When the Nintendo DS was first released, the general public had no idea it would go on to become the best-selling gaming platform of all time in Japan, surpassing even the original Game Boy in its sales success. Instead, the handheld inspired confusion in much of the public. How could players possibly pay attention to two screens at once? What was the purpose of the touch screen? What in the world was Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection?
As usual, Nintendo proved to the world that its latest platform wasn’t just a series of gimmicks. The DS library quickly filled up with classics and quirky gems as players got used to the handheld’s controls and developers learned how to put its many functions to good use. It was difficult narrowing down even 20 games to represent the DS, but these are the ones you simply shouldn’t miss.
In no particular order, here are the 20 best Nintendo DS games of all time.
New Super Mario Bros.
New Super Mario Bros. kicked off both a new era for Nintendo’s most venerable mascot and a clunky new naming convention that would last for several console generations (New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, anyone?). While other Mario iterations like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine were extending into the realm of explorable 3D at the time, New Super Mario Bros. kept things old-school by giving players an enormous, colorful side-scrolling world to run and jump through. It’s pure joy in video game form that still holds up all these years later.
Tetris DS
By the time Tetris DS was released, everyone was already familiar with the block-crunching game that took the world by storm alongside the launch of the Game Boy. The DS edition wasn’t just a simple port, though. It included several new game modes and a retro Nintendo-themed coat of paint, both of which put a new spin on Tetris. Notably, the game was part of the Touch Generations line of titles, which were designed for people who were new to the world of video games. The DS’ enormous crossover appeal among gamers and non-gamers alike was a predictor of the Wii’s success in the same area.
The World Ends With You
If New Super Mario Bros. and Tetris DS are examples of Nintendo playing it safe, The World Ends With You falls on the opposite end of the spectrum. A stylish JRPG with a unique battle system, this fan-favorite title from Square Enix made excellent use of the DS’ two screens while telling an engaging mystery based around Shibuya’s youth culture. The game received a 2018 Nintendo Switch re-release (eleven years after it first launched) and then a sequel in 2021, but Square Enix reported that it didn’t perform very well, putting the series’ future in jeopardy.
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
The tier lists stop here, Pokémon fans. Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver might be the very best main-series Pokémon games ever made. Part of the reason for this is their source material is incredibly strong: Pokémon Gold and Silver still hold up today, and their extensive adventure and double set of regions means there’s always something new to explore and new foes to battle. The other reasons are purely modern—seeing your Pokémon walk behind you has always been a popular activity, and the remastered graphics are some of the DS’ most detailed. Even after all these years, there really aren’t any Pokémon games out there quite like HeartGold and SoulSilver.
Chrono Trigger
If you wanted remakes and remasters, the DS was the place to be back in the day. It’s why so many old titles are making our best of the DS list. Chrono Trigger, which was originally released for the SNES, is widely considered to be the best RPG of all time, and certainly one of the top five JRPGs. The game’s time-hopping story follows Crono, a youth who gathers a group of friends and teammates to take on the world-destroying creature known as Lavos. Filled with multiple endings, polished dialogue, and fantastic artwork by the late, great Akira Toriyama, the DS version of Chrono Trigger is the definitive way to experience this gem.
Animal Crossing: Wild World
Animal Crossing: Wild World, the DS follow-up to the original title from the GameCube, made the series better in one major way: portability. Animal Crossing was designed to be played with friends; the DS’ built-in wireless capabilities and small form factor made it the perfect platform to facilitate that. Add in plenty of new villagers, new furniture and customization options, the removal of the clunky acre navigation system, and new holidays to experience, and you’ve got yourself a classic Animal Crossing title.
Pokémon Platinum
Like Pokémon Emerald was to Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokémon Platinum is the definitive version of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. The game fixed a lot of Diamond and Pearl‘s issues while cleaning up the graphics, bringing new challenges like Giratina and the Distortion World, and more. It also noticeably speeds up the game by decreasing save and load times. Even after the release of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl on the Switch, many fans still believe Platinum to be the perfect generation four experience.
Mario Kart DS
Mario Kart DS added a lot of meaningful content to the Mario Kart franchise. While it lost the dual-racer aspect of its predecessor, Mario Kart: Double Dash, Mario Kart DS was the first series title that allowed players to race online with others around the world thanks to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (while the Gamecube had an ethernet port, Double Dash did not take advantage of it.) Mario Kart DS also introduced items and tracks that have since become series staples—Airship Fortress, anyone?—and was the marker of a new era for the franchise. While there’s little reason to go back and play it today, it’s still important to acknowledge the role it played in Mario Kart history.
Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story
The Mario and Luigi series has always been one of Nintendo’s best and most underrated spin-off franchises. Besides shaking up Mario’s core gameplay with new mechanics and new characters, Bowser’s Inside Story takes players to an entirely new location: the inside of Bowser’s body. Mario and Luigi titles are known for their hilarious dialogue, and Bowser’s Inside Story continues that trend in spectacular fashion—you’ll find this game on just as many “funniest RPGs” lists as you will “best of the DS” lists. The unique setting and fantastic writing make for a uniquely DS adventure that shouldn’t be missed.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
Speaking of spinoffs, the Pokémon series is another franchise that’s no stranger to spinoff games. One of the very best is Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team, a roguelike where the player character is turned into a Pokémon and must start a rescue team to save other Pokémon in need. While main series Pokémon games were never intended to be difficult, make no mistake: this game is hard. Like a lot of roguelikes, it pulls no punches, and every defeat comes with serious consequences. The touching story and fantastic soundtrack are the icing on the cake of this excellent game. Check out the Switch remake Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX for some much-needed quality-of-life updates and beautifully remastered graphics.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations
Although Capcom’s Ace Attorney series began on the GBA, Westerners didn’t get to experience it until the games were ported to the DS. The original trilogy of point-and-click mystery adventures, where rookie lawyer Phoenix Wright must prove his clients’ innocence, is definitely worth experiencing (and easily accessible thanks to re-releases). But if we had to pick only one entry for this list, it has to be the third game, Trials and Tribulations. To this day, it has some of the best writing in the series, bringing Phoenix’s arc to a close with an epic and emotional finale that subsequent entries have arguably failed to top.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
As one of Nintendo’s key IPs, how could we not include at least one Legend of Zelda game on this list? While train fanatics may argue Spirit Tracks should be on here, we’ve given the spot to Phantom Hourglass, one of the few instances of a direct sequel in the Zelda series. Continuing from GameCube classic The Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass sported strong visuals, brilliantly designed puzzles, a fun Han Solo-like companion in Linebeck, and fantastic implementation of the touch screen controls.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
We could’ve picked any of the original three Professor Layton games for this list, but we decided to go with the first one, The Curious Village, because it set the foundations for the rest of the series. A surplus of mind-bending puzzles, a charming atmosphere, and a story that keeps you guessing until the very end; The Curious Village‘s formula was near perfect, and it would be replicated and expanded upon with each subsequent entry. With just one game, developer Level-5 had cemented a new, iconic franchise and character who would shine on not just the DS but the 3DS too.
Pokémon Black and White
Okay, one last Pokémon entry and that’s it, we promise. In retrospect, Pokémon positively thrived on the DS, with the fifth generation of games making the bold decision to introduce a whopping 156 new Pokémon. Black and White may not be as large as HeartGold and SoulSilver, but the Unova region offers more than its fair share of battles, minigames, and challenges. Not to mention, these games have what is perhaps the best narrative and character arcs in any mainline Pokémon game. We also want to give special mention to the direct sequels, Black 2 and White 2, for expanding on Unova with some of the best side content in the franchise.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Easily one of the most underrated games on the DS, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective came from Ace Attorney creator Shu Takumi, and may very well be the best game he’s ever made. As an amnesiac ghost, you can manipulate objects to solve time-limited puzzles and undo peoples’ deaths in order to solve a fantastically layered mystery full of twists and turns. Much like Ace Attorney, it shifts between hilariously goofy and sincerely somber without it ever being jarring. Also, its best character is a Pomeranian called Missile, and that is not an exaggeration. Thank goodness Ghost Trick got a 2023 re-release so people can conveniently try it out for themselves.
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania‘s handheld entries are typically among the best in the series, and all three of its DS releases could have made this list. In the end, we went with the first one, 2005’s Dawn of Sorrow. Starring Soma Cruz, a reincarnation of series villain Dracula, Dawn of Sorrow was lauded for its gorgeous graphics and animations as well as its varied combat, with all manner of weapons (which could be transformed into stronger variants) and magic spells at Soma’s disposal.
Elite Beat Agents
If you were a rhythm game aficionado back in 2006, you likely played and fell in love with Elite Beat Agents. With a fantastic soundtrack of licensed songs, it saw the titular agents motivate people in need with the power of funky beats, allowing them to overcome their personal hardships. For as silly as it was, it could also be genuinely heartfelt (the Christmas level can and will bring you to tears), and it’s a shame it didn’t sell particularly well. The Rhythm Heaven games appear to have superseded it, but hopefully Elite Beat Agents and its energetic optimism will return one day.
Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
Although its online multiplayer options don’t work anymore, Dragon Quest 9 is still another fantastic entry in Square Enix’s long-running RPG series that’s worth playing if you can track down a copy. This used to be the best-selling entry in the series until Dragon Quest 11 came along, and it was all thanks to its classic turn-based combat, variety of job classes, presentation, and music. If you somehow manage to find a group of friends who all own a copy, you can even party together to complete quests and explore dungeons.
Super Mario 64 DS
It’s obviously not as revolutionary as the original Super Mario 64 was in 1996, but this DS remake was a perfect choice for a launch title. It allowed older fans to relive a childhood favorite with updated graphics and introduced one of Mario’s best adventures to a new audience, while also demonstrating the potential of the console. Some may argue this is the de facto way to play Super Mario 64 since it added three extra playable characters, new locations to explore, and new Power Stars to collect.
Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
Kotaro Uchikoshi is famous for two things: being a 3D modeler on Pepsiman (which is a real video game, seriously, look it up) and creating the Zero Escape series. It began on the DS with Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (or 999 for short), which saw nine strangers trapped on a sinking ship, forced to go through various escape rooms and solve puzzles to survive. Aside from offering a vast array of complex puzzles, 999‘s strengths lie in its writing, with a branching narrative and multiple endings that all somehow tie together, and larger-than-life characters that can wax poetic on various themes and topics one minute and then make crude jokes the next.
