The Nintendo DS (or simply DS or NDS) is a very unique gaming handheld with its Dual Screen (hence, the DS name) and touchscreen capability.

Because of its unique features, there are many multi-platform games that are simply can be enjoyed differently when played on the DS.

For those of you who played this unique gaming device in the past, I bet you want to know the best DS games of all time.

Some of you will probably remember (or even still own) some of the games mentioned on this list.

See also: Must-Have Gaming Room Accessories & Best Wii Games

#100. Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery

Sunflowers Interactive/Disney Interactive Studios, 2008 Simulation » General

Synopsis Start your adventure by creating a settlement and breaking into the newfound world! This game brings all the excitement of exploring and settling in a new world, as well as all the potential dangers.

Short Review This strategy game contains three main modes: Story, Continuous, and Multiplayer. In the game, you attempt to create a bustling civilization by starting off with the bare minimum resources. You are the captain of a ship, hauling goods that will hopefully form settlements on islands. Each level has different requirements, so you’ll have to explore and find the goodies you need. As you progress through the game, the challenges you face will become tougher, so it’s a good idea to stock up on defensive items too! The game’s three modes offer a bit of something for everyone, so get out on those high seas and start settling!

#99. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2

Atlus, 2012 Strategy » Turn-Based » Tactics

Synopsis Taking place across the entire country of Japan, a group of young highschool students discover their power to summon demons. It’s up to you and your friends to use those summoning powers to repel powerful creatures who have started invading the country.

Short Review This tactical RPG gives you control over a nameless demon tamer. Together with his friends, you take on a horde of dangerous creatures in turn-based battles. The action features several perspectives and phases, including first person, third person, and more. Devil Survivor 2 also features a new system called the “Fate” system. This allows you to strengthen your bond with party members, granting them buffs and added power.

#98. Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey

Atlus, 2010 Role-Playing » Western-Style

Synopsis A group of specialized soldiers are sent to Antarctica to investigate an other-worldly anomaly that threatens all of mankind. As they enter the odd vortex, they encounter enemies that are both horrifying and powerful, and it’s up to you to stop them.

Short Review Like other games in the Shin Megami Tensei series, Strange Journey features turn-based action from a variety of perspectives. As you explore the perplexing environments of the anomaly, you’ll have to battle randomly spawning enemies. The game takes you across a large-scale story, with added side missions to complete. Your choices along the way affect the overall ending, making this a personal story.

#97. Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2

Vanguard/Atlus, 2008 Simulation » Virtual » Career

Synopsis You play as doctor Derek Stiles, an experienced surgeon who has relocated to the disintegrating fictional African country, Costigar. While there, they discover a brand new disease that proves to be the most fearsome disease of their career.

Short Review This Trauma Center title keeps the same addictive simulation gameplay as the original while adding new features and gameplay. The main gameplay surrounds surgery, where you’ll have to use your medical tools to complete various operations. Whether it’s treating burn victims, healing lacerations, or fighting an unknown virus, you’ll have to master the medical arts. The touch screen controls offer excellent precision, which is important considering how challenging the game is. With an interesting story and awesome gameplay, Trauma Center 2 solidifies itself as an amazing game.

#96. Monster Tale

DreamRift/Majesco, 2011 Action » Platformer » 2D

Synopsis A young girl named Ellie finds herself in a world full of monsters, but it’s not what you’d expect. Joining up with the friendly monsters, Ellie helps to fight off evil Kid-Kings that rule the land. Together with their help, Ellie attempts to save the world and find a way back to her own.

Short Review This game mixes the standard side scrolling action genre with the popular virtual pet genre. You’ll progress through various levels, navigating the obstacles and and fighting enemies. You can also care after the monsters you’ve befriended by spending time with them in the game. By caring for your virutal pet monsters, you can gain new powers and abilities to make the side scrolling levels even more fun.

#95. Pokemon White Version 2

Game Freak/Nintendo, 2012 Role-Playing » Trainer

Synopsis This sequel to the popular original Pokemon White features a new story in the world of Unova. Starting off in the metropolitan city Aspertia, you and your rival begin a fantastical journey to battle the best Pokemon trainers around.

Short Review Like most Pokemon games, White 2 offers countless hours of fun RPG gameplay and addictive collecting. There are hundreds of unique Pokemon to capture and train throughout your adventure. You’ll need to create a powerful team of trained Pokemon if you wish to succeed and finish the game. This game also brings in new features such as the Pokemon World Tournament, which sees the return of past fan-favorite gym leaders.

#94. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn

Camelot Software Planning/Nintendo, 2010 Role-Playing » Japanese-Style

Synopsis This epic RPG is the third entry in the Golden Sun series and continues the main story. Taking place dozens of years after the events of the first two games, you control a group of young adventurers exploring the land of Weyward.

Short Review This RPG focuses on the use of magic during combat and gameplay, as the Golden Sun universe is deeply tied into alchemy and the use of magic. The game is very traditional in style, containing a 2D top-down overworld that you explore. This takes you to main story quests, and also various side dungeons. You’ll fight in turn-based battles and gain experience, leveling up your characters and becoming even more powerful. Some locations become locked after a certain amount of time, whereas others become available once you’ve purchased a ship. This encourages exploration throughought the entire adventure, and it’s a great adventure to be on.

#93. Plants vs. Zombies

TOSE/PopCap, 2011 Strategy » Real-Time » Defense

Synopsis Zombies have risen from their grave and are threatening your home! Using your trusty botanical skills, you must care for various plants that repel the zombies with makeshift weaponry.

Short Review Generally considering one of the most addictive tower defense style games ever made, Plants vs. Zombies is both incredibly fun and easy to learn. You place various plants in your front yard which is laid out on a grid. As zombies approach from the right side of the screen, your sentient plants will attack. Using a variety of different plant types, you complete objectives and protect your home over the course of several levels. At its base level, the game is an absolute blast to play, and it’s no wonder the series has gone on to see huge modern success.

#92. Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

Intelligent Systems/Nintendo, 2009 Strategy » Turn-Based » Tactics

Synopsis This entry in the popular RPG franchise is actually a remake of the 1990 NES game, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light. This full remake offers brand new graphics, refined gameplay, but keeps the same compelling story and wonderful characters.

Short Review This strategy game mixes up large-scale battles with small one-on-one battles. You control Marth, the leader of a small army of militants. Each soldier has a different class type, and the game mechanics work sort of like “rock, paper, scissors”. You direct your troops on a larger map, then fight the enemies you encounter in turn-based battles. This game is known for being very challenging, since character deaths are permanent. There are also a handful of side quests to enjoy, which occasionally offer new soldiers to use.

#91. Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – The Director’s Cut

Revolution Software/Ubisoft, 2009 Adventure » Point-and-Click

Synopsis This is a remaster of a beloved point and click adventure game, specifically made to utilize the Nintendo DS’ touch screen controls. The game follows the story of George, a young American who discovers a vast conspiracy while vacationing in Paris.

Short Review Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars was widely acclaimed when it originally released in 1996. Critics point to the fantastic storytelling, interesting characters, and well-designed puzzles as positives. The gameplay is laid back and linear, and features interesting puzzles. This “Director’s Cut” version also contains new artwork, a brand new playable character, and plenty of quality-of-life improvements.

#90. LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures

TT Fusion/ctivision, 2008 Action Adventure » General

Synopsis Relive the magic of the first three Indiana Jones films in this fun adventure that greatly uses the LEGO brand.

Short Review Like the other LEGO games, this title adapts a popular mainstream movie series into a lovable series of levels full of hidden secrets and unlockable characters. This game fully focuses on the Indiana Jones movies, and it recreates the movies in cute dialogue-free cutscenes. Each move is broken up into a handful of fun levels that replicate notable scenes from the films. As you progress, you unlock new characters to use, find new puzzles to solve, and engage in fun and simple combat. If you’re a fan of the Indiana Jones films and enjoy a simplistic adventure, this is a great time.

