Ripping your own games is fine, but sharing them online or downloading other peoples ROMs is a no-go. More and more players are using software to rip the game data files from their existing carts and discs in order to play them on handheld devices or PC emulators. ROMs are digital images of your favourite games. Emulators are basically the same sort of program, but they play ROM files. Think about iTunes or Windows media player and how they play MP3s. The best way to describe how an emulator works to someone who hasn’t used one before is to think about a music player. Jeez… that was a tenuous link even for me!Įmulators make any device run like a games console, digitally recreating all the wires, chips, and processors found inside your favourite retro machines. You know how Darth Vader’s helmet makes him act and sound all scary, but underneath it he’s just a misunderstood guy who wants to hang out with his son? Well, an emulator makes your chosen device act and sound like a games console, and they’re simple to download and use. Glad we sorted that one out then! How Do Emulators Work?

So, basically there is only one great Nintendo 3DS emulator, and that’s Citra.

It’s like Captain America shouting ‘Avengers Assemble’, but the avengers are emulators.Īnd the core that RetroArch uses for its 3DS emulation… Citra! Instead of focusing on just one emulator, it uses ‘cores’ to call upon all the emulator. If you’ve read our articles on the best Gameboy emulators or the best N64 emulators, then you may well have come across RetroArch before. They have a full compatibility list on their website, and the good news is that Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright plays perfectly! 2. They know that there’s work still to be done, but just like Yuzu, the gaming community is behind them 100% and supporting them wherever they can.Ĭheck out Citra and see how your favourite games run on it. Bear in mind that there might be some lag and a few glitches here and there, but the overall gameplay experience is a pleasurable one.Ĭitra don’t claim that this is the finished article either. In terms of how it plays and how it looks, Citra is the real deal. It’s licensed under the GPLv2 and pays homage to the 3DS’ original model number – CTR. This open source software has had over 150 people working on it over the years. They’ve been working on their 3DS emulator since 2013, continuously perfecting the formula and making tweaks to ensure the best possible results. I know they have their own mobile apps, but they’re nowhere near as good as the Nintendo 3DS offerings.Ĭitra are also the brains behind Yuzu, the best Nintendo Switch emulator. Everyone want’s to play Mario Kart and Pokemon on the go.

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