Instead of 3Beans
3Beans alternatives
3Beans is a free, open-source Nintendo 3DS emulator for Windows, macOS and Linux. It runs the system OS as though on real hardware, supports software and hardware GPU rendering, and can boot the Home Menu and launch some games. Its current scope has limits: the maker describes it as young and issue-prone, and its CPUs are still fully interpreted. Setup requires boot9.bin, boot11.bin and nand.bin dumped from a physical 3DS with homebrew access; cartridge play also requires encrypted dumps.
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SkyEmu
Free plan Open source AndroidiPhoneLinux+3Browser or mobile play across Game Boy and DS systems — SkyEmu covers Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance and DS, with web and mobile support rather than 3DS emulation.
Free plan Visit site - 2
DeSmuME
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsDesktop Nintendo DS emulation and recording — DeSmuME emulates Nintendo DS and DS Lite, adding touch-screen and lid controls plus recording for screenshots, video, audio and TAS movies.
Free plan Visit site - 3
dust
Free plan Open source LinuxMacWindowsFinding disk usage by file and folder — dust is a disk-usage tool that maps large files and subdirectories in a tree, rather than an emulator like 3Beans.
Free plan Visit site - 4
GB Enhanced+
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsGame Boy systems and peripheral emulation — GB Enhanced+ emulates DMG, GBC, GBA and Pokémon Mini, with experimental NDS support and a focus on Game Boy peripherals.
Free plan Visit site - 5
melonDS
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsNintendo DS emulation with Wi-Fi features — melonDS targets Nintendo DS with a JIT recompiler, 3D upscaling and Wi-Fi features, while 3Beans targets Nintendo 3DS.
Free plan Visit site - 6
MindSpark
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1Collaborative mind mapping in a browser — MindSpark is a browser-based, self-hostable mind-mapping app with collaboration and AI assistance, not a game emulator.
Free plan Visit site - 7
Delta
Free plan iPhoneMaciOS emulation across several Nintendo systems — Delta runs on iOS and macOS and supports NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy systems and DS, but not 3DS.
Free plan Visit site - 8
Manic EMU
Free plan Open source iPhoneMacSelf-hosted - 9
Azahar
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+2 - 10
AzaharPlus
Free plan AndroidLinuxWindows - 11
Citra MMJ
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 12
Panda3DS
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+1 - 13
CitraVR
Free plan Android - 14
LunaDS
Free plan iPhoneMac - 15
Mandarine-Neo
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+1 - 16
Tanuki3DS
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 17
Citra Libretro Core
Free plan AndroidLinuxWindows - 18
Borked3DS
Paid AndroidLinuxMac+1 - 19
Folium
Paid iPhone5.2 Visit site - 20
emuThreeDS
Paid iPhone
The alternatives below target other systems or, in MindSpark’s case, a different task altogether. Compare each product’s platform support and the systems or work it covers, then weigh specific differences in controls, saves, graphics, peripherals, connectivity and setup. Some broaden the range of older Nintendo consoles; others focus on DS emulation or offer browser and mobile access. Those features do not mean they run 3DS games. 3Beans is free, so these choices are mainly about which device, system and capabilities fit your needs, and whether you can meet any required file or setup conditions.