#89. Bangai-O Spirits

Treasure/ESP Software, 2008 Action » Shooter » Shoot-‘Em-Up » Vertical

Synopsis This action-packed sequel is full of robots, crazy weapons, and intense firefights. The game is notable for having little-to-no story, but containing tons of gameplay content.

Short Review If blasting apart enemies with giant robots sounds like your cup of tea, then look no further than Bangai-O Spirits. After completing the short tutorial missions, you’ll have to shoot your way through over 160 levels full of enemies. Your robot can utilize seven different weapons, or even smash enemies with melee attacks. In addition to the crazy amount of levels included, this game also has a level editor which was revolutionary for its time.

#88. Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift

Square Enix, 2008 Strategy » Turn-Based » Tactics

Synopsis When a young man named Luso is transported to the world of Ivalice, he must team up with classic Final Fantasy XII characters to fight in a clan war and find his way home.

Short Review This sequel makes great improvements over the classic original game, and it also offers an interesting story with fan-favorite characters. Like other Tactics games, you guide your party across a 3D isometric landscape. As you progress through the story, new worlds will unlock for you to explore. Players fight in turn-based battles, picking attacks and buffs to be used by the party members. The game features colorful and pleasant graphics, but still maintains the difficulty and challenge of a proper strategy game.

#87. Bleach: Dark Souls

Treasure/Sega, 2008 Action » Fighting » 2D

Synopsis This fighting game features awesome characters from the popular anime, Bleach. You’ll battle in one-on-one fights that are full of crazy awesome moves and cool weapons.

Short Review This is a great treat for fans of the anime, Bleach. For newcomers to the story, it might be a bit hard to follow, but its easy to understand the flashy graphics and style. Like a traditional fighting game, you face off against your opponent in a duel. However, characters can use buffs on the touch screen, and execute incredibly flashy anime style moves.

#86. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga

TT Fusion/LucasArts, 2007 Action » General

Synopsis This fantastic LEGO game features six of the Star Wars films, and lets fans relive the best moments of the movies with fun gameplay to boot.

Short Review Like LEGO Indiana Jones, this game transforms the a popular film franchise into the distinct style of LEGO bricks. The Star Wars franchise is great for this, due to its large amount of characters and distinct sci-fi setting. The game takes you across the original trilogy as well as the prequel trilogy, letting you play as a multitude of characters. Whether you’re a fan of the Jedi or the Dark Side, this is one Star Wars experience that everyone will enjoy.

#85. The New York Times Crosswords

BudCat/Majesco, 2007 Puzzle » Logic

Synopsis Looking for a casual way to engage your brain or kill some time? What better way than with a old fashioned crossword puzzle, straight from one of the best sources ever?

Short Review Although it’s a pretty basic game, The New York Times Crosswords shows that the crossword puzzle is still incredibly addictive and fun. You can either use the touch screen to write out words or use an optional keypad. The game has over 1,000 different puzzles of varying difficulty, which changes depending on the day of the week. You can also play with friends over the DS Wi-Fi network, adding a bit of challenge to the classic game.

#84. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials and Tribulations

Capcom, 2007 Adventure » Visual Novel

Synopsis This third entry in the Phoenix Wright series sees our favorite lawyer back in action. The game is a mixture of visual novel and puzzle solving, with a healthy supply of outrageous humor and memorable characters.

Short Review The Phoenix Wright series is well known for its unique gameplay. In it, you investigate different scenes and interrogate witnesses, forming a case surrounding a crime. Then, you take your evidence and wits to court and defend your client. This game contains five different episodes, with each one focusing on a different crime and sub-story.

#83. Yoshi’s Island DS

Artoon/Nintendo, 2006 Action » Platformer » 2D

Synopsis This is a DS-exclusive sequel to the smash hit Yoshi’s Island for the Super Nintendo. Although it changes the graphical style, it keeps the same baby-saving and platforming gameplay that the series is loved for.

Short Review In this cute adventure, you’ll control the beloved Yoshi dinosaurs as they attempt to save baby characters from the evil wizard Kamek. The game is separated into worlds and levels, and while you can progress by simply finishing the level, you’ll want to find all the hidden collectibles! Although it might seem simple at first, Yoshi’s Island DS allows players to perform very precise movements with Yoshi, making it a fun but challenging game.

#82. Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution

Firaxis Games/2K Games, 2008 Strategy » Turn-Based » General

Synopsis Start your civilization from its core foundation and build it into one of the best the world has ever known.

Short Review This monumental strategy game makes its appearance on the DS with style, allowing players to fully create a robust civilization from nothing. Your overall aim in the game is to become the most advanced civilization around. You do this by achieving various “wonders” of technology, which can be achieved by research and resource management. You’ll have to decide how you interact with other world leaders, where you choose to build your civilization, and a ton of other factors. This is a fleshed out and exciting game with more options than you could ever imagine.

#81. Pokemon Black Version 2

Game Freak/Nintendo, 2012 Role-Playing » Trainer

Synopsis This alternate take on the Pokemon White Version 2 story features exclusive Pokemon as well as a few interesting changes.

Short Review Like most Pokemon titles, two versions of the same game were released around the same time. This is true for both Black and White, which released on the same day. Both games focuses on a hero and their rival in Aspertia City, as both train pokemon monsters to become the world’s best trainer. This series introduced a few new features, including PokeStar Studios, a fun distraction where you star in movies alongside other Pokemon characters.

#80. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

1st Playable Productions/D3Publisher, 2007 Puzzle » Matching

Synopsis This epic title combines addictive match-three puzzle gameplay with an overarching fantasy RPG narrative. By combining two highly entertaining concepts, this game turns out as a unique masterpiece.

Short Review In Puzzle Quest, you move across an overworld completing quests and engaging in battles. You also learn new spells as you progress, level up your character, and go on fantasy-themed hunts. However, you do all of this by playing fun color-matching gameplay similar to games like Bejeweled. Succeeding in battle earns you new weapons and gold which you can spend on fortifying your character and castle. This is an amazing game to play in short bursts, but addictive enough to keep you glued to your DS for hours.

#79. Ninjatown

Venan Entertainment/SouthPeak Games, 2008 Strategy » General

Synopsis The peaceful ninja village Ninjatown gets invaded by the evil Mr. Demon and his cronies. This, coupled with the nearby volanic eruption, puts Ninjatown in threat of total destruction.

Short Review This tower defense game is basic in its gameplay, but has a ton of cute charm. You play as the Ninja Master, and try to defend your base by building ninja huts on the map. These huts spawn different kinds of ninjas, who will fight the enemies automatically and push them back. There are a total of eight different ninja types to experiment with, as well as six different modifications you can apply to them. There’s plenty of strategy in the gameplay, but its fun cartoon charm makes it inviting and easy to learn.

#78. Okamiden

Capcom, 2011 Action Adventure » General

Synopsis This sequel to the Playstation 2 classic Okami brings a wonderful world to life with watercolor artwork and a stunningly fun adventure.

Short Review Okamiden tells the story of a small celestial wolf who travels around the land of Nippon, engaging with young children and fighting demons. The gameplay is a mixture of exploration and action, featuring a fun “brush” mechanic that will have you drawing on your screen. The graphical style is also really cool, as it often looks like a painting that has come to life. The game is lengthy, varied, and satisfying, so if you like unique adventures, there’s plenty here to like.

#77. Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard

Atlus, 2008 Role-Playing » Western-Style

Synopsis Deep within a castle in the middle of the sky, there is a priceless treasure. The Duke recruits brave adventurers to traverse the castle’s endless maze in pursuit of the Grail of Kings.

Short Review This fantastical RPG uses traditional combat mechanics, but wraps its gameplay in a really inventive mechanic. In the game, you must travel up a massive magical tree to reach your goal; the castle. You do so by climbing floor by floor like a huge building, fighting enemies along the way. You can return to the bottom and refresh your characters, stock up on items, and more. The fun gameplay is combined with a truly fun and interesting story, making this an unforgettable RPG.

