ANDSemu review
A highly configurable Android emulator with broad controls for DS games.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
ANDSemu is an open-source Nintendo DS emulator for Android phones and tablets. It loads ROM files and provides the core features expected from a DS emulator, including quick save, quick restore, numbered save states, cheat management, customizable touch controls, and hardware-key mapping. It is aimed at Android users who want to adjust how games look, sound, and respond rather than use a fixed configuration. The project is based on nds4droid, DSdroid, and DeSmuME, and its source code is licensed under GPLv3.
Customization is the main reason to choose ANDSemu. The published feature set includes ten save-state slots, cheat creation and editing, portrait and landscape touch-control layouts, and hardware-key mapping for DS controls. Display options cover portrait stacked, landscape side-by-side, landscape stacked, and LCD swapping. Users can also configure frame skip, screen filters, and the 3D renderer, alongside sound and microphone settings. This gives Android users several ways to tailor controls and presentation to different games and devices.
ANDSemu is a focused choice for Android users who value emulator controls and open-source software. Its scope is narrower for anyone seeking support beyond Android, and game loading depends on having ROM files. The project documents Android installation through Google Play and building from source, while the available installation guidance is historical. Choose ANDSemu if ten save-state slots, cheat tools, screen arrangements, hardware mapping, and rendering controls matter most. Choose another emulator if you need a different platform or a less configuration-oriented experience.
ANDSemu pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Ten numbered save-state slots plus quick save and restore
- Cheat creation, editing, enabling, and deletion
- Flexible controls, screen layouts, rendering, sound, and microphone settings
- Where it doesn't
- Android is the only supported platform
- Requires ROM files for game loading
- Installation guidance centers on historical Google Play instructions
ANDSemu fact sheet, pricing and score →
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