I’ve spent countless hours testing DS and 3DS emulation on Steam Deck since the device launched, and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned. The Steam Deck’s powerful hardware makes it an excellent platform for playing Nintendo’s dual-screen handheld games with enhanced visuals and performance.
Yes, you can play both Nintendo DS and 3DS games on Steam Deck using specialized emulators like Citra for 3DS games and MelonDS for DS games. The Steam Deck’s AMD APU provides more than enough power to run these games at higher resolutions and better framerates than the original hardware.
After testing multiple emulators and installation methods across different Steam Deck models, I’ve found that with the right setup, you can enjoy your entire DS and 3DS library with significant improvements over the original consoles. This guide will walk you through everything from choosing the right emulator to optimizing performance and integrating games into your Steam library.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn about the best emulators for each system, multiple installation methods, essential configuration tweaks, and how to solve common issues that users face. For more gaming hardware guides and emulation content, check out our gaming guides section.
Before diving into emulation, you’ll need to ensure your Steam Deck meets some basic requirements. The good news is that all Steam Deck models can handle DS and 3DS emulation without issues, though the OLED model provides a better visual experience with its improved screen.
You’ll need at least 64GB of free storage space for emulators and a modest game library, though I recommend a 256GB or larger SD card for serious collectors. The Steam Deck’s internal storage works fine for testing, but high-quality 3DS ROMs can take up significant space. Similar to our analysis of hardware requirements in other gaming contexts, storage planning is crucial for emulation.
Software-wise, you’ll need to decide between EmuDeck (the all-in-one solution) or manual installation through the Discover Store or Flatpak. Both approaches work well, but EmuDeck automates much of the setup process, making it ideal for beginners. You’ll also need to legally acquire your games and any necessary BIOS/firmware files.
✅ Important: Only use ROMs from games you legally own. Dumping your own cartridges is the most straightforward legal method.
The emulator landscape for DS and 3DS games has evolved significantly, with several excellent options available for Steam Deck. Based on my testing, the choice depends mainly on which system you want to emulate and your performance preferences.
For 3DS games, Citra remains the gold standard despite its age, offering excellent compatibility and features. However, the newer Azahar emulator (formed from Lime3DS merger) provides better performance and Vulkan support, making it ideal for Steam Deck. I’ve found Azahar handles demanding 3DS titles like Xenoblade Chronicles more smoothly than Citra.
DS emulation is dominated by MelonDS, which offers near-perfect accuracy and excellent performance on Steam Deck. While RetroArch with MelonDS core works well, the standalone MelonDS provides better configuration options and stability. DeSmuME remains an option but generally underperforms compared to MelonDS on Steam Deck hardware.
| Emulator | System | Performance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azahar | 3DS | Excellent | Performance-focused users |
| Citra | 3DS | Very Good | Maximum compatibility |
| MelonDS | DS | Excellent | DS games only |
| RetroArch | DS | Good | Unified interface |
You have two main approaches for installing emulators on Steam Deck: EmuDeck (automated) or manual installation. I’ve tested both extensively, and each has distinct advantages depending on your technical comfort and customization needs.
EmuDeck is the recommended starting point for most users. This all-in-one script automatically installs and configures multiple emulators, including Citra and MelonDS, with optimized settings for Steam Deck. The process takes about 15 minutes and handles everything from controller mapping to Steam integration. However, EmuDeck’s configurations might not suit everyone’s preferences, requiring some manual adjustments afterward.
Manual installation through the Discover Store gives you more control but requires more setup time. Simply search for your chosen emulator (Citra, MelonDS) in the Discover Store and install it like any other Linux application. This method ensures you get the latest stable version and allows for more granular configuration from the start. The tradeoff is spending 30-45 minutes on initial setup versus EmuDeck’s 15-minute automated process.
⏰ Time Saver: If you’re new to Linux or emulation, start with EmuDeck. You can always manually tweak settings later.
For advanced users, installing via Flatpak or AppImage provides the most control over versions and dependencies. This approach is best if you need specific emulator versions or want to test bleeding-edge features. However, it requires comfort with the Linux command line and manual dependency management.
Proper configuration is crucial for getting the best performance from DS and 3DS emulation on Steam Deck. After testing dozens of settings combinations, I’ve found the sweet spot between visual quality and performance that works for most games.
For 3DS emulation with Citra or Azahar, set the internal resolution to 3x (1200×720) for handheld mode or 5x when docked. This provides a significant visual upgrade over the original 400×240 screens without overwhelming the GPU. Enable Vulkan rendering for better performance, though some games might require OpenGL for compatibility. Async shader compilation is essential – it reduces stuttering during gameplay, though it may cause occasional visual artifacts in certain games.
DS emulation with MelonDS requires different settings. Enable OpenGL rendering for best performance, and consider using a filter like 2xSal or HQ2x to upscale the graphics while maintaining the pixel art aesthetic. For dual screen setup, I recommend using “Top screen large” layout for most games, though “Hybrid” layout works well for titles that make heavy use of the touch screen.