#76. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08

Exient Entertainment/EA Sports, 2007 Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim

Synopsis A new control style and plenty of fun modes make this a great golf game on the go.

Short Review Despite being a portable version of a console game, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008 excels with great game modes and snappy controls. You can play through a season of golf, play singular rounds, complete a dozen different minigames, and much more. There are eight total PGA courses featured in the game, so you’ll have no shortage of holes to take on. The controls are also easy to use, and simply have you flicking the analog stick to achieve desired power.

#75. WarioWare: Touched!

Intelligent Systems/Nintendo, 2005 Puzzle » General

Synopsis Try to keep your head straight as you complete over 180 different micro-games with a super strict time limit!

Short Review The WarioWare series is all about playing simple games in a short amount of time, and this DS exclusive completely focuses on using touch controls. Each stage has you playing a sequence of these small micro-games faster and faster, and you’ll have to beat them all with only a few seconds on the clock. The game’s wacky humor and quick-pace makes it an absolute blast, and its is one of the most unique games on the entire console.

#74. Pokemon Conquest

Koei/The Pokemon Company, 2012 Strategy » Turn-Based » Tactics

Synopsis Hearing of an ancient legend that promises a chance to meet the Legendary Pokemon, hundreds of warriors turn to war in an effort to conquer the 17 kingdoms of their land.

Short Review This ambitious crossover ties together the world of Pokemon with the highly strategic world of Nobunaga’s Ambition. The games fuse together to create a wholly new kind of experience, that is great for fans of both franchises. You travel around the world befriending Pokemon and fighting fierce warriors, but the gameplay focuses more on placement of your characters and single attacks. This is a unexpected but fun fusion of two franchises that is sure to give you a challenge.

#73. N+

SilverBirch Studios/Atari SA, 2008 Action » Platformer » 2D

Synopsis Try to make it to the end of each brutally tough level using just your ninja movement skills.

Short Review This classic game sees players as a nameless ninja, dashing and jump through incredibly dangerous levels. The basic artwork style gives the game a very clean look, which makes its brutal difficulty feel fair and rewarding. The game features a crazy amount of levels, but if that’s not enough, you can even create your own using the level editor!

#72. Lunar Knights

Kojima Productions/Konami, 2007 Role-Playing » Action RPG

Synopsis Two characters, one wielding the power of the light and the other of the dark, attempt to take down a collection of vicious vampires.

Short Review This fun action game has an interesting story about vampire hunters told across several chapters. In the game, you travel to various dungeons and attempt to clear them out, hunting down the vampire boss at the end. As you complete each dungeon, you are given extra elemental abilities. These allow you to change the weather in-game, which affects various features. This unique action game is not only a really cool vampire tale, but has plenty of interesting gameplay features as well.

#71. Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime

TOSE/Square Enix, 2006 Action Adventure » Open-World

Synopsis This Dragon Quest game flips the script by featuring the common enemies of the series, the slimes, as the heroes of this story. You get to control a blob named Rocket who hops in a tank to save his friends from an organization known as the Plob.

Short Review Although the main Dragon Quest series fall in the RPG genre, Rocket Slime plays more like an action/adventure game. You control Rocket, a small blob who can hop around levels and attack enemies. You play from an overhead perspective, collecting items and rescuing your slime friends. There are two distinct styles of gameplay in the game, playing as Rocket and entering a tank. The tank gameplay is vastly different from the main gameplay, where you’ll have to use both screens to take out the opposite tank.

#70. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Capcom, 2005 Adventure » Visual Novel

Synopsis This eccentric and interesting tale of crime and justice marks the beginning of a successful franchise, as well as a beloved main character who has more charisma than you can handle.

Short Review This game follows the story of Phoenix Wright, a young attorney working a variety of cases. The game is split between three different styles. There’s the story sections that are told through visual novel dialogue, investigation sequences that have you exploring crime scenes, and court room gameplay where you use evidence to present your case. The story is broken up into different cases, but follows an overarching story surrounding Phoenix and a few of his companions. If anything, Phoenix Wright is a unique game that adds a lot of value to the DS library.

#69. Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure

EA Tiburon/Electronic Arts, 2009 Action » Platformer » 2D

Synopsis A gentleman named Henry goes on a stunning adventure to find the “Golden Suit”, an attractive garb that is said to hold incredible puzzling power.

Short Review This fun puzzle/action game makes great use of the DS’ dual screens by forcing players to split their attention. As you play the game’s side scrolling levels, you’ll hop over obstacles and defeat enemies. Those enemies are sent to the bottom screen, where a puzzle game takes place. Here, you’ll have to link together similarly colored blocks to fully defeat the enemy. Other blocks can help out Henry in combat, giving him extra strength and health. This all rewards you with gold, which can be spent to obtain overall upgrades for Henry.

#68. Dawn of Discovery

Keen Games/Ubisoft, 2009 Strategy » Real-Time » General

Synopsis The king sends out his two sons to explore and harvest nearby fertile lands, after the kingdom has started to fall due to famine.

Short Review This strategy game gives players the power of creating a brand new settlement with resource-heavy gameplay and a great Endless gameplay mode. In the Story Mode, you’ll work through several chapters, with each one introducing new gameplay mechanics. You’ll spend time harvesting materials and resources to upgrade your settlement, all in an effort to aid the common good. Once you’ve complete the main game, there’s an endless gameplay mode to play through. This gives complete control to the player, and doesn’t restrict any of the mechanics unlike the Story mode.

#67. GRID

Firebrand Games/Codemasters, 2008 Racing » Simulation » Automobile

Synopsis This gritty street racing game has you driving for various racing teams until you can earn enough cash to grab your own ride and take it solo.

Short Review GRID offers a wide variety of vehicles, courses, and ways to progress. There are 20 different courses to race on, spread out across three different countries. You can race in Europe, Japan, and the US. Once you’ve spent time tearing up the corners on these tracks, you can make your own in the in-game track editor. Not only does the game feature over two dozen cars to choose from, but you can also customize them to your liking.

#66. Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise

Rare Ltd./THQ, 2008 Simulation » Virtual » Virtual Life

Synopsis After discovering a ruined plot of land, you decide to turn into a beautiful garden. Here, pinata-like creatures occupy it, and it’s your job to find them all.

Short Review This portable version of Viva Pinata contains just as much content as the original game does, but changes a few key features. For instance, you can only obtain romance sweets (candies that encourage your visiting pinatas to procreate) by completing challenges. The overall objective is to have a colorful garden full of unique pinatas, and you do so by maintaining the garden and pleasing the pinatas. The game also has a less restrictive Playground mode, which removes the challenges and lets players build their fantasy garden.

#65. Super Scribblenauts

5TH Cell/Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, 2010 Puzzle » Action

Synopsis This sequel to the puzzle/action game Scribblenauts adds a fresh helping of levels and content, but also changes the main gameplay by adding a few new key elements.

Short Review Like the original Scribblenauts, your aim is to collect various “Starites” contained in different levels. You do this by typing out words on a keyboard, which spawns the appropriate item within the game. Super Scribblenauts adds adjectives, which change up the game in a whole new way. Challenges have an extra layer of depth to them, and often require you to get creative with your wording. Generally speaking, this franchise is surprisingly inventive, and does a great job making you feel smart when you complete puzzles.

#64. Disgaea DS

Nippon Ichi Software/NIS Europe, 2008 Strategy » Turn-Based » Tactics

Synopsis This is a re-release of the fantastic RPG Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. It centers around a battle for the throne, after the heir awakens from a deep comatose state.

Short Review Disgaea is known for being both complex and completely rewarding, giving players tons of gameplay mechanics while telling an awesome story. Combat plays out on a grid, and players control a variety of both human and monster companions. You can travel to other areas in the game by using the castle, which also serves as your main hub. Players can make improvements to the castle by consulting with the Dark Assembly, where you can propose new characters and upgrades to your base. In addition, players can also access the Item World, a randomly generated world that boasts big rewards but tough enemies.

