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Head-to-head · Nintendo DS Emulators

WatermelonDS vs NooDS

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score WatermelonDS #5 in Nintendo DS Emulators 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit WatermelonDS
NooDS #8 in Nintendo DS Emulators 8.0/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit NooDS

WatermelonDS leads on 0 checks, NooDS on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreWatermelonDS · 8.5/10
  • Free planonly WatermelonDS
  • Most featuresWatermelonDS · 3 of 4

WatermelonDS scores higher on our rubric for nintendo ds emulators: 8.5 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #8.

WatermelonDS is the better fit for android users wanting DS and DSi features. NooDS is the better fit for users prioritizing broad platform availability.

  • WatermelonDS fits best

    Android users wanting DS and DSi features

  • NooDS fits best

    Users prioritizing broad platform availability

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Side by side

Feature WatermelonDS 8.5/10 Visit ↗ NooDS 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.5 8.0
Ranking #5 in Nintendo DS Emulators #8 in Nintendo DS Emulators
Best for Android users wanting DS and DSi features Users prioritizing broad platform availability
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Open source
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Mobile Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Android Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support Community Community
Built for Solo, Small business Solo
Features WatermelonDS 3/4 · NooDS 0/4
Save states ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Local multiplayer — Not checked yet
Nintendo DSi support ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Cheat support ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Android Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Switch, Wii U, and Vita
Screen layout options Per-ROM layouts, screen rotation, external-screen layouts, layout editor Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports Nintendo DS and DSi software, including DSiWare integration
  • Offers multiple renderers, resolution scaling, shaders and external-display support
  • Includes save states, cheats and RetroAchievements with offline play
  • Supports Nintendo DS and GBA emulation
  • Runs across desktop, mobile, Switch, Wii U, and Vita builds
  • Offers upscaling, multi-core rendering, and configurable file paths
Cons
  • Local multiplayer is not supported
  • DSi SD-card support is not included
  • Available as an Android port rather than across multiple platforms
  • Requires legally dumped DS BIOS and firmware files
  • Uses software rendering rather than a broader rendering approach
  • Focuses on core DS and GBA emulation rather than wider features
Our verdict

WatermelonDS is an open-source Android emulator for Nintendo DS and DSi software. It is aimed at Android users who want DS and DSi features on handheld devices or hardware connected to external displays. The feature set covers core…

Read the review →

NooDS is an open-source Nintendo DS and GBA emulator developed by Hydr8gon as a personal project. It is aimed at users who want portable access across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, with documented builds also covering Switch,…

Read the review →
  1. WatermelonDSNintendo DS Emulators 8.5Free plan
  2. NooDSNintendo DS Emulators 8.0Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • WatermelonDS — where it wins

    • Supports Nintendo DS and DSi software, including DSiWare integration
    • Offers multiple renderers, resolution scaling, shaders and external-display support
    • Includes save states, cheats and RetroAchievements with offline play

    Where it doesn't

    • Local multiplayer is not supported
    • DSi SD-card support is not included
    • Available as an Android port rather than across multiple platforms

  • NooDS — where it wins

    • Supports Nintendo DS and GBA emulation
    • Runs across desktop, mobile, Switch, Wii U, and Vita builds
    • Offers upscaling, multi-core rendering, and configurable file paths

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires legally dumped DS BIOS and firmware files
    • Uses software rendering rather than a broader rendering approach
    • Focuses on core DS and GBA emulation rather than wider features

More comparisons

All nintendo DS emulators comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update