While the Anbernic RG35XX has more potential than the Miyoo Mini Plus, with hidden GPU unlocked and a quad-core CPU, its Koriki custom firmware has been under development for a long time. Not anymore, you can finally play nds on RG35XX as good as Miyoo Mini users. So, many thanks to Acemeplus for unlocking RG35XX hidden GPU and other developers for overclocking RG35XX CPU, so we can finally know how to play Nintendo DS games on Anbernic RG35XX.
Make sure to read my RG35XX custom firmware comparison guide before using the system. You should know that if it’s worth your while to try nds on Anbernic RG35XX or not.
What we need
- Install Koriki on Anbernic RG35XX (the latest version)
- Install Garlic on Anbernic RG35XX (the latest version)
- Overclock CPU on Anbernic RG35XX
- Download DraStic for Garlic
- Install MinUI on Anbernic RG35XX (the latest version)
- Download custom DraStic for MinUI
How to play nds games on Anbernic RG35XX (Koriki)?
- You must make sure you follow my guides of installing Koriki and overclocking CPU on RG35XX
- Create a new NDS folder inside Roms (either in SHARE partition of your SD card, or in the second SD card)
- Put Nintendo DS games (.nds) into this folder
- You can follow my guide on how to add box art in Anbernic RG35XX to put box arts for NDS system
- Put each SD card to its respective slot and power the RG35XX up
How to play nds games on Anbernic RG35XX (Garlic)?
- You must make sure you follow my guide of installing Garlic on RG35XX
- Extract Drastic.zip that you previously downloaded for Garlic (make sure it’s for Garlic)
- For single-SD card setup:
- Move APPS folder inside Roms folder
- Move CFW folder to the root of the SD card
- Open coremapping.json in /CFW/config folder with Notepad. Add this line:
"/mnt/mmc/Roms/APPS/Drastic.sh",- For dual-SD card setup:
- Move APPS folder inside Roms folder, normally in the SD card in TF2 slot
- Move CFW folder to the root of the SD card in TF1 slot
- Open coremapping.json in /CFW/config folder with Notepad. Add this line:
"/mnt/SDCARD/Roms/APPS/Drastic.sh",- You need to overclock CPU on RG35XX to play NDS games
- Create a new NDS folder inside Roms
- Put Nintendo DS games (.nds) into this folder
How to play nds games on Anbernic RG35XX (MinUI)?
- You must make sure you follow my guide of installing MinUI on RG35XX
- Extract Drastic_minui.zip that you previously downloaded for MinUI
- Copy everything in NDS.pak folder to /Emus/rg35xx folder
- Create a new NDS folder inside Roms
- Put Nintendo DS games (.nds) into this folder
Anbernic RG35XX DS games’ global shortcuts
Koriki
| Button combination | Action |
| R2 | Activate stylus cursor for touchscreen. Use D-Pad to move the cursor (don’t need to hold R2), and press A to confirm |
| L2 | Switch screens |
| MENU | Open DraStic menu |
| START + SELECT | Exit emulator |
Other global shortcuts follow my Anbernic RG35XX Koriki guide, because drastic is only an emulator inside the custom firmware Koriki.
Garlic
| Button combination | Action |
| L2 | Change layouts (13 layouts) |
| R2 | Switch screens |
| POWER | Toggle stylus mode. In Power mode you can use D-Pad to move the virtual stylus. Use A to select, X to change stylus screen, Y to change stylus image and L1/R1 to change stylus speed |
| MENU + L1 | Toggle main and alternative layout |
| MENU + SELECT | Change bezel |
| MENU + X | Change corner of the small screen (applicable for only layouts with two screens) |
| MENU + Y | Rotate keys |
Other global shortcuts follow my Anbernic RG35XX Garlic guide, because drastic is only an emulator inside the custom firmware Garlic.
MinUI
| Button combination | Action |
| L2 | Change layouts (13 layouts) |
| R2 | Switch screens |
| POWER | Toggle stylus mode. In Power mode you can use D-Pad to move the virtual stylus. Use A to select, X to change stylus screen, Y to change stylus image and L1/R1 to change stylus speed |
| MENU + L1 | Toggle main and alternative layout |
| MENU + SELECT | Change bezel |
| MENU + X | Change corner of the small screen (applicable for only layouts with two screens) |
| MENU + Y | Rotate keys |
Anbernic RG35XX NDS compatibility list
At the moment, it seems there is no active NDS compatibility list for Anbernic RG35XX, but you should use the Miyoo Mini NDS compatibility list made by reddit user alexlumper, which is basically the same story for the Anbernic RG35XX.
Due to the official Koriki version is only released today, I have limited time to test more games. But here are some thoughts of mine:
1, Pokemon White
Again, the first thing I want to try is my own file of Pokemon White, and I must say it has good performance overall. There would be minor sound issues here and there but the experience is overall good to enjoy.
2, Castlevania – Dawn of Sorrow
The game would be a no-brainer for the Anbernic RG35XX, especially when you applied the no-stylus patch. Gameplay is smooth and I would recommend this game to anyone.
That’s it, if you have any other questions, please find it in my RG35XX tutorial.
