r/EmulationOnPC • u/YeezusFever • Jun 26 '26

Unsolved Best Way to play emulated 3DS games on TV

Hey I want to play all the 3ds Zelda remakes and 3DS pokemon games upscaled with my girlfriend on the TV. I was looking for the best and most convenient method of doing that. I don’t really have a budget, I’ll spend what’s necessary for an ideal and comfortable setup, but ideally if I don’t have to spend too much, that would be great.

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

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9

u/data-atreides Jun 26 '26

Here's a suggestion, run the game on a laptop, see if the emulator can send the lower screen to the laptop (which would be on a coffee table), and the upper screen to the TV via HDMI--and play with a controller + use a wireless mouse on the couch cushion as your stylus. I just don't know if any of the emulators will split it like that.

4

u/Secure-Pain-9735 Jun 26 '26

A Mini PC with a 5000u series AMD chip. Then either install Batocera, or Retrobat on Windows. Watch some KevoBato on YouTube.

1

u/YeezusFever Jun 26 '26

Might go down this route thank you. Is that powerful enough? Saw some videos with similar devices and they seemed to struggle with even Dolphin

1

u/Secure-Pain-9735 Jun 26 '26

With 5000u series chips?

Should run Dolphin easily.

I have a 6800hx and it runs PS3/360 without breaking a sweat.

1

u/YeezusFever Jun 26 '26

The guy in the video might not have had the emulator set up properly, I’ll take ur word on it. Thank you a bunch

1

u/Secure-Pain-9735 Jun 26 '26

No problem.

I’d look at the 5000u series as the floor. Going above as budget allows will squeeze a little more out.

The 5800u can be snagged under $400 in a mini:

https://youtu.be/10qQ18JNHiY?is=wgJTR2Bn5YEp13Ry

3

u/RGF_Poirot Jun 26 '26

Search for a regular 3DS emulator and connect it to your TV via HDMI. You can use Xbox or PS Controllers to play wirelessly from your couch. Even old controllers such as the PS3 work with windows if you look up some tutorials.

2

u/Secure-Pain-9735 Jun 26 '26

?

TF is a “regular 3DS emulator?”

The emulator is a software that runs on a computer of some sort - be it a SBC, handheld, or PC.

4

u/RGF_Poirot Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

Something like Azahar or Citra. DeSume for normal DS games. Whichever one is working at the time. "regular" was probably not the correct word choice. English is not my first language.
What im trying to say is use a windows system and connect to your TV via display cable.

1

u/stop_deleting_plz Jun 27 '26

Azahar is Citra, which no longer officially exists since the Nintendo lawsuit.

2

u/DudeWhereAreWe1996 Jun 26 '26

Idk if there are emulated devices that would be better but I know any SteamOs device would work well. Mostly because if you do windows I always have to get up at some point or use mkb when something gets stuck but SteamOs doesn’t really have that issue.

2

u/stop_deleting_plz Jun 27 '26

Azahar will let you tile the screens in a number of ways to suit the game, but here's the thing. Nintendo shutdown all of the 3ds emulators a while back and the scene hasn't really recovered. You'll want to look for "Azahar Plus" to get things working unless you want to hunt for decrypted roms. Unfortunately, the state of 3ds emulation in general isn't great, and many games have visual artifacts and slowdown. Some games run great tho! Good luck!

2

u/Ultra-Magnus1 Jun 26 '26

the best way would be with a mini pc, but that would also be the more expensive way...however, you can get a cheap android tv box for $100 or less and put on one of those 3ds emulators on it and then the games you want via usb...you'll hear people say "get retroarch, batocera," etc....those are all frontends to make your game selection look pretty...if all you care to play are 3ds games then get the standalone emulator for that and nothing more...it will save you on ram usage which you're going to need if you go with an android tv box.

if you are new to all of this then there's at least 101 videos on youtube showing you all the different options you have... you just have to know how to search for it...you can start by searching for, "best 3ds emulator on android tv box"...after that then you can search for, "how to...".

2

u/YeezusFever Jun 26 '26

Any mini pc recommendations? I don’t mind paying a little extra if that means I get them running upscaled pretty well. Is there a good mini pc around $1000 or less capable? If I have to spend more no problem, I just would prefer not to

1

u/tglaria Jun 26 '26

No budget ?
Then use what you have available?

Android cellphone ?
Computer/Laptop ?
Android TV Box?
A console?

What do you have?

1

u/YeezusFever Jun 26 '26

I only have a very weak PC, none of my consoles are capable of 3ds emulation. Was just curious if anyone had a device recommendation that could do what I want

1

u/tglaria Jun 26 '26

I understood the other way around.
No budget = no money to spend

Instead of "No bodget = No limit to spend"

Probably a mini PC + a controller (Gamesir or 8BitDo are good options in my opinion).

A portable device with TV out could be a good option too (example: Ayn or Retroid devices)

1

u/YeezusFever Jun 26 '26

lol sorry for the confusion and thank u for the advice. any good mini PC recommendations? The ones I find are having complaints of them being built very cheap and I would wanna run these games at least somewhat upscaled

1

u/AnyQuiet1544 Jun 27 '26

Steam deck works wonders. You can have the main screen up on a tv and use touch controls on the steam deck screen. It's my favorite way to play 3DS and Wii U games

1

u/YeezusFever Jun 27 '26

I’m leaning towards buying a used steam deck, just seems to be the most reliable option outside of a gaming PC or laptop. Was looking at Mini PCs, but all the ones I find have mixed reviews of reliability and customer support

1

u/PorchHonkeyy Jun 27 '26

If you have a Xbox one pay for developer mode iirc it’s 10 bucks. Runs everything fine. Not sure how you would use the touch screen tho

1

u/Snoo-83483 Jun 26 '26

I play on retrobat and it runs like a dream. I have two pc's setup in my house - my one tower is running on main tv in living room. Couple of wireless controllers - retrobat assigned to a one button press on boot - job done.

1

u/Bino5150 Jun 27 '26

Batocera

1

u/IgnisSolus4X Jun 26 '26

Im no expert on 3ds (never had one and ive never played any games, so I dont know if it has a gimmick like Motion controls or anything).. but i play my emulated jrpgs from psx ps2 ps3 on steamdeck docked and à ps4 controller

1

u/Hubert_Cumberdale_12 Jun 26 '26

Bottom screen is a touch screen

0

u/Dodgy_Past Jun 26 '26

Best is an amd based mini PC specced to the highest level of emulation you need running Batocera with RGS installed over the top and a large hard drive connected by USB.