Folium, a third-party emulator for iPhone and iPad, arrived on Apple’s App Store on June 6, 2024, offering support for Nintendo 3DS alongside DS and Game Boy Advance. It remains listed in the U.S. App Store for $2.99 as of August 18, 2026. The app does not include games or system files: you must provide files you are legally entitled to use, and performance depends on the device and title.
What happened when Folium arrived on the App Store?
Folium became available through Apple’s App Store on June 6, 2024. The launch drew attention because Apple had begun permitting certain emulator apps, while 3DS emulation is more demanding than emulating older systems. Contemporary coverage described Folium as the first App Store emulator with Nintendo 3DS support; that distinction is a report about the launch, not a claim about every emulator now available.
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9to5Mac’s June 6, 2024 coverage and Tech Times’ report from the same day covered the release. Folium is still listed in the U.S. App Store; the listing identifies Jarrod Norwell as its developer and showed a $2.99 price on August 18, 2026. Store prices and availability can differ by country and change over time.
Which systems does Folium support?
The current U.S. App Store listing names these systems:
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- Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS
- Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi
- Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance
- Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System
- Sega Genesis/Mega Drive
- ColecoVision
- PlayStation 1
That makes Folium broader than a 3DS, DS and GBA emulator. However, a system appearing on the supported list means the app has an emulation core for it; it does not establish that every game works perfectly or equally well.
How its 3DS core relates to Citra
Folium’s 3DS core is called Cytrus. The Folium GitHub organization identifies Cytrus as the 3DS core, and the Cytrus repository says it is built on Citra and was later picked up by the Azahar team. The precise description is that Folium uses a Cytrus-based 3DS core—not that Folium is an official Citra, Azahar or Nintendo app.
Rank #2
- Item Package Dimension- 8.49999999133L x 6.099999993778W x 2.399999997552H inches
- Item Package Weight - 0.9499999992033387 Pounds
- Item Package Quantity - 1
- Product Type - VIDEO GAME CONSOLE
What do you need to use Folium?
Folium is the emulator: software that imitates console hardware. It is not a game store. Its App Store listing says it does not supply games or system files, so you must provide the game images and any firmware, BIOS, keys or other data required for the system or title you want to use.
Only use game and system files you are legally entitled to use. Rules for making backups, downloading files and using firmware or keys vary by jurisdiction; buying Folium does not grant access to Nintendo’s game library. Folium also states that it is not affiliated with Nintendo. The App Store listing includes its file and affiliation disclaimers.
Rank #3
- Nintendo 3DS offers a new way to play, 3D without the need for special glasses. The 3D Depth Slider lets your determine how much 3D you want to see.
- Play 3D games and take 3D pictures with Nintendo 3DS. One inner camera and two outer cameras. Resolutions are 640 x 480 for each camera. Lens are single focus and uses the CMOS capture element.
- Connect to a deeper wireless experience with SpotPass and StreetPass, giving you more exclusive content and connecting you with other Nintendo 3DS users.
- Complete with an adjustable stylus, 6 AR cards, and fun built-in software such as Face Raiders, Nintendo 3DS Sound, and the Mii Maker application.
- Use Parental Controls to restrict 3D mode for children 6 and under.
General import and setup steps
Import details can change between app versions, so follow the prompts in the version you install rather than relying on an old menu path.
- Install Folium from the official App Store listing, then complete its onboarding and permission prompts.
- Use the Library’s import control to select a legally obtained game file.
- If the app reports missing system files, open its Missing Files option or use the file-import prompt, then provide the requested files in the format and location Folium specifies.
- If a file extension could be handled by multiple cores, select the core appropriate to that game.
- Launch the game from the Library and configure the on-screen controls or a supported external controller.
If a game does not appear, check whether its file type is supported, whether it was assigned to the right core, and whether Folium reports missing files. A corrupt or incomplete game dump or a library-detection problem are other possibilities; a missing cover image alone does not establish that the game file is unusable.
Rank #4
- This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The resulting product includes all relevant accessories, comes
- 3D Entertainment Without Glasses- Nintendo 3DS games have incredible graphics, and you can turn down the 3D effect to any level, or turn it off completely at any time with the build-in 3D depth slider to play games in crisp, clear 2D
- Two Screens- A widescreen display on the top screen shows 800x240 pixel resolution, allocating 400*pixles for each eye to create the 3D effect. The bottom LCD touch screen operates at a resolution of 320*240
- 3D Photos, Plus More- Nintendo 3DS comes built-in with the ability to take photos in 3D. Capture eye popping images of your friends and family, have fun with filters like the Merge lens, or even use the system's AR technology and included AR Cards
What features and controllers does it offer?
The App Store release history lists save and load states for the GBA, 3DS and DS cores, custom 3DS layouts, cheats for the Cytrus core, basic DSi-mode support in the DS core, landscape support for DS and GBA-related cores, and library artwork and filtering. Later updates mention changes to game detection, library population, system-file importing, save-state compatibility and 3DS control layouts. These are app features, not a guarantee of identical compatibility or performance across games.
The listing names support for Backbone One, Nintendo Switch Joy-Con and Pro Controller, PlayStation DualShock 4 and DualSense, and Xbox Series S and Series X controllers. A controller can make physical inputs easier, but DS and 3DS games may still need touch input or interaction with two screens; the layout and experience vary by game.
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Best Value
- Features: 3D Depth Slider, Wi-Fi Capability, Nintendo 3DS Sound, Mii Maker, 3D Camera, Front & Rear Camera, Touch Screen
- Includes: AC Power Adapter, Stylus
- Wired Connectivity: Wireless
- Model Compatibility: Nintendo 3DS
How well should you expect it to run?
There is no basis here for promising a particular frame rate, a compatible device model or flawless support for a given title. Folium’s App Store listing warns that emulation may be slow on older hardware. Compatibility and speed can vary with the game, device, graphics drivers, app version, configuration and required system files.
Older 8- and 16-bit systems and GBA are generally less demanding workloads than 3DS emulation. DS and 3DS also have dual-screen and touch-input demands that affect controls as well as performance. If a game is slow or crashes, check Folium’s error message and missing-file prompts first; device limits, title compatibility, rendering issues, heat or memory pressure, and an app bug are possible factors, not confirmed causes in every case.
Who is Folium for?
It may suit you if
- You specifically want to try 3DS emulation on an iPhone or iPad through an App Store app.
- You also want DS, GBA and older systems in the same app.
- You are comfortable importing your own legally obtained games and any required system files.
- You value features such as save states and support for external controllers.
Consider another option if
- You only want GBA or older-console emulation and do not need a 3DS core.
- You expect games to be included, to work without setup, or to run perfectly on any iPhone or iPad.
- You do not want to manage game or system files, or your device is older and performance is a concern.
- You expect Nintendo account integration, official Nintendo support or Nintendo Online compatibility.
If you are comparing alternatives, check each app’s current system list, price, App Store availability, controller and save-state features, and file requirements. A dedicated GBA or DS emulator may be a closer fit if you do not need 3DS support, but no general performance ranking follows without current, device-specific comparisons.
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