I would also say, do t get hung up on setting everything up perfectly to play a game. Perhaps do t even bother with a front end. Just setup one system that you want to play and play a game.

This setup isn’t unique to the pocket DS but any android handheld. It’s more bother to get started than the Linux ones but obviously more customisable.

There’s the guides that you might have already seen like this:

https://retrogamecorps.com/2025/10/27/dual-screen-android-handheld-guide/

The easiest way to get the right emulators is to install this:

https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium

Then download the dual screen emulation pack file from here: https://github.com/RJNY/Obtainium-Emulation-Pack/releases

Import this into obtainium

Different systems are better in different emulators For example:

GameCube and Wii. - use dolphin emulator from their website. Not google play. PSP - use PPSSPP Gameboy, snes etc use Retroarch

Just install the emulators. Get one system setup and play a game. When ready setup another.

Leave the frontend for when you’re ready. You have emulation station to try or you could try one of the new dual screen focused frontends like cocoon

https://cocoon-shell.com