Very recently an app called 3hs released, which has basically everything, from games, to dsiware, to vietual console, to custom games, homebrew, hell movies are available too!

Get a Play Coin adder. Comes in handy when grinding those Streetpass Plaza games. Also, Universal Updater. Needed if you are planning to use Twilight Menu or Retroarch

Here's a list with lots of cool Homebrew apps:

https://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/List\_of\_3DS\_homebrew\_applications

3dsident

Lets you test all buttons, directional controls, abs touchscreen.

Also shows you useful info about your hardware.

1. checkpoint - for backing up/restoring save files
2. FTPD - for transferring files between your PC and your 3DS over WiFi (used in conjunction with WinSCP on Windows)

Universal updater let’s you install all sorts of homebrew apps

Anemone isn't essential unless you want to do custom themes.

Checkpoint is one I use regularly, and if you play out of region games often, Dead Simple EULA Set (DSES) and Luma Locale Switcher are very useful to have.

To me the best killer app for the 3DS is the NSUI https://3ds.eiphax.tech/nsui (this is the straight up download link from Dropbox). Basically it lets you play almost any NES/SNES/GB/GBC/GBA game on the 3DS through the Virtual Console (hence it's an injection which is much better than using emulators) not just ones released by Nintendo in the eShop. It's incredibly useful and a very well made. You can use custom translations for JP games and you can use your own graphics settings too! https://i.imgur.com/p2cmqOe.png It makes the 3DS the best handheld to play old games.

To play DS game ROMs TwilightMenu++ is the way to go https://wiki.ds-homebrew.com/twilightmenu/installing-3ds

FTPD if you don't want to take out the SD card every single time to copy some files https://github.com/mtheall/ftpd/ I use WinSCP as a client on Windows but there are tons of other free FTP clients https://winscp.net/

Not necessary but I have it installed: a nice app to check battery health https://github.com/Core-2-Extreme/Battery_mark_for_3DS

Checkpoint is a great one as well, PKSM, FTPD (the transfer over wifi app) which is better than popping out that SD card every single time, especially the N3DS w/its placement.

I think so.

I dont want to bash the contributions of other people that were just generous to offer tools for free for anyone to use. Both execute the same function and serve the same purpose, but I think the UI on Checkpoint is badly designed. Many important functions are hidden behind button combos that are explained buried into the Help section (and some of them like the Refresh Game List are not explained at all. I hated how some games didnt appear and I had to search around here how to make them appear on the icon grid). JKSV is just simple and quick to use. Just wait it for to list your games, click on the name if you want to backup or restore. If you installed another game, right on the main menu there is a option to refresh the game list, no need to remember button combinations...

never said it wasn't, but i wouldn't consider an abandoned homebrew project that doesn't work properly good or even "the best of 2024"

"best homebrew of 2024"
"a nintendo 64 emulator [...] it barley runs any games well"

also, ghost eshop is generally not recommended as all 3ds content is on hshop and the NDS games they have are prone to errors

jksv: easy way to backup saves pksv: easy way to backup, transfer and modify pokemon

Since you specifically said 2024, I'd think that Red Viper, the emulator that runs Virtual Boy at full speed with full compatibility in stereoscopic 3D, would be at the top of your list.

Haha yeah, have fun! Apparently the VB Wario game is pretty good.

Sonic mania on 3ds: am I a joke to you?

Universal Updater is a great 3DS Homebrew that allows you to update other Nintendo 3DS homebrew. It's a great alternative for TWiLight Menu++ Updater and Luma3DS Updater

I’d suggest the software behind the menu, nds-bootstrap, to be the actual star here.

DS forwarders allow the games to be installed to the homescreen, so you don’t need to boot an entire DS menu and navigate yet another UI just to play the game.

1. that's not a 3DS homebrew; that's a DS Homebrew with 3DS enhancements
2. TWiLight Menu++ is just a menu, not an emulator
3. even if you were talking about nds-bootstrap (what's uses to play DS Titles, that's still not an emulator. It runs natively.

ioQuake3DS. If you told me in 2011 when the 3DS came out that it would eventually run Quake III I would have laughed.

Retroarch is pretty good

They say its to much work and thats okay, at least it added gen 3 support wich is great

Pokemon save editor homebrew app... It's wonderful!

Wumiibo for amiibo emulation, and Playcoin for instant 300 playcoins.

Red Viper - Real 3D Virtual Boy emulation, makes the games playable and shows how fun they actually were!

Netpass - if you are into streetpass

I don't know if discounts but Mario 64 port is really good on the 3DS!!

I dunno it was pack in for me. I used the MK7 exploit and maybe the latest version of luma just has it

Ive never heard of play coin sounds handy for streetpass plaza

Hi, just about to give it a spin.

What's the difference between the free and the patron builds if there is any?

If I find it useful and use it more than a few times I may buy the post.

Just used for some Dreamcast goodness and all is well. Great job exodus_cl, thank you!!

Download doesn't say what platform it's for

Wena qliao. Está la raja la aplicación.

I'll be sure to give it a go

FTPd

Net Streepass. Since I discovered it two days ago.

pokemon mod software. lets you mess with your box and items among other things

sine i just modded mine, the theme manager.

what does it do ? i just downloaded it and it seems pretty bare 😭

Ctgp7 mario kart mod

Look for Netpass in universal updater. It was just posted, so it should be close to the top.

The 3DS Port of Super Mario 64 in the homebrew tab of the hshop

Ftpd is an app that allows you to transfer files from your computer to your 3ds wirelessly

Also wumiibo allows you to emulate Amiibos

As silly as this sounds, I'd recommend Pictochat, you can find it under Extras/DSI System Apps.

If you haven’t played Explorers of Sky yet I cannot stress enough how much I recommend it. Absolutely amazing game

I wasn’t aware it was on hShop but I’m assuming he’s referring to SM64 Render96, and if so, yes its amazing and a must-play.

Lets you download 3ds games

full catalogue and access to 3ds and ds games (including New 3ds exclusives like Minecraft), as well as some custom user made apps like ports of fnaf and doom.

Red Viper. Always have been curious about virtual boy and this incredible app even integrates 3D perfectly.

I like PKSM since on a new save you can still get access to the events and it doubles as a pokemon bank. Supporting every pokemon game you can get on the 3ds too

You got FBI? You can scan the QR code from the GitHub to install it.

https://github.com/FlagBrew/PKSM/releases/tag/10.1.1

Can luvdisc bloom in a pokemon battle?

My favorite is NetPass