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DeSmuME vs melonDS: catalog facts
DeSmuME	melonDS
Free Free and open source under the GPL.	Free Free and open source under the GPL.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
High-resolution 3D rendering beyond the DS's native output Large cheat database and movie recording tools	Emulates DSi hardware as well as the original DS Local wireless play between emulated consoles
Releases are infrequent; melonDS is faster and more accurate for many games Performance is demanding for a handheld-era system	Firmware boot needs a dump from an original DS or DS Lite; DSi and 3DS dumps will not… You must supply BIOS, firmware and game files yourself
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-2.0	License: GPL-3.0
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.