PictoChat Returns on iOS: Nostalgic Nintendo DS Messaging Reimagined for Apple’s iMessage

PictoChat, the distinctive messaging app that defined countless childhood memories for Nintendo DS users, has returned—this time, making its mark on iOS platforms.

The nostalgia-packed experience arrives in the form of 'PicoChat for iMessage', an independently-developed iOS app inspired by Nintendo’s iconic software.

With 2025 marking two decades since the DS first wowed gamers with PictoChat, developer Idrees Hassan delivers a throwback that's delighting longtime fans through Apple Messages. Originally bundled with every Nintendo DS system, PictoChat allowed players to draw, scribble notes, and exchange short messages in local wireless chat rooms.

The innovative tool quickly became a social staple at sleepovers, family gatherings, and gaming events, offering expressive communication unrestricted by language or age.

While the original PictoChat faded from Nintendo hardware in subsequent generations—including the Nintendo Switch—its influence remains strong among retro gaming enthusiasts. Now, users can relive that magic on their iPhones with 'PicoChat for iMessage'.

Despite the similarity in name and concept, the app’s iOS listing is clear: it is not affiliated with Nintendo.

Instead, this homage is the work of solo developer Idrees Hassan, who has meticulously recreated the look and feel of the DS chat rooms.

Through the app, users can compose written messages, doodle inside the familiar tiny chat rectangles, and even accessorize communications with miniature pixel emojis that recall the DS era’s charm. In a statement provided through the official description, Hassan emphasizes that PicoChat for iMessage delivers all the signature features of the original, now adapted for touch devices and Apple’s messaging ecosystem.

The compact interface, a notable aspect of the DS version, remains true to PictoChat’s roots—even if typing lengthy messages is less intuitive without the DS stylus.

Nevertheless, the app stands as a faithful celebration of early 2000s handheld culture, giving both longtime Nintendo fans and new users a fun, creative way to connect in 2025. This revival is particularly timely as the original Nintendo DS reached its 20th anniversary in November 2024—a milestone that underscores PictoChat’s place in gaming history.

The DS family, which ultimately sold over 154 million units worldwide, maintained PictoChat as an emblematic part of its platform legacy. While 'PicoChat for iMessage' is officially unaffiliated with Nintendo, its arrival highlights the enduring appeal of past Nintendo innovations and the passion of independent developers driven to reimagine them for contemporary audiences.

As players revisit this beloved messaging style, the app serves as both a tribute to Nintendo’s playful ingenuity and a reminder of the timeless connection gamers share across generations.

Nintendo Apple Xbox Series X|S PictoChat PicoChat for iMessage Idrees Hassan iOS DS Nintendo DS