay was smooth, with no noticeable lag or frame rate drops.

In terms of features, Panda 3DS covers the basics: you can save states, connect external controllers, and fast-forward through less exciting parts.

Pros	Cons
Easy-to-navigate UI	Bugs in certain games
Active community of developers
Good performance

3. Lemuroid

• Platform: Android
• Price: Free

Another excellent emulator on the list is Lemuroid. Like RetroArch, Lemuroid is a front-end for multiple consoles, offering a much more user-friendly interface. The emulator supports a wide range of consoles, from the Atari 2600 all the way to the Nintendo 3DS. It also comes packed with features, including save states, customizable on-screen controls, and Google Drive support, which is great if you like switching between devices.

In addition to the basics, the software even lets you simulate different types of television screens, such as CRT and LCD, for a more nostalgic gaming experience.

In terms of performance, I tested Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate on my Pixel 6 Pro, and the experience was smooth. However, performance will vary depending on your device’s specs, particularly the processor.

Pros	Cons
Wide console support	Performance varies on the device
Simulates different TVs
Google Drive support

4. NO$GBA

• Platforms: PC
• Price: Free

As the name suggests, the NO$GBA (No Cash GBA) is a GameBoy Advanced emulator at heart. However, it can also emulate 3DS games, making it another solid choice on this list. In terms of features, it covers all the essentials, such as customizable controls and Bluetooth controller support, and even lets you enter cheat codes. This can be of great help if you get stuck on a particular game level.

However, it is important to mention that the emulator doesn’t support all 3DS games. Therefore, you should check game compatibility before installing.

Speaking of performance, it was great when testing on my Windows laptop. The graphics were crisp, and the frame rates were pretty stable, with only minor stutters.

Pros	Cons
Good performance on high-end systems	Limited compatibility with 3DS games
Supports cheat codes
Easy-to-use UI

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

There you have it—the best Nintendo 3DS emulators for Android, iOS, and PC. Hopefully, this guide helped you find the right emulator for your needs. If one doesn’t work as expected, try another from the list—different emulators perform better on different hardware setups.