How to Emulate Nintendo 3DS Games on Android

Are you in search of an 3DS emulator available for Android? Here are the top apps to pick from, as well as guides on how to start playing.

Readers who like you contribute to MUO. If you purchase through our site, we may be able to earn an affiliate compensation.

Emulation gives you an accessible and reasonable way to play games from the past that might be difficult to obtain nowadays. The Android phone can be capable of playing most portable and home consoles that are up to the fifth generation of consoles However, even Nintendo’s latest handhelds will work with smartphones of today.

Let’s talk about how to setup and utilize an Nintendo 3DS emulator on your Android phone.

The Best Nintendo 3DS Emulator on Android

The first step is to select an emulator, naturally. There’s a huge variety of optionsto choose from, but the differing qualities between the most popular of them will depend on your individual preferences.

Citra and RetroArch are largely heralded as the best 3DS emulators. Both are both open-source and work on most platforms.

RetroArch Emulator

RetroArch is capable of emulating many consoles, comprising the 3DS, Wii, Wii U, GameBoy, PlayStation 1, PlayStation 2, SNES, Sega Genesis, and many more. This is possible because RetroArch is a sort or hub, containing many emulators that have been developed to run on various consoles.read about it https://roms-hub.com/roms/playstation-portable from Our Articles

It’s supported on Windows, Linux, Android, macOS, and iOS–however, it’s also capable of running on consoles like the GameCube. RetroArch provides a complete list of platforms supported at its web site. For more details on the ability to customize it, read our RetroArch Windows installation guide dives into its vast configuration options.

Citra Emulator

Citra was the initial 3DS-capable console emulator developed for PC. It’s currently compatible with Windows, Linux, macOS as well as Android. The Citra team has an impressive list of compatible games that lists supported games on the scale of “not verified” until “perfect” to make sure that users are able to track the progress of any game’s compatibility testing.

Although RetroArch has the advantage with greater accessibility and more accepted platforms. For this, however, I’ll be using the 3DS-focused Citra for this particular article. This Citra team has offered continuous and significant support throughout time, and the Android application is very well optimized. It even supports gamepads!

Warning! Concerning ROMs!

It is our obligation to remind you that accessing ROMs by any other means than ripping them off an actual cartridge or disc you have is illegal. You are allowed to only rip ROMs exclusively for your personal usage, and not for distribution purposes or from games you have. Nintendo is especially strict about hosting and downloading of their ROMs make sure you are cautious.

However, as long as you don’t sell ROMs however, you’re at least a little safe from legal issues. When obtaining ROMs from databases online ensure that the source is reputable and that the files are safe prior to downloading. These ROMs are not EXE files, and they don’t require access to your device.

How to Set Up and use Citra on Your Android Phone

After you’ve downloaded Citra in Your Android mobile, you’re just two steps away from playing your favorite 3DS games.

Plan Your Games for Emulation

Before you start the application, it is possible that you need your game’s data stored in the correct folder on the Android device. You may want to create a brand new file with the name 3DS Games or Citra Games.

It’s not required to be prepared prior to starting the app However, it will aid in the initial setup. the initial launch of Citra the first time, you’ll be asked to choose the location where your games will launch from. It can be changed anytime by tapping the folder icon located in the top-right corner.

Games that run on Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo 3DS use a CIA extension, but they must be decrypted prior to use. The extracted file will be using that 3DS extension. The files can be extracted by using a program such as WinZip however Citra can also extract a 3DS game from CIA right from the app’s home screen. Simply click the file icon, choose Install CIA and then choose the CIA file from your downloads. It’s that simple.

Tips for Playing Games with Citra

With only a handful of 3DS games that are ready, you’re ready to start playing.

1. Launch Citra and agree to the permissions. It could ask for microphone access. is intended for DS games that use the microphone for gaming purposes.
2. Select the folder of games that you made earlier, and select the directory you want to use.
3. Once your directory of decrypted games is chosen, the home screen will list all your games followed by an icon.
4. Touch the game you want to play of choice to start it. A small loading window appears as the emulator loads the shaders needed. Once you’ve loaded them, you’re set to go.

It’s the Best 3DS Emulator for Android

While testing Citra, we chose two games from their compatibility listing, New Super Mario Bros. 2, and Resident Evil Revelations. Both were marked “great” and the latter was labeled “bad” as per the list of compatibility. We discovered super Mario Super Mario offered an overall pleasing experience, with only occasional stutter. Resident Evil, on the contrary, showed several model and texture mistakes, and the occasional crash.

There is no doubt that Citra is a great way to enjoy compatible games, and the team’s dedication promises that they will never stop expanding and improve on the available compatible games. Citra is an easy recommendation–perhaps the best way to emulate 3DS games.