The 10 Best Nintendo DS Games, Ranked
Nintendo is one of the greatest video game companies of all time, and they have further established their name with the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, which changed the game with their hybrid system. With games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it dominates both markets. However, it used to do this separately with one home and one handheld console.
Nintendo has so many handheld systems, but the best is arguably the Nintendo DS, which is why this list will rank the ten greatest video games on the DS. Based on aspects such as gameplay, design, narrative, visuals, originality, fan opinion, critical acclaim, how well it represents the console, and overall quality, these are the go-to handheld gaming experiences.
10
‘New Super Mario Bros.’ (2006)
The face of Nintendo is undoubtedly Mario, and while the plumber is more associated with home consoles, he’s made his way to the DS a couple of times, including New Super Mario Bros. It is a tale as old as gaming itself, with Bowser capturing Princess Peach, which forces Mario to run and jump around the kingdom in order to defeat King Koopa and rescue Peach.
The 2D Mario formula is nostalgic and timeless, but for a bit, it was out of the spotlight. But New Super Mario Bros. brought it back after 14 years in peak condition. The precise physics-based design and platforming gameplay combined for a fluid and exhilarating experience. Not to mention it was miraculously ported onto the DS, a console that no one would expect to run it so well.
9
‘Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky’ (2009)
While Mario is the face of Nintendo, Pokémon is the figurehead of all handheld consoles, including the DS. Fans can expect multiple games from this franchise, including spinoffs such as Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky. Waking up as a Pokémon with amnesia, players must team up with a partner and set out into dungeons and solve the many mysteries in them while trying to prevent time from stopping.
It may not be the highest-rated DS game, but it is one of the best in a beloved franchise. Explorers of Sky is an ignored video game that has aged perfectly, boasting one of the best-written stories on the platform. The roguelike mechanics are different for Pokémon, but this game handles them perfectly, resulting in a fleshed-out narrative that is beautiful and emotional.
8
‘Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story’ (2009)
If Mario somehow isn’t enough on his own, then he has a brother to help him in adventures, which leads to games like Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story. After a freak incident leaves the entire Mushroom Kingdom inside Bowser’s stomach, Mario and Luigi must venture through his internal organs to defeat him and return the kingdom to its natural place.
The DS was full of imaginative and creative games, and Bowser’s Inside Story was one of them. It constantly broke the fourth wall for a layer of meta humor that paired nicely with its comedic writing. Not to mention, the dual-gameplay mechanic had players controlling Bowser on the top screen and the brothers on the bottom one, utilizing the console perfectly to cement Bowser’s Inside Story as one of the best DS games ever.
7
‘The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass’ (2007)
Like Mario, The Legend of Zelda is a franchise mostly known for its home console games, but one DS masterpiece was The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. This sequel to The Wind Waker has Link sailing the high seas in order to rescue Tetra from a ghost ship, but luckily he has the help of Captain Lineback and a fairy named Ciela.
Zelda games have always been creative, but Phantom Hourglass takes it to the next level, pushing the bounds of the DS to the max. The mapping movement, combat, and puzzle-solving were done entirely through the touchscreen, giving a tactile sense of play that is so interactive and engaging, proving why it is one of the best Zelda games ever.
6
‘Mario Kart DS’ (2005)
One of the best-selling Nintendo franchises is Mario Kart, so naturally Mario Kart DS would become the DS’ biggest hit. Racers from across the Mushroom Kingdom gather in order to compete in a series of Grand Prix races to determine who is the best kart driver.
Nintendo has always been a multiplayer-friendly company, and Mario Kart DS revolutionized handheld co-op by introducing Wi-Fi connectivity, meaning gamers could race globally. The mix of classic nostalgic courses and innovative new ones created a variety of gameplay experiences that were a mechanical high point for the franchise and the console.
5
‘Nintendogs’ (2005)
So far, this list has only featured the big Nintendo franchises, which makes sense that they’d be some of the best, but one forgotten series is Nintendogs. Players adopt, raise, train, and play with their adopted puppies, simulating the experience of raising a real-life dog, except without cleaning the stinky messes.
The DS was a casual system for many, and that focus is why so many fans loved Nintendogs. It was easy to pick up, but impossible to put down, making it a game that players would sink 100 hours into. Nintendogs is a charming video game that uses the touchscreen, microphones and voice commands in imaginative ways that made it such a universally adored pet simulator.
4
‘Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver’ (2009)
Explorers of the Sky is a great game, but Pokémon is more known for its mainline titles, such as Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. These Johto remakes bring the classic experience to life, requiring trainers to catch Pokémon, train their team, and take down the Gym Leaders, Elite Four, Champion, and the evil Team Rocket.
HGSS are the gold standard for video game remakes, bringing that nostalgic feeling back while making the aged aspects better. There were so many fun mechanics that improved the originals while keeping the spirit and heart of the classics, proving why old and new fans fell in love with this DS game.
3
‘The World Ends with You’ (2007)
Naturally, most of the video games featured are Nintendo properties, but one third-party masterpiece is The World Ends with You. Neku is an anti-social teenager who wakes up in Shibuya with no memories, but is forced to compete in a supernatural game where those who fail are erased from existence.
2007 was a fantastic year for video games, and The World Ends with You was one of the best because of its stylish aesthetic and compelling narrative. However, it earns a high spot on this list because of the way it utilized the DS hardware, letting players control two characters on both screens for fast-paced combat and engaging gameplay experiences.
2
‘Chrono Trigger’ (2008)
Fans may notice that a lot of the video games on this list are RPGs, proving that the DS was a treasure trove for this genre, including the beloved masterpiece Chrono Trigger. After accidentally traveling to the future, Chrono discovers that the world will end, leading to him and a party of adventurers to set out on a time hopping quest to save the future from destruction.
Chrono Trigger isn’t just one of the best DS games; it is one of the greatest RPGs ever made. However, the DS version is the definitive way to play, perfectly adapting the SNES format for dual screens. But Chrono Trigger also maintains its sharp pacing and unforgettable cast while also adding additional content and dungeons to make a perfect game even better.
1
‘Pokémon Black 2 and White 2’ (2012)
Explorers of Sky and HGSS are two classic Pokémon games, but the best on the DS and in the franchise is Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. Set years after the first game, trainers must journey through the Unova region again in order to stop Neo Team Plasma from freezing the world using the legendary Pokémon Kyurem’s powers.
There are so many magnificent Pokémon games, but B2W2 is arguably the best, also making it the greatest title on the Nintendo DS. It is so content-rich, overflowing with things to do from post-game content to side challenges and the expansive main story. B2W2 is a defining DS game and perfects the Pokémon formula in terms of narrative, visuals, content, and gameplay, proving why it is an essential title and DS game.
Pokémon
- Release Date
-
1997 – 2023-00-00
- Network
-
TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
- Directors
-
Shigeru Omachi, Koji Ogawa, Fumihiro Ueno, Hideki Hiroshima, Maki Kodaira, Makoto Ooga, Ayumi Moriyama, Keitaro Motonaga, Shigeru Ueda, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Minoru Ohara, Yoshitaka Makino, Kiyoshi Egami, Makoto Sokuza, Bjarne Heuser, Naoki Murata, Kenichi Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano
- Writers
-
Junki Takegami, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hideki Sonoda, Yukiyoshi Ôhashi, Yuka Miyata, Takeshi Shudo, Shouji Yonemura, Shinzo Fujita, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Deko Akao, Reiko Yoshida, Aya Matsui, Junichi Fujisaku
-
Rica Matsumoto
Satoshi (voice)
-
Ikue Otani
Pikachu (voice)
