DSperate
DSperate is a free, public-source Nintendo DS and DSi emulator for Linux on AArch64 and ARMhf.
What DSperate is
DSperate is a free, public-source Nintendo DS and DSi emulator for Linux on AArch64 and ARMhf. It is designed for ARM handhelds, including the Anbernic RG DS with an RK3566 processor. The emulator supports interpreted ARM946E-S and ARM7TDMI CPUs alongside ARM-to-AArch64 and ARM-to-ARMv7 recompilers. Graphics include complete 2D engines, a software 3D rasteriser, and optional Vulkan 3D rendering. Experimental DSi features include DSiWare, NAND boot, an SD card folder, microphone, Wi-Fi, PictoChat, and Download Play; DSi DSP is not emulated, and DSi-enhanced cartridges run as DS games in DSi mode. Local multiplayer and Download Play work over a LAN. It offers ten save-state slots and a hidden automatic slot, plus keyboard and controller remapping, stylus input, cheats, and configurable screen layouts. Games can run with built-in FreeBIOS and generated firmware, though user dumps enable firmware boot and exact timing. It loads .nds and .zip files containing an .nds; zip64, 7z, and rar are unsupported.
Good
- Runs without BIOS or firmware dumps.
- Offers ten save-state slots plus automatic saving.
- Supports LAN local multiplayer and Download Play.
- Includes configurable screen layouts and input remapping.
- Licensed under GPLv3.
Watch out
- DSi support is experimental.
- DSi DSP is not emulated.
- zip64, 7z, and rar files are unsupported.
Who it suits
DSperate is suited to Linux users on AArch64 or ARMhf who want to emulate Nintendo DS or experiment with DSi features. Its input remapping and LAN multiplayer may appeal to handheld and local-play users.
Verdict
DSperate offers a broad set of DS features for supported Linux ARM systems, with some DSi functions remaining experimental or unavailable. Check its Linux architecture support and ROM format limits before using it.
The facts
Each one read from DSperate's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Achievements
- RetroAchievements support is available in Casual mode; Hardcore mode is not supported.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Architecture
- It reimplements DraStic techniques through clean-room work and includes no DraStic code.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Build requirements
- The playable frontend requires CMake 3.16 or later, Ninja, a C++17 compiler, and SDL2.checked 29 Sep 2026
- CPU emulation
- It supports ARM946E-S and ARM7TDMI interpreters and ARM-to-AArch64 and ARM-to-ARMv7 recompilers.checked 28 Sep 2026
- DSi limitation
- The DSi DSP is not emulated, and DSi-enhanced cartridges run as DS games in DSi mode.checked 29 Sep 2026
- DSi support
- Experimental DSi support includes DSiWare, NAND boot, SD card folder backing, microphone, DSi Wi-Fi, PictoChat, and Download Play.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Emulation
- It supports interpreted and recompiled ARM CPUs, DS graphics and sound, save states, cheats, and configurable screen layouts.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Graphics
- It includes complete 2D engines, a software 3D rasteriser, and optional Vulkan GPU 3D rendering.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Input
- Keyboard and controller remapping, controller hotkeys, stylus input, and touch or mouse input on the bottom screen are supported.checked 28 Sep 2026
- License
- DSperate is licensed under GPLv3.checked 29 Sep 2026
- License and source
- The project is public source code under GPLv3 and describes itself as a clean-room reimplementation with no DraStic code in the repository.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Product
- DSperate is a Nintendo DS and DSi emulator that aims to reimplement DraStic-level performance with modern features.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- DSperate is a Nintendo DS and DSi emulator designed to reimplement DraStic-level performance with modern features.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Release
- The latest listed release is DSperate v2.1.1, described as including a Wayland display fix, enhanced 3D anti-aliasing, and a rasteriser correction.checked 29 Sep 2026
- ROM formats
- It loads NDS games and ZIP archives containing supported game files; ZIP64, 7z, and RAR archives are unsupported.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Save states
- It provides ten save-state slots plus a hidden automatic slot, and DSi states also carry NAND and SD card changes.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Security
- The README describes a crashed guest memory safeguard that prevents the recompiler from running the host out of memory.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Target hardware
- The project is built and measured on ARM handhelds, including the Anbernic RG DS with an RK3566 processor.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Wireless
- It supports local wireless play over a LAN using melonDS's protocol and internet access through an emulated access point.checked 29 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- BIOS requirement
- Games can run without BIOS or firmware dumps using built-in FreeBIOS and generated firmware; the project does not include real dumps.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Platforms
- The project documents Linux ARM64 and ARMHF release tarballs and cross-build targets for AArch64 and ARMv7.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Release platforms
- The release page lists linux-aarch64 and linux-armhf tarballs, with static variants also available.checked 28 Sep 2026