#63. Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword

Team Ninja/Tecmo, 2008 Action Adventure » General

Synopsis Experience a unique story in the Ninja Gaiden universe, made exclusively with the touch and dual screen controls of DS in mind.

Short Review After some peaceful years, expert ninja Ryu finds himself back in action when his friend gets kidnapped. This sends him on a crazy journey full of exciting action and awesome ninja antics. The game is notable for using the DS in a unique way; you hold it sideways like a book when playing. In addition, the controls are tied directly into the touch screen. Instead of using the buttons and analog stick like a standard action game, players control Ryu in a 3D environment by touching, dragging, and tapping the touch screen.

#62. Space Invaders Extreme 2

Taito Corporation, 2009 Action » Shooter » Shoot-‘Em-Up » Vertical

Synopsis This fantastic revamp of the classic arcade game takes Space Invaders to a whole new level of extremity in colors, weapons, and modes.

Short Review Fans of the classic arcade game Space Invaders should definitely take a look at this awesome and colorful version. This sequel to the original Extreme game features three modes of play: Score Attack, Ranking, and Time Attack. All three modes offer a different set of rules, and each will have you blasting incoming aliens with increasingly crazy modifiers. You can grab crazy new weapons to use, gain “fever” time to really ramp up your score, and face off against intimidating bosses.

#61. Clubhouse Games

Agenda/Nintendo, 2006 Casual » Board / Card Game

Synopsis Enjoy a large collection of classic card, board, and bar games in this compilation.

Short Review This game brings some of the oldest and most classic types of game straight to your DS. This compilation has a great variety of games and offers something for everyone. Card game fans can enjoy Blackjack, Poker, Rummy, and more. Fans of board games can enjoy a game of chess and checkers, as well as some classic Japanese games like shogi. There are also more physical games like bowling and darts to check out as well. Regardless of your preference, this compilation will surely give you a handful of enjoyable games to play.

#60. Picross DS

Jupiter Corporation/Nintendo, 2007 Puzzle » Logic

Synopsis This fantastic DS puzzle game takes the classic number-crunching nonogram logic puzzles and puts a Nintendo twist on them.

Short Review Picross can be a bit hard to explain, but it’s very similar to classic logic games like Sudoku. In the game, you color in blocks on a grid, with numbers on each axis. Eventually, those blocks form a picture, usually related to some Nintendo property. The game features a slew of puzzles to complete with varying difficulty, and after completing the puzzles, you can try them again in three new sub-modes.

#59. Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors

ChunSoft/Spike, 2010 Adventure » Visual Novel

Synopsis Nine people wake up on a sinking cruise ship to find themselves inside of a deranged game of life or death, where they will have to decide who lives and who dies if they want to escape.

Short Review This creepy and unsettling mystery game smartly blends the visual novel genre with interesting puzzles and “seek and find” gameplay. You control Junpei, one of the nine people trapped on the ship. As the game progresses, you’ll have to make decisions on who lives and who dies, as well as escaping deadly traps laid by an unknown madman. If you want the full story of the game, you’ll have to complete it several times, as the game’s timeline has many branching paths depending on your decisions.

#58. Sonic Rush

Dimps Corporation/Sega, 2005 Action » Platformer » 2D

Synopsis Blaze through exciting levels at the speed of sound with classic Sonic the Hedgehog characters. This game also introduced the character Big the Cat.

Short Review This game plays much like the classic Sega Genesis versions of Sonic, but features a cool 2.5D art style. You play as either Sonic or Big the Cat, and speed through sidescrolling levels. Depending on what character you choose, you’ll have to run through seven different themed zones. Like the Genesis games, Sonic Rush is all about speed and power, and this game has more than enough of it.

#57. Pokemon Platinum Version

Game Freak/Nintendo, 2009 Role-Playing » Trainer

Synopsis This game takes the elements from both Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl and fuses them together to create a mega-Pokemon game that is too good to pass up.

Short Review Starting out in the land of Sinnoh, you play as either a young male or female Pokemon trainer. With their eyes on the top spot as Pokemon Master, you guide these young adventurers on an epic quest. The game is very similar to the previously mentioned Pokemon titles, but it contains a few new features. For instance, the ultimate Pokemon Giratina now has different forms, and the game itself features a few new areas. With hundreds of Pokemon to collect and a beautiful world to explore, this Pokemon game is one of the best in the series.

#56. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!

Nintendo, 2009 Action » Platformer » 2D

Synopsis This DS download-exclusive has Mario controlling small replica toys, leading them through difficult obstacle courses and with puzzling paths.

Short Review This third game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series makes a few changes to the formula but retains the core gameplay. You direct tiny Mario toys towards the end goal, trying to defeat enemies and form a path to the end. There are requirements for each level, so you’ll have to do a bit of planning ahead of time. If you ever get bored with the plethora of levels included, you can make your own in the Construction Zone mode. These levels can even be shared with friends locally or online.

#55. Rhythm Heaven

Nintendo, 2009 Action » Rhythm » Music

Synopsis Tap your foot to the beat and complete a bunch of mini-games that are all about music.

Short Review This quirky title is very similar to the WarioWare series, as it is a compilation of many short games that are tied into an overall progression system. Unlike WarioWare, each game in Rhythm Heaven has its own music, which ties into the gameplay of each. You’ll have to tap, hold, and swipe your stylus across the screen to perform various actions. When the game is over, you’re scored on a scale depending on your timeliness, rhythm, and execution. There are dozens of fun games to try, and the colorful graphics and catchy tunes make this an excellent game for short bursts.

#54. Bleach: The Blade of Fate

Treasure/Sega, 2007 Action » Fighting » 2D

Synopsis This traditional 2D fighting game brings characters from the popular anime Bleach, and offers players quite a few modes to dig deep into.

Short Review Of the Bleach games available on the Nintendo DS, this is the most traditional in terms of gameplay. You pick your character and mode, and go up against other Bleach characters in intense one-on-one fights. You can pick from the narrative-driven Story mode, gameplay-pure Arcade mode, multiplayer Versus mode, Survival, Challenge, and more. The North American version of the game also has some balancing changes, making some match-ups more fair.

#53. Professor Layton and the Last Specter

Level 5, 2011 Puzzle » General

Synopsis Professor Layton and his sidekick Luke try to unravel a mystery in the sleepy town of Misthallery, in this prequel to the fantastic puzzle/adventure franchise.

Short Review The Professor Layton franchise is one of the best puzzle series on the DS family of systems, and it has gone on to see many sequels and installments. The Last Specter is one of the best, and tells the origin story of the titular Professor and shows us how he met his sidekick. The story is mysterious and lively, featuring a masked villain who performs various illusions around town. By solving individual puzzles, you slowly start to unravel the identity of the masked man. The game features well over 100 unique puzzles, ranging everywhere from logic puzzles to card games.

#52. Metroid Prime: Hunters

Nintendo Software Technology/Nintendo, 2006 Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade

Synopsis Intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran ventures to the Tetra Galaxy, where an entire species has completely disappeared.

Short Review This game takes place between the first two games in the Metroid Prime franchise, and features tons of awesome first-person shooting action. Like the other games, there’s also a big focus on puzzle solving and exploration, so you’ll want to pay attention to your surroundings. The game takes you through various colorful locations and has you battling fierce aliens and bugs. In addition to the lengthy single player campaign, there are a handful of multiplayer modes that encourage fast-paced competition among friends.

#51. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor

Atlus, 2009 Strategy » Turn-Based » Tactics

Synopsis A young teenager discovers that he has the power to see how long someone will live. When demons break out into the streets of Tokyo, he teams up with his friends and uses his powers to save as many lives as possible.

