ANDSemu
ANDSemu is a free, open-source Nintendo DS emulator for Android phones and tablets, with a graphical interface for playing Nintendo DS games.
What ANDSemu is
ANDSemu is a free, open-source Nintendo DS emulator for Android phones and tablets, with a graphical interface for playing Nintendo DS games. Screen options include portrait stacked, landscape side-by-side, landscape stacked, and LCD swap. It also supports save states and cheats. The project describes its emulation base as nds4droid and DeSmuME, and its repository also names DSdroid. ANDSemu is licensed under GPLv3, which allows redistribution and forks when the license terms are followed, including providing source files and build scripts. The README recommends installing from Google Play and also describes building from source. However, AppBrain reports that the app was removed from Google Play on January 14, 2013, and is no longer available there. AppBrain’s historical listing describes it as free to download and lists Android 2.3.3 or higher as its technical requirement. A source build depends on ActionBarSherlock and Android Support Libraries and requires ndk-build for DeSmuME and other native libraries. The maintainers say they cannot help with compiling or setting up a development environment, and they do not provide information on obtaining games or ROMs.
Good
- Offers four screen layout options, including LCD swap
- Includes save states and cheat support
- Licensed under GPLv3
- Historical listing describes it as free to download
Watch out
- Reportedly removed from Google Play in 2013
- Source builds require several dependencies and ndk-build
- Maintainers do not offer build or setup help
Who it suits
ANDSemu may suit Android users looking for a Nintendo DS emulator who can work with the project’s available installation or source-build routes. Its screen layouts, save states, and cheat support are relevant to users seeking those options.
Verdict
ANDSemu offers DS emulation features and an open-source license, but its reported removal from Google Play and source-build requirements affect how a user can obtain it. The maintainers also do not assist with build setup or questions about obtaining games and ROMs.
The facts
Each one read from ANDSemu's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Availability
- AppBrain reports that the app was removed from Google Play on January 14, 2013 and is no longer available there.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Based on
- The repository describes ANDSemu as based on nds4droid, DSdroid, and DeSmuME.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Build dependencies
- Building from source depends on ActionBarSherlock and the Android Support Libraries, and requires ndk-build to compile DeSmuME and other native libraries.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Build support
- The maker says it cannot provide help with compiling or setting up a development environment.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Emulation base
- The project describes itself as based on nds4droid and DeSmuME.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Games
- The maker says it does not provide information on obtaining Nintendo DS games or ROMs and asks users not to ask for it.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The repository recommends installing ANDSemu from the Google Play App Store and says building from source is an alternative.checked 8 Oct 2026
- License
- ANDSemu is licensed under GPLv3.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- ANDSemu is a Nintendo DS emulator for Android that lets users play Nintendo DS games on a phone or tablet with a streamlined GUI.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Redistribution
- The README says users may redistribute, fork, merge, or sell a fork if they comply with the GPL and provide the source files and build scripts.checked 7 Oct 2026
- ROMs
- The maintainers say they do not know how to obtain Nintendo DS games or ROMs and ask users not to ask them.checked 7 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Historical Android requirement
- AppBrain lists Android 2.3.3 or higher as the app's technical requirement.checked 7 Oct 2026
Money
- Historical price
- AppBrain describes the Android app as free to download.checked 7 Oct 2026
