DS Anywhere
DS Anywhere emulates a Nintendo DS inside a web browser.
What DS Anywhere is
DS Anywhere emulates a Nintendo DS inside a web browser. To run a game, select or drag an .nds ROM file onto the site; the maker says the ROM remains on your computer and is not uploaded. BIOS files can be added in Settings to perform a firmware boot and reach the Nintendo DS main menu. Settings include Controls, Personalization, Controller Input, Firmware, and Save Data. The project uses a melonDS fork compiled to WebAssembly, connected through a TypeScript bridge and a Preact/Vite frontend. Its browser-based approach is described as limiting potential access to a webpage rather than the whole computer. DS Anywhere is free and open source, but the maker calls it a work in progress with unstable or incomplete features and warns about unintended behavior or lost saves. Browser storage may evict save files, and backup or restoration of previous saves is not implemented. Controller input works, but changing bindings in the interface remains a future goal. Cheat codes and multiplayer are also future goals. The maker recommends legally acquired ROM and BIOS files, describes the project as personal, and says active development should not be expected.
Good
- Runs Nintendo DS emulation in a browser
- ROM files stay on the local computer
- Supports BIOS firmware boot
- Controller input is supported
- Free and open source
Watch out
- Save files may be evicted by browser storage
- No save backup or restore
- Controller rebinding is not implemented
- Cheats and multiplayer are unavailable
Who it suits
It suits users who want to run legally acquired Nintendo DS ROMs in a browser. It is less suitable when dependable save backup, cheats, multiplayer, or mature development are required.
Verdict
DS Anywhere offers local browser-based DS emulation with firmware options and controller support. Its work-in-progress status, save limitations, and absent cheat and multiplayer features make it a project for users comfortable with those constraints.
The facts
Each one read from DS Anywhere's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- BIOS and firmware
- Users can add BIOS files in Settings to perform a firmware boot and access the main menu.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security approach
- The maker says running ROMs in a browser limits potential access to a webpage rather than the whole computer.checked 4 Oct 2026
What it does
- Cheats
- Cheat-code support is listed as a future goal.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Controller limitation
- Controller input is supported, but the maker says changing controller bindings in the UI remains a future goal.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Controller support
- Controller use is supported, but changing controller bindings in the UI is listed as a future goal.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Development status
- The maker describes the emulator as a work in progress with unstable or incomplete features.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Firmware
- Users can add BIOS files in Settings to boot into the Nintendo DS main menu.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Legal use
- The maker says to use only legally acquired ROM and BIOS files and not to violate copyright restrictions.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Local files
- The site says ROM files stay on your computer and are not uploaded.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Multiplayer
- Multiplayer support is listed as a future goal, and the maker says reliable multiplayer may not work because of latency requirements.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Project support
- The maker describes DS Anywhere as a personal project, says active development should not be expected, and welcomes code contributions and pull requests.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- DS Anywhere emulates a Nintendo DS in a web browser.checked 8 Oct 2026
- ROM files
- The site accepts .nds ROM files by file selection or drag and drop.checked 8 Oct 2026
- ROM loading
- Users can select or drag and drop an .nds ROM file to run it.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Save data limit
- The maker says browser storage may evict save files and that save-file backup and restore are not implemented.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Save data limitation
- The maker says browser storage may evict save files and that save-file backup or loading a previous save is not implemented.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- The project says running ROMs in a browser limits potential access to a single webpage rather than the whole computer.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Settings
- Settings include controls, personalization, controller input, firmware, and save data.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support and contributions
- The maker describes it as a personal project, says active development should not be expected, and welcomes code contributions and pull requests.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Technology
- The project uses a melonDS fork compiled to WebAssembly and a TypeScript frontend.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Unlisted features
- The maker lists cheat codes and multiplayer support as future goals.checked 4 Oct 2026
