The Nintendo DS may have seemed like a dubious move on Nintendo’s side when it was originally debuted, but the device. and the family of handhelds it gave rise to are now very sought-after vintage gadgets with an enormous library of excellent games. It included a touch screen long in advance of any smartphone maker, while maintaining the clamshell form factor that made the Game Boy Advance SP so popular.
I am a die-hard fan of the Nintendo DS and its amazing library of games, having purchased many of the system on the day of release. Ranging from ridiculous third-party releases like a book collection to some of the greatest video games ever created, such as Metroid Prime Hunters.
The top 20 Nintendo DS games ever released
The top 20 Nintendo DS games of all time are listed here, in our opinion. From the beginning, we found this endeavor to be almost unachievable since each DS game seems to be the greatest one you have ever played. Pac Pix, a Pacman game where you sketch each character, is a fantastic illustration of this. It feels fantastic to play, even if it doesn't seem all that great in pictures or on paper. The titles that made it into our list are ones that, in our opinion—and we've explained why—make a Nintendo DS worth purchasing.
20. Days 358–2 of Kingdom Hearts
I'll admit right away that I'm not a Kingdom Hearts enthusiast. Although I'm not an expert in the series, I do like it for what it is. I always feel bad about not having played more of the mind-blowing amount of games available because I could have been playing them from their first release, but I was never bold enough to open a game with Disney characters on the box cover in front of my friends.
When Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days was announced, I recall not understanding what it meant or what it was. However, I was eager for it. The gameplay is very well-suited to the DS and has an amazing visual appeal. Purchasing a DS is well worth it if you're a fan of the series so you can play the game on its original hardware. Even if you're not, this game looks great and is regarded as one of the greatest JRPGs to have ever been released on the Nintendo DS.
19. Wild World in Animal Crossing
When Animal Crossing was initially published on the Nintendo GameCube, it became an instant hit worldwide. Animal Crossing: Wild World, the portable sequel, gave players an opportunity to escape the confines of a home console and explore their own small little kingdoms.
Over time, I seem to recall hearing more and more people talk about the game. It was a slow-burning success that gained popularity gradually, and before I knew it, there was a sequel, with New Horizons emerging as the official game of the COVID-19 epidemic. Wild World stands out among other fantastic games because it immerses you in a town that gradually fills with an increasing number of the amazing animal characters that players are so familiar with.
Although it wasn't as popular as some of the other games on our list, DS users still play this game today. Even if there are a lot more expansive and superior games available, most of us find it intolerable to spend too much time away from Wild World because of the reprimands we get when returning.
18. The Phantom Hourglass: The Legend of Zelda
When it came to bringing the cherished The Legend of Zelda series to the DS, Nintendo did not let us down. Without trying to force the two together, Phantom Hourglass is a whimsical adventure that carries on what feels like the same world and tale as The Wind Waker. It does this by using the toon Link style. It's still one of the most inventive games in the whole series since it also makes excellent use of the DS's touchscreen.As the tale progresses, you'll discover other islands in a brand-new ocean environment and acquire powerful objects. Combat encounters, a vibrant and endearing cast of characters, and the flawless vibes of the Zelda series, which have been faithfully recreated, make it seem like you're playing on a home console.The way riddles were handled in this game and its follow-up, Spirit Tracks, was what I loved the most. To complete the puzzles and get to the end of the dungeon, players had to work together on both screens. The majority of the gadgets that Link acquires likewise need this kind of cooperation, giving the impression that it is a real DS game that cannot be played anyplace else. That's most likely the reason there hasn't been a Nintendo console port as of yet
17. Prime Hunters for Metroid
For me, Metroid Prime Hunters is the best first-person shooter available for the Nintendo Switch. I still own the trial cartridge for the game that came with my Nintendo DS when I bought it at launch in the UK. At launch, a few months later, and whenever it was ready, that's when we were promised it will be released. When the time came, I was ecstatic and could not control myself.The conversion of the Metroid Prime experience to the DS is excellent, thanks to the game. While it is undoubtedly lot more linear, fast-paced, and predictable, once you become acclimated to it, it also plays into and subverts your expectations. This is exactly what you would anticipate from a DS version of a GameCube launch game, but it also offers a charming twist.This was the first legitimate first-person shooter game on the DS, and it was brutal. Although it was difficult to cheat, you could quickly destroy the competition by selecting the bounty hunters with the greatest skills. Even if it wasn't the major draw, it was a compelling cause to play the game again in between efforts to complete it 100% or to retell the plot. All I could ask is that the last boss used a little more creativity
