The short answer
Three profiles, three picks:
- You want the simple path, App Store native, DS at the center: Retro Pal.
- You want to emulate as many consoles as possible in one place: a multi-system app.
- You’re attached to Delta: still excellent, but in the EU it goes through AltStore PAL.
The details, and the why, below.
The App Store pick, DS-first: Retro Pal
Full disclosure: Retro Pal is our app. Take this section for what it is, and check for yourself against the five criteria that matter for DS.
What it brings to DS in 2026:
- Installs directly from the European App Store, no sideload, no third-party store.
- Two configurable screens: stacked in portrait, side by side in landscape, adjustable size, touch input mapped to the bottom screen. DS emulation is powered by melonDS, at 60 frames per second.
- RetroAchievements supported, for free: connect your account and your DS unlocks are counted, a rarity on iPhone.
- Saves stored locally, import of existing saves, optional iCloud sync.
- Bluetooth controllers free (Xbox, PlayStation, MFi), with touch controls hiding automatically.
- No ads, no personal tracking.
The app is free; optional Pro extras exist, but nothing is required to play DS.
The multi-console pick: a multi-system app
If your priority is not the DS but catalog breadth (dozens of systems in one app, up to recent 3D consoles), multi-system apps cover far more machines, and several are available directly on the App Store. That is a real strength if you want everything in one place. The trade-off is an experience less centered on the DS: test how it handles the two screens and touch input on your games.
The loyalty pick: Delta, via AltStore PAL
Delta is a reference emulator, and its DS handling is solid. The thing to know in Europe: Delta is not distributed on the EU App Store and installs through AltStore PAL, a third-party store. If that extra step doesn’t bother you and you specifically want Delta, it’s a very good option.
How to decide, in the end
Whatever you pick, the criteria that matter for DS don’t change: the two-screen layout, touch accuracy, save safety, controller support, and how the app installs. We go through them one by one in our guide to choosing a DS emulator on iPhone.