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Citra is an open-source 3DS emulator for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android devices.
It is designed to recreate the functionality of the Nintendo 3DS system on other platforms, enabling users to play 3DS games in higher resolutions and with improved graphics.
Beyond simply playing games, Citra includes features such as network play and save states, enhancing the gaming experience beyond the original hardware capabilities.
Citra is an open-source Nintendo 3DS emulator & debugger written in C++.
It is written with portability in mind, with builds available for Windows, Linux, MacOS and Android.
Citra was initially created by a developer known by their online handle as “bunnei”. The project began in 2014 and was publicly released in its early stages, attracting a community of developers interested in 3DS emulation. The name “Citra” or codename Project Citrus is derived from CTR, which is the model name of the original 3DS.
From its inception, Citra has been a community-driven project, with contributions from dozens of developers over the years. It operates under the GNU General Public License v2, which ensures that its source code remains open and accessible for anyone interested in examining, modifying, or distributing it, as long as they adhere to the terms of the GPL.
As of March 2024 the official citra-emu.org website was taken down following a lawsuit and reached a $2.4m settlement with Nintendo America, stating that “Yuzu and Yuzu’s support of Citra are being discontinued, effective immediately.”
In it’s current state, Citra remains the most complete and capable 3DS emulator and users can continue to enjoy playing 3DS games. Despite this major setback in 3DS emulation – new forks are on the rise, namely pabloMK7’s Citra and Lime3DS.
This website (citra-emulator.com) has been created for archiving and preservation purposes and is not affiliated with Nintendo or the official Citra Devs.
Citra boasts an extensive compatibility list, supporting a myriad of 3DS titles. This range includes everything from major releases to indie games, providing a comprehensive 3DS gaming experience.
One of the emulator's standout features is its ability to enhance 3DS game graphics. Citra allows for upscaling of games to higher resolutions than on the original hardware, making your favorite games look even better on high-definition displays.
With customizable settings, Citra permits users to optimize performance based on their device's capabilities. Whether you're running it on a high-end gaming rig or a modest laptop, Citra offers a smooth gaming experience tailored to your hardware.
Citra includes support for networked multiplayer, allowing you to connect with other players across the globe. This feature brings a new level of excitement to games that were originally designed for local multiplayer.
The emulator also features save states, enabling players to save their progress at any point in a game. This is a game-changer for challenging titles, allowing for a more forgiving gameplay experience.
Citra is designed with accessibility in mind, featuring a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to load and play games, configure settings, and access emulator features.
Yes, Citra is legal. However, users are advised to use their own 3DS games and not distribute copyrighted ROMs.
As of March 2024, the official Citra repository was taken down and will no longer receive any updates from the original developers.
Future maintainers will be required for any continuation or fork of this project.
While Citra supports a wide range of 3DS titles, compatibility varies. Check our compatibility list on our website for details on specific games.
Citra is designed to run on a variety of hardware. However, for the best experience, a relatively modern PC with a dedicated GPU is recommended.
You must own the games you wish to play. You can dump your legally obtained 3DS games using a 3DS console and then play them on Citra.
Citra only supports decrypted images and official ROM backups of retail games will be encrypted.
There are however, third party tools such as the Batch CIA 3DS Decryptor one can use.
Yes, Citra allows you to import your saves from your 3DS console, letting you continue your progress seamlessly.
Citra is an open-source 3DS emulator for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android devices.
It is designed to recreate the functionality of the Nintendo 3DS system on other platforms, enabling users to play 3DS games in higher resolutions and with improved graphics.