⚠️ DSi and 3DS firmware are — this method only works for original DS / DS Lite.

Once you've created your custom Nintendo DS Menu ROM, share it with the world!

: Later consoles like the DSi have region locks; custom menus often ignore these restrictions. Visual Themes

This is the highlight. The Menu ROM gives you access to Pictochat without needing a cartridge. It is a fully functional chat room client. However, without a second DS to communicate with (and with the Wi-Fi servers long dead for DS Download Play), Pictochat is a solitary experience. You can draw on the touch screen, but you are talking to yourself. It’s a tech demo that has lost its multiplayer soul.

The menu ROM was more than just a game launcher; it transformed the DS into a personal digital assistant.