Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Delta does not include Pokémon games and does not offer a built-in ROM download catalog. To play Pokémon on an iPhone or iPad, install Delta from an official distribution channel, obtain a compatible game dump you are legally entitled to use, then import it through Apple’s Files picker.

Delta supports Pokémon games originally released for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS. It does not run Pokémon games made for Nintendo 3DS or Nintendo Switch.

Which Pokémon games work with Delta?

Delta supports the console families below, provided the particular game file is valid and compatible with the relevant emulator core. A supported extension does not guarantee that every regional revision, ROM hack, corrupted dump, or save state will work perfectly.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Original system Examples Typical file extension
Game Boy Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow .gb
Game Boy Color Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal .gbc
Game Boy Advance Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, LeafGreen .gba
Nintendo DS Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black, White, Black 2, White 2 .ds or .nds

Delta’s supported systems and extensions are listed in its official importing guide.

#1 Best Overall
【2026 Newest】208 in 1 Super Combo Game Cartridge, Retro Game Pack Card Compilation with 208 Games
  • 【Super Game Feast】208 in 1 Game Cartridge is a super game set for game fans. 208 games of different popular genres are available to meet any of your gaming needs. Each game can save the progress of the game. Comes with a beautiful case protector.
  • 【Perfect Compatibility】Supports a wide range of game console systems. Compatible with NDS, SNDSL, NDSi, NDSi LL/XL, 3DSS, 3DS LL/XL, New 3DSS, New 3DS LL/XL, 2DS, New 2DS LL/XL, etc.
  • 【Plug and Play】Buy and enjoy an endless journey of games. Language is English. Some games are multilingual and can recognize the host language and display the same language as the host.
  • 【How to use】Insert the SD card into the game cartridge and install your favorite games into the console. Each game can save the progress of the game.
  • 【Safe and reliable】Although it is a third-party product, it has the same functions as the official one, so you can play it anytime when you insert the card.

Changing a filename from something such as .zip, .3ds, or .xci to .gba or .nds does not convert the file. Pokémon X/Y, Sun/Moon, Scarlet/Violet, and other 3DS or Switch releases are outside Delta’s supported-system scope.

Install Delta from an official source

In the United States and other supported non-EU App Store regions, install Delta from its official Apple App Store listing. In EU countries, Delta’s official guide directs users to AltStore PAL.

Avoid websites offering “Delta APK” files, cloned apps, configuration profiles, or preconfigured downloads. Delta is an emulator, not a Nintendo game store, and installing it does not provide access to Pokémon games.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

How to obtain a Pokémon game file legitimately

You need a game dump from the original cartridge or another source you are legally entitled to use. The legal rules for making or using personal backups differ by jurisdiction, so owning a cartridge does not automatically make downloading a matching file lawful everywhere.

Delta’s importing guide recommends creating a dump from a compatible physical cartridge with a tool such as GB Operator. That type of device is relevant to Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges; it is not a Nintendo DS solution and does not supply Pokémon games.

Rank #2
CEZLTONSH 【2025 Newest】 Super Combo Retro Cartridge Compilation Card Compatible with DS DSI 2DS 3DS DSIXL New 2DSXL New 3DSXL (468 in 1 Edition)
  • ✅Compliation Collection: 520 or 468 genre-diverse games with save progress functionality. Includes a protective case.
  • ✅Wide Compatibility: Works with all NDS/3DS/2DS systems (including XL/LL variants).
  • ✅Plug & Play: English interface with auto-detects console language or multilingual games. Simply insert the card to install and play.
  • ✅Hassle-Free Support: All cartridges are quality-tested. If damaged during shipping or encountering issues, contact us immediately for prompt resolution.

Do not use ROM-download sites, torrents, peer-to-peer links, “preloaded” devices, or third-party links to unauthorized copies. Nintendo states in its intellectual-property and piracy FAQ that unauthorized copies distributed through third-party file links or peer-to-peer networks are pirate copies and that downloading or uploading them is illegal.

Purchasing a game through Nintendo’s official channels also does not necessarily produce a file that can be imported into Delta. Keep the emulator-installation question separate from the game-file question.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

What file should you import?

Use the file produced for the game’s original system:

  • Game Boy: .gb
  • Game Boy Color: .gbc
  • Game Boy Advance: .gba
  • Nintendo DS: .ds or .nds

If the dump is inside a compressed archive and Delta cannot see or select it, extract the archive first in the Files app or with an appropriate archive utility. Do not simply rename an arbitrary file; an extension change cannot repair an invalid dump or turn one console format into another.

How to import Pokémon into Delta on iPhone or iPad

  1. Install Delta from the official source for your region.
  2. Save your legally obtained game file somewhere accessible in Apple’s Files app, such as On My iPhone/iPad or iCloud Drive.
  3. Open Delta.
  4. Tap the + button in the upper-right corner.
  5. Choose Files.
  6. Browse to the game file and tap it.
  7. Wait for Delta to add the game to your library.
  8. Tap the game’s cover art to launch it.

The exact labels can change between Delta versions, but the official import path is the plus button followed by the Files picker. For the current procedure, see Delta’s importing-games documentation.

