Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo
Portable Game Console - Lifespan: 2011 - 2020
Information
Emulators
citra
lime3ds
libretro-citra
bizhawk: encore
citra-canary
Games Location
📁 roms \ 📂 3ds
File extensions
.3ds .3dsx .elf .axf .cci .cxi .app .m3u .zip .7z .squashfs
System Features
NO
NO
Citra (& canary): YES lr-citra: YES BizHawk: YES Lime3DS: YES
BIOS
No BIOS required.
Controls
The following controllers can be autoconfigured from RetroBat in lime3ds/citra standalone:
XInput controllers
Dualshock 4 and Dualsense controllers
Nintendo Switch Pro controller
The 3DS has a touchpad that is difficult to emulate, the best way to use it is with a mouse connected.
With some emulators, it is possible to use the right joystick for the touchpad screen.
Standard control layout
![](https://wiki.retrobat.org/~gitbook/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2FRetroBat-Official%2Fretrobat-tattoos%2Fblob%2Fmain%2Fdefault%2F3ds.png%3Fraw%3Dtrue&width=768&dpr=4&quality=100&sign=fb5bd1ca&sv=2)
The following option can be used to invert face buttons to match XBOX button names:
![](https://wiki.retrobat.org/~gitbook/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FIKTTaQo.png&width=768&dpr=4&quality=100&sign=1e88f234&sv=2)
![](https://wiki.retrobat.org/~gitbook/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2FRetroBat-Official%2Fretrobat-tattoos%2Fblob%2Fmain%2Fdefault%2F3ds_revert.png%3Fraw%3Dtrue&width=768&dpr=4&quality=100&sign=203406ed&sv=2)
Touchscreen Management:
Depending on the emulator, the options hereunder can be used to simulate touchscreen movement with the right analog stick.
Citra, Lime3DS and Citra-canary
Use the following option:
![](https://wiki.retrobat.org/~gitbook/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FuAWxiGx.png&width=768&dpr=4&quality=100&sign=d98a2824&sv=2)
Without face button inverted
With face button inverted
Libretro-citra & BizHawk
Use the following option:
![](https://wiki.retrobat.org/~gitbook/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FMchmbEh.png&width=768&dpr=4&quality=100&sign=629deed3&sv=2)
C-STICK AND TOUCHSCREEN POINTER (no inversion)
C-STICK AND TOUCHSCREEN POINTER (inversion)
TOUCHSCREEN POINTER (no inversion)
TOUCHSCREEN POINTER (inversion)
C-STICK
Same as standard layout
Specific System Information
Files location
nand path
saves\3ds\<emulator>\nand
sdmc path
saves\3ds\<emulator>\sdmc
config file
emulators\<emulator>\user\config\qt-config.ini
Running installed apps
It is possible to use a .m3u file to run games that have been installed to the console NAND, the .m3u file must contain the full path to the .app file of the game.
Example of a game installed in the console NAND:
![](https://wiki.retrobat.org/~gitbook/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FPF0szhC.png&width=768&dpr=4&quality=100&sign=7834bad3&sv=2)
Create a shortcut to the desktop for the installed game (right-click):
![](https://wiki.retrobat.org/~gitbook/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FZEajnv8.png&width=768&dpr=4&quality=100&sign=437b7527&sv=2)
On the windows desktop, right-click on the the shortcut to copy its path and paste it in a .txt file (only keep the last part which is the path to the installed app, without the ""):
![](https://wiki.retrobat.org/~gitbook/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fo7E5uFQ.png&width=768&dpr=4&quality=100&sign=a7cead47&sv=2)
Save the text file with the .m3u extension and place it in the roms\3ds folder:
![](https://wiki.retrobat.org/~gitbook/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fg2xUhcm.png&width=768&dpr=4&quality=100&sign=fa591c0f&sv=2)
Custom Textures
It is possible to launch Custom Texture packs with the Citra standalone Emulator and Lime3DS.
The texture pack needs to be placed in the \emulators\
<emulator>
\User\Load\Textures\<gameID>
folder, example for Super Mario 3D Land:
![](https://wiki.retrobat.org/~gitbook/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6dLxUWC.png&width=768&dpr=4&quality=100&sign=564c0e8&sv=2)
When using the libretro core, textures must be placed in:
\saves\3ds\citra\Load\Textures\<gameID>
The name of the custom texture folder can be found by right-clicking on the game in the emulator and selecting "Open Custom Texture Location".
![](https://wiki.retrobat.org/~gitbook/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FxijuvR0.png&width=768&dpr=4&quality=100&sign=4298a247&sv=2)
Once the custom texture pack is correctly named and placed, activate the CUSTOM TEXTURES setting.
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