Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Citra VS DeSmuME

Compare Citra VS DeSmuME and see what are their differences

Citra logo Citra

Citra is a work-in-progress emulator for the Nintendo 3DS.

DeSmuME logo DeSmuME

DeSmuME is a freeware emulator for the NDS roms & Nintendo DS Lite games created by YopYop156.
  • Citra Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-16
  • DeSmuME Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-04

Citra features and specs

  • High Compatibility
    Citra supports a large library of Nintendo 3DS games, making it possible to play a wide range of titles on various platforms.
  • Cross-Platform
    Citra is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, allowing users to enjoy games regardless of their device.
  • Enhanced Graphics
    The emulator can enhance the graphics of 3DS games beyond their native resolution, resulting in improved visuals and a better gaming experience.
  • Active Development
    Citra is actively maintained and updated, which means users continuously get new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, Citra allows community collaboration, transparency in development, and the ability for users to contribute to its improvement.

Possible disadvantages of Citra

  • System Requirements
    Running Citra efficiently can require a relatively powerful PC or mobile device, potentially limiting accessibility for users with lower-end hardware.
  • Legal Issues
    Using Citra requires BIOS and game ROMs from a 3DS, which can raise legal concerns regarding the distribution and use of copyrighted materials.
  • Incomplete Emulation
    Not all games run perfectly on Citra; some may have graphical glitches, performance issues, or may not work at all, affecting the overall experience.
  • Network Multiplayer Limitations
    While Citra supports some network multiplayer functionality, it may not fully replicate the 3DS's local multiplayer experience.
  • Complex Setup
    Setting up Citra and configuring it to work optimally can be complex and time-consuming, requiring users to have some technical knowledge.

DeSmuME features and specs

  • High Compatibility
    DeSmuME has a high compatibility rate with a wide range of Nintendo DS games, making it a reliable choice for most users.
  • Active Community
    There is a strong, active community around DeSmuME, offering support, updates, and troubleshooting advice which can be very helpful.
  • Save State Feature
    The emulator supports save states, allowing users to save and load their progress at any point, offering greater control over gameplay.
  • High Customizability
    Users can adjust numerous settings including graphics, controls, and emulation speed, enabling tailored experiences.
  • Free to Use
    DeSmuME is open-source and free to use, making it accessible to all users without any cost.

Possible disadvantages of DeSmuME

  • Performance Issues
    Some users experience performance issues, such as lag or frame rate drops, particularly with more demanding games or on lower-end hardware.
  • Complex Setup
    The initial setup and configuration can be complex and intimidating for beginners who are not familiar with emulators.
  • Limited Touchscreen Functionality
    Replicating the Nintendo DS touchscreen functionality can be cumbersome, and some games may not play as smoothly without a real touch interface.
  • No Built-in Network Play
    Unlike some other emulators, DeSmuME does not have built-in network play, limiting multiplayer experiences to local or single-player modes.

Citra videos

Citra | 3DS Emulator | Ultimate 3DS Experience!

More videos:

  • Review - Review Citra Aloe dan Tomato Bright UV | Bisa Nahan Minyak dan Sembuhin Jerawat?!
  • Review - Citra 3DS Emulator - on LOW end PC, all game fixes and ONLINE!

DeSmuME videos

DeSmuME: Complete Install Guide (Nintendo DS Emulator)

More videos:

  • Review - DeSmuMe: The Amazing Nintendo DS Emulator for PC! |Emulator Review| Ft. Anton Retro
  • Review - Desmume Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Citra and DeSmuME)
Gaming
51 51%
49% 49
Emulators
52 52%
48% 48
Gaming Tools
48 48%
52% 52
Gaming Software
43 43%
57% 57

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Citra and DeSmuME

Citra Reviews

Best DS Emulator: Are These Emulators Safe And Legal To Use?
Citra offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features, including save states, cheat codes, and multiplayer support.
Source: appletoo.us
Best emulators for Android in 2023
Citra hasn't been updated in a while on Android, and users on Reddit have spotted that another port called Citra MMJ tends to have better performance. Your mileage may vary, so give the MMJ fork a try if the performance isn't great on your device.
15 best emulators for Android to play old favorites!
Citra Emulator is the newest emulator on the list. This one is for the Nintendo 3DS console. The app boasts most of the basics, including save and load states, external controllers, and other such things. This one also supports native 3DS features such as the microphone, camera, and motion controls. Those who get the premium version also get some cosmetic features, a dark...

