Check your game version. Most players have Version 1.1 installed via an update. If the 1.0 code doesn't work, try the 1.1 code. You can check your version by right-clicking the game in Citra and selecting "Properties."
The fix, however, came with a catch. Alex realized that the game's developers had made a deliberate design choice to prioritize visual effects over performance. The game's beautiful 3D graphics and clever uses of the 3DS's capabilities were directly tied to the frame rate issues. To fix the frame rate, Alex would have to make some compromises on the visual effects.
Before you begin, you need to find the correct directory on your PC. The location varies slightly by operating system. On Windows, it is typically %appdata%/Citra/load/text/ . On Linux, it's ~/.local/share/citra-emu/load/text/ . Finally, on macOS, it is ~/Library/Application Support/Citra/load/text/ .
If you are using a European or Japanese version, you may need to look for specific AR codes from community repositories like the 60FPS-AR-CHEATS-3DS GitHub. How to Apply the 60FPS Code in Citra Open Citra and load Super Mario 3D Land . super mario 3d land 60fps code fix
: Create or edit the cheats.txt file and paste the region-appropriate code from above.
Cheat codes for Citra function just like they do on original hardware. They modify specific memory addresses within a running game. To reach a target of 60 FPS, a cheat code typically works by changing a single byte in the game's memory to a value that disables the internal frame rate limiter.
Right-click the game title and select "Cheats." Check your game version
Some pre-rendered cutscenes (like the castle opening) are still 30fps. The 60fps code forces them to play at double speed for 1-2 seconds before stabilizing. This is jarring but harmless.
The is a set of memory patches that decouple the game’s animation timing from its rendering speed, allowing the visuals to update at 60Hz while the game logic remains at normal speed.
: Right-click on Super Mario 3D Land in your game list. You can check your version by right-clicking the
The suspected culprit is the “Core Timing 2.0” pull request, which was merged between builds 1422 and 1423. This change introduced a performance regression in Super Mario 3D Land that persisted into many subsequent releases. If you have a copy of Citra Canary 1560 (or an earlier build), you may already have a “60fps fix” simply by using that version.
Disclaimer: Using cheats in Citra is done at the user's discretion. The 60FPS patch is generally stable, but may cause unintended behaviors in specific, rare scenarios.