Skip to content
Nelkano Multisystem emulator

User guide

Start with your first game and learn how to save your progress. Then set up Nelkano the way you like.

Start playing

Add your first game

You need a game file, also called a ROM.

  1. Open Library and press +.
  2. Find the file on your device. You can choose the ROM or a ZIP, RAR or 7z archive containing it.
  3. Select it to import it into your library.

CUE discs and RPG Maker

  • For CUE discs, include every track and keep the original filenames.
  • For RPG Maker, archive the whole project: XP works on Android and PC; MV/MZ, on Android.
Android file picker with the demonstration game archive. Enlarge image
Select the game file.

Open the game

  1. In Library, select the cover of the game you imported.
  2. Press Play to start it.
Demonstration game details with save states. Enlarge image
Game details.

Save and resume your game

A save state captures the exact point in a game so you can return to it later.

  1. During gameplay, open the gear button and choose Quick saves.
  2. Select a slot, S0–S5, and press Save. To return to that point, select the same slot and press Load.
  3. Next time, open the game details and press Continue. To choose a different state, select its screenshot in the game details or Save States.
  • Saving into an occupied slot replaces the previous state.
  • Autosaves uses the Auto slot and replaces it roughly every minute; Continue gives it priority.
  • The game's own saves are separate. Save states are only available on systems that support them.
Demonstration game settings with quick-save slots. Enlarge image
Select a slot before saving or loading.

Library

Organize your games

Group games into collections or mark your most-played games as favorites.

  1. Hold a game and select the titles you want to group.
  2. Press Add to collection. Choose an existing collection, or press Create collection, enter a name and confirm with Create.
  3. Open Collections beside the search bar to show only games in a collection.
  • The star in the game details adds it to Favorites.
  • The arrows sort by import date; ABC sorts by name.
Nelkano library with demonstration games and search controls. Enlarge image
Search, sort or filter your library.

Change a cover

Use one of your save-state screenshots as a game's cover.

  1. Open the game details and press the folder icon on the image.
  2. Choose the screenshot you want to use.
  • If there are no screenshots yet, save a state during gameplay first.
Cover selector with demonstration game save-state screenshots. Enlarge image
Choose a screenshot for the cover.

Controls and display

Arrange the touch controls

Adjust the buttons without changing other systems' controls.

  1. Open Settings → General → Controls → Control editor, or open the editor from a game's settings.
  2. Choose the system and screen orientation.
  3. Select a button to move, resize or hide it. Press Save when finished.
  • Save portrait and landscape layouts separately. Game Boy and Game Boy Color share a profile.
Nelkano Control editor with a control profile. Enlarge image
Select and position each button in the editor.

Use a controller or keyboard

Assign controller buttons for each system.

  1. Connect your controller to the device and open Settings → General → Controls → Bluetooth controller.
  2. Choose the system, select a control and press the controller button you want to assign.
  3. During gameplay, enable Fullscreen to control the game with the controller.
  • On PC: arrows for directions, Z/X and A/S for buttons, Enter for Start and right Shift for Select. F11 toggles full screen.
  • CHIP-8 uses 1234, QWER, ASDF and ZXCV.

Adjust the picture or pause

System buttons appear around the game picture.

  1. Press the pause button to pause or resume the game.
  2. Use Stretch to fill the game area; this changes the picture's proportions.
  3. On DS and 3DS, open Screens to choose Both, Upper or Lower.
  • To restart the game, open the gear button and press Restart.
A demonstration game running with Nelkano touch controls. Enlarge image
Gameplay with on-screen controls.

Modules and updates

Install a module

Modules add features to Nelkano.

  1. Open Settings → General → Modules and choose Explore.
  2. Choose a module and press Install to download and verify it.
  3. Review the author and requested permissions. Confirm installation if you agree.
  • For a .nelkmod file, use Installed → Import module.
  • From Installed, disable or uninstall optional modules. Delete its data too removes their saved data.
  • Tester-only modules appear only for accounts with access.
Nelkano Modules screen with the included modules. Enlarge image
Manage modules from Installed.

Update the app and modules

Included modules update with the app; optional modules have their own versions.

  1. To update the app, close your game and open Settings → General → App update.
  2. For modules, open Modules → Installed → Check for updates.
  3. Choose the update. If the module is active, press Disable and continue, then review its permissions and confirm installation.
  • Updating a module keeps its data.

Account and connections

Sign in and add friends

  1. Open Settings → Account → Log in. If you just registered, activate your account using the email link.
  2. In Library or Save States, press Friends beside the search bar.
  3. Find the user and send a request. You can also accept incoming requests from Friends.
  • Signing in does not sync games or saves across devices.

Play with friends

Both players must sign in and add each other in Friends.

  1. Open a compatible game and choose Multijugador.
  2. One person presses Crear partida and selects their friends. The others press Unirse and choose the host.
  3. For GBA link cable, use two devices with the exact same game version. Press Conectar con cable link and enter the game's own multiplayer mode.
  • The link session is temporary: leaving restores the previous session and discards progress made during multiplayer.

Use a second screen

Split DS or 3DS screens across two devices on the same local network.

  1. On the receiving device, open Settings → Second screen → Cambiar modo and confirm with Yes.
  2. On the gaming device, open Second screen → Buscar pantallas. Choose the receiver and press Conectar.
  3. Accept the connection on the receiver if prompted. Use Swap screens to change where each screen appears.
  • The lower screen accepts touch or mouse input from the receiver.

Watch your game from the web

You need an account allowed to broadcast.

  1. During gameplay, open the gear button → Streaming → Iniciar emisión.
  2. On nelkano.com, sign in with the same account and open Streaming to watch.
  3. When finished, press Detener emisión in the app.
  • Game audio is shared; the microphone is excluded.

Settings and files

Change the language or theme

  1. Open Settings → Language and theme.
  2. Choose your interface language and preferred theme.
  • The interface language does not change games' language.
Language and theme settings in Nelkano for Android. Enlarge image
Language and theme settings.

Apply a patch

For GBA and Nintendo DS games, using IPS or xdelta/VCDIFF patches.

  1. Open the game details and press Apply patch.
  2. Select the patch file and original game. The patch must match that exact game version.
  3. Find the result in Library: it appears as a separate game with its own saves.
  • The original game is kept.

Keep your games and saves

  1. Keep your original game files outside Nelkano.
  2. Before deleting a game, make sure you no longer need its saves or save states.
  • Deleting a game also removes its saves and save states.
  • Clearing app data or uninstalling removes the library and saves.