16. Nintendo Kart DS
Upon the first release of Mario Kart DS, copies were required for everyone and their mother. Not only was this the greatest Mario Kart game available for a portable device, but it also allowed for online play, which was a major bonus. Overnight, this completely changed Nintendo's poster racing series.These days, Mario Kart DS is almost always offered with used DS consoles if you attempt to purchase one. With the gadgets, this game became the new standard that parents bought for their kids. With songs carried over to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe via its DLC releases, it remains one of the most recognizable entries even now.But there were several issues with the game. It seemed rather restricted in terms of the total number of courses, competitions, and basically the amount of racing you could play before feeling its constraints. It also didn't look as beautiful as the Nintendo Wii and Wii U titles. Nevertheless, this is among the greatest Nintendo DS games ever made, since it represents a period when the DS was the pinnacle of portable gaming
15. D.I.Y. WarioWare
WarioWare D.I.Y.'s inclusion on this list should be seen as a representation of all artistic or creative applications made for the Nintendo DS.We had Art Academy games, KORG DS-10,, and the amazing Electroplankton,, which if it allowed you to export and save the music would be on this list. For those who want to exercise their creative muscles, the Nintendo DS was an excellent device. Do you recall Flipnote Studio? Many developers saw the Nintendo DS stylus to be more than simply an additional gaming tool. These groups set out to produce a line of educational games that led users to believe they were musicians, animators, or painters. Alternatively, game creators in the instance of WarioWare D.I.Y..Long before Nintendo allowed users to recreate Red Light, Green Light in Game Builder Garage or create their own Mario levels, Intelligent Systems allowed users to create and share their own microgames. WarioWare D.I.Y. included a comprehensive and user-friendly game production suite that included elements of design, animation, music, and art. All the resources in need for aspiring makers of video games to create their own WarioWare masterpieces. One of the finest Nintendo DS games is WarioWare D.I.Y. because it seems like the pinnacle of all the creative applications that have gone before it.
14. Henry Hatsworth in the Mysterious Journey
One of the greatest illustrations of how the dual-screen handheld generated new gaming experiences is Henry Hatsworth from The Puzzling Adventure.Henry Hatsworth is a platformer/match-3 puzzle hybrid created by current Madden developer EA Tiburon. Players take control of Henry on the top screen as he leaps and sprints across five distinct worlds in an attempt to put the Gentleman's Suit back together. The puzzle realm is shown on the bottom screen after Henry vanquishes enemies on the upper screen. Before they reach the top of the screen and are resurrected in Henry's universe, they must remove the enemy blocks there.Henry Hatsworth is an absolute gem of a game, even if it seems like it was made for the casual gamers that flocked to the Nintendo DS Lite. It's unfortunate that this game never gained the general acceptance it deserved. However, I suppose that's what occurs when your game is released on the same day as #5 on the list and five days ahead of Pokémon Platinum
13.
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
During the Nintendo DS era, Atlus was one of the most trusted studios. Games like Etrian Odyssey and Trauma Center: Under the Knife introduced me to the business. While both are worthy additions to our list, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is a better portable game than even those.Career Soft is the developer of Devil Survivor, a tactical spin-off of the venerable Shin Megami Tensei series. The most well-known works from this studio, which Atlus purchased in 2001, are Langrisser and Growlanser series. That pedigree paid off handsomely, as Devil Survivor stands out as the greatest TRPG on the Nintendo DS, including superb customization choices, a very well-designed map, and an astounding replay value thanks to its six possible endings. Though I had experimented with tactical role-playing games before to Devil Survivor, this is the first of the type that I really finished.
12. Trials and tribulations in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Shu Takumi's Ace Attorney franchise began on the Game Boy Advance, but when Capcom ported the series to the Nintendo DS, it became an international hit. The original trilogy features some of the best video game writing of its time, with Trials and Tribulations, the last game in the trilogy, leading the class with the best cases and characters of the series to that point.Players were first introduced to Godot in this game, a brazen, coffee-drinking DA who has a grudge against Phoenix Wright. I'll always be waiting for Godot to make his spectacular comeback, even if Miles Edgeworth may be the most well-liked district attorney to come out of the series.
