The Nintendo DS was a game-changer when it came out. But that was a long time ago. Today, you may have a hard time buying an NDS. Fortunately, you have a great alternative in the form of NDS emulators like the NeonDS.
What is NeonDS?
NeonDS is one of the better NDS emulators on the market. It is compatible with Windows. The emulator can run on lower-end machines. The minimum requirements include a Pentium 4 processor. As you can see, any computer created within the last 10-15 years can run NeonDS with relative else.
You don’t need a duo-core processor to play games at 60 frames per second. If you have the latest version of the program, you will appreciate the improvements it has made to the graphics, which are surprisingly crisp. Boasting a video recording feature, you can use the application to play your favorite 3D games.

It has a few bugs. But the majority have been fixed. The number of complaints it has attracted is quite small. They have even incorporated the original console’s touchscreen component into the emulator’s interface.
Anyone that has played games on the application will tell you that it has two screens. You can use the mouse pointer to operate the touchscreen. If you want to know whether or not this emulator is worth your time, you should visit the NeonDS wiki page. It will show you a list of all the games it can play. Their list is extensive.
Admittedly, some of the games on the list do not work. Others will run but they are not as efficient and smooth as you would prefer. Keep this in mind. NeonDS is a work in progress. More than likely, all these glitches will disappear in the near future.
NeonDS Features
- Compatible with Windows
- OpenGL 2.0
- You can save
- You can use the mouse pointer to control the second screen
- It can achieve 60 FPS
Minimum System Requirements
- Pentium 4
- 512 MB (Storage)
- 1GB (RAM)
- Windows XP, Vista, 7
How To Install NeonDS?
Step 1. Download NeonDS. The best source is the official site because it won’t infect your computer with malware
Step 2. If your download came in a zipped folder, extract it.
Step 3. Find the executable file (neonds.exe) and double-click it. This will launch the emulator. You don’t have to install the program to use it.
Download NeonDS
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How to Use NeonDS?
1). Go to the internet and download the ROM files. You can legally download ROM files of games you own. Otherwise, this practice is illegal
2). You can load ROM files by going to ‘File’ and ‘Open’
3). Select the ROM File you want (nds extension).
4). Click ‘OK’ and wait for the emulator to load the game. It will let you know once the game is ready.
Conclusion
NeonDS isn’t the flashiest emulator. But it doesn’t have to be. It performs its tasks efficiently. The emulator has every basic feature that matters, including the ability to save your progress. The biggest attraction is the fact that it can work on old, slow PCs.