Nintendo DS ROMs
Nintendo · 2004 · 2,017 games
Showing 1–30 of 2,017 · Most popular
This page lists 2,017 Nintendo DS (NDS) ROMs, sorted by how often each one is downloaded. The NDS was released by Nintendo in 2004. The games archived here originally came out between 1985 and 2012.
The most common genres in this library are Action, Role-Playing, Platformer and Adventure. The most downloaded titles right now are Pokemon HeartGold, Pokemon Platinum and New Super Mario Bros..
To play these files you need a NDS emulator — melonDS and DeSmuME are the ones most people use. Each download below is a game file, not the emulator itself.
- Manufacturer
- Nintendo
- Released
- 2004
- ROMs archived
- 2,017
- Games from
- 1985–2012
- Regions
- USA, Europe and Japan
- Emulators
- melonDS and DeSmuME
Pokemon HeartGold
Pokemon Platinum
New Super Mario Bros.
Pokemon Black Version 2
Mario Kart
Pokemon White Version 2
Super Mario 64 DS
Pokemon - White Version
Pokemon - SoulSilver Version
Call of Duty - Black Ops
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Pokemon: Schwarze Edition (DE)
Animal Crossing - Wild World
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Pokemon - Black Version
Mario & Luigi - Partners in Time
Super Mario 64 DS (EU)
Mario Kart DS (EU)
Sonic Rush
Kirby Super Star Ultra (EU)
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Rhythm Heaven (US)
Plants Vs. Zombies
Pokemon - HeartGold Version
Pokemon: Versione Platino (IT)
Pokemon - Versione Bianca
Legend of Zelda - Spirit Tracks (EU)
New Super Mario Bros. (Supremacy) (EU)
Mario Party DS
LEGO Star Wars - The Complete Saga (EU)
About the Nintendo DS
Nintendo called the DS a third pillar rather than a successor, hedging in case the two-screen touchscreen concept failed. It did not: roughly 154 million units make it one of the best-selling game systems ever made, and it pulled an audience into gaming that had never held a controller.
Its library reflects that breadth. Alongside the expected Mario, Zelda and Pokemon entries sit brain training, cooking guides, stylus-driven puzzle games and experiments that could not exist on any other hardware.
Choosing a DS emulator
melonDS is the current recommendation on desktop. It is more accurate than the alternatives, supports local wireless between instances, and its development is active. DeSmuME remains widely used and is more forgiving on older machines, though its accuracy has fallen behind.
On Android, DraStic has long been the standout for performance, and melonDS has since become viable there too.
BIOS and firmware files
melonDS can run without them, but supplying real DS BIOS and firmware dumps improves compatibility and enables the console's boot sequence and settings. Some games check for them.
These files must come from hardware you own; they are not distributed with the emulator.
Two screens on one display
Every DS emulator lets you arrange the screens vertically, horizontally or with one scaled larger than the other. Games that rarely use the second screen benefit from a large-small layout; games that split action across both need equal sizing.
Stylus input is mapped to the mouse on desktop and to touch on mobile, which makes phones and tablets a natural fit for this library.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I play DS games with a controller?
- Mostly. Games that use the stylus for menus only are fine, but titles built around drawing or tapping — Phantom Hourglass, Kirby Canvas Curse — need a touchscreen or mouse.
- Do DS emulators support local multiplayer?
- melonDS supports local wireless between multiple running instances. Compatibility varies by game, and the original Nintendo online services have been shut down since 2014.
- Why are some DS games very small files?
- DS cartridges ranged from 8MB to 512MB, far smaller than disc-based systems. A 32MB file is entirely normal for the platform.