iNDS

NINTENDO DS 3DS 2 EMULATOR

iNDS

iNDS — an iOS-focused Nintendo DS emulator (community fork) that packages a DeSmuME-derived DS core for iPhone and iPad.

Jump to download ↓Jump to setup guide ↓

iNDS emulator screenshot.

nintendo ds 3ds 2PRIMARY SYSTEM

History documentedPROJECT BEGAN

Open sourcePROJECT MODEL

WHY IT MATTERS

Why iNDS matters

iNDS provides a mobile-first DS emulation experience driven by a community-maintained GitHub repo that packages a DeSmuME threaded ARM interpreter adapted to iOS. It targets devices running iOS 9.0 and later and was created as a revival/fork of earlier iOS DS projects to make DS emulation accessible on phones and tablets.

BEST FOR

Best use cases

Run Nintendo DS .nds ROMs on iPhone or iPad (jailbroken or locally-sideloaded builds). Useful when you want a mobile-native UI, on-device library, cheat support, and DeSmuME-derived compatibility on iOS hardware.

The people behind iNDS

Project status & history

iNDS is a community fork/follow-up to earlier iOS DS ports (nds4ios, Nitrogen) and uses a DeSmuME threaded ARM interpreter to provide DS emulation on iOS. The GitHub repository (iNDS-Team/iNDS) documents that the repository was archived by its owner and is largely unmaintained; the README explicitly warns that the repo is mostly unmaintained and that many things may be broken. The project’s codebase includes an Xcode project, workspace, Podfile, and build scripts intended to produce an iOS app. Releases are published on the GitHub Releases page for packaged builds. The project targets iOS devices (iPhone/iPad) and requires sufficient RAM because the emulator mmaps entire ROMs; older 256 MB devices are not supported. The repository lists alternatives such as Delta and refers to the original author(s) and the DeSmuME core.

What iNDS supports

iOS (iPhone, iPad) — supports iOS 9.0 and up (per README)
Buildable with Xcode (macOS required)
Sideloading or jailbreak distribution methods (build/release artifacts on GitHub Releases)
Emulation core: DeSmuME threaded ARM interpreter (integrated in repo)

Download and availability

OFFICIAL DOWNLOADS

Get iNDS

Official source and released builds are hosted on the project's GitHub: Releases are available from the repository's Releases page. Source is available from the repository root for building with Xcode.

Get iNDS ↗

DOCUMENTATION

Official documentation

Read the official configuration, compatibility, and troubleshooting material before changing advanced options.

Read official documentation ↗

Broken or missing download? Emulator projects move and official links sometimes change. Please contact Retro Replay so the source can be verified and updated.

iNDS setup guide

Setup note: Practical setup notes: the official repository contains the Xcode workspace and build scripts. The project is primarily intended to be built on macOS with Xcode and then installed to an iOS device (sideload or via jailbreak). The repository is marked largely unmaintained, so expect to troubleshoot build/signing issues, update dependencies, or apply fixes yourself.

1) Obtain the source or a release: Go to the project's GitHub repository and either download a prebuilt release artifact from Releases or clone the repository to your macOS development machine. If you want a packaged .ipa and a compatible release exists on the Releases page, download that instead of building.
2) Inspect repository and dependencies: Open the cloned repository and review the README and Xcode project/workspace. The repo includes a Podfile and an Xcode workspace; the emulator integrates a DeSmuME-derived core. Note the README warning that the project is largely unmaintained.
3) Install CocoaPods and fetch pods (if used): If the repository contains a Podfile, install CocoaPods on your macOS system (gem install cocoapods) and run pod install in the repo folder to produce the .xcworkspace; then open the workspace rather than the single project file.
4) Configure signing and target device: Open the workspace in Xcode. Select the iOS target and set a signing team and provisioning profile (automatic signing is usually easiest). iNDS is designed to run on actual iOS devices; many emulator features require device hardware and may not work in Simulator.
5) Build and run to a device (sideloading): Build the app in Xcode for a connected device. For non-jailbroken installs, export an IPA and sideload via tools such as Xcode, AltStore/AltServer, or other signing/sideload workflows. For jailbroken devices, the repo and Releases historically included instructions for producing .deb packages for Cydia; follow repository docs if using that route.
6) Importing ROMs: After installation, import .nds ROM files into the app. The project wiki and README describe importing via Safari 'Open in…', iTunes (App File Sharing), or the app's library import features. The app does not include game ROMs, BIOS, or commercial firmware — you must supply your own legally obtained files.
7) Runtime considerations & troubleshooting: Because iNDS mmaps entire ROMs and uses a DeSmuME-derived threaded ARM interpreter, older devices with 256 MB RAM are not supported. If a feature is broken, check GitHub Issues and consider building a local fix; the repo maintainer warns that issues may not be actively addressed. If pods or build settings are outdated, you may need to update project settings in Xcode or adjust deployment targets.

Software reminder: iNDS does not include commercial games, BIOS, or firmware. Obtain ROMs and any required files legally. The repo is marked largely unmaintained — use caution and be prepared to troubleshoot builds or update dependencies.