3DS Games hosts a large library of games available for the Nintendo 3DS console. Want to play 3DS games on your PC? There are many emulators available to do so. Citra is the number one and considered the best. Citra Emulator is preferred because its performance while playing games like The Legend of Zelda, Pokemon X/Y, and Fire Emblem: Fates is excellent. We offer a helpful guide that will teach you how to download, install, and configure Citra Emulator and how to play 3DS games on your PC.
How to Play 3DS Games on PC Using Citra Emulator
If you want to play these games on a PC, you should use an emulator like Citra. Citra Emulator is the best 3DS emulator for Windows PCs, open source, and available for free download. Here are some noteworthy features of this emulator:
- Citra Emulator also allows you to play with wireless players Other online.
- You can play in Public rooms Hosted by Citra at Public Room Browser.
- It also allows you to Hosting game rooms.
- Additionally, you can perform In-game graphical modifications. For example, you can remove the black outlines from character and environmental models for a better gaming experience.
There are two types of builds available:
- Canary Build: It's the same Citra Nightly Build, the only difference is the additional features it offers. It's still under review.
- Citra Nightly Build: It offers great features and unlike Canary Build, it is available for free use.
Requirements for downloading and using Citra Emulator
To download Citra 3DS emulator on your computer, your gaming device must meet the following requirements:
- OpenGL 3.3 or higher
- 64-bit operating system
- Windows 7 or later
- Linux / macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later
- Android 8.0
How to Download and Install Citra on Windows 10
To download and install Citra on your computer, follow the steps below:
1. Download Citra of his official site By clicking the button Download for Windows x64 As shown in the picture.
2. Open citra-setup-windows.exe setup file which was downloaded, as shown.
3. In a window Citra Updater Setup , click the . button "the following".
4 a. Click the button "the following" To install in the default installation directory in drive C.
4b. Alternately, click the button. “Review…” To specify the desired directory where Citra will be installed.
5. Select one or both of the components you want to install by checking the box next to each one:
- Citra Canary
- Citra Nightly
6. Click the . button Next to follow.
7. Click Next in The next two windows To accept the license agreement and create Start menu shortcuts.
8. Finally, tap "ending" To complete the installation.
How to use Citra Emulator
Follow the steps below to set up, customize, and use Citra Emulator on a Windows 10 PC to play 3DS games.
Step 1: Setting up Citra Emulator
Since you just installed Citra Emulator, you need to set up the emulator to play as follows:
1. Press the keys Windows + E Together to open File Explorer.
2. Go to C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Citra As shown.
3. Create a folder named Roms Inside the guide Emulator Image To organize game files.
4. Transfer your game file. .3DS ROM To folder Roms , As shown below.
5. Next, run Emulator Image By clicking on the Start menu shortcut created during installation.
6. Double-click to add a new folder to the game list, as shown on the screen.
7. Next, go to Roms folder created in step 3 and click on it. Double click.
8. Double-click the game file where it will be loaded to play.
Step 2: Configure the controller
The next step in how to play 3DS games on PC guide is to configure the console.
1. Turn on Emulator Image On your computer, click on the option Emulation From the menu bar.
2. Choose formation …from the drop-down menu, as shown.
3. Go to the Controls tab on the right pane.
4. Assign the controller buttons according to your convenience and click "OK".
Note: The emulator detects the controller automatically, so it won't take long to connect the controller to the emulator.
Step 3: Optimize graphics
To play 3DS ROMs on a PC with better graphics quality, you will need to change the emulator resolution, as shown below:
1. Go to Citra Emulator > Emulation > Configure… As above.
2. Click Graphics In the right part of the configuration window Quote.
3. Choose "internal accuracy" Required from the selected drop-down list.
Note: Citra Emulator supports resolutions up to 10x, but make sure to choose the resolution according to the graphics card installed on your system.
4. Next, choose the desired texture filter from the drop-down menu, as shown below.
5. Click "OK" To save these changes.
Step 4: Implement other improvements
After configuring the 3DS emulator download for PC, make sure to optimize the settings for better performance.
1. Go to Citra Emulator > Emulation > Configure… As before.
2. In the section "general" , switch to tab "revision".
3. Select the specific option. Enable CPU JIT within the section "diverse" , as shown.
4. In section "Advanced Options" With the tab drawings Make sure these options are selected:
- Use Disk Shader Cache
- Enable VSync
How to update or uninstall Citra Emulator
To update Citra, you must reinstall it. Here's how to uninstall and then reinstall Citra Emulator on Windows 10:
1. Press the keys Windows + I to turn on Settings.
2. Click Applications From the selected boxes.
3. Locate Citra In the list Applications Click on it.
4. Click the Uninstall button for the application, as shown.
5. Click Uninstall again in the prompt to confirm.
6. A wizard will appear. Maintain Citra Updater. You can choose from the following:
- Add or remove components: To add or remove Citra Canary or Citra Nightly.
- Component update: To update to the latest version.
- Remove all components: To completely uninstall Citra emulator.
7. Select the Remove all components option and click "the following" To uninstall it.
8. Click the button "uninstall" on screen Ready to uninstall.
9. Finally, tap "ending" To complete the uninstallation process.
Pro Tip: Game Compatibility
Citra Emulator tests game compatibility to improve performance. Different colors indicate compatibility as follows:
- Blue (ideal): The game runs flawlessly and without errors. No workarounds are required.
- Green (great): The game is experiencing some sound or graphical glitches, so it usually needs some fixes.
- Olive Green (OK): The game has major sound or graphical glitches but you can play from start to finish.
- Yellow (bad): The game runs with major sound or graphical glitches and you cannot play from start to finish as it is unable to progress in certain areas.
- Red (Intro/List): The game will not launch due to major sound or graphical glitches, and the game will freeze on the start screen.
- Gray (will not boot): The game crashes and won't open during startup.
- Black (not tested): The game has not been tested yet.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q1. Why do we have to use only the decrypted 3DS file?
answer. An encrypted 3DS file offers limited compatibility because it contains access points. These access points are removed in decrypted files, making them compatible with different devices.
Q2. Is Citra Emulator available for Android version?
answer. Yes, Citra Emulator is available for Android version in Google Play Store.
Q3. Is Citra Emulator safe?
answer. Yes, it's safe and effective. It's always recommended to update to the latest version to improve performance and security. Activities such as 3DS game piracy and downloading commercial games are illegal and unsafe. Therefore, refrain from doing so.
Q4. What other free 3DS emulators are available?
answer. Best Other free 3DS emulators available for Windows and Mac she:
- R4 3DS Emulator,
- retroArch,
- DeSmuME,
- 3DMOO,
- NO$GBA,
- iDEAS Emulator,
- Project64 Emulator,
- DuoS Emulator, and
- NeonDS Emulator.
We hope you've learned how to play 3DS games on your PC using Citra Emulator. Keep visiting our page for more great tips and tricks and leave your comments below.
