melonDS is a Nintendo DS emulator.

Website: https://melonds.kuribo64.net/

melonDS' FAQ: https://melonds.kuribo64.net/faq.php

GitHub: https://github.com/melonDS-emu/melonDS

Compatibility List: https://melonds.kuribo64.net/board/forum.php?id=3

melonDS Table of Contents

melonDS is a Nintendo DS emulator.

Getting Started with melonDS

How to Install melonDS

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The Basics

$HOME or ~ refer to your home directory. On a typical linux distro, the full path will be \$HOME/\$USER. On a Steam Deck, the full path will be /home/deck. When navigating using the file manager, the file manager may not be display the username visually in the full file path.

Directories with a . in front of their name, like $HOME/.steam, are hidden by default. In Dolphin (a file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right and toggle on Show Hidden Files. The setting may vary depending on which file manager you are using.

$HOME/Applications refers to the Applications folder in your home directory. On a typical linux distro, the full path will be \$HOME/\$USER/Applications. On a Steam Deck, the full path will be /home/deck/Applications. When navigating using the file manager, the file manager may not display the username visually in the full file path. The Applications folder is not created by default. If you have not created one already, do so before following the steps in this section.

melonDS is available both as an AppImage and a Flatpak on Linux. This page will cover how to utilize and install the Flatpak.

To download melonDS:

Open your distro's software manager.
- On SteamOS and distros with KDE, you may use Discover, a "store" to install and manage Flatpaks.
Search for "melonDS" and click "Install" on the top right of the software page For Azahar
Open Konsole or a terminal of your choice
Type the following two lines, one at a time, and press enter after each line:
- flatpak override net.kuribo64.melonDS --filesystem=host --user
- Alternatively, you may install and use Flatseal from your distro's software manager. Open Flatseal, locate the emulator on the left-hand side of the screen, scroll down to the Filesystem section and enable All system files

melonDS Tips and Tricks

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Open Source BIOS

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The open source BIOS is enabled by default for melonDS. This means that BIOS for Nintendo DS games is optional. However, some games may not perform as expected with the open source BIOS or you may need additional features provided by console dumped BIOS. You may also prefer to use DSI BIOS which allow you to play DSIWare games.

In order to use console dumped BIOS, you may place the files required into the Emulation/bios folder. You will also need to enable Use external BIOS/firmware files in the melonDS GUI.

How to Configure Multiplayer

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This section is strictly referring to local multiplayer. melonDS multiplayer on the Steam Deck can only be done in Desktop Mode.

In Desktop Mode, open melonDS
Click System, click Multiplayer, Launch new instance
On each window of melonDS, click Config, Input and hotkeys
In the drop-down menu to the right of Joystick, select your controller
- Steam Deck/Player 1: Microsoft X-Box 360 pad 0
- Player 2: Microsoft X-Box 360 pad 1
- Player 3: Microsoft X-Box 360 pad 2
- Player 4: Microsoft X-Box 360 pad 3
Open the game in each melonDS window and you will be able to play multiplayer

You can determine which melonDS window corresponds to what player by looking at the menu bar at the top. Each new melonDS window will have a corresponding (#).

How to Use Cheats

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Note: melonDS does not currently support importing cheats from a database file.

How to Enable Cheats in melonDS

Open melonDS
Click System at the top
Check Enable cheats

How to Download the Cheats Database

Open https://db.universal-team.net/ds/ndsi-cheat-databases, right click cheats.xml, and click Save As
Place it in Emulation/storage/melonds/cheats
- This folder placement is optional, you may place it wherever you want
To view, right click cheats.xml, open with a text editor of your choice

How to Use the Cheats Database

Note: It's recommended you do this in Desktop mode so you can easily copy from the cheats database into MelonDS. After adding cheats, you can use MelonDS in Game Mode.

Open the cheats.xml you downloaded from the How to Download the Cheats Database section
CTRL + F the game you are adding cheats to
Copy the blocks of alphanumerical strings between the two <codes> <codes> for your respective cheat
- Example:
Open MelonDS
Open a ROM
Click System at the top
Click Setup cheat codes
Create a New Category, you may name it whatever you would like
Click New AR Code
Match the name of the AR Code to the cheat you located in Step 3
* The name is flexible, you may name it whatever you would like
Paste the code you copied from Step 3, it will appear as red text
Format the cheat so there are two blocks of code per line
- Original:
- Corrected:
Some cheats are automatically activated, others will require a button combo. Look at the cheats.xml file to see if a button combo is required to activate your cheat

How to Set Up DSIWare

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The Nintendo DSI requires DSI specific BIOS. Place all of the files from the list below directly in Emulation/bios.

dsi_bios9.bin
dsi_bios7.bin
dsi_firmware.bin
dsi_nand.bin

Note:

The BIOS must be named exactly as above. BIOS with any deviations from the above will not work. Make sure you have the proper casing, characters, and spelling.
BIOS must be placed in Emulation/bios. If you create a sub-folder, the BIOS will not be picked up and Nintendo DSI games will not work.

Preface: Generally, DSIWare games are named 00000000 with no file extension. This section assumes you have these types of DSIWare ROMs.

Place your DSI BIOS in Emulation/bios
Place your DSIWare ROMs in Emulation/roms/nds
Right click the DSIWare ROM in Emulation/roms/nds, click Rename, rename it from 00000000 to GAMENAME.app
- Replace GAMENAME with the name of the DSIWare game
- For example:
```
* Original file name: `00000000`
* Updated file name: `X-Scape.app`
```
In Desktop Mode, open melonDS
At the top, select Config, Emu Settings
On the General tab, change the Console type to DSi (experimental)
On the DS-mode tab, check Use external BIOS/firmware files, close out of this menu
At the top, select System, Manage DSi titles
On the DSi Title Manager screen, select Import title
Select your GAMENAME.app as the Executable
Under Metadata, select Download from NUS, close out of this menu
Select File, Boot Firmware
Select your newly-installed DSiWare game and start playing

Steam Deck

How to Configure Settings

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Game Mode

If you are playing in Game Mode, make sure you have the correct "Steam Input" profile applied. For more information, see the Hotkeys section.

While in game, press Select + R3 to exit full screen. While melonDS is windowed, you will have access to the settings at the top of the screen. Adjust these options to your liking. After you have made your changes, press Select + R3 again to switch melonDS back to full screen.

After you have made your changes and you are ready to exit your game, do not use the STEAM butto to exit out of the game. If you use the STEAM button, any changes you have made will be reverted.

Press Select + R3 again to exit full screen. In the top right, click File, click Quit. You will only need to do this when you are changing settings. Otherwise, you may simply use the STEAM button as usual.

Desktop Mode

In Desktop Mode, open melonDS. Adjust any options to your liking. In the top right, click File, click Quit.

Do not click the X button in the top right to exit out of melonDS. If you use the X button, any changes will be reverted.

How to Configure Language Settings

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In-Game

Some games may not have language options. For a full list of which games have language options, download the DS Database from GamesTDB, https://www.gametdb.com/DS/Downloads and open it in a text editor of your choice.

Before proceeding with the below section, you will need to place Nintendo DS BIOS in the Emulation/bios folder.

In Desktop Mode, open melonDS
At the top, click Config
Click Emu settings
Click DS-Mode, check Use external BIOS/firmware files
Close out of the Emu settings window
Click File, click Boot firmware
Click the DS icon at the bottom of the screen
Click the gear icon
Click the globe icon
Select your preferred language