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Head-to-head · Nintendo 3DS Emulators

AzaharPlus vs Tanuki3DS

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score AzaharPlus #3 in Nintendo 3DS Emulators 8.9/10 Open source ✓ 3 of 5 features Visit AzaharPlus
Tanuki3DS #7 in Nintendo 3DS Emulators 8.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit Tanuki3DS

AzaharPlus leads on 0 checks, Tanuki3DS on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAzaharPlus · 8.9/10
  • Free planonly Tanuki3DS
  • Most featuresAzaharPlus · 3 of 5

AzaharPlus scores higher on our rubric for nintendo 3ds emulators: 8.9 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #7.

AzaharPlus is the better fit for users needing cheats, save states, and broad compatibility. Tanuki3DS is the better fit for desktop users wanting a simple 3DS interface.

  • AzaharPlus fits best

    Users needing cheats, save states, and broad compatibility

  • Tanuki3DS fits best

    Desktop users wanting a simple 3DS interface

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Side by side

Feature AzaharPlus 8.9/10 Visit ↗ Tanuki3DS 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.0
Ranking #3 in Nintendo 3DS Emulators #7 in Nintendo 3DS Emulators
Best for Users needing cheats, save states, and broad compatibility Desktop users wanting a simple 3DS interface
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Open source Free plan
Free plan Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Desktop
Platforms Windows, Linux, Android Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community Community
Features AzaharPlus 3/5 · Tanuki3DS 1/5
System software support ✓ ✓
Save states ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Graphics upscaling Not checked yet Not checked yet
Cheat support ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Online multiplayer Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Windows, Linux, Android macOS, Linux, Windows
Our review
Pros
  • Supports Windows, Linux, and Android, including Android 9.
  • Includes built-in cheats, save states, and Amiibo generation.
  • Adds older-CPU support and multiplayer compatibility with other Citra forks.
  • Free and open source on Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Supports keyboard remapping, controllers, and mouse touch input
  • Offers screen layouts, fullscreen mode, fast-forward, and free-camera controls
Cons
  • Its platform coverage is limited to Windows, Linux, and Android.
  • Multiplayer details focus on fork compatibility rather than online play.
  • Its focus is Nintendo 3DS emulation rather than broader console coverage.
  • Compatibility is still developing across games
  • Some games may show graphical issues or crash
  • Requires decrypted 3DS software and supported resource files
Our verdict

AzaharPlus is an open-source fork of the Azahar Nintendo 3DS emulator for users who want to run supported 3DS game files on desktop and mobile platforms. It supports Windows, Linux, and Android, with Android 9 compatibility included among…

Read the review →

Tanuki3DS is an open-source Nintendo 3DS emulator written in C for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is aimed at desktop users who want a graphical interface for opening decrypted 3DS software and managing emulator settings. Supported formats…

Read the review →
  1. AzaharPlusNintendo 3DS Emulators 8.9Open source
  2. Tanuki3DSNintendo 3DS Emulators 8.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • AzaharPlus — where it wins

    • Supports Windows, Linux, and Android, including Android 9.
    • Includes built-in cheats, save states, and Amiibo generation.
    • Adds older-CPU support and multiplayer compatibility with other Citra forks.

    Where it doesn't

    • Its platform coverage is limited to Windows, Linux, and Android.
    • Multiplayer details focus on fork compatibility rather than online play.
    • Its focus is Nintendo 3DS emulation rather than broader console coverage.

  • Tanuki3DS — where it wins

    • Free and open source on Windows, macOS, and Linux
    • Supports keyboard remapping, controllers, and mouse touch input
    • Offers screen layouts, fullscreen mode, fast-forward, and free-camera controls

    Where it doesn't

    • Compatibility is still developing across games
    • Some games may show graphical issues or crash
    • Requires decrypted 3DS software and supported resource files

More comparisons

All nintendo 3DS emulators comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update