11. HeartGold & SoulSilver Pokémon
With good cause, Pokémon Silver and Pokémon Gold are often considered the finest video game sequels. Along with 100 new kinds of pocket monsters to capture, the releases added a plethora of new features to the genre.The Game Freak creators balanced providing something fresh with honoring the heritage of the originals while creating the titles for the Nintendo DS. Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver, the final products of the endeavor, continue to be regarded as the greatest remakes ever made by Game Freak and the Pokemon Company. The games itself were the epitome of the traditional Pokémon experience, but the Pokewalker—one of the new features—proved to be a useful little add-on as well.When compared to other treadmill-based pedometers, the Pokewalker proved to be the most accurate step counter, according a research conducted at Iowa State University. Not bad for a one-time stunt created to capitalize on the era's video game fitness obsession.
10. Nintendogs
Numerous games that defined the Nintendo DS may be characterized as "lightning in a bottle." With its blue ocean approach, Nintendo was actually onto something, bringing in individuals who didn't think of themselves as gamers with fresh gaming experiences. While Nintendogs was the greatest example of this tactic, Brain Age was an early example as well.Having grown up with inadequate parenting of Tamagotchi pets, I jumped at the chance to adopt a fictitious pet. I was interested to see whether the digital experience could ever measure up to the actual thing since I had to split ways with my real dog before I left for college. I still invested hours on Nintendogs, even if in the end it didn't.I walked and bathed my puppies, told my handheld that it was being a very good lady, and bewildered my housemates.Nintendogs became the second-best-selling game on the DS after receiving several honors. Regretfully, Nintendo was unable to replicate that success when releasing the Nintendo 3DS sequel, Nintendogs + Cats. Though it never became a legendary Nintendo series, Nintendogs is still the greatest non-gaming experience available for the DS.
9. Meteos
The two renowned video game series that Masahiro Sakurai is most often linked to are Super Smash Bros and Kirby. But there's just one game on the Nintendo DS that bears his name: Meteos.Within the first year of the handheld's release, the furious and aggressive match-3 puzzler Meteos was released. Players must protect the cosmos from the planet Meteo and its planet-destroying meteos in order to win. The objective is to prevent tiles from covering the screen, much as in other puzzle games. However, matching does not remove a tile from the grid. Rather, the tiles are propelled into space from the bottom screen, where they are unable to damage the planets they are occupying.Meteos demonstrates how touch-screen gaming can provide dynamic experiences that traditional controls are unable to readily replicate, thanks to its simple touch-screen controls and speed choices that allow players some leeway in terms of difficulty. This is the reason Meteos is regarded as a classic puzzle game and among the greatest on the Nintendo DS.
8. Castlevania: Sorrow's Dawn
It was difficult to choose just one of the fantastic Castlevania games available on the Nintendo DS. The franchise had a successful run on the system between Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia. Though I enjoyed every single one of these games, Dawn of Sorrow stands out as the best Castlevania on the system.It didn't really employ the two displays or the Nintendo DS's touch controls, much like a lot of the system's early games. Instead, it made use of the "Magic Seal" system, which required players to utilize a stylus in order to defeat enemies and access doors. However, it was not in need of any of the Nintendo DS's tricks. All it had to do was carry on Konami's incredible run of fantastic Metroidvanias. Even if Dawn of Sorrow doesn't truly make use of the special hardware, its gameplay, plot, and customizability easily make it one of Konami's best games
7. The Unwound Future and Professor Layton
It had to be pointed out to me that there was not a single Professor Layton title to be found in the first draft of this list, back when it was just supposed to include 10 games. I made a stupid mistake since this gem from Level-5 is the only series that is as strongly linked to dual-screen gaming as any other.A welcoming experience was created by the brilliant visual design, engaging storyline, and brainteasers in the Professor Layton series. It reached those who hadn't touched a controller in years, in addition to the typical gaming group. One of the few positive gaming memories I have with my mother is from Professor Layton and the Curious Village, which I've written about before. It was very foolish of me to leave this series off a list of the greatest Nintendo DS games since I like it so much.As you can see, I corrected the mistake in later iterations. Even though I have fond memories of seeing the first book in the series with my mother, the finest book to come out on the DS so far is Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, the third installment in the series. Unwound Future has 168 problems to complete and features some of Puzzle Master Akira Tago's greatest puzzles for the series. Everything is better than in the previous installments, including the brainteasers, the animation, and the excellent narrative.As the culmination of the first Layton and Luke trilogy, Level-5 ensured that Unwound Future left a lasting impression. Fortunately, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam has since brought the games back
6.
