MelonDS vs Citra: Which NDS Emulator Works Best on Linux?

If you’re lookin’ to play your old Nintendo DS games on your Linux computer, there’s a good way to do it. You ain’t gotta stick to that small handheld device no more. Yup, you can use an emulator to play them games right on your computer, all cozy-like. Now, I ain’t no tech expert, but I’ll try to explain this simple enough so even a country folk like me can understand it. Sit tight, and I’ll tell ya ’bout the nds emulator for Linux and how it works.

First off, what’s an emulator, you ask? Well, it’s like a program that lets one kind of system pretend to be another. So, when you run an emulator on your Linux, it’s tricking your computer into thinkin’ it’s a Nintendo DS. The most popular ones are free, and they let you play those old games like Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, and more, right on your screen without havin’ to buy the original console anymore. Ain’t that somethin’?

Now, there’s a couple of emulators out there, but the one that stands out for Linux is melonDS. This one’s a free and open-source emulator. That means it don’t cost ya a dime, and anyone can tinker with the code if they want. MelonDS is known for being pretty good at what it does, and it’s always gettin’ updates to make it even better. You can get it runnin’ on your Linux machine, and it’ll let you play most Nintendo DS games just fine.

How to Install MelonDS on Linux?

Alright, now that you got a good idea of what melonDS is, let’s talk about how to get it on your Linux. It ain’t too tricky, don’t worry. Here’s what ya gotta do:

• Step 1: First, you need to make sure you got all the right things on your computer. Most of the time, melonDS needs some extra libraries to run right. If you’re usin’ Ubuntu or another Debian-based system, you can get these libraries by opening up the terminal and typing:

sudo apt-get install libsdl2-dev libqt5widgets5 libglu1-mesa libopenal-dev

• Step 2: After that, you can go ahead and download melonDS. You can find it on their official site or get it from a trusted source. Once you got the file, you just unzip it wherever you like.
• Step 3: Now, head over to the folder where you unpacked melonDS, and open up the terminal. In the terminal, type in:

./melonDS

• Step 4: After that, the emulator should pop up, and you’re all set to load up a game and start playin’!

What Games Can You Play on MelonDS?

Once you got melonDS runnin’ on your Linux, you might be wonderin’ what games you can play on it. Well, most Nintendo DS games will work just fine. You can load them up as long as you got a copy of the game files. These files are usually called ROMs, and you can find ‘em online, but make sure you’re not breakin’ any laws when you download ’em! The emulator can handle games like:

• Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
• Super Mario Bros. DS
• Animal Crossing: Wild World
• Mario Kart DS

These are just a few examples. If you’ve got the ROMs, melonDS will run them without a hitch. It’s almost like havin’ a real Nintendo DS, but on your computer! Some folks even say it runs a little better than the original console sometimes, especially if you’ve got a good computer.

Is MelonDS the Best Emulator for Linux?

Well now, there’s other emulators out there like Citra, but that one’s mainly for the 3DS. It also works on Linux, but if you’re lookin’ for DS games, melonDS is probably the better choice. It’s simpler, and it does a pretty good job with the emulation. Plus, it’s free, and you can trust it since it’s open-source. That’s somethin’ you don’t see too often these days, where you can just download and use a program without worryin’ about payin’ or dealin’ with ads or other nonsense.

Some Things to Keep in Mind

Before you get all excited, let me tell you a couple things you should know. First, not all DS games are perfect on emulators. Some might have little bugs or glitches, but most work just fine. You can always check forums or online guides if you’re having trouble with a specific game. Second, make sure your computer is up to snuff. While melonDS don’t need a super fancy machine, the better your computer, the smoother your games will run. If you’ve got an old laptop or something, don’t expect to play with no lag!

But all in all, if you’ve been missin’ out on those good ol’ Nintendo DS games, melonDS on Linux is a great way to bring ’em back. It’s free, it works well, and you get to relive all those memories right from the comfort of your computer chair.

Tags：[MelonDS, Linux, NDS Emulator, Nintendo DS, Emulation, Play DS Games on Linux, Free Emulator, Open Source Emulator, Retro Gaming, Emulator Installation]