Short Review This game is tied into the storied Shin Megami Tensei universe, but was created specifically with newcomers in mind. The game’s interesting story leads to fun grid-based combat, where you control your party and occasionally some friendly demons. In between fights, you can explore various locations around Tokyo, progressing the story and participating in non-required fights. Devil Survivor also has several endings and branching paths depending on your decisions, so there’s plenty of replayability as well.

#50. Picross 3D

HAL Labs/Nintendo, 2010 Puzzle » Logic

Synopsis Enjoy hundreds of fun nonogram puzzles in a brand new 3D environment.

Short Review This sequel to the fantastic Picross DS takes the tried and true gameplay of the original and adds a whole new dimension. In the game, you’ll complete a huge amount of numerical puzzles (similar to Sudoku). By carving out blocks, you’ll eventually reveal a fun shape or character. The game contains a great tutorial system, ensuring you won’t be confused at any point. Besides the hundreds of puzzles included in the game, you can create and download other levels using a handy puzzle editor.

#49. Contra 4

WayForward/Konami, 2007 Action » Platformer » 2D

Synopsis This run and gun series makes the jump to the DS, delivering addictive action gameplay with a challenging level of difficulty.

Short Review This Contra title harkens back to the classic days of the franchise, giving players that awesome feeling of action and intensity. There are nine different stages in the game, and three different difficulty levels are offered. Using your grappling hook and various awesome weapons, you’ll blast your way through an awesome homage to this beloved franchise. The game also includes a Challenge mode that unlocks after you master the main Arcade mode, giving the game even more replayability.

#48. Kirby: Mass Attack

HAL Labs/Nintendo, 2011 Action » Platformer » 2D

Synopsis Control an entire gang of Kirbys in this colorful and addictive platforming game that is great for players of all skill levels.

Short Review Unlike other Kirby games, Mass Attack gives you control of ten Kirby characters instead of just one. Using your stylus and tapping on the screen, you command your troop of pink blobs through various platforming levels. You’ll have to protect your Kirbys as they move through the level, as most stages require a certain amount of Kirbys left alive to complete. This, combined with surprisingly fun puzzles, makes Mass Attack one of the best Kirby titles on the system.

#47. Tony Hawk’s American Sk8land

Vicarious Visions/Activision, 2005 Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard

Synopsis Tear through various environments on your skateboard, pulling off incredible tricks and high flying stunts.

Short Review This skateboarding game is a port of the console version, with a few changes made for the smaller device. Like the console version, you’ll complete various objectives and goals while skating through different levels. As you rack up big points, you’ll get closer to your dream of becoming a skating legend. The online offerings of the DS give players different modes of play, as well as new objectives to download and try out. With a fun cel-shaded art style, this game stands out as not just a port, but a brand new spin on a beloved game.

#46. Space Invaders Extreme

Taito Corporation, 2008 Action » Shooter » Shoot-‘Em-Up » Vertical

Synopsis Blast alien ships with more excitement than ever before in this crazy take on the classic arcade game, Space Invaders.

Short Review This exciting new take on the classic game of Space Invaders plays a lot like the original. You control a cannon at the bottom of the screen, blasting alien ships as they collect at the top. However, Space Invaders Extreme shakes up the formula by adding crazy new ship formations, a few new power ups, and branching level paths. The game has 11 stages in total, and you’ll play different stages depending on how well you do. There are also online offerings, as well as a stage select so you can replay your favorite levels.

#45. Peggle: Dual Shot

Q Entertainment/PopCap, 2009 Puzzle » Action

Synopsis Part pachinko and part fantasy ball-blaster, Peggle wins over your gaming time with its colorful presentation and super addictive gameplay.

Short Review This version of Peggle is more of a compilation than a port, as it features both the original Peggle and its sequel, Peggle Nights. You can play as a number of zany characters, each with their own unique power ups. After selecting your character, you must take on a slew of levels by aiming your ball and taking out all the orange pegs. Although the game sounds easy enough, the level design and deceptive physics provide plenty of close-calls and nail biting moments. There’s even a new mini-game included, which activates after you hit five purple pegs.

#44. Art Style: PiCTOBiTS

Nintendo, 2009 Puzzle » Matching

Synopsis Engage in an in-depth and addictive puzzle game, full of nostalgia and a great retro presentation.

Short Review PiCTOBiTS might be a bit tough to learn at first, but luckily the game provides a handful of tutorial missions to teach you the ropes. Basically, the game is a variation of the “falling block” puzzle game, such as Tetris or Columns. You match up single blocks to form a picture, while trying to keep your playfield clear. Each level is tied into a classic Nintendo game like Super Mario Bros. or Ice Climbers, giving players plenty of nostalgia to match the fun puzzle gameplay.

#43. WarioWare D.I.Y.

Intelligent Systems/Nintendo, 2010 Casual » General

Synopsis This wacky collection of microgames focuses on giving players all the tools to create their own microgame and share it with friends.

Short Review Like other games in the WarioWare franchise, D.I.Y. contains a ton of brief micro-games. However, the focus is less on the pre-included micro-games, and more on creating your own. Most of the game’s modes revolve around developing your own bite-sized game and sharing it with your friends. There’s some cross compatibility with the Nintendo Wii, which opens up even more creative options. Whether you’re looking for some crazy micro-games or have a creative spark to make your own, WarioWare: D.I.Y. is a ton of fun.

#42. Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride

ArtePiazza/Square Enix, 2009 Role-Playing » Japanese-Style

Synopsis You play as a young man who explores the world with his father. However, you are quickly taken captive and forced into slavery, sparking the beginning of an epic quest of gaining your freedom and destroying a source of evil.

Short Review This traditional RPG tells a serious and gripping story, while also offering engaging tactical gameplay. After creating your custom hero, you will eventually meet up with several characters to form a party. For the first time in the franchise, you can now catch monsters and tame them, adding them to your party as well. The game’s story takes dozens of hours to complete, with plenty of fun turn-based combat to boot. Once completed, players can also enjoy a bonus dungeon!

#41. KORG DS-10 Synthesizer

AQ Interactive, 2008 Casual » Application

Synopsis Create your own sounds and music with this in-depth virtual synthesizer tool.

Short Review This is more of an application than it is a game, but the KORG DS-10 Synthesizer is still plenty of fun to play with. Like a normal synthesizer, users can adjust the pitch and sound effect of the instrument, creating unique noises. Using a virtual piano, you can play different notes and record music. There’s also a drumpad, so you can add a percussive kick to your beats. This tool shows us that the touch screen interface and stylus control of the DS is useful for more than just games.

#40. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

Capcom, 2011 Adventure » General

Synopsis A spirit named Sissel awakens gains awareness following his death, and finds that he has powers that could potentially save lives.

Short Review This quirky adventure game has you controlling a ghost and saving people using time travel. Sissel is a fun character, and his quest to clear up his death and mysterious path is interesting. The gameplay mostly revolves around Sissel’s ability to hop into dead bodies and travel back in time. Here, you can use your ghostly abilities to animate objects, altering the past and possibly preventing death. The game is a good mixture of puzzles, story, and humor, and will surely please the detective in you.

#39. Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

Konami, 2006 Role-Playing » Action RPG

Synopsis Set in Europe during World War II, two vampire hunters travel to Dracula’s castle and enter a mystical realm through a magical potrait.

Short Review This fresh take on the Castlevania franchise introduces new characters and story, but keeps the same great gameplay the series is known for. During the main game, you control two characters, Jonathan and Charlotte. You can switch between the characters at any time, as both have unique abilities. The game’s story has a bunch of alternative modes, which switch up playable characters as well as power ups and enemies. There are multiple endings, plenty of unlockables, and enough Castlevania goodness to keep you playing for hours on end.

#38. Final Fantasy IV

Matrix Software/Square Enix, 2008 Role-Playing » Japanese-Style

Synopsis Relive the classic RPG tale in this rebalanced and revamped version of a beloved retro game.

