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Head-to-head · Nintendo 3DS Emulators

Tanuki3DS vs Citra MMJ

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Tanuki3DS #7 in Nintendo 3DS Emulators 8.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit Tanuki3DS
Citra MMJ #8 in Nintendo 3DS Emulators 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Citra MMJ

Tanuki3DS leads on 0 checks, Citra MMJ on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreTanuki3DS · 8.0/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresTanuki3DS · 1 of 5

Tanuki3DS scores higher on our rubric for nintendo 3ds emulators: 8.0 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #7 and #8.

Tanuki3DS is the better fit for desktop users wanting a simple 3DS interface. Citra MMJ is the better fit for developers and homebrew users on desktop systems.

  • Tanuki3DS fits best

    Desktop users wanting a simple 3DS interface

  • Citra MMJ fits best

    Developers and homebrew users on desktop systems

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Side by side

Feature Tanuki3DS 8.0/10 Visit ↗ Citra MMJ 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.0 7.9
Ranking #7 in Nintendo 3DS Emulators #8 in Nintendo 3DS Emulators
Best for Desktop users wanting a simple 3DS interface Developers and homebrew users on desktop systems
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, Linux, macOS
Support Community Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features Tanuki3DS 1/5 · Citra MMJ 0/5
System software support ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Save states Not checked yet Not checked yet
Graphics upscaling Not checked yet Not checked yet
Cheat support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Online multiplayer Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms macOS, Linux, Windows Windows, Linux, macOS
Our review
Pros
  • 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
  • Free, open-source Nintendo 3DS emulation
  • Supports Windows, Linux, and macOS
  • Includes debugging and homebrew application support
Cons
  • Compatibility is still developing across games
  • Some games may show graphical issues or crash
  • Requires decrypted 3DS software and supported resource files
  • No save states
  • No scaling or cheats
  • No multiplayer support
Our verdict

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 →

Citra MMJ is a public fork of Citra, an experimental Nintendo 3DS emulator and debugger written in C++. It is designed for desktop users who need Nintendo 3DS hardware emulation, homebrew application support, or debugging tools. The…

Read the review →
  1. Tanuki3DSNintendo 3DS Emulators 8.0Free plan
  2. Citra MMJNintendo 3DS Emulators 7.9Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • 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

  • Citra MMJ — where it wins

    • Free, open-source Nintendo 3DS emulation
    • Supports Windows, Linux, and macOS
    • Includes debugging and homebrew application support

    Where it doesn't

    • No save states
    • No scaling or cheats
    • No multiplayer support

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