DeSmuME Reviews

Best DS Emulator: Are These Emulators Safe And Legal To Use?
It provides a good gaming experience with features like save states, cheat codes, and controller support. DeSmuME is also easy to use and has a simple interface.
Source: appletoo.us
5 Best Nintendo DS Emulators for PC
Although it only has handful graphic settings, you can get good game graphics comparable to DeSmuME with a few tweaks.
7 Best Mac Emulators For Gamers In 2022
If you are like me, and have never owned a Nintendo DS… DeSmuME can emulate the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite handheld game consoles with its Mac compatible program.
Source: retrododo.com
12 Best Gaming Console Emulators for Mac in 2022
DeSmuMe is a Nintendo emulator designed to allow users to play dual screens of Nintendo on their PC as the emulator simulates the dual-screen on the PC monitor.
Source: thebingeful.com
10 Emulators To Turn Your Computer Into A Retro Console
Nintendo’s dual screen console can be played on your computer using DeSmuME, with both screens simulated on your computer monitor. Your mouse is used as a stylus for the touch input. It even supports games that require you to play your device sideways.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Citra should be more popular than DeSmuME. It has been mentiond 57 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Citra mentions (57)

  • Rokid Max Review and Many Tips
    Another wonderful option is to play Nintendo 3DS games with the Citra emulator. They look incredible. I would go so far as to say that if you're a fan of the console then this is the best way to experience its games, even better than on the original hardware. Again use 3840x1200 @ 60 Hz and full SBS. In Emulation -> Configure... -> Graphics -> Stereoscopy set it to "Side by Side". Also increase the renderer... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Nintendo da emulator for pc? I’m soooooo new to this whole emulation world I installed dolphin and got it running nicely but I can’t find one for the Nintendo ds can someone help me? I just wanna play Pokémon heart gold again hahhaha
    Https://citra-emu.org/ Just typing the console + emulator on any search engine should give u the best option most of the time. Source: over 1 year ago
  • is citra the best for 3ds emulation?
    It's safe, as long as you download it from the official website (https://citra-emu.org/). I believe that it's no longer necessary to provide original system files from a real 3DS, but it's highly recommended to do so in order to improve accuracy. Source: over 1 year ago
  • there is the configuration
    "If you experience Pokémon no longer spawning in the open areas after a few minutes of gameplay, disable Extended Memory Layout (8GB DRAM). That option is not intended for normal use, it should only be enabled per game if a big texture mod is in use. It doesn't improve performance or compatibility. Don't follow terrible Youtube tutorials, I recommend reading our settings glossary instead: Settings glossary -... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Ayn Odin or 3DS+PS Vita?
    Just looking at https://citra-emu.org/ and what's working on it so far, it looks like Splinter Cell doesn't work and RE Mercenaries struggles on any system :/. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

DeSmuME mentions (32)

  • any one know how to emulate a dsi game
    Citra is for 3ds games. While it should be compatible with ds games since the physical consoles are, this isn't true of the emulators. http://desmume.org/ has what you need. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Looking for My Old Nintendo 3DS
    You should probably emulate the games, your 3DS is unlikely to be found Here is an Emulator r/roms is a good resource for ROMs. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Scooby Doo First Frights & the spooky swamp
    You can download DeSmuME (http://desmume.org/), which is a free Nintendo emulator. Then you wanna search up "Scooby Doo First Frights ROM" in Google, and download it. Then you can open the emulator, click on File at the top, click "Open ROM", then open the ROM file you downloaded to play the game. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How do you guys play?
    Emulators 100%, mGBA for GBA games (My Boy for android, sprang for the paid version a while ago and don't regret it), DeSmuME for DS and Citra for 3DS. I do technically still own copies of most DS and 3DS games but I despise nuzlocking on hardware at this point and I tend to play romhacks anyways. I personally wouldn't recommend anything other than GBA games/romhacks for a phone, but maybe someone else has a... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Rule
    You’ll need an emulator that you can load the rom into. Desmume (https://desmume.org) is a decent one. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Citra and DeSmuME, you can also consider the following products

RetroArch - RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players.

Dolphin Emulator - Official website of Dolphin, the GameCube and Wii emulator. Download the latest version (5. 0-5763) now or ask questions on our forums for help. Enter your search in the box aboveDownloadDownload the latest version of the Dolphin Emulator (5.

melonDS - A Nintendo DS emulator with support for commercial games.

BlueStacks - BlueStacks is a website designed to format mobile apps to be compatible to desktop computers, opening up mobile gaming to laptops and other computers. Read more about BlueStacks.

mGBA - mGBA is an open source emulator of the Game Boy Advance. The goals are speed and accuracy.

OpenEmu - Console and Arcade video game emulator for macOS.