Short Review This epic RPG gets some extra features and new bonus content in a wonderful DS remake. The original game won over people’s hearts when it released on the SNES, and the same can be said for this remake. Besides new graphics, the game contains brand new mini-games which are controlled using the stylus. The story has also had a few additions, and the combat system has been fleshed out a bit. Generally speaking, this is one of the best ways to play Final Fantasy IV, whether or not you’ve played it before.

#37. Nintendogs: Chihuahua & Friends

Nintendo, 2005 Simulation » Virtual » Pet

Synopsis Adopt a cute virtual puppy and care after it, growing your bond as you keep your pup healthy and happy.

Short Review This fantastic virtual pet title has many entries, but the main gameplay is usually the same. You care after a virtual puppy, feeding it, playing with it, and teaching it tricks. As you become a better dog handler, you can adopt more dogs, with a maximum of three at a time. The Chihuahua & Friends version allows you to adopt: Chihuahuas, German Shephards, Boxers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Yorkshire Terriers, and Shetland Sheepdogs.

#36. Nintendogs: Dachshund & Friends

Nintendo, 2005 Simulation » Virtual » Pet

Synopsis Bring home a cute puppy and care for it by feeding it, teaching it tricks, and eventually entering it into numerous competitions.

Short Review Like the other versions of Nintendogs, Dachsund & Friends has you looking after adorable puppies. You can have up to eight dogs stored in your personal home and the “Dog Hotel”, training them in preparation for a variety of modes. The Dachsund & Friends version allows you to adopt: Minature Dachsunds, Golden Retreivers, Beagles, Pugs, Siberian Huskies, and Shih Tzus.

#35. Nintendogs: Lab & Friends

Nintendo, 2005 Simulation » Virtual » Pet

Synopsis Adopt your very own canine pal and care for them in your virtual home.

Short Review The Nintendogs series lets players adopt their very own virtual pet and care for it. In addition to feeding and caring for your pet, you can also enter them into a handful of contests. There are three contests to enter, with multiple difficulties to complete. Using the winnings from these contests, you can spoil your dogs with new toys and much more. The Lab & Friends version lets you adopt: Labrador Retrievers, Miniature Schnauzers, Toy Poodles, Pembroke Welsh Corgies, Miniature Pinschers, and Shiba Inus.

#34. Pokemon Diamond Version

Game Freak/Nintendo, 2007 Role-Playing » Trainer

Synopsis This excellent entry in the Pokemon franchise adds some significant changes to the battling system, as well as 107 new Pokemon to capture and train.

Short Review In this Pokemon adventure, you control an up and coming Pokemon trainer living in Sinnoh, a fictional island with Japanese influences. After picking your starter Pokemon, you’ll embark on an epic journey to defeat the best Pokemon trainers and become the ultimate trainer around. The game utilizes the touch screen of the DS in many ways, including navigation and menus. There are hundreds of Pokemon to find and collect, and this version adds over 100 new ones. Additionally, the game has seen some balancing changes, and combat mechanics have been slightly altered to make things easier and more fluid.

#33. Pokemon Pearl Version

Game Freak/Nintendo, 2007 Role-Playing » Trainer

Synopsis Train and capture hundreds of Pokemon on your quest to become the Pokemon Master on the beautiful island of Sinnoh.

Short Review Like past Pokemon titles, this game revolves around capturing and training powerful Pokemon to face off in battles against other Pokemon trainers. Pearl & Diamond both contain close to 500 Pokemon, so you’ll have plenty of new creatures to find and tame. The game has an interesting day and night cycle, and beautiful graphics to boot. The bottom screen of the DS now contains the Poketch, a sort of smart device that tracks your achievements and stats.

#32. Radiant Historia

Atlus, 2011 Role-Playing » Japanese-Style

Synopsis A man named Stocke is sent on a deadly mission; one that has him traveling back and forth through time.

Short Review This fantastic RPG is set in a stunning fantasy/steampunk world, and focuses on time travel and turn-based battles. The story takes you through several environments and time frames, letting players explore and fight. The gameplay is mainly exploration and battles, as you pit your three-person party against enemies on a grid-style battlefield. As you progress, you can upgrade your weapons and heroes, creating a powerful team of time jumpers.

#31. Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

Alphadream Corporation/Nintendo, 2005 Role-Playing » Japanese-Style

Synopsis When Princess Peach is abducted by an alien race known as Shroobs, Mario and Luigi jump back and forth through time to rescue her.

Short Review This entry in the Mario & Luigi RPG series acts as a prequel to other games, but tells its own self-contained story. In addition to controlling Mario and Luigi, players also control the baby versions of these characters. A lot of the gameplay revolves around using these characters together to solve puzzles, win fights, and progress through the game’s world. The story is full of humor and wit, and the turn-based battle mechanics are easy-to-learn and fun to master. This is a great title for casual RPG fans, and another fantastic entry in an epic franchise.

#30. Advance Wars: Days of Ruin

Intelligent Systems/Nintendo, 2008 Strategy » Turn-Based » Tactics

Synopsis After the fallout of a brutal war, one battalion of heroes traverse the ruined landscape searching for survivors.

Short Review This tactical strategy game is one of the best for the DS, as it features a darker story and atmosphere than other entries in the franchise. Advance Wars gives players a plethora of options in crafting and upgrading their military, which you then use to defeat other enemy commanders. This entry adds tons of new buildings, soldier types, and terrain to traverse. The main story is compiled of over 20 different missions, with extra fights and content to complete once you’re done.

#29. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition

GREZZO/Nintendo, 2011 Action Adventure » General

Synopsis This wonderful remake of the classic Gameboy Advance title brings in new modes, new areas, and a crisp new coat of paint.

Short Review The original Four Swords game was intended to be played multiplayer, and this remake lets you do that with new online connectivity. However, you can also play the game solo in the new single player mode. In this mode, you contronl only two different colored Links instead of the usual four. In addition to this new mode, two new areas have been added to the game. Unfortunately, this remake does not come with A Link to the Past, but the new additions make up for this exclusion.

#28. Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box

Level 5, 2009 Puzzle » General

Synopsis The intelligent Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke travel around the world solving puzzles, all while chasing the elusive Pandora’s Box, which is rumored to kill anyone who opens it.

Short Review This sequel doubles down on the number of puzzles to complete, and also tells an interesting and thrilling story. Like past games, you explore towns and areas, interacting with various characters and items. You’ll often have to solve a puzzle to progress, and the variety of puzzles is great. There’s a good mixture of logic, classic brain teasers, and other inventive puzzle types. Once you’ve completed the game and all the puzzles included, you’re able to unlock even more bonus puzzles. You can also download new puzzles on the DS’s wireless service.

#27. Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia

Konami, 2008 Role-Playing » Action RPG

Synopsis Years after the Belmont clan has dispersed, a new group of vampire hunters try to take on Dracula. A human, named Shanoa attempts to reclaim her memories after they are stolen.

Short Review This Castlevania title takes place after Symphony of the Night, and features a bunch of new characters and locations. There are over 20 different locations to explore, ranging from forests and mountains to castles and crypts. The gameplay is similar to other games in the franchise; challenging 2D sidescrolling action with some platforming to boot. Once you’ve completed the game, you unlock a variety of new modes such as Hard mode, Boss Rush, and more.

#26. Pokemon Black Version

Game Freak/Nintendo, 2011 Role-Playing » Trainer

Synopsis Experience a brand new adventure in this fantastic franchise, with more Pokemon than ever before, and brand new features and a graphical upgrade.

Short Review Both Pokemon Black and Pokemon White add over 150 new Pokemon to the mix, bringing the total up to 649 unique Pokemon to find and catch. The game also has a slew of new features, such as rotational battles, a new season weather cycle, and brand new animations during battles. There are around 20 Pokemon that only appear in Pokemon Black, so if you want to complete your Pokedex, you’ll have to trade between the two games.

