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Playing Multiplayer on Nintendo DS: Local & (Legacy) Online

The Nintendo DS supports multiplayer via Local Wireless (ad-hoc) and formerly Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (WFC). WFC shut down May 20, 2014.

1. Local Wireless (Still Works Perfectly)

Single-Card Download Play

Host inserts game card. Guest has no card.
Host: Main Menu → Multiplayer / DS Download Play → Host Game.
Guest: DS Menu (no card) → DS Download Play → Select Host's game → Download temporary client.
Games: Mario Kart DS, New Super Mario Bros., Mario Party DS, Advance Wars: Dual Strike, Tetris DS, Metroid Prime Hunters, Pokémon (Union Room), Animal Crossing: Wild World.
Limits: Guest gets stripped-down version (fewer tracks, chars, modes). Host needs cart.

Multi-Card Play (Full Experience)

Each player has own game card.
Host: Multiplayer → Host. Guests: Multiplayer → Search/Join.
Full content, all modes, save progress per cart.
Essential for: Pokémon (trading/battling full teams), Advance Wars, Custom Robo, most RPGs.

Local Wireless Setup

Both: Wireless Switch ON (side slider: 3DS/DSi/DS Lite / Phat: side switch).
Within 30 feet (10m), minimal walls.
No internet/router needed. Pure ad-hoc.

2. Online Play (Historical / Revival)

Official (Dead): Nintendo WFC (Friends Codes, Matchmaking) — Shut down 2014.
Community Revival (PC/Flashcart/3DS):
- Wiimmfi: Replacement DNS server for Wii/DS. Patch game ISO/ROM or set DNS on console (Primary: 95.217.77.151, Secondary: 192.168.1.1). Works on original DS/DSi/3DS (with homebrew/Flashcart) and melonDS/DeSmuME emulators. Active community. wiimmfi.de
- AltWFC / NDS-Constraint: Other revival projects.

3. Modern Best Practice

Local: Flashcarts (EZ-Flash Omega, R4i Gold 3DS+) + Multi-Card Play = Best experience.
Online: melonDS (PC/macOS/Linux/Android) + Wiimmfi = Netplay, save states, 4K upscaling, cheats. Superior to original hardware.
3DS Family: Plays all DS games. CFW (Luma) + Wiimmfi DNS = Online on real hardware.

Local wireless is plug-and-play forever. Online requires Wiimmfi (easy setup).

Nintendo DS