How to convert nds files to cia files? There's a few DS games i wanna play on my homebrew 2DS (2024)

Title, about to buy a homebrew New 2DS XL, already have several cia files of 3DS games i wanna play waiting. But i've found that the one DS game i wanna play is an nds file, and i dunno if the 2DS will run it by default. I'm also assuming that converting it to a cia file will even allow me to play it.

For those that are curious, the game in question is the english patched version of a japanese game. I emulate the game just fine on my phone so i know it works.

WhistleBlue said:

Title, about to buy a homebrew New 2DS XL, already have several cia files of 3DS games i wanna play waiting. But i've found that the one DS game i wanna play is an nds file, and i dunno if the 2DS will run it by default. I'm also assuming that converting it to a cia file will even allow me to play it.

For those that are curious, the game in question is the english patched version of a japanese game. I emulate the game just fine on my phone so i know it works.

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What game?

As godreborn said you can use TWiLight Menu++ or there's also forwarders (YANBF/NDSForwarder) if you want to have them on your HOME Menu. It's not possible to directly convert most* DS games to CIA, so you instead need TWiLight or forwarders.

*DSiWare are the exception to this, for DSiWare you're also able to play them from TWiLight but if you want they can be installed directly without a forwarder by converting to CIA or simply installing the NDS using GodMode9.

Pk11 said:

As godreborn said you can use TWiLight Menu++ or there's also forwarders (YANBF/NDSForwarder) if you want to have them on your HOME Menu. It's not possible to directly convert most* DS games to CIA, so you instead need TWiLight or forwarders.

*DSiWare are the exception to this, for DSiWare you're also able to play them from TWiLight but if you want they can be installed directly without a forwarder by converting to CIA or simply installing the NDS using GodMode9.

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This pretty much sums it up perfectly!

Shadow#1 said:

What game?

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Super Robot Taisen OG Saga Endless Frontier Exceed

Neo Draven said:

Owning one is something you won't ever regret.

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TBH, there seem to be occasional reports of people suggesting their flashcart won't work quite right unless they stick in a piece of paper or something to ensure it makes proper contact in the cartridge slot. It makes me a little wary of damaging something.. But I'm probably just being paranoid.

Kwyjor said:

TBH, there seem to be occasional reports of people suggesting their flashcart won't work quite right unless they stick in a piece of paper or something to ensure it makes proper contact in the cartridge slot. It makes me a little wary of damaging something.. But I'm probably just being paranoid.

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Legitimate concern. I've had probably half a dozen DS/3DS consoles, using several different brands of flash carts, and some of them DO have more play than others, but the contacts are pretty rugged. Even if you do have to wedge a small piece of paper in, it isn't going to touch any of the contacts anyway. I've never personally had any issues.

Kwyjor said:

TBH, there seem to be occasional reports of people suggesting their flashcart won't work quite right unless they stick in a piece of paper or something to ensure it makes proper contact in the cartridge slot. It makes me a little wary of damaging something.. But I'm probably just being paranoid.

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Happens with legit cartridges too, caused by excessive cartridge changes making the pins lose springiness.

godreborn said:

I've never encountered this issue, but I will say that the super card dstwo is a pita to remove from the n3ds xl. it doesn't appear to be as large as a normal ds game or maybe it's just the spring mechanism that's the problem with this cart or maybe all ds games are like this. 3ds games have a hook like thing that differentiates them from a ds cart, probably to prevent stupid people from putting a 3ds game in a ds expecting it to run. anyway, I have to physically stick my fingers into the cartridge slot to remove it. I no longer use the cart on the 3ds. it's in my ds lite now, which serves me better I guess.

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I had the same issue on a 3DS XL, had to saw off part of the cartridge to reach the screw behind it to take the console apart and loosen the slot.

chief18 said:

Hey there, sorry for my question, but can't I convert a normal .nds game into a DSiWare one, in order to install it?

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No

spaceworld_5 said:

you can either emulate it with TwilightMenu++ or use a NDS forwarder

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however wouldn't be the same thing

chief18 said:

however wouldn't be the same thing

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Well. What ever you think your wanting in that head of yours. It aint gonna heppen this way. NDS games are either going to be ran under twilight menu. As a NDS forwarder, or having the actual game and running it from the game slot.

I wasn't polemical about that.
I was just saying that a forwarder wouldn't be the same thing of a .cia converted (wherever would be possible doing this) or might a Dsiware just saying)

lone_wolf323 said:

Well. What ever you think your wanting in that head of yours. It aint gonna heppen this way. NDS games are either going to be ran under twilight menu. As a NDS forwarder, or having the actual game and running it from the game slot.

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