Finding a ROM for can be a bit of a quest since it was a limited-time digital release for the DSi and 3DS.
Once configured, go to File > Open ROM and select your Four Swords .nds file. Playing on Android (RetroArch / MelonDS DS)
If you manage to get the ROM running on two separate devices, playing together is entirely possible.
In the sprawling history of The Legend of Zelda , few titles are as elusive, misunderstood, or collectively mourned as The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition . Released for the Nintendo DS and DSiWare in 2011 to commemorate the franchise’s 25th anniversary, this game vanished from official digital storefronts just a few years later.
The game was famously free, but for a limited time in 2011 (and briefly again in 2014) to celebrate the anniversary. Once the promotion ended, it was removed from the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Nintendo eShop for 3DS.
What are you using to play? (PC, Android, Steam Deck, or a modded 3DS?) Which emulator do you plan to use? Share public link
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition is an excellent game—a compact, cleverly designed co-op puzzle solver that works surprisingly well as a single-player experience. It is a shame that Nintendo has left this title to rot in their back catalog.
For many fans of the Zelda franchise, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords represents a fascinating anomaly—a core entry that many have heard about but have never had the chance to play. Originally released in 2002 as a bonus multiplayer mode alongside A Link to the Past on the Game Boy Advance, the game required two to four players, link cables, and multiple copies of the cartridge, making it logistically difficult to enjoy.
Since then, the game has been officially unavailable. It cannot be purchased, and even the Nintendo eShop no longer lists it for new users. Playing Today: ROMs and Emulation
: A new area featuring stages inspired by A Link to the Past , Link’s Awakening , and the original The Legend of Zelda .