3Beans review
Free, open-source 3DS emulation with system software support and limited game coverage.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
3Beans is an open-source Nintendo 3DS emulator for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It models the console at a low level, including its operating system, and can boot the 3DS Home Menu and launch some Nintendo 3DS games. Its audience is desktop users who need system-level emulation rather than a lightweight game launcher. The project is free to use and provides official builds through GitHub Releases.
Its standout capability is system software support. 3Beans can boot the 3DS operating system and Home Menu, while also offering cartridge auto-boot and encrypted cartridge dump support. Graphics can be handled through either software GPU rendering or hardware GPU rendering, and controls are configurable. This gives the emulator a broader system focus than a tool limited to launching individual games, although game support remains partial and the project is described as young and incomplete.
Setup depends on having files dumped from a physical 3DS with homebrew access, including boot9.bin, boot11.bin, and nand.bin. Platform coverage is limited to Windows, macOS, and Linux, so 3Beans is aimed at desktop users rather than people seeking broader device support. The published project notes plenty of issues, with New 3DS presenting more problems and running much slower than Old 3DS. Choose 3Beans for open-source desktop emulation, system software access, and configurable rendering; choose another option if wide game coverage, mature behavior, or New 3DS performance is the priority.
3Beans pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Boots the 3DS operating system and Home Menu
- Supports software and hardware GPU rendering
- Handles cartridge auto-boot and encrypted cartridge dumps
- Where it doesn't
- Game compatibility remains limited
- Requires files dumped from a physical 3DS with homebrew access
- New 3DS has more issues and runs much slower than Old 3DS
3Beans fact sheet, pricing and score →
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