Controller configuration is crucial for a good experience. Map the Steam Deck’s controls to match the DS/3DS layout as closely as possible, with L/R mapped to the shoulder buttons and ZL/ZR for additional functions if needed. For games requiring touch input, I’ve found mapping the right trackpad to simulate touch works reasonably well, though precision isn’t perfect.
Internal Resolution: The rendering resolution multiplier that determines how much sharper games appear compared to their original resolution.
Organizing your ROM collection properly from the start will save you headaches later. Based on my experience managing hundreds of DS and 3DS games, a systematic approach makes finding and launching games much easier.
Create separate folders for DS and 3DS games in your Emulation/roms directory. Within each system folder, organize games alphabetically or by genre – whatever works best for you. I recommend keeping save files in their default locations unless you need to transfer them between devices, as moving save files can cause issues with some emulators.
For 3DS games, you’ll encounter different file formats including .3ds, .cia, and .cci. The .cia format works best with Citra and Azahar, while .3ds files work with most emulators. DS games typically use .nds format, which is universally compatible. Some emulators may require BIOS or firmware files – these should be placed in the appropriate system folder within your Emulation/bios directory.
Storage management becomes important as your library grows. DS games typically range from 32MB to 512MB, while 3DS games can be anywhere from 200MB to 4GB. I recommend keeping your most frequently played games on internal storage and moving less played titles to an SD card. Compressed formats can save space but may increase loading times.
Integrating your DS and 3DS games into Steam makes launching them much more convenient and provides a unified gaming experience. Steam ROM Manager (SRM) is the best tool for this job, automatically scraping artwork and creating launch commands.
Install Steam ROM Manager through the Discover Store or EmuDeck, then point it to your ROM directories. Configure parsers for Nintendo DS and 3DS systems, ensuring they point to the correct emulators. SRM will automatically detect games and download appropriate artwork. I recommend customizing the launch options to add any necessary command-line flags, such as specifying fullscreen or particular configurations.
After parsing your games, simply click “Start Steam” and SRM will add them to your library. The games will appear as non-Steam applications but with proper artwork and names. You can further customize them in Steam by adding custom controller configurations or specific launch options per game.
For the best experience, organize your added games into collections within Steam. I create separate collections for “DS Games” and “3DS Games” to keep things tidy. You can also add tags for genres or favorite games to make finding specific titles easier.
Even with proper setup, you might encounter some issues while playing DS and 3DS games on Steam Deck. Based on community feedback and my own testing, here are the most common problems and their solutions.
Performance drops in demanding 3DS games are common, especially with higher internal resolutions. If you experience stuttering, try reducing the internal resolution to 2x or disabling async shader compilation. Some games like Pokemon X/Y run better with OpenGL rather than Vulkan rendering.
Touch screen controls can be challenging with Steam Deck’s limited touch input. For touch-heavy DS games like Phantom Hourglass, consider using the trackpad for touch simulation or mapping specific touch actions to controller buttons. Some users have reported better results using an external USB touch monitor for these games.
Audio sync issues occasionally occur, especially with certain 3DS games. Adjusting the audio stretching settings in your emulator can help – enable audio stretching for smoother sound, though it may introduce slight delays. For persistent audio issues, try different audio backends in the emulator settings.
⚠️ Important: Always save your game properly before closing the emulator. Using save states is convenient, but in-game saves are more reliable for long-term progress.
Yes, you can play 3DS games on Steam Deck using emulators like Citra or Azahar. The Steam Deck’s powerful hardware allows you to play 3DS games at higher resolutions and better performance than the original console.
The Steam Deck can play Nintendo DS games through emulators like MelonDS or RetroArch. DS emulation runs very well on Steam Deck, with most games achieving full speed and better visual quality than on original hardware.
In EmuDeck, place your 3DS ROMs in the Emulation/roms/n3ds directory. EmuDeck automatically configures emulators to look for games in this location. You can organize subfolders within this directory for better organization.
You can install Citra on Steam Deck through EmuDeck (automated), the Discover Store (easiest manual method), or via Flatpak. EmuDeck is recommended for beginners as it handles all configuration automatically.
No, Citra cannot run normal DS games. Citra is specifically designed for 3DS emulation. For DS games, you need a separate DS emulator like MelonDS, which is specifically designed for Nintendo DS emulation.
After extensive testing with multiple emulators, games, and configurations, I can confidently say that DS and 3DS emulation on Steam Deck provides an excellent way to preserve and enhance your Nintendo handheld gaming experience. The combination of powerful hardware, versatile software options, and the portable form factor makes Steam Deck arguably the best device for playing these classic games.
For beginners, I recommend starting with EmuDeck and Azahar for 3DS games, MelonDS for DS games. This combination provides the best balance of ease-of-use and performance. As you become more comfortable with the system, you can explore manual configurations and alternative emulators to fine-tune your experience.
Remember that emulation is a constantly evolving field, with new emulator versions and optimizations regularly released. Keep your emulators updated and engage with the community through Reddit and Discord to stay informed about the latest developments and troubleshooting solutions. Happy gaming!
