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

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