#25. Professor Layton and the Curious Village

Level 5/Nintendo, 2008 Puzzle » General

Synopsis Experience the adventure that kick-started one of the most storied and quality puzzle game franchises of all time.

Short Review This puzzle/adventure game introduced us to Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke. The duo take on exciting mysteries, solving the problems of local townsfolk and friends. In this adventure, Layton and Luke travel to the town of Mystere, where they seek the incredibly value Golden Apple. As you explore the town, you’ll have to complete a variety of puzzles to progress the story. There are also a few fun mini-games to check out, as well as various collectibles to acquire.

#24. Animal Crossing: Wild World

Nintendo, 2005 Simulation » Virtual » Virtual Life

Synopsis Move into your own house in a beautiful remote village, completing general tasks and socializing with your animal neighbors.

Short Review Known as a “lifestyle” game, the Animal Crossing franchise gives players a seemingly infinite amount of gameplay to enjoy. The game focuses on you, a human, entering a town of animal characters and starting your new life. You start out with a small house, but by working and completing tasks in town, you can purchase new upgrades and add-ons for your home. The game is synced to the system’s timer, so the game changes seasons and time of day according to real life. There are countless activities to take part in, and with the changing events that are tied to a yearly schedule, you will at least be occupied with Animal Crossing: Wild World for a year of time.

#23. Shantae: Risky’s Revenge

WayForward, 2010 Action » Platformer » 2D

Synopsis The half-genie Shantae goes on her second awesome adventure in an effort to stop the evil pirate named Risky Boots.

Short Review The Shantae games are always great for some fun sidescrolling action. This game focuses on animal transformations, allowing Shantae to access new areas. The platforming feels great, and there’s a great balance of difficulty that provides a fun challenge. As you attempt to hunt down three magical seals, you’ll also discover collectible treasures and upgrades.

#22. Super Mario 64 DS

Nintendo, 2004 Action » Platformer » 3D

Synopsis One of the best games of all time, Super Mario 64, is now completely playable on the DS and with new features as well!

Short Review Widely considered one of the best games ever made, Super Mario 64 needs little introduction. Instead of just controlling Mario, this DS remake lets you play through the game with a variety of characters. In addition to new characters, there are also 30 new star objectives as well as bonus mini-games. You can even play with your friends in a fun multiplayer mode.

#21. Planet Puzzle League

Intelligent Systems/Nintendo, 2007 Puzzle » General

Synopsis Flip your DS vertically and play an addictive falling block puzzle game with a variety of fun modes for both single and multiplayer sessions.

Short Review This game plays similar to Tetris, and has you moving different shaped blocks on a playfield. The main gameplay is solid and addictive, but what really stands out are the numerous modes of play. There’s something for every kind of play session; endless modes, puzzles, time attack, and much more. There are also options for online multiplayer, letting you and a friend battle in a handful of fun modes. If you like puzzle games, this is a must-buy.

#20. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Nintendo, 2009 Action Adventure » Open-World

Synopsis Go another wonderful adventure through the land of Hyrule, this time with an emphasis on all things trains!

Short Review This fun Legend of Zelda adventure sees a young Link who is ready to become a certified train conductor. Players control Link and his train to move around the overworld, stopping at towns and dungeons as they play through the story. In the narrative, Link must search the land with Princess Zelda, attempting to solve the mystery of the disappearing train tracks. In addition to the lengthy single player adventure, there’s also a fun multiplayer mode that you can play with friends via DS Download Play.

#19. Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes

Capy Games/Ubisoft, 2009 Role-Playing » General

Synopsis Set in the fantasy world of Ashan, five heroes set out to take down a plotting demon lord who has ruined their lives.

Short Review This game borrows elements from the Might & Magic franchise, but presents a refreshing style of gameplay. The gameplay is a mixture of turn-based battles, puzzle gameplay, and role playing elements. Players control a variety of characters on a battlefield, and attempt to stack them according to color. The lengthy game is full of quests to complete, and plenty of exciting battles that will test your strategy and puzzle solving skills.

#18. Tetris DS

Nintendo, 2006 Puzzle » Stacking

Synopsis One of the greatest puzzle games ever made becomes even more fun, thanks to a huge variety of Nintendo-themed gameplay modes.

Short Review Although Tetris DS doesn’t radically change the gameplay of Tetris, it offers plenty of fun ways to experience it. Players can pick from six different modes, each themed after a classic Nintendo game. You can play standard Tetris, as well as fun Mission and Puzzle modes, as well as the Push, Touch, and Catch modes. There’s a good mixture of both solo and competitive modes, and some modes offer new gameplay styles. Tetris DS manages to take a classic game and breathe new live into it, and that’s a huge achievement.

#17. Pokemon White Version

Game Freak/Nintendo, 2011 Role-Playing » Trainer

Synopsis Go on an epic Pokemon hunting quest through the region of Unova, taking on gym leaders and the dangerous Team Plasma.

Short Review This entry in the Pokemon series is another great evolution of the base gameplay. Both this game and its counterpart Pokemon Black feature exclusive Pokemon, so you’ll have to trade between both if you want to complete your Pokedex. The game is noted for having a complex and rewarding story, which is sure to keep you interested. New battle types like Rotation and Triple Battles add some fun varations to the expected gameplay, and you’ll easily find yourself sinking hundreds of hours into the game.

#16. Professor Layton and the Unwound Future

Level 5, 2010 Puzzle » General

Synopsis Layton and his apprentice Luke find themselves stumped, when they receive a letter from Luke ten years in the future. The duo go on another puzzle-filled adventure focused on time travel and other oddities.

Short Review This third entry in the Professor Layton franchise really knocks it out of the part with awesome puzzles. There is a better variety and fairer hint system offered this time around, and players will enjoy the interesting and supernatural elements of the story. The gameplay mostly involves exploring towns and talking to citizens, completing puzzles and finding hint coins. Depending on your puzzle solving abilities, you can unlock mini-games and new puzzles to complete. This is widely considered one of the best entries in the entire series, including the games on the 3DS.

#15. Kirby: Canvas Curse

HAL Labs/Nintendo, 2005 Action » Platformer » 2D

Synopsis When an evil witch named Drawcia turns the world of Dream Land into a painted version of itself, it’s up to Kirby to use the power of the paint brush to restore Dream Land to its proper state.

Short Review This title brings you all the cute and colorful platforming fun of a Kirby game, but with a new and exciting control scheme. Instead of using the directional pad to control Kirby, players use the stylus to draw ramps and lines to move Kirby around. There are eight worlds to complete, each containing some collectibles to hunt down. The unique control style and fun painting visuals makes this a refreshing Kirby adventure that is tons of fun to play!

#14. Pokemon HeartGold Version

Game Freak/Nintendo, 2010 Role-Playing » Trainer

Synopsis Become the best Pokemon trainer in the region of Johto, as you attempt to collect all the brand new Pokemon in the second generation.

Short Review This is a remake of the second generation Pokemon game, Pokemon Gold. It contains close to 400 different Pokemon that you can find and capture. Your quest will take you across the new region of Johto, where you’ll face off against new gym leaders. The remakes also bring in a few new features, such as new mini-games, and the ability for one of your Pokemon to follow you around.

#13. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

Level 5/Square Enix, 2010 Role-Playing » Japanese-Style

Synopsis Embark on an challenging fantasy quest in the Dragon Quest universe, with a focus on multiplayer and customization.

Short Review This Dragon Quest title was created to be the toughest game in the franchise, and it shows. Fortunately, you can take on the challenge with up to four friends. You can custom create each member of your party, and players can pick from up to twelve different vocational classes. A player’s class determines their abilities and powers, so it’s fun to experiment with each type. The lengthy adventure features plenty of side quests to complete, and you’ll have a blast strategizing with your friends in the game’s turn-based battles.

#12. The World Ends with You

Jupiter Corporation/Square Enix, 2008 Role-Playing » Action RPG

Synopsis This eccentric and stylish RPG makes smart use of the DS’ two screens, and tells an interesting story of revolution.

