Enable the beta
Open the Nintendo DS games page on desktop or Android. Wait for “Server ready,” then choose Enable Wi-Fi Beta for this visit.
Nintendo WFC Beta
Play Nintendo DS Wi-Fi games online
The OldGames Nintendo DS Wi-Fi Beta connects compatible melonDS games to an isolated browser relay. Every DS title that shipped a Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection mode now opens on the Wi-Fi player by default — look for Play Online on its card. Mario Kart DS and Tetris DS have both reached the replacement Nintendo WFC service in testing; an actual match still needs another player online at the same time.
Note: an online session turns emulator save states off. Saving inside the game (the cartridge save) works normally.
Nintendo DS Wi-Fi setup
Open a compatible game
Choose Mario Kart DS or another title with a Nintendo WFC mode. The opt-in route loads the melonDS Wi-Fi player for that browser tab.
Use automatic settings
Inside the game, open Nintendo WFC Settings, choose melonAP, and leave the connection, IP address and DNS options on automatic.
Mario Kart DS online test result
In the current browser test, Mario Kart DS entered Nintendo WFC, connected through the OldGames relay and reached Searching for opponents. The active connection count increased while the game searched and returned to zero after the session closed.
This confirms the browser-to-relay path, but it does not guarantee a race. Two-player gameplay requires a second compatible player online at the same time, and the community service behind an original game's WFC calls must also respond.
What works and what remains beta
| Browser relay | Confirmed to accept a Nintendo DS Wi-Fi connection and cleanly remove it when the game closes. |
|---|---|
| Mario Kart DS | Confirmed through the in-game opponent-search stage. A complete two-player race has not yet been verified. |
| Devices | Designed for desktop and modern Android browsers. The Wi-Fi route is disabled on iPhone and iPad; normal single-player Nintendo DS play remains available there. |
| Pokémon Platinum | Pokémon Platinum goes online like the rest of Gen 4: Play Online opens the melonDS Wi-Fi player (select melonAP in Nintendo WFC Settings) for the GTS and Wi-Fi battles, and Play Offline beside it keeps the save-compatible DeSmuME player, because the browser melonDS build can refuse a Gen 4 cartridge save (“A communication error has occurred”). Each route keeps its own save file after the first online boot, so export a .SAV with “Download original game save” before going online; nothing is deleted and Play Offline is always one click away. Emulator snapshots are disabled during a Wi-Fi session. |
| Opponents | Not supplied by the server. Another real player must be using a compatible game at the same time. |
If Nintendo WFC does not connect
Check the hub status
If the NDS hub reports “Server unavailable,” leave Wi-Fi Beta disabled and play normally. Try the beta again after the relay reports ready.
Keep melonAP automatic
Manual DNS or IP values can break the isolated browser route. Select melonAP and keep IP address, DNS and connection settings automatic.
Coordinate the same game
A long opponent search usually means no compatible player is available. Ask the other player to open the same title and online mode at the same time.
Use desktop or Android
iPhone and iPad stay on the safer DeSmuME route because the melonDS Wi-Fi player is not enabled on those devices.
Nintendo DS online FAQ
Can I play Mario Kart DS online right now?
You can enable the beta and reach opponent search when the relay and game service respond. A race requires another compatible player online at the same time. Full two-player gameplay remains beta.
Do I need a download or a separate emulator?
No separate emulator download is required. Enable Wi-Fi Beta from the OldGames Nintendo DS page and launch the game in the browser.
Why does the page say “Searching for opponents”?
The connection path is active, but no matching player may be available. It can also mean a title-specific community service is not returning a match.
Is OldGames affiliated with Nintendo?
No. OldGames is an independent site. Nintendo DS, Mario Kart and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection are names associated with Nintendo; this beta is not an official Nintendo service.