Rank #3
CEZLTONSH 2025 Super Combo Retro Cartridge Compilation Card Compatible with DS DSI 2DS 3DS DSIXL New 2DSXL New 3DSXL (208 Edition)
  • ✅Compliation Collection: Different genre-diverse games with save progress functionality. Includes a protective case.
  • ✅Wide Compatibility: Works with all NDS/3DS/2DS systems (including XL/LL variants).
  • ✅Plug & Play: English interface with auto-detects console language or multilingual games. Simply insert the card to install and play.
  • ✅Hassle-Free Support: All cartridges are quality-tested. If damaged during shipping or encountering issues, contact us immediately for prompt resolution.

Save Pokémon correctly

Pokémon gives you three different kinds of save data, and they are not interchangeable:

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
  • In-game save: The save created through Pokémon’s own menu. This is the most portable and safest form of progress.
  • Save state: An emulator snapshot taken at an exact moment. It is convenient but can become incompatible after a core or Delta update.
  • Exported save: A save file used when moving progress between devices or emulators. It is different from a save-state file.

Always make a normal in-game save before updating Delta, changing ROM revisions, or moving your game. Delta’s App Store release notes warn that a Delta update made existing Nintendo DS save states incompatible and advised players to save normally in-game before updating.

For a long Pokémon playthrough, keep backups of exported saves. If progress appears to vanish, check whether you are loading the game’s normal save rather than an old or incompatible save state. Changing a ROM’s revision or filename can also prevent an existing save from being recognized correctly.

Do Nintendo DS Pokémon games need BIOS files?

Not universally on current Delta versions. Older Delta documentation said that Nintendo DS BIOS files were required, but the App Store release notes for Delta 1.6.1 state that melonDS BIOS files became optional.

If your installation displays a BIOS error or a DS game fails to boot, check your installed Delta version and follow the current Nintendo DS instructions. If BIOS files are requested, use only system files obtained from hardware you own, where permitted by local law. Do not download BIOS files from random websites.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Troubleshooting Pokémon on Delta

The game does not appear in the Files picker

  • Confirm the file is stored in a location the Files picker can access.
  • Extract it if it is inside a ZIP or another archive.
  • Check that its extension matches the original console.
  • Make sure it is a game dump, not a patch, text file, installer, or unrelated archive.

Delta says the file is unsupported

Confirm that the game belongs to a supported system and that the dump is complete and uncorrupted. Re-create the dump if necessary. For a ROM hack, first test the original, unmodified dump; this helps distinguish a dumping problem from a patching or compatibility problem.

A Pokémon ROM hack will not launch

ROM hacks are not guaranteed. Problems can result from an incorrect or incomplete patch, the wrong ROM revision or region, unsupported features, or a save created for a different version. Use a legally obtained source file and apply patches only as directed by the hack’s creator. Avoid pre-patched commercial ROM downloads.

The game is slow, freezes, or shows a black screen

  • Disable cheats and patches.
  • Turn off fast-forward.
  • Restart Delta and test again.
  • For DS games, make a normal in-game save before restarting.
  • Consider that individual DS titles can have compatibility issues even when the game launches.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Can you trade Pokémon or use online features?

Do not assume that a running game also supports its original multiplayer features. Game Boy and Game Boy Advance Pokémon trading and battles traditionally depend on link-cable communication, which is separate from importing and playing a game.

Delta’s current App Store listing describes online multiplayer for compatible Nintendo DS games through community Nintendo WFC servers, but that does not guarantee trading, link battles, Mystery Gift, or every online feature in every Pokémon title. Verify support for the specific game and Delta version before relying on it.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Can Pokémon from Delta be transferred to Pokémon HOME?

Not directly through Delta. Delta is not an official Pokémon HOME bridge, and a save file or emulator Pokémon should not be assumed to be transferable or accepted by Nintendo services. Any possible route would involve additional generations, hardware, save-management tools, and service-specific restrictions.

Best Value
23/356/486/502 in 1 MULTI CART Super Combo Video Games Cartridge Card for Nintendo DS NDS 3DS XL 3DSXL 2DS NDSL NDSI (486 in 1)
  • 23/356/486/502 in 1 MULTI CART Super Combo Video Games Cartridge Card for DS NDS 3DS XL 3DSXL 2DS NDSL NDSI

What Delta cannot play

Delta is suitable for the supported Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS generations. It is not a Nintendo 3DS or Nintendo Switch emulator, so Pokémon X/Y, Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, Sun/Moon, Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon, Sword/Shield, Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus, Scarlet/Violet, and other games from those platforms cannot be added simply by changing a file extension.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Delta free?

Delta is distributed through the official App Store listing in supported regions and through AltStore PAL in EU countries. Check the live listing for current pricing and any optional in-app purchases.

Can I play Pokémon Emerald on Delta?

Yes. Pokémon Emerald is a Game Boy Advance game, so a valid, legally obtained .gba dump is the appropriate file type.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Can I play Pokémon HeartGold or SoulSilver on Delta?

Yes, in principle. They are Nintendo DS games and use a compatible .ds or .nds file, although individual DS compatibility and BIOS behavior can vary by Delta version.

Can I use Delta on Android?

Delta is an iPhone and iPad emulator. Android users need a different emulator designed for Android; do not install websites claiming to offer a Delta APK.

Can I use a controller with Delta?

Delta’s App Store listing describes support for several Bluetooth, wired, and console-style controllers. Compatibility depends on the controller and Apple device.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.