Short Review This fun RPG has a complex story, dealing with a fateful game of life and death played in the afterworld. Players control Neku, a young teen living in a fictional version of Shibuya, Japan. You explore the streets of the busy shopping district, fighting enemies in crazy dual screen combat. Both screens are actively used during fights, and you’ll have to execute a variety of stylus movements to win. This game is still vastly popular, thanks to its unique gameplay and stylish storytelling.

#11. Pokemon SoulSilver Version

Game Freak/Nintendo, 2010 Role-Playing » Trainer

Synopsis Follow a young Pokemon trainer on their quest to become the Pokemon Master in Johto, in this remake of the classic Pokemon Silver.

Short Review Like Pokemon HeartGold, this is a remake of the second generation of Pokemon games. Players explore Johto, a new region in the Pokemon world. The graphics have received a huge overhaul, and more than 350 Pokemon are now available to capture. This remake introduces new features like the two mini-games, Pokeathlon and Voltorb Flip. The addictive turn-based combat gameplay and hundreds of unique Pokemon will surely keep you invested for hundreds of hours.

#10. Meteos

Q Entertainment/Bandai, 2005 Puzzle » Matching

Synopsis Match three colored blocks and shoot them to the top of the screen in this cosmic puzzle game.

Short Review This fun match-type puzzle game features four different modes of play. In Star Trip, players attempt to complete a series of puzzle matches against other planets. Simple mode lets you play a standard game of Meteos, with some options to tweak. Deluge mode is a sort of endless mode, which only ends when blocks have completely filled the screen. Time Attack mode offers solo and multiplayer options, so you and your friends can blast off blocks together. Check it out on Amazon »

#9. Elite Beat Agents

iNiS/Nintendo, 2006 Action » Rhythm » Music

Synopsis Tap to the beat and groove in style in this quirky and musical rhythm game.

Short Review This is one of the quirkiest and wackiest games available on the DS. You play as a member of the Elite Beat Agents; secret government agents who help people by showing off their dance moves. Each level features the agents trying to help someone in need by dancing, and you help them by tapping your screen along to the music. The touch screen features different hit markers that you’ll have to tap, and levels have different endings depending on how well you perform. Check it out on Amazon »

#8. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Nintendo, 2007 Action Adventure » Open-World

Synopsis This adventure takes place directly after The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, and sees a cartoonish Link sailing the ocean searching for Tetra.

Short Review Like Wind Waker, this game uses a cool cel-shaded art style. Players control Link, and explore various islands and dungeons while sailing around the open world. The focus of your quest is to find Tetra, who you get separated from in the beginning of the game. There are one-on-one battles available in the form of online multiplayer, which shakes things up for multiplayer sessions. However, most players will find the most enjoyment in the game’s lengthy single player story, where you’ll defeat bosses and complete dungeons while obtaining new items and weapons. Check it out on Amazon »

#7. New Super Mario Bros.

Nintendo, 2006 Action » Platformer » 2D

Synopsis A refreshing take on the classic Super Mario Bros. formula makes this an unforgettable sidescrolling adventure.

Short Review Like the original Super Mario Bros., this sidescrolling action game has players traversing eight different worlds to save the Princess. However, this game updates Mario’s moves and abilities, as well as introducing new powerups and all new levels. Mario’s moves from the 3D games are represented, such as the ability to triple jump and wall jump. There are three new powerups, such as the Mega and Mini Mushrooms, which make Mario grow and shrink in size. There are hidden exits to find, and some multiplayer mini-games to keep the party going. Whether you’re a new fan or a Super Mario Bros. veteran, this is a fun take on the classic formula. Check it out on Amazon »

#6. Advance Wars: Dual Strike

Intelligent Systems/Nintendo, 2005 Strategy » Turn-Based » Tactics

Synopsis Use your military tactics and strategies to overcome your enemy in over 25 single player missions and various other fun modes.

Short Review Widely considered the best strategy game on the system, Advance Wars: Dual Strike has a staggering amount of tactical gameplay to sink your teeth into. The gameplay revolves around commanding a massive army on the battlefield, eliminating your opponent or capturing their base. Players can take on the storyline-driven campaign mode, which has 28 different scenarios to complete. You can also try out the Survival and Combat modes, both of which offer a unique spin on the standard gameplay. Fans of competitive action can take on their friends in two multiplayer modes as well. Check it out on Amazon »

#5. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

Konami, 2005 Role-Playing » Action RPG

Synopsis A demon hunter named Soma attempts to dismantle a cult and prevent the creation of a new dark lord.

Short Review Like other games in the Castlevania franchise, this game focuses on 2D sidescrolling action and tough platforming sections. Players control Soma, a powerful character who can control the souls of his defeated enemies. You’ll travel through several levels fighting intimidating foes and using a variety of cool magical powers. This game introduces the fun “Magic Seal” system, where players use the DS stylus to finish off boss monsters. There are even additional modes of play once you’ve beaten the story, adding even more replayability. Check it out on Amazon »

#4. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

Alphadream Corporation/Nintendo, 2009 Role-Playing » Japanese-Style

Synopsis In this RPG adventure, Mario and Luigi are sucked up by Bowser, and must influence his movements to defeat a new invader in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Short Review RPG fans will love this humorous and unique sequel in the Mario & Luigi franchise. In this entry, Mario and Luigi explore the inside of a massive Bowser, who they can control. Players control all three characters, moving in both the overworld and inside Bowser. There’s a good mixture of exploration and turn-based combat gameplay, and the lengthy campaign is absolutely hilarious. Check it out on Amazon »

#3. Mario Kart DS

Nintendo, 2005 Racing » Arcade » Automobile

Synopsis Race against your favorite Nintendo characters in a wide variety of addictive gameplay modes.

Short Review The fun and addictive gameplay of Mario Kart makes its debut on the Nintendo DS in style. Players can pick from a wide variety of modes, including Grand Prix mode, which features eight different cups to compete for. You can also take on numerous missions in Mission mode, which feature boss races and wacky new takes on the racing formula. There are also Time Trials, Versus, and Battle modes, for a fun mixture of solo and multiplayer offerings. You can even race against other players across the globe using the DS’ online multiplayer connectivity. Check it out on Amazon »

#2. Chrono Trigger

TOSE/Square Enix, 2008 Role-Playing » Japanese-Style

Synopsis A young man named Chrono gathers his friends and goes on an epic journey across time to prevent the end of the world.

Short Review Widely considered one of the best RPGs ever made, Chrono Trigger sees the leap from Super Nintendo to Nintendo DS. This lengthy story tells the tale of Chrono and his friends, as they attempt to travel to the end of the world and back to fight powerful beings. You’ll have to explore the prehistoric era, modern day, and some weird futures to gain allies and abilities. Combat is played out in easy-to-learn turn-based battles, and the six playable characters you’ll find all offer new strategies. Everything from the dialogue to the weapons and gear are masterfully crafted, and you’ll easily find yourself entranced by the story. This is one of the best RPGs ever, and you can experience it all on the Nintendo DS. Check it out on Amazon »

#1. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Rockstar Leeds/Rockstar Games, 2009 Action Adventure » Open-World

Synopsis This entry in the popular Grand Theft Auto series adds some fun new features, as well as an incredibly interesting crime story with a fun graphical style.

Short Review This mature-rated action game is currently the highest rated game on the Nintendo DS, and with good reason. It tells the story of Huang Lee, the son of a triad boss who arrives in Liberty City with a plan. The game is played from a top-down perspective, much like the original Grand Theft Auto games. Players can steal cars, deal drugs, and complete a wide variety of missions that focus on organized crime. The graphical style is cel-shaded; a first for the series. Players will spend dozens of hours exploring the vast city and completing missions, rising to the top of organized crime. Check it out on Amazon »

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Determining the best DS games is a never ending topic, but it’s exciting!

List by ProFanboy

Content by Matt Owen from Super Gamecast 64