Elite Beat Agents
Playing rhythm games was never my strong suit. I would never get above the most basic difficulty level with Guitar Hero and Rock Band. I didn't believe I'd be able to do it without being heckled as I exited the stage. I was intrigued by the concept of Elite Beat Agents when it was first revealed, but I wasn't sure whether I would like playing a rhythm game that relied heavily on touch screens. I reasoned, "Surely, I don't have the rhythm to do that correctly."In the end, I decided against playing the game since I was saving all of my money for a Nintendo Wii. But I thought I'd give it a go when I couldn't acquire one of them at launch. That turned out to be one of my finest gaming selections to date.A charming and unique rhythm game, Elite Beat Agents exudes charm and individuality. The idea is memorable. I never would have imagined that the story of a video game would include controlling three cheerleaders as they assist individuals in getting through challenging and often humorous circumstances. However, the DS's beauty lay in that. That was the gaming gadget to try something different with, if there ever was one.The gaming on the touch screen was far better than I had anticipated. I never progressed above the "Cruisin'" level and remained unsatisfied with the genre. The creators of Gitaroo Man series, iNiS, however, are most known for creating Elite Beat Agents, a touch-screen musical masterpiece.
5.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
When Rockstar revealed it was developing a Grand Theft Auto for the Nintendo DS, it was a huge thing. In fact, it was almost necessary for the firm to do so. Too many DS devices were sold for it to be ignored. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars debuted to the highest praise on the Nintendo DS in 2009. You can't imagine how excited we were to learn that other portable GTA titles were in the works.The game transferred everything that was fantastic about GTA games of the contemporary age to a bird's eye view reminiscent of the series' earlier games. That didn't work out well the last time Rockstar attempted it on a Nintendo portable. But with an amazing plot, fantastic new characters, amazing gameplay, and a drug-dealing minigame that I'm still thinking about 14 years later, Chinatown Wars burns on all cylinders.In and of itself, getting GTA on the DS was a victory. I will, however, continue to celebrate Rockstar's achievement of producing one of its greatest games for the system until my Nintendo DSi XL's battery runs out and I am unable to use my drug-dealing business to influence the citizens of Liberty City.
4. With You, the World Ends
I find it hard to express how much I love The World Ends with You without coming off as repetitious. I have discussed this game extensively, and for good cause. TWEWY is unquestionably one of the best video games Square Enix has ever produced. A lot of previous Nintendo DS games attempted to reach a wider audience, but The World Ends with You took the opposite approach. This is a very specialized game, a hardcore experience intended to be played only on the DS (even if that is no longer true).The most remarkable aspect of The World Ends with You is how the intricate battle seamlessly integrates with the narrative and the bonds that players must forge between Neku and his Reapers' Game teammates. As players became more used to the various control schemes that arrived with every new character, Neku's acceptance of his companions improved. Most games simply don't have that kind of ludonarrative consistency.I am aware that the Stride Cross Battle System's difficulty turned off a lot of individuals. However, similar to the majority of the contents of The World Ends with You, it was an exceptional feat of design. I'll never forget how satisfying it was to win this game.
3. Tetris DS
Whether you play the version that came along with the Game Boy or the one that was launched on the Electronika 60 back in 1985, the original Tetris is a flawless video game. It receives tens for all of the following: design, function, difficulty, and simplicity. So how can you make something that's already flawless better? You enhance its perfection.Tetris DS adds fresh concepts and a touch of Nintendo magic to everything that makes the beloved puzzle game so good. Not only does the timeless gameplay that enthralled millions of people remain, but fresh approaches to the idea are also there. This comprises touch-screen mode that required players to rearrange pre-arranged pieces to clear lines, puzzle mode, mission mode, and competitive push mode. A vintage NES background with characters like Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, Yoshi's Cookie, Balloon Fight, Super Mario, Bros, and more may be found in each of those modes.Moreover, Tetris DS had a 10-player local online game and an intense online mode for up to four players.Even before it became popular, the game Tetris could take up many hours of your time.Tetris DS ate up weeks of my life.It's difficult to dispute that this amazing bundle is the finest puzzle game available for the Nintendo DS, even if there are disagreements over the best version of Tetris. In fact, it's the best mobile version of Tetris to date.
2. Sentinels of the Starry Sky in Dragon Quest IX
It was an awesome time to be a Dragon Quest fan during the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii period. Almost all of the series' Japanese-released games were brought over to this region. Longtime fans and newcomers alike were treated to an abundance of fantastic role-playing games on the DS, which culminated with the release of Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Sky.For ardent fans, it holds significant promise being the first mainstream Dragon Quest game released only for portable devices. Years went into the game's development, and Square Enix considered turning it into an action game instead of a conventional turn-based role-playing game. Cooler heads prevailed, and the Square Enix and Level-5 teams went on to produce an incredibly complex role-playing game that further fueled the franchise's rising global fame.Its Tag feature was what made it the most social Dragon Quest game to date, even with its basic multiplayer feature. When their DS was in sleep mode, gamers may trade presents, treasure maps, and other stuff with other players via Tag Mode. When designing the SpotPass and StreetPass capabilities for the Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo stole the notion from its widely used application. When was the last time a video game had an impact on the operation and design of video game hardware?I kept my copy of Dragon Quest IX in my DSi XL until Nintendo eventually destroyed the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection since it promised new treasure maps and dungeons to explore. I still sometimes play this game again, pulling out the large player's manual I purchased at a secondhand bookshop to hunt for any more treasures I may have overlooked. One of the reasons it should be so highly placed on our list is because it is the only Nintendo DS game I still play on a regular basis.
1. Nine Persons, Nine Hours, Nine Doors
One of the most important games for me and my connection with Ontario Online Casino is Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors. After visiting the website many times, I decided not to make it my gaming site. I kept myself at a distance even though I had hundreds of games on my DS and Wii at the time because I was reluctant to join any online communities. After reading Tony Ponce's critique of Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, my perspective on the matter shifted.His description captured my attention so much that the following day I went to my neighborhood GameStop to get the last copy still sealed in its original shrink wrap. I was captivated by this tale of survival, digital ancestry, frozen Egyptians, and graphic gore for the following five days.Kotaro Uchikoshi wrote the story for 999 in an attempt to respond to the query, "Where do mankind's inspirations originate from?He discovered Rupert Sheldrake's writings and his hypothesis of morphogenetic fields as a result of his quest. This would turn into the main idea of the convoluted and gross tale. He looked to the escape room genre, which was quite popular on the internet in 2009, for the gameplay. His interpretation of the formula eliminated the absurdities that are often present in these games, simplifying the idea and connecting these short sections to the main story.Uchikoshi created the plot backward, beginning with the finale and working his way to the beginning, according to an interview with Anime News Network. It's an uncommon method, but it was effective. 999 is often praised by many as having the best—and queasiest—story on the Nintendo DS; some even claim it to be among the best-written tales ever on the platform.It may seem like a strange pick for the #1 slot on our list if you haven't played it. You can probably see why it's ranked #1 if you've played it.The masterpiece 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors deserves all the praise it receives.
How we narrowed the selection of Nintendo DS games to only 20
Nintendo imageListicles are challenging. Writing pieces such as ranking family games or attempting to condense a console catalog into just 10 spots may induce a kind of agony that no review or impressions piece could ever match. Rather than trying to narrow down a list of the greatest Nintendo DS games, we'd much rather attempt to describe the gameplay of the most recent Nobunaga's Ambition to an octogenarian.We think the Nintendo DS is the best game system the business has ever produced. The Nintendo DS gave creators the chance to rethink how we think about games and how we interact with them by combining touch and traditional controls. The gadget was the ideal union of the history and future of the sector. On the DS, there were game experiences that were just unavailable elsewhere. If traditional controls had been used for games like Feel the Magic: XX/XY, Cooking Mama, or Scribblenauts, those experiences would not have had the same impact.This is the reason why ranking the greatest Nintendo DS games is so challenging. Because it would be simple to enumerate ten top-notch classic games and call it a day. Chrono Trigger DS would most likely be at the top of that list. However, the Nintendo DS was not a conventional platform, and it would be unfair to the system to exclude its best experimental or "blue ocean" games. That being said, if your favorite game isn't